The Kindergarten Family Mailer
October 12th-16th, 2015 Pumpkins and Leaves are Everywhere!
By Mrs. Chien and Mrs. Lizarralde
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We continue our morning routine,
which includes prayers,
calendar, and weather, counting to 50 forwards and backwards, reviewing the alphabet using the letter, word
example and sound. We are identifying the months of the year and days of the week.
Continued to review our state facts. Talked about the state flag, tree, flower, dog, drink, bat, and what the
picture is on our state quarter.
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Phonics:
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Phonics instruction must be systematic and sequential. In other words, letters and sounds
are taught first. Then letters are combined to make words and finally words are used to
construct sentences.
Each week a new letter will be introduced. The children should know that the alphabet
is made up of two types of letters, 5 vowels and 21 consonants and that there are 26 in
all. Letters Ll, Oo, Gg, Hh, Tt, Pp and Aa are the letters we have discussed and worked
with in class.
The rules we have discussed include:
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When a vowel is followed by a consonant, it is short, code it with a breve. Breve: a
breve is a small curved line that is placed above a vowel to signify the short vowel
sound.
Example: bat
b ă t
Phonics Rule #15 compound words
A compound word is made up of two words that come together to
make a whole word. (doghouse, butterfly)
Phonics Rule #16 syllables
Syllables are word parts. We can identify how many syllables are
in a word by clapping it while saying it. (com-put-er)
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Every word must contain a vowel.
Handwriting:
**It is important that students learn the correct way to hold a pencil and the correct way
to write letters. Students should pinch the pencil firmly with their thumb and index finger.
Most letters begin with a stroke from the top to the bottom and curved letters are left to
right.
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Make sure to emphasize correct posture, a slight slant to the paper, and correct
pencil grip.
The proper techniques will last a lifetime!
Make sure to emphasize correct posture, a slight slant to the paper, and correct pencil
grip.
Spanish
In Spanish with Señora Seay we continue to learn greetings; hello, “Hola!” “Buenos días” Good day; Buenas Tardes - Good afternoon/evening is; Buenas noches - good night.
Siéntense = sit down) and párense = stand up. Reviewed color words: azul — blue, blanco
— white, negro — black, rojo — red, rosado — pink, verde — green, naranja — orange,
amarillo — yellow, anaranjado — orange.
Read Juan Bobo's Pot (a folktale from Puerto Rico)
Once upon a time, on the island of Puerto Rico, there lived a boy named Juan
Bobo — well, his name was Juan, but he was called Juan Bobo because he was a
foolish boy. He had a huge heart, full of generosity and sweetness. Alas, that
heart was not what he used when he was making decisions about life. For that he
used his head, and Juan Bobo's head? Well, let's just say his head was not quite
as full as his heart.
Health:
FEELINGS: Feelings Posters are a fun educational tool which can
help youth learn to identify, express and manage their feelings appropriately
and increase their feelings vocabulary.
Social Studies Brain POP Jr provides educational movies for K-3 students.
There’s more to Halloween than candy, trick-or-treating, and costumes! In this movie, we
learned how this spooky October holiday began.
MATHEMATICS - The textbook we use in kindergarten is entitled Progress in
Mathematics
Identified and extended size and growing patterns.
Religion
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God Gives Us the Gift of Land
We discussed the beautiful gifts of the land God has made.
Special Projects
Celebrating Our Diversity
We wish to celebrate our diversity by having family and friends
come to present information about their culture and heritage. We
would like to have one to two speakers a month who come in to
share information about where they are from (if you are from
outside the United States) or their heritage (e.g. Polish), as well as
their culture (e.g. dress, food, activities, music, housing). The
presentation, including snack, should be no more than 45 minutes.
By celebrating what is special about all of the people in the world,
we can learn to better appreciate one another. If you or another
family member is available to come in to present to Kindergarten,
please let us know so we can start scheduling these wonderful
opportunities for learning. Talk to your child about your family heritage to encourage self-knowledge and a positive self-concept.
One of the biggest challenges of parenting is keeping your child safe, and the thought
of anything happening to them can be terrifying. By teaching your child their address
and phone number, you are helping your child to take charge of their own safety.
Take your child outside and show them the numbers written on your house, curb, or
mailbox. Point out the numbers on different houses. Ask if they are the same. Ask,
"Where do you live? What's your address?" Walk down the street until you get to a
street sign. Show the name on the street sign and explain how the child's address tells
people how to find this road if they want to get to their house.
Stress the importance of knowing the whole address so they don't get confused or lost.
In addition to their address, your child needs to know:
-their full name
-their parents' first and last names, (Mommy and Daddy is not enough!  )
-their phone number.
Important Reminders
The Apple Lady is coming to Kindergarten on Nov. 3 at 9:00. She will present information on
the many ways colonists used apples
Daily Prayers
Every day we say prayers in the morning and afternoon. The children are learning them and would benefit from reinforcement from
home. Please continue to review the prayers with your children. Thank you for your help! Prayers can be found on the class website.
Children will be tested on proficiency of these prayers.
Wish List
Cloth Frisbees: Neon Animal Print Flying Discs; Oriental Trading Col. IN-12/4008
Per Dozen
Upcoming Events
Oct. 20
Belvedere Plantation
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
Oct. 30
Nov. 1
Nov. 1
Nov. 2
Nov. 3
Nov. 3
5:00-8:00 Spirit Night Chick-fil-A 25 Dunn Dr Stafford
1:30 Halloween Party
NO School Diocesan Day
Daylight Savings Ends, set clocks BACK one hour!!!
All Saints Day
All souls Day
9:00 Apple Lady Visit
Electiion Day
Nov. 4
Picture Day Students may dress out of uniform for
picture day. Church attire please!
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
Nov. 19
11:30 Dismissal Conferences
11:30 Dismissal Conferences
11:30 Westminster at Lakeridge; Thanksgiving with Grandmas/Grandpas
Words of Wisdom:
General Information
Chuckles and Heart-Warmers
While working on writing sentences, Mrs. Chien asked, “What comes at the end of a sentence?” One
of the children responded, “A pyramid!”
Pennies for Peru
The St. Francis School “Pennies for Peru” program was established in September 2007. This is an on-going
monetary collection to aid the members of our Sister Parish in Peru. Thank you for supporting this very worthy
cause.
Box Tops and Campbell’s Soup Labels
We are collecting Box Tops and Campbell’s Soup Labels. Please send them in a plastic bag in the Boomerang
folder. We will be collecting these throughout the year.