Christmas Break

News from Mrs. Straw’s Kindergarten

Week of December 20-22

Upcoming Events:

JDecember 22- Sermaya’s ½ Birthday, Winter Party at 2:45

J December 23- No School, Winter Break

J December 26- Yahir’s ½ Birthday

JDecember 28- Lisa and Edith’s Birthday

J School resumes January 5, 2011

Notes:

J I am not sending take home books with students on Wednesday due to the long break but you may have your child read other books to you or certainly read to them. 

Things to Work on:

JA few skills to review with your child over break:  counting, reading and writing numbers, and read, read, read!   And take some time just to have fun! 

What we have been up to:

Reading: This week the letter X was introduced.  This is that last of our alphabet letters.  After break we will start word families and other word study activities. 

Math:  In math this week we finished our Christmas tree number grid activity.  On Wednesday, we had centers with all the kindergarten classes.  Some of the activities that we did were: making a mitten wreath, playing bingo, and singing Christmas songs.  After break we are going to play a game with egg cartons.  Please save these and send them to school with your child.

Social Studies: This week we reviewed our PWIM sentences.  We were also able to do some Christmas crafts.  We had Mrs. V talk to us about the country she is from, Laos, and wrap up our study on Laos and Iowa.  We had another special visitor to our classroom this week, Norma from the lunchroom.  She came and read a Christmas story to us and gave us a special treat.  Nurse Twyla also came and reviewed with us how to correctly brush our teeth.   

Please contact me if you have any questions (712) 732-8074 or email sstraw@slcsd.org.

http://mrsstrawskindergartenclass.blogspot.com

New Learning Centers

News from Mrs. Straw’s Kindergarten

Week of December 13-17

Upcoming Events:

JDecember 18 Oscar’s ½ Birthday

J December 23- No School, Winter Break

                      J School resumes January 5, 2011

Notes:

JLast week’s Super Achiever was Andrea.  Although it was very hard to pick last week, she was picked because she is always sitting so quietly on the rug and always does her personal best work.

J This week started new learning centers.  A few that the students really enjoy are: laptop computers, smart board memory games, making a Rudolph with Popsicle sticks, and stamping our sight words on balloon cutouts.

Things to Work on:

JPlease continue working with your child at home on their take-home books. 

What we have been up to:

Reading:We read the book Harry the Dirty Dog and focused on wonder, dashed, and restore.  This week the letters Y, Q and V were introduced.  This week was the last week of having our BVU student with us twice a week.  We were able to write a nice class thank you and play some math games with her.

Math:  This week in math we practiced our problem solving strategies as well as counting pennies.  We also started making a Christmas tree pattern in a hundreds grid that we will continue into next week.

Social Studies: We have continued our study on Laos and Iowa.  We practiced sorting items on out Smart Board to help us learn about things in both countries.  We also recorded facts that we learned about other cultures clothing, houses, and food.

Please contact me if you have any questions (712) 732-8074 or email sstraw@slcsd.org.

http://mrsstrawskindergartenclass.blogspot.com

Super Achiever has started

News from Mrs. Straw’s Kindergarten

Week of December 6-10

Upcoming Events:

JDecember 7- Jane’s Birthday

JDecember 17- Early Out at 11:10

                   J December 23- No School, Winter Break

Notes:

J The elementary has started Super Achiever awards.  Last week we had our first Super Achiever in our class: Dol Deng.  I have many super achievers in my class, however he was chosen because he picked up trash in the hallway on our way to recess.

J This week we will finish up our two week rotation of learning centers.  Some of the centers that students enjoyed were: making candy canes with Fruit Loop patterns, using the smart board, decorating paper Christmas trees with the correct number of ornaments, and stamping their names with letter stamps. 

Things to Work on:

JWe have started practicing to count by 10s.  Please help your child with this at home.

J I have seen a big improvement in students who know their phone numbers!  Keep working at home.

What we have been up to:

Reading:We read the book Harry the Dirty Dog and focused on clever, furiously, and disguise.  In reading groups we introduced and practiced the sight words: did, to, an, you, get, and from.  Pleas continue to practice these words at home.  This week the letters J,E, and Z were introduced. 

Math:  This week in math we talked about maps and made a map of our classroom.  Our math centers this week focused on problem solving, identifying shapes and counting.

Social Studies: We started talking about Iowa and some of the resources that we have in our state.  We also talked about where we live, Storm Lake.  We began our study on comparing Iowa and Laos.  We will compare weather, resources, clothes, and much more. 

Please contact me if you have any questions (712) 732-8074 or email sstraw@slcsd.org.

http://mrsstrawskindergartenclass.blogspot.com

December is Here!

News from Mrs. Straw’s Kindergarten

Week of November 29- December 3

Upcoming Events:

J December 2-Nestor’s Birthday

JDecember 3- Book Orders Due

Notes:

J On Monday I sent home a white square.  Please have your child draw a family tradition and return it to school.  I already have some back and they are turning out very nice.

Things to Work on:

JWe are really working on our phone numbers.  We have set a goal of getting a piece of bubble gum when everyone knows their phone number.  Please work with your child on this at home.

J This week we practiced writing our alphabet.  At the end of kindergarten students need to be able to write both the capital and lowercase letters for each letter.

What we have been up to:

Reading: We read the story Gregory the Terrible Eater  and talked about new vocabulary words: nutritious, fussy, and terrible.  This week the letters U and V were introduced.  Students were able to practice sorting pictures that started with U and V, and the review letters G and H. 

Math:  This week in math we practiced several problem- solving problems.  Students were able to share their thinking strategies on the smart board.

Science: We started talking about dental health.  We focused on the importance of flossing and brushing our teeth each and every day.  We also talked about healthy snacks that we can have to keep our teeth healthy and strong.

Please contact me if you have any questions (712) 732-8074 or email sstraw@slcsd.org.

http://mrsstrawskindergartenclass.blogspot.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

News from Mrs. Straw’s Kindergarten

Week of November 22-24

Upcoming Events:

J November 25-26 No School (Happy Thanksgiving)

Notes:

J As the season of winter approaches I encourage you to send your child with their own stocking cap.  If your child doesn’t have one, remind them that they can’t borrow another student’s hat because of the possibility of head lice.  Here are a few things you can do to help prevent them: 1) Conduct weekly inspections of your child’s hair for at least 10-15 minutes in good light.  2) Remind your child not to share combs, brushes, headbands, barrettes, helmets, or hats. 

Things to Work on:

JI have started checking to see who knows their address.  We do have a few students in our class that know their address.  Please work with your child at home.  

What we have been up to:

Reading: We read the story Gregory the Terrible Eater  and talked about new vocabulary words: average and revolting.  This week the letters O and G were introduced.  Students were able to practice sorting pictures that started with O and G, and the review letters C and N. 

Math:  This week in math we practiced writing our numbers.  Please work with your child at home on this.   By the end of the year students need to be able to write to 20.  We also practiced some subtraction problem solving problems with apples.

Social Studies: We have been busy learning about Thanksgiving.  On Monday we made Indian hats to wear to our Thanksgiving Feast on Wednesday afternoon.  Tuesday, students made a picture of themselves as a pilgrim and then we talked about who the Pilgrims were.   On Wednesday we learned about what we eat for traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Please contact me if you have any questions (712) 732-8074 or email sstraw@slcsd.org.

We are now online!

News from Mrs. Straw’s Kindergarten

Week of November 15-19

Upcoming Events:

J November 25-26 No School (Thanksgiving)

Notes:

J Winter is here.  Please send your child with snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, and a winter coat every day. 

Things to Work on:

JBirthdays: About half our class know when their birthday is! When everyone knows their birthday we will have a special celebration. 

J We have also started working on spelling our last names. 

What we have been up to:

Reading: We read the story Caps for Sale and talked about new vocabulary words: ordinary, disturb, imitate, upset, refreshed, and satisfied.  This week we introduced the letters C, H, and W.  With each letter students practiced the sounds by using hand gestures.  Ask them to show you.

Math:  On Monday in math we continued our study on the number 5.  On Tuesday we learned a new game that reinforced counting.  Students rolled a die and counted out the corresponding pennies.  When the pennies were all drawn they counted all their pennies and decided who had the most and who had the least.  This week we also had math centers.  We worked on problem solving, created a turkey drawing by rolling a die, and recorded how many pattern blocks it took to fill a scarecrow.

Science: During our science time this week we finished our study on the food pyramid.  We discussed that last of the food groups: oils, dairy, and meat and beans.  We read these books: The Milk Group, The Milk Makers, The Meat and Bean Group, The Life Cycle of a Bean, Drinking Water, and Healthy Snacks. We ended our study on the food pyramid with a game of My Pyramid Go Fish.

Please contact me if you have any questions (712) 732-8074 or email sstraw@slcsd.org.