Strauss: Class News
January 6, 2016
Welcome Back!
It is hard to believe that we are beginning our second semester of Kindergarten. The skills that the students will be learning are becoming more difficult. Students will need to have mastered previous taught skills to be successful with their new learning. Please continue to work with your child at home. Encourage your child to read, write, and practice their number concepts daily. Ask your child what they are learning in school and have them explain to you what their learning means. It is important that children be able to explain their thinking and be able to communicate effectively.
My goal for the second half of the year is to help your child feel confident and ready for first grade. Please help in this venture by giving your child one or two new chores to do at home such as setting the table, emptying the trash, bringing in the mail, etc. If you usually help your child a great deal, allow them a safe opportunity to gain pride from accomplishing a task on their own. I do not unpack backpacks at school. I do not write answers for them. They can, and do find pride in knowing they can do "grown up" things. We are encouraging more "first grade" type behavior as we enter the second half of Kindergarten. The level of expectation has increased and students are going to be more challenged in how they perform behaviorally each day. I urge you to let this be a time of growth. This is a vital step for success in first grade.
Sight Words to Know
We are working hard on sight word mastery! Students are moving at their own pace and at different levels. Please help your child master the sight words they have in their book baggies. When your child can read their words, please send me a note along with the current sight word flipbook, and I will assess your child. Once students have mastered all of the Kindergarten words, I will send home a list of all of the first grade words if you would like to work ahead!
Math Memo:
In math your child will be learning about shapes. Each student will be learning to identify 2D and 3D shapes. Your child will also learn how to compare shapes, describe shapes, and compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. We will also be reviewing number concepts, patterning, sorting and learn to use non-standard measurement.
Students need to be able to read and write their numbers correctly. Please work with your child on correct number formation. Students should write two-digit numbers starting on the left and moving to the right. Numbers must be legible and neat.