Kindergarten Newsletter!
Week of Feb 6-10, 2023
Dear Parents,
We missed our kindergarteners last week but are sure to hear all about their winter adventures on our Monday morning Circle Up! We are moving some things around to fill in the gaps of the missing days so that there are no curriculum gaps! Last week the official word was that the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day! Six more weeks of winter fell right in line with our winter forecast! Spring will have to wait a little longer!
Please assure your child that we will still have our 100th day! We plan to move all of the fun to this Wednesday when we have our updated 100th day of school!
The K Team
Valentine Card Homework
1500 Minutes of Reading!
Kindergarten Lunch Dates
What are We Learning About...
Our curriculum focus this week...
Writing: We will work to communicate our ideas through detailed pictures and letter/sound connections. We will enjoy books about valentines and create our own books about things we love. We will work to use spaces between words, put a period at the end of a sentence, and improve our writing by going back to edit.
Reading: We will learn how to read/write our trick words focusing on the words "ME," "BE" and "YOU"! We will look for our sight words in books and poems. Our sight words so far are: I/a/see/can/the/at/my/to/and/go/we/he/for/is/are/his/was/she. We will continue using super strategies such as pointer power, words in a snap, and picture power to be super readers. Please practice these sight words at home!
Phonics/Handwriting: We will build confidence with letters as we review how to form them. We will tap to spell CVC words (consonant/vowel/consonant). Students are listening to words to hear long sounds and short sounds. Digraphs are two letters together that make one sound! We are learning how to tap to write/read 5 digraphs (SH,CH,TH,WH,CK).
Math: We are celebrating our 100th Day of Kindergarten! We will count to 100 throughout the day, make a snack with 100 things, write about 100 things, read books about 100, do 100 exercises and so much more! We are so excited! We will describe and sort 2d shapes.
Science: We will observe and describe movements such as back and forth, side to side, fast and slow, around, zig zag, etc...
Social Studies: We will finish sharing our maps that we created and see if it is balanced with things we need to work, live and play. We will study how weather affects a community.
Dates to Remember!
February 8: 100th Day of Kindergarten
February 3: Play it Safe Presentations during Specials
February 13-17: Literati Book Fair!!
February 14: Grade level Valentine's Day Party in the gym
February 16: PTA Meeting (5:30-6:00) and Literacy Night in the Learning Commons (6:00-7:00)!
February 20: No School/Professional Development
February 28: Class Pictures and Spring Pictures
February 27- March 3: Read Across America
March 3: Friendship Day (during Specials)
March 3: Open House (5-6:00) / PTA Family Movie Night (6-7:30 PM)
March 13-17: NO SCHOOL / Spring Break!
Old News but Good to Remember...
Jackets Please!
Trick Words/Sight Words
“Trick” Words are simply sight words or familiar words. We have started reading these words in class but any extra practice at home goes a long way!
Kindergartners need to read and write these words quickly and correctly. Instant recognition helps your child read more fluently and less “robotic.” Fluent reading leads to comprehending or understanding what is read. It all works together!
Reading Homework Bags
Don't Forget!!!
1. Practice lunch codes at home. They will need to memorize and practice identifying these numbers on a keypad at home.
2. Please label all backpacks, jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes and thermos.
3. Bring a spill proof water bottle daily - WATER ONLY!
4. Return the BLUE Daily Folders each day! Initial behavior chart daily and remove papers!
5. Bring your PINK dismissal card EVERY day when you pick up. This is a safety precaution and helps the process be more efficient!
6. Please call the office (817)251-5700 if you have a change in dismissal!
Breakfast Bunch
Snack Break!
Behavior Expectations
We use CHAMPS! (Communication, Help, Activity, Movement, Participation, and Success) Right now we are focusing A LOT on the letter "C!" - COMMUNICATION. We talk a lot about appropriate voice levels. We also use our "Rainbow Chart!" Please don't worry too much about what color they are on unless it is BELOW "Green - Ready to Learn!" Ending a day on YELLOW, ORANGE or RED means your child was not doing their best and probably got their behavior chart signed. Students move clips down but they can also work to move clips back up!
Dove's 4 Bs for Behavior Expectations
BE Respectful
BE Responsible
BE Safe
BE Ready to Learn
Kindergarten Team
Bojana Cubrilo- Bojana.cubrilo@gcisd.net
Keari Hatton - Keari.Hatton@gcisd.net
India Maine - India.Maine@gcisd.net
Christine Dunker - Christine.Dunker@gcisd.net