We have started a Persuasive Writing, which may haunt all of us! Kids are looking around themselves for situations they see need improved, then writing about that situation. In order for others to agree, they must provide reasons why attention is needed to the situation. We are leading into stating opinions and stating facts that support our opinions. Kids will learn that there are many ways to write about a topic: petitions, letters, signs, lists. Our first action was solving the mess we constantly see on the floor. I wrote a letter asking the kids for help in using a "Lost and Found" I created. The kids helped me write the reasons why we should put things found on the floor into the new basket. By 3:30 today we had 10 crayon pieces, 2 stickers, 3 pencils, an eraser, and a glue stick in Lost and Found. Wow! I'm so glad our persuasive writing worked.
Students need to be reading independently (without any help) on Level F/10 by the end of Kindergarten. I've linked examples from each level so you have a reference for your child's goal. This year students will not be retained based on reading level alone, but starting first grade on less than F/10 will put kids behind before they begin. Just a few minutes reading with your child daily and practicing high frequency words can make the difference. Consider summer school if your child is struggling. Level B/2 Level C/3&4 Level D/6 Level E/8 Level F/10 Teen numbers and place value can often be confusing. We are taking the next few weeks to work with each teen number to understand these concepts. We talk about groups of ten have ten items, and that ones are alone. We are using "counting on" to save time counting items that already in a group of ten. By the end of this unit we should see the confusion of names for 12 and 20 cleared, and the disappearance of "31, 41, 51..." written for "13, 14, 15..." Book-it lists for March can be returned any time through the end of next week. One student told me he has a list from January that needs one more book on it. I'll take it! If your child has taken the time to read and write titles, they deserve the pizza coupon. April 10 is the big night for our little performers! If you know your child won't be attending, please tell me. The music teacher is counting on everyone for their scene. We are discussing the needs of plants and plant parts in the next two weeks. If you have planting items you can send, we can use them. We'll need seeds (marigold or fast-growing), dirt, and small pots or cups to plant in. If you have expertise in this area and want to read a book or do a class activity, we'd love to have you visit. Hugs, Mrs. Bailey We finished the alphabet before spring break so now we are off to blends such as "ch" "sh" "tr" and more word families such as "ing". Small known chunks of words will help kids attack reading and writing with ease. If your child is pronouncing letter sounds incorrectly, you can help by showing him/her how your mouth makes the sound correctly and practicing. It's difficult to hear sounds for writing when baby talk is used.
Kids will finish our writing unit by editing and perfecting teaching books for sharing. These will be kept at school for sharing and on display May 2 at Fine Arts Night. When your child brings home a piece of writing , ask him/her to read it to you while pointing to the words being read. Being held responsible for writing helps a child realize how important it is to be careful in writing every sound heard in a word. The math unit we are beginning focuses on teen numbers. Place value is also a focus. Spoken teen numbers are often hard to understand what they mean. Kids want to put the four first in "fourteen" because they hear it first. They also confuse "fifteen" with "fifty" because they sound similar at the end. Ten frames will help them learn to build ten plus those few more to equal the teen number. Our science topic this week is types of weather and seasons. Kids often say the season is "snowy" or "Christmas" instead of identifying "winter". The type of weather normally found in each season will be discussed as well as how plants cycle in weather . Kids will learn that the sun and the wind have jobs. Our treasure chest treasures are wearing thin thanks to well-behaved students! When cleaning out those toy boxes, feel free to send toys your kids no longer play with. Age range isn't important since kids enjoy giving their prize to their siblings or mom and dad. Remember the school dance Tuesday night!!! I will be there on the dance floor having a blast. Please join me so I don't look silly all by myself. Kids can wear regular school clothes. Check out the Pictures page for new pictures! Hugs, Mrs. Bailey |
AuthorMrs. Christine Bailey Willard South Homepage
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May 2019
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