A Short Week

Although it was a short week, it was a great way to get back into our routines. We got right back at it! January is a turning point in Kindergarten and you will see some amazing readers and mathematicians start showing up at your house!

Here are some things we are working on:

Literacy: We are learning about Native Americans.The Native Americans unit introduces students to the broad concept that Indigenous people lived on the continents of North and South America long before European explorers visited and settled this area. Students will learn that there were many different tribes of Native Americans, and that each tribe had its own way of eating, dressing, and living, depending on where it lived. Students will learn about three tribes in depth: the Lakota Sioux of the Great Plains region, and the Wampanoag and the Lenape, both of the Eastern Woodlands region. This week we made Symbols on rawhide. It was pretty fun.

Math: Continued work on teen numbers. Students are getting comfortable with teen numbers {or mainly that of a group of ten and some extras}. We are not seeing the numbers as the numerals; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Instead, students were introduced to the teen numbers as a group of ten and some extras/ones.

We are also working on partners to 10. This week we were introduced to a rekenrek. We have learned all about a ten frame and how important it can be when we are working with our teen numbers. A rekenrek helps us to see our combinations to 10 and allows us to show our teen numbers quickly! Remember smart mathematicians are able to represent numbers efficiently-that means quickly! Here is a video for parents explaining what the rekenrek does:

Phonics: This week we worked really hard at reading phrases and sentences. Next week we will start blending words with 4 and 5 sounds. Students will learn about consonant clusters that has two or more sounds, one after another, that work together. Like the word: st op = stop.

We will also begin to focus on letter names. Students are confident in the sounds that letters make and now will learn the names of the letters.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Tuesday the students take the DIBELS assessment with the rest of the school. They took it at the beginning of school and this is the second check point. Please be sure your child gets plenty of rest Monday night and is ready to go Tuesday morning.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Tiffany