What's Happening in Team 31
May 8th 2016
A time for reflecting and for looking forward!
The third trimester is well under way! In May there are many things to look forward to, beautiful Spring colors, warmer weather, a chance to get outside and explore all that nature has to offer, field trips, 1st grade, and of course Summer. Here in Team 31, May also brings an opportunity for us to take a step back and reflect upon all of the growth we have experienced since September and to look forward to all that First grade will bring. I am sure as parents you have seen this tremendous growth yourself. What an exciting time to watch as they blossom into readers and writers, testing their new found abilities and developing the self awareness that they are a part of a larger community.
In ELA, we continue to use mentor texts to explore text concepts. We continue to strengthen our abilities to make text connections to our world, self, and other texts. Retelling a text using key details such as characters, setting, problem, solution, beginning, middle, and end continues to be a major focus in our class discussions. These same concepts carry into our Writer's Workshop as students practice writing narratives that include a beginning, middle, and end. Additionally, in Fundations students are expanding their abilities to segment and blend words with digraphs, and consonant blends. By stretching words slowly, students are able to listen for and identify larger words such as ch-a-t, s-l-u-g, and a class favorite f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c!
In Math, we continue to focus on counting to 100 and addition/subtraction fluency within 5. We have also begun our final math topic in Envisions Topic 13 Analyze, Compare, and Create Shapes. In this topic students will be exploring the world of 2D and 3D shapes. We are learning that shapes have sides, vertices (our fancy math word for corners!), and faces. In Guided Math we have learned that some 3D shapes can slide, stack, roll or even do more than one. Students are engaged in activities that allow them to practice identify and build these shapes by sight and feel.
The character trait for the month of May is Trust and students are learning to trust all of the wonderful staff who believe in them and work to make this school great. They are also learning to trust their friends and how it helps develop healthy relationships. But most importantly, they are learning to trust in themselves and their abilities, to have perseverence and that we are all special and bloom in our own time.
May is a bittersweet month for me personally, as I wrap up this long-term position. I want to thank you for TRUSTing me with your children and for your support. This experience has been truly memorable and I will cherish this time and your children forever.
Melissa Iocona
Important Dates
Monday May 9th - Mother Goose Visits Kindergarten!
Tuesday May 24th - Kindergarten field trip to Storybook Land
Thursday May 26th - Spring Party
Friday May 27th - School closed for Teacher In-service
Monday May 30th - School closed for Memorial Day
Tuesday May 31st - Raindate for field trip
Reminders!
- Please remember to send your child with a snack for school. We have snack everyday at 11:00.
- Accidents do occur occasionally here in Kindergarten. Having spare clothes in your child's backpack helps to quickly a dress these accidents.
Smart Apps
Technology has changed the way in which we operate our daily lives. As adults we have had to adapt to our ever changing technological world but our children our "Technology Natives". They have never known a world without technology. As with anything in life too much of anything is often never a good thing. Children still need time to explore the world tech-free and the times they are engaged in technology should be meaningful. There are many wonderful apps available for free or low-cost that can help to support your child's cognitive development.
Teach Me - is a wonderful app that costs only $1.99 and has many versions to meet the growing needs of our children. The Toddler and Kindergarten versions are excellent for phonemic awareness (letter sound/recognition) and number sense. It is adaptive and provides parents with reports on your child's progress
Splash Math & Monkey Math are great apps for children because they are engaging and fun yet teach children about different math concepts from number sense to shapes.
123 Tracing & Little Writer are great apps for teaching children letter and number formation
ABCYA.com and Starfall are both great websites the students are already familiar with and are also available in mobile apps as well!
Common Sense Media - is a great resource for parents about internet/media safety. It provides reviews, ratings, and information about the age appropriateness and safety of popular websites, shows, movies and apps. There are also articles on how to talk with your child about using the web safely. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/