Fun in the SNOW!

We have 2 new classmates! PEEP!

Two chicks have hatched! One little guy tried it's best to make it out of its shell but didn't survive. We talked to class about how the chick wasn't healthy and that sad things happen sometimes. However, we are so grateful to have two chicks hatch so far.

Field trip $

On the field trip form to Anderson farms we failed to inform you that the farm only accepts CASH.  Please send in $6 cash with your child's permission slip. If you would like to chaperone on our trip, the fee for adults is also $6. If you have already sent in a check for payment with your child, I'll return them in your child's Friday folder. 

Thank you for your understanding!

Science is COOL! We made a cloud and rain in a jar!

Today we conducted 2 science experiments. We first created a cloud in a jar. We put hot water in a jar, I lit a match and dropped into the jar and then set an ice pack on top of the jar. These steps created an amazing cloud that the kiddos loved!

Then, we made rain in a jar by filling the jar with water, making a "cloud" with shaving cream on the top of the water and then adding food coloring "rain" on top of the cloud. Then we watched the accumulation of food coloring make it's way through the cloud and rain!

Students learned when water droplets collect in a cloud, they get heavier and heavier. The clouds eventually become too heavy to float in the air. Then the water droplets fall to the earth as rain or precipitation.

Outback fun and more!

Our class read the book Bartholomew and Oobleck,  by Dr. Seuss.  We then predicted and drew what we thought oobleck would look like. After that we went to the Outback (Legacy's outdoor classroom) and experimented and played with the green, gooey oobleck. We couldn't decide if it was a liquid or a solid or both!

OOBLECK AND THE OUTBACK

We had a wonderful time in math yesterday! We used Skittles to graph, create and solve addition problems and then finally taste! YUM!

Zoo visit

The kids loved the zoo visit on Friday! They learned different ways animals move and were introduced to Jasmine-the Dumeril ground boa, Hazel-the domestic rabbit, Elfu-the millipede, River-the Malayan Box turtle and Dorthy- the goldfish.

Sight Word Practice & A New Trimester!

There is a new way to practice sight words at home!  

The sight words were entered by month into Vocabulary Spelling City.  

This can be accessed by downloading the app to any tablet.  

It can also be accessed by going to www.spellingcity.com/legacy kindergarten/.  

From the website- 
You will need to sign up for a free membership.  

You can select which month's sight words you would like to work on.  

Above the list are several buttons.  

Click Play a Game.  There are a number of activities you can access. 

 I would recommend Audio Word Match and Read A Word, 

but you are welcome to find a game to fit your child's interest.

From the app-
You will see several sample lists on the left and the list of games on the right.  

Our words are not in the sample list area.  

Under the 2 menus is a red button that says More Lists. 

Click that button.  Select username and type in legacykindergarten (no space).  

This will take you to the sight word lists.  

Please let me know if  it is useful and helpful.

It is a new trimester! Students will be attending Art on Mondays and PE on Wednesdays.

February Information

*Our class Valentine's Day party will be held on Friday, February 13th at 10:45am.  We have 26 students in our class if your child would like to exchange Valentines. To make the distribution process easier, please just have your child sign their own name on their cards. We will be making Valentine collection bags in class. I will send out a sign-up sheet for donations of goodies, etc. for the party.

*Monday, February 16th there is no school in observance of President's Day. Because we do not meet on that Monday, our class has a full-day of school on Friday, February 20th.

*On Friday, February 27th is a non-student contact day, there is no school.

The 2015 myON Winter Reading Challenge is on! This challenge is to encourage students to read over the holiday break and take advantage of more than 5,000 books on myON. The program will run through January 9th and the class who reads the most will be rewarded! If you need your child's log-in information email me and I'll send it you. (Their myOn log-in is the same as their Lexia log-in).   Stay warm and READ!  KINDER REMINDERS: *There is no Late Start in January. *In observance of Martin Luther King Day there is no school on Monday, January 19th. *Our class has a full day of school on Friday, January 23rd to make up for our missed day on the 19th.

The Mitten Tree and More

*The Student Council is collecting new or lightly used mittens, scarves and hats to donate to those in need. They will be collecting these items until December 19th. 

*Our class Holiday Party will be on Friday, December 19th at 10:55 am. We will make a fun craft and enjoy yummy snacks. Parents are welcome to come and celebrate with us.

*Winter break is from December 22nd-January 2nd. 

*We just began our Gingerbread Study.  We are reading a variety of different Gingerbread books and then we are writing, labeling, measuring, drawing, creating diagrams all about Gingerbread men.  Students love this unit and it's so much fun to see their creativity at work.

I hope everyone enjoyed some rest and relaxation with their families over Thanksgiving break.

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 3rd is a Late Start day.  School begins at 11:30 and students eat lunch at school as normal at 11:40.

The December Scholastic book order will sent home on Friday.  You are also welcome to order books online at https://clubs2.scholastic.com, our classroom code is H6MZ7.   If you choose to return your order form to me, please send it to school on Monday, December 8th to ensure the order arrives before Winter break.  If you choose to order books as gifts, I'm happy to make arrangements for pick up when the books arrive.

Kindergarten winter literacy assessments will begin December 15th.  Please continue reading with your child and helping learn the monthly sight words. December's sight words are: yes, no, cat, dog, big, red, run & by.  I'll send them home on card stock on Friday.

Thank you to all who donated disinfecting wipes, we now have enough to last us for a while. :)

It's A New Trimester!

*Today begins a new trimester.  Students will now be attending PE on Mondays and Music on Wednesdays.

*During whole group literacy instruction we are reading books and writing about our literacy themes- All About Me and Meet My Family.  Students are writing about why they are special, what they like to do, what their favorite foods are, their family members, where they live and what they are thankful for, etc.  The comprehension strategy we are focusing on is Creating Mental Images when reading.  Students are learning that, good readers make pictures in their minds as they read and creating mental images help readers remember and better understand what they read.  Students are also learning about  American history and how children in the past are both similar and different to children today.

*In math, students are learning about addition and finding "partners" that make up a number, ie.
4 & 1 and 3 & 2 are partners of 5 and then we are extending their thinking into addition problems
 (4 + 1 = 5) & (3 + 2 = 5).

*Please check the the Lost & Found for any items your child may have lost at school. It is overflowing and the school will be donating all unclaimed clothing at the end of the week.

Cans & Counting

*Our class is collecting canned goods for Legacy's annual food drive through November 17th.  If you are able, please send in some non-perishable food items with your child.  The class who collects the the most cans will win a PIZZA PARTY!

*As an extension to our weekly homework assignments, please help your child count as high as they can and help them reach 100. Our end of the year goal is   that every Kindergartner will be able to count to 100.  Also, help your child write their numbers 0-20.  

Animals, pumpkins and a whole lot more!

     During whole group literacy instruction we are learning about What Animals Need.  We are reading a variety of non-fiction and fiction books about animals.  The following are some of our vocabulary words we learning and writing about in class, burrow, hunt, travel, shelter, carry & gather.  The comprehension strategy we are working on is asking questions.  I've been teaching our class that, "good readers ask questions as they read to learn more about what they are reading."
     We also are learning about pumpkins, students have learned and have written about the different parts of pumpkins and are participating in several activities connected to pumpkins. On Friday, during science students will learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin. Many of our read-alouds are about pumpkins and autumn.
    In math, we are learning about 2D & 3D shapes and recognizing them in the environment.  We are continuing to work with groups of five and counting as high as we can.

Important Dates

* This Friday, Oct. 17^th there is no school.

* On Monday, Oct. 20^th at 10am our whole school will have our picture taken in honor of Legacy’s 10-year anniversary.

* Friday, Oct. 24^th is picture retakes.

* Thursday, Oct. 30^th is Legacy’s annual Trick or Treat Festival at 6pm.

* Our class Halloween party will be on Friday, Oct. 31^st at 11am. I will email out a volunteer sign-up page for parents to provide goodies, craft materials, etc. in the next week.

* The October Scholastic book order is due Monday, Oct. 20^th. (I'll send home the order form tomorrow) Our class online code is: H6MZ7,  I promise that the turn around time on this book order will be much faster than September’s order! If I process our class order on the 20^th, the books should arrive within a week. J

Literacy

We just finished up our apple study.  Now during whole group literacy instruction our class is reading books and poems about healthy foods.  Some of the vocabulary words we are reviewing/learning are: vitamin, breakfast, supper, health, enjoy & need.  The comprehension strategy we are learning is inferring.  I've been telling students that, "good readers use what they already know to make a smart guess about the story."  You can help your child infer by providing them with everyday examples.  Let's play a guessing game. Use what you already know to make a guess...Where would I be going if I had a baseball and glove? A blanket and a picnic basket?  A backpack and homework?

This morning students will be participating in the school districts annual hearing and vision screening.  This week we will be studying different types of Colorado leaves and looking at various leaves with magnifying glasses.  We also are beginning to learn about Word Families. Children are recognizing and creating consonant-vowel-consonant word patterns. So far we have studied the AT & AN word families. Examples of WF words are cat, bat, sat, mat etc.

Exciting Day!

On Wednesday our class will be making applesauce! Students will see the apples transform into applesauce throughout the day. It's a great opportunity for students to observe solids turn into liquids.  Also, we will be meeting with our 3rd grade buddies from Mrs. May's class and they will be reading their personal narrative stories to us.

Welcome!

Welcome to our classroom blog.  I will be periodically updating the blog with information on lessons and activities our class is participating in.  Please visit the blog every few days to stay current on the latest information.