Dear Families-

As we approach the end of the First Grading period it is hard to believe that we started this journey known as Kindergarten just 9 weeks ago.  The children have made so much progress socially and educationally already and we are looking forward to the growth they will continue to make this year.  As we begin conferences here are a few reminders:

• Allow yourself some extra time to check in at the office and find parking.  You will need your driver’s license and will need to register(if you have not already used the visitor sign in yet) and this will take a few minutes.
• Be on time.  Each student is allotted 20 minutes and they are back to back so please be respectful of that.
•  Students do not need to attend.  If you need/want to bring them that is fine.  They  will be set up outside the Kindergarten rooms with an activity while we talk.
•  Things happen and if you can’t make it please send your child’s teacher a message and we can reschedule.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out directly to your child’s teacher.

The Kindergarten Team

Language Arts

What are we learning?

• Readers notice letters and words in books that they read.
• Readers notice when reading doesn’t make sense.
• Readers point under each word with their finger when they read.
• Readers notice that some books have patterns.
• Writers think about topics they can write about.

Home/School Connection

• Now that we have had a few more sight words introduced in class, encourage students to find these in books they read or in books that are being read to them. 
  • a
  • the
  • I
  • see
  • can 
  • am
  • look 
  • at
• When reading, have students practice pointing under the words so that it matches their voice (words they are reading).
• Point out any patterns in books you are reading. 
  • Repeating words
  • Repeating pictures
• Have students practice writing Pattern books with sight words with 3 repetitions.
  • Example: I see a  _________. 

•                  I am a __________.

                   I can ____________.

                   Look at the _______.

Math

What are we learning?

We will begin our Patterns unit! In this unit we will...

• Identify patterns found in objects, movement, and sound
• Describe patterns found in objects, movement, and sound
• Extend patterns found in objects, movement, and sound
• Create patterns found in objects, movement, and sound
• Transfer repeating patterns found in objects, movement, and sound

Home/School Connection

• What patterns do you know of? (months, days of the week, the students day, anything that repeats!)
• Can you extend this pattern? (use different shapes, objects, manipulatives)
• Show students a pattern that you created, ask students the core of the pattern? What is repeating?
• Have students make a pattern ask then ask them to explain how they know they have made a repeating pattern.
• Create a pattern and ask students to show you what would come next.

Science/Social Studies

What are we learning?

• Students will learn the basic needs and life processes of pumpkins.
• Students will recognize and identify seasonal  changes.
• Students will learn the basic needs and life cycle of squirrels.

Home/School Connection

• Go on a Nature Walk and look for signs of Fall.  What do you notice is happening to the trees?  Do you see any squirrels?  
• Draw a picture of a squirrel from your nature walk.  Don’t forget to include their habitat.

Class Compliments

• Mrs. Bender and Mrs. Santoro would like to shout out the class for their impressive sharing and listening skills! We have been sharing with partners and then introducing our partners during Morning Meeting. The students love learning more about their classmates!
• Ms. Johnson and Mrs. B’s class started sharing jokes on Tuesdays during Morning Meeting.  We have a creative class!
• Miss Matthews and Mrs. Dillon are incredibly proud of the students their Kindergarteners have become.  They are almost K ¼ and have grown SO much since the beginning of the school year.  They are able to sit and listen to stories, raise their hands to participate and walk through the hallway quietly(most of the time).  They have made friends, are empathetic and kind to each other...just to name a few.  We are so excited to continue to watch you grow and bloom!🌻  Way to go!
• Ms. Powers and Mrs. T are so excited to see all of our wonderful friends! So many friends have been excited to count numbers, write numbers, and add circles to Cazzie, our Counting Caterpillar. Great work with counting through the whole unit! We are so excited to see your hard work through each math unit!

Social Emotional/Positivity Project

• Positivity Project (P2) for the week of October 26-30 is creativity
• Positivity Project (P2) for the week of November 4-6 is perspective
• Kimochis: Kindergarteners have learned about Lovey Dove and her friendly signals.

Home/School Connection

• Give children the opportunity to express "divergent thought." Let them disagree with you. Encourage them to find more than one route to a solution, and more than one solution to a problem. An answer is not always “wrong” if we allow children to explain their thinking. It is sometimes creative thinking! 
• Use books and media (TV shows/movies) to practice talking about a characters’ perspective – Simply pausing to ask your child how they think a character is feeling or behaving is powerful.
• Kimochis: Find the Feelings-Proud, kind, and friendly are this week’s feelings. Build your child’s emotional vocabulary and awareness by: 
  •  Noticing facial expressions and sounds that match these feelings. “Dad’s face is saying he is feeling proud of your generosity.” “That salesperson was friendly with her cheerful voice.” 
  •  Talk about when you have these feelings and how to express them. “I like to do kind things and not tell anyone. Today, I took in Mr. Tobin’s garbage can. I bet he will feel happy.”

Important Upcoming Dates

• Wednesday, October 27: Tigers on the Town at Chick-fil-A (only the Sunset Hills Rd. location)
• Thursday, October 28: Matthews/Powers field trip to Walker Nature Center
• Friday, October 29: Story book character day, dress up as your favorite character 
• Friday, October 29: 2-hour early release, end of quarter 1
• Monday, Nov. 1 and Tuesday, 2: Teacher work days, no school for students
• Thursday, November 11:  2 hour early release, Veterans’ Day

Click here to see what students are learning in Specials!