Mrs. Crooks's Kindergarten News
2017-2018 Volume 3
About the Newslettter
Please take a moment to review the following newsletter. It includes important dates and information regarding upcoming events, classroom updates, and new learning that will take place. It also may include links and/or google docs that you may want to visit.
English Language Arts (ELA)
The kindergarten ELA program is dividing into different components. Below you will find the skills that we will review/learn during the upcoming week.
This week we will start Unit 1 Week 1.
Daily Message
- We will be getting to know the five parts of a friendly letter (heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature) during the Daily Message.
- We will discuss and locate names, capital letters. and sight words.
Word Work
- We will be identifying the /m/ sound at the beginning and end of words.
- We will learn how to write the M and m using correct formation.
- We will spell, read, and write the sight word the.
- We will learn and identify nouns.
Wonders Comprehension
- Essential Question: How can we get along with new friends?
- We will learn new vocabulary (friends, problem, grasped, rescue, escape)
- We will identify key details in a story and retell the story.
- We will listen to and answer questions about What About Bear? and The Lion and the Mouse.
Center Time
During center time I will be working with small groups to build on skills. These groups are flexible.
- Writing- Students will complete a book using the new sight word, the. They will also write the room by finding matching pictures and writing the word that matches.
- Following Directions - Students will create a "key" that tells a word that describes a friend. They will also create a person that looks like them.
- Letter Words and Sounds - Students will complete the Mm and the activities.
- Math/Discovery - Students will complete a roll and color activity. Then they will dig through the sand to find objects that begin with the /m/ sound.
When that have complete the task(s) at their center, students have a free choice of activities to choose from.
Writing
- We will identify what a star sentence has (capital at the beginning, space between words, and an end mark.
- We will identify if a sentence has all of the required parts.
Math
Counting and Quantity
- We will count and keep track.
- We will create an equivalent set.
- We will establish one-to-one correspondence between equal groups.
Sorting and Classifying
- We will identify attributes (e.g. color, size, and shape) by developing language to describe them.
- We will compare how objects are the same and different.
- We will find objects that share one attribute.
Content
Conscious Discipline
- This week we will focus on our feelings and learn when we need to go to our classroom "Safe Place."
- We will learn strategies to help us go from "Bug Crazy Mad" to "Caterpillar Calm."
Specials
Monday - Art
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday - P.E.
Thursday - Dance
Friday - Library
Home Activities
The first Home Learning was sent home on Friday. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Practice having your child sign into BCPS One. Usernames and Passwords were sent home on Friday. They are one a laminated card in the back of the folder. Feel free to take it out and keep it at home.
Please send in a picture of your family. We will be placing these photos in our classroom safe place.
Star Student
Volunteer Training
Birthday Celebration
We will be celebrating monthly birthdays once a month for the students who have birthdays.
Parents (no siblings) are invited to join us for singing and extra free time or special activity).
Food is not permitted. However if you would like to have your child donate an indoor or outdoor recess item, book, craft, or any other creative nonfood idea that is fine. I will send out an email for parents each month to plan together for the birthday celebration.
October 27th
November 30th
December 15th
January 26th
February 23rd
March 28th
April 27th
May 24th
June/July TBD
Important Dates
- 10/05 - PTA Meeting (7PM Library)
- 10/20 - Schools Closed (MSEA Convention)
- 10/26 - Field Trip (Farmer Stan)
- 10/27 - October Birthday Celebration
- 10/31 - Tentative Fall Celebration
- 11/1 - PTA - 7:00PM in the library
- 11/3- Schools closed 3 hours early (end of 1st quarter)
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Here is my contact information:
Lynn Crooks: lcrooks@bcps.org
West Towson Phone: 410-887-3869
Assignment Book/ Take Home Folder: write a note in either
**I will try to get back to you as soon as possible, but sometimes I am unable to, so please allow me 24 hours to respond.