Bonkowske Bulletin
Morganton Day School Jr. Kindergarten January 13-17
Dates to Remember
1/20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
1/23 Parent Meeting
2/17 Teacher/Portfolio Workday NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
3/4-3/5 Student Led Parent-Teacher Conferences in the afternoon (half day for all students)
3/28 Teacher/Portfolio Workday NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
What's Happening in Jr. Kindergarten
We have had a wonderful start to the new year in JK! I love how students came back remembering our routine and jumping right in, ready to get down to the business of learning! This week, we learned about the letter Qq and the sound that it makes through songs, shared reading and hunting for our letter of the week in print. We also used the cold weather to guide our learning, as we read the classic story The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. We practiced visualizing the story as we listened, and once we saw the beautiful, award-winning illustrations, we created art inspired by the book. Check it out hanging in our classroom!
In math, we continued working with numerals through different games. In particular, we acted out the song "5 in the Bed" and introduced the concept of subtraction. We also went on a "Bear Hunt" by looking for hidden counting bears in our room. Once we found all 24, we sorted our group by color, counted them in different ways and discussed how the bears were alike and different. We learned a new math game called Counting Around, where we counted around the circle and when you were on number 5 you sat down until only 1 student was left. They loved trying to think ahead to see if they were going to be sitting or standing.
For our Unit of Inquiry we read, watched and began acting out the story of The Little Red Hen. We practiced retelling the beginning, middle and end of the story to help us remember what we read. We also discussed how the characters actions related to our IB Principles and how we would have acted differently. As you can see, it was a great week full of learning!
Reading
Next week, we will be working on the consonant "Hh." We will learn about letter H's sound through songs and other activities. Please continue to support their learning at home by pointing out letters we have covered so far (Aa, Bb, Tt, Jj, Dd, Ff, Pp, Ee, Oo, Ii, Uu, Cc, Gg, Qq and Hh) when you see them and ask them what sound they make, or brainstorm words that start with that sound. Back by popular demand, I have embedded the link to our letter Hh song in the newsletter this week. :0) I had a few parents request this at conferences and I am happy to bring it back! I have also embedded the link below of a website called Starfall that is great to reinforce what they are learning in JK. It offers many literacy activities for all levels and is absolutely free! I have also sent home ABC cards and/or snappy words and decodable books in every child's folder. Please continue to review letter sounds and/or snappy words and decodable books three times a night. When you finish, you can place the materials back in the bag, place the bag in their folder and send it back to school each day. This way, when I assess them and they are ready, I can move them forward as they are ready. Please remember that learning to read is a learning and developmental process. Each child progresses in their own way at their own rate. We want them to develop a LOVE and PASSION for reading and we want to avoid frustration as much as possible. Make this time with your child a fun and exciting time. :0)
Math
In math, we will continue our development of number recognition and representing numbers in many different ways. We will play a Cover All Game, where students practice recognizing numbers in print, and by counting objects. We will also practice numbers 1 to 10 through songs and counting in funny ways. We will also use race cars to learn a new counting game. We will also continue our practice with writing our numbers one through 10. Please continue to work with your child at home on writing and recognizing their numbers one through 10, as well as counting to 20.
Unit of Inquiry
This week, we will continue our work with Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes and assisting Mother Goose with identifying characters who need some help with their attitudes and actions. They know and love Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater, Little Miss Muffet, The Eensy Weensy Spider, Humpty Dumpty, The Three Little Pigs and The Gingerbread Man and The Little Red Hen Nursery Rhymes. This week we will focus on the classic folktale of Jack and the Beanstalk. Students will hear different versions of the story, discuss the characters and relate their actions and behaviors to our IB Principles. They will also work on the reading comprehension skill of retelling the beginning, middle and end of a story by sequencing story pictures. Last, they will create character headbands to practice acting out our story for their peers. These activities that revolve around Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes are wonderful for building reading stamina, fluency and inflection. It is also great for phonemic awareness skills as they begin to hear rhyme and rhythm of reading. As you are riding to and from school this week, see how many they can remember, maybe try saying them in silly voices for extra practice, or change an important part of the story and see if they notice. :0)
Routines and Information
This week, I will be sending home Take Home Folders and Planners. In these folders you will find work that your child has completed at school along with any information I need to send home each day, including homework. The left side is labeled "Left at home" and the right side is labeled "Right back to school." Please try to remember to send the folder back each day.
I am so sorry that I did not send home book orders last week. I am trying to locate them, as Mrs. Chapman usually gets them in the mail and passes them on to me and she has been out of town. Once the mystery is solved, I will be sending them home. They are due back to me by Friday, January 24th.
I am so happy to announce that we have a new friendly little face in our class! Her name is Katherine Harrison and she is kind, intelligent and has the most beautiful smile. Her family is new to MDS so let's make them feel welcome! I was so proud of my JK friends this week, as they were right there to help her get accustomed to our routine and the school. You are raising some pretty amazing friends! Welcome to the Harrison family. We are so glad to have you here! :0)
Special Thanks
I want to extend a heart-felt thank you to each of you who contributed through PAC for the teachers' Christmas gift. I received, quite unexpectedly, a card with cash in it before I left for Christmas break. This money was so appreciated. My family used it for our trip to Missouri and back to see my family during the holidays. I am so very grateful!
Please see the new link below to sign up to volunteer in our classroom. I appreciate any and all help. :0) Also, a big thank you goes out to the family of Ethan Joyner for providing snack for our class this week. I have embedded a new link for our winter/spring snack sign up below. I appreciate all of you!