First Grade News

     The weather is perfect and the end of the school year is near!  In reading we are currently in unit 9 “Wonders” which leaves unit 10 to finish in may and June.  Students will be working on the following comprehension strategies:  noting details, story structure, compare and contrast, problem solving and drawing conclusions. 

     In math, your child will be completing Adding and Subtracting one step further with two digit numbers and fractions.  They will begin to have math facts tests every Friday, so have your child practice the facts every night.

     We are currently in our Social Studies unit “The Study of Mexico” which will end with a Fiesta celebration on Friday, May 2.  After completing social studies, your child will begin the last science unit, “From Seed to Plant”.  Children will have the opportunity to learn about the various types of seeds and how they grow.

     On Wednesday, May 21, we will be going on our trip to the Washington D.C. Zoo.  Information regarding the trip will be in your child’s folder in the next couple of weeks!

                                                           

                                                            News from Kindergarten       

         It is hard to believe that we are beginning our 10^th and final theme for reading.  Our new theme, “A World of Animals”, revisits the comprehension skills of Questioning, Predicting and Inferring.  We will continue to discuss the beginning, middle and end of stories.  The new letters will be Uu and Jj.  We will also begin to review all skills previously taught. 

     During math we will continue to model for addition and subtraction using manipulatives.   Fractions will be introduced as we discover the relationship of part –to- whole.  Finally, we will begin one of the students favorite skills to explore and that is telling time to the nearest hour.  Students should continue to review the numbers 1-20.

     Encouraging your child gives confidence that any task can be completed.  Children who are confident in their ability to learn will be willing to try new things and meet new challenges.  Talk to your child about something that has been accomplished and it how felt to be successful.  Was there anything that your child thought would be too difficult this year and now it is easy to complete?  Many students began Kindergarten thinking that reading was for the “big” kids and now all students have some words in their sight vocabulary.  This is an accomplishment that each teacher is very proud of. 

      We realize “ball” season has begun and parents are very busy.  We would like to remind parents to continue to read and discuss stories on a daily basis.  Folders and agendas need to be checked and cleaned out each evening.   Remind your child that we have a few weeks of school left and have not completed all the skills needed to prepare for First Grade.  A good night’s sleep is very important at this time of the year.   As always, thank you for your continued support!

               Magnificent Marvelous Pre-K

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         The children in Pre-K will be finishing the theme, Growing and Changing. In this theme, we have discussed the changes that they have observed over time. We started by looking at a baby’s picture and talking about what they did as a baby. Then we have talked about what they can do now. The changes in animals, like butterflies and frogs, will be discussed next. The last week, we will observe the sign of growth in spring.

           In math, we will be combining and separating groups; comparing lengths, size, and heights of objects; and collecting data to make graphs.

           The last theme is entitled Ready for Kindergarten. This is a review of the alphabet and math skills that we have learned in Pre-Kindergarten, and it prepares them for the Kindergarten experience!