Week 6 of stay at home...

Hi all!

Zoom meetings will continue once every 10 school days as long as your schedule (and mine!) remain the same.  I will have other Zoom meetings with my administration that may "pop up" and I need to attend.  If this happens during one of our scheduled times, I will need to reschedule our meeting.  I understand that things are going to "pop up" in your schedule as well.  Just let me know and we can reschedule.

Let's do a Class Zoom Meeting on Friday, May 1 @ 11:30 with Mrs. Myers!  We can say hi and see some of our friends from class.  I will send the invite out on Thursday.  Hope to see many of you!  

If your family is in need of a tablet to help out with school work/ online activities, IWCS will distribute iPads for elementary school students (K-5) at Smithfield Middle School on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, 4/29 4:00-8:00 and 4/30 9:00-1:00.  You will need an ID and a pen.  Only one iPad per family and only the adult noted as the parent/guardian in PowerSchool may pick up the iPad.  For more details, check the CAES website:  caes.iwcs.k12.va.us

I learned of a reading app that once it is downloaded, you no longer need internet to access the books!  It's called Reading IQ.  I checked it out and it says it has books from grades 2 - 12.  Although we are not that old yet, there should be some good books that you and your family can read together on there!  No internet required!

Don't forget that all IWCS parking lots hotspots.  Free internet access - just drive up and log on.

All for now...I'm just an email away if you need me! 

Week 5 of stay at home...

Z is for Zoom!

Zoom meetings have begun!  It was so fun seeing and talking to some of you this morning!  I can't wait to see and talk to the rest of you this week and next week.

Learning packets for the next 2 weeks are now available digitally as well as in printed form.  Visit the CAES website - caes.iwcs.k12.va.us for digital copies.  Printed copies are available at CAES (self-service) until 8:30 tonight and from 8:30 in the morning until 8:30 at night tomorrow 4/21.

WHRO is presenting VA TV Classroom Monday - Friday each week.  Kindergarten through 3rd grade learning time is from 1:00 until 2:00 each day. I googled VA TV Classroom and was able to find out what topics would be covered each day for Kindergarten.  You can do this too if you are interested in seeing what the learning will be about each day.  I did download the schedule and I can try to send the schedule to you digitally if you'd like.  Let me know!

Jack Hartmann Kid's Music Channel (YouTube) is another fun online resource.  He has a lot of dancing/ singing videos about sight words, letters, vowels, numbers, counting, subitizing, etc. These are a great way to get your child up and moving while learning or reviewing.

If you need a Class Code for Epic! send me an email request.

Zoom you soon! 

from Mrs. Hall!

Here is her newsletter!  The link also includes some activities that you may want to try!  Have fun!

Here's the link: bit.ly/2R4HW9hEngagingEngineeringActivitiesForYoungMinds

Week 4 of Stay at Home...

Hi parents and boys and girls!

I miss you!  I am staying home and staying well right now.  I hope you and everyone in your family are, too!

You should be able to continue with new activities this week from the link I sent you last week from education.com.

Don't forget to read and log in your steps - just like we used to do at school.  Use your own paper to write down your steps.  If you just can't stand it and you really want a reading log to keep writing on, I can hunt up a digital copy for you and send it through email :)  Let me know!

How about 4 STAR writing?  Have you tried any of that since we've been out?  Can you remember what you get the 4 STARS for?
1.  Capital letter at the beginning/period at the end.
2.  Meatball spaces.
3.  Spell your Power Words correctly.
4.  Used letters and sounds to try to spell other words.

Here are some ideas to write about if you can't think of anything: 
-Draw and write about the desert, the ocean, the forest, the savanna.  What they are like and the animals that live in each ecosystem.
-We were getting ready to learn about the rain forest ecosystem.  If you want to find some rain forest books to read on Bookshelf, you can draw and write about that after you learn a little about it.
-Draw and write about spring.  How does it feel outside?  What are the trees like now that it is not winter anymore?  What have you seen buzzing and flying around outside?  What are you wearing when you go out to play?  What kinds of things are you playing outside / what are you doing outside?

Have your own Morning Meeting at home.  You will have to tell your family how it works and you will have to come up with a good question!  :)

I found this and thought this might be a fun game to play at home with tricky Power Words, the Power Words that you keep having trouble remembering.

Last thing - if you are not receiving Mr. Brennan's weekly emails - you can always check our school website:  caes.iwcs.k12.va.us
There are some things posted on the Home Page that you may find helpful.

And reach out to me if you have questions, need help, or just want to say Hi!
jsmith@iwcs.k12.va.us

Week 3 of stay at home...

Hi everyone-

I just sent out an email which you may find helpful.  It will come from education.com and you will see "Mrs. Smith has sent you free learning resources for your child." If you find it helpful, let me know and I will continue to send a new one each week.

Here's another online resource I've heard was a good one!
https://www.planesandballoons.com/

If you would like a digital copy of the 1G Power Words, 2G Power Words or 2G category words, let me know.

Don't forget you can play STMath (JiJi) from home!
If you complete 100% of STMath, I have another math program up my sleeve!  :)  Let me know!

If you did not receive the next 2 weeks of lesson plans from Mr. Brennan this weekend, let me know.

Last thing for now...have you been keeping up with your home reading steps?  I know you don't have enough boxes left on your log in your reading folder so it's okay to use a piece of paper to write down a book every time you read for 15 minutes!  

jsmith@iwcs.k12.va.us

The weeks ahead- continued...

Hi everyone-

I hope you got my email and are finding the Bookshelf app useful!  Here are some other online sites that may help with continued learning at home.  Don't forget your child can also log on to STMath at home

khanacademy.org  (fun, free learning for kids)

mo.willems.lunch.doodle  (We studied this author at the beginning of kindergarten and the boys        
                                            and girls really enjoyed his stories!)

jr.brainpop.com   user name: CAESCardinals  password:  caes2020  (free for approximately
                                                                                                                 the next 25 days)

gonoodle.com  (We use this at school all the time to get our wiggles out!)

getepic.com  (free for 30 days if you sign up - lots of books to read and read alouds)

starfall.com  (This has some fun, free reading and math activities!)

Enjoy and talk to you soon!  

The weeks ahead...

Hi parents and boys and girls-

I am at school working on things to send home for you to work on while we are out.  Mr. Brennan will be sending out a message soon to let everyone know when, where and how to come pick up your kindergarten packet from school.  Parents- at some point, check your email as later today I will be resending your child's Bookshelf login information.  This will give your child lots of opportunity to continue reading books on his/her level and also allow you to practice at the next level.  Using Bookshelf will provide lots of books that you can read TO your child as well.  Please email me if you do not receive the login information for Bookshelf by the end of the day.

jsmith@iwcs.k12.va.us 

Stay well and talk to you soon!
Mrs. Smith

Week 26 ~ Mar. 9 - Mar. 13, 2020

It’s conference time!  Please look for a sign up sheet in your child’s red folder this week.  I will confirm your time in your child’s red folder once you have returned your request.  Thanks!

Check your child’s reading folder…does he/she have at least 368 steps as of today?  If not, do some extra reading and log in those steps to get caught up!   

This week we will:

• Continue learning about the sound of short /o/
• Read and spell words –og and –op words (log, fog, mop, top, etc.)
• Learn to read the Power Words:  boy  girl   our
• review reading some of our harder (“rule breaker”) Power Words
• answer questions about stories that are read aloud
• distinguish between fiction and nonfiction stories
• use Power Words, letters and sounds to write sentences about different topics
• learn all about a desert and an ocean habitat
• recognize a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter and tell how much each coin is worth
• tell how many pennies is the same as a nickel, dime and a quarter
• Count by 1s, 5s and 10s to 100

Homework for the week:

• Ask your child to read and/or spell these words:  mat, bag, tap, ran, bet, leg, red, men, jog, hot
• read for 30 minutes every day and log in 2 Home reading steps
• practice Power Words  boy   girl   our
• review PWs that begin with ‘w’, ‘th’ and ‘h’ – these seem to be the most difficult for some to recall at flash speed

Important dates to remember:

• Mar. 9 – Costume Day ($1 donation to Relay for Life)
• Mar. 10 – Hat Day ($1 donation)
• Mar. 11 – Pajama Day ($1 donation)
• Mar. 12 – Optional Spring Picture Day – please let me know if you would like your child’s picture taken that day!   And  Stuffed Animal Day ($1 donation)
• Mar. 13 – Sports Day ($1 donation)
• Mar. 16 – No school for students

Week 24 ~ Feb. 24 - Feb. 28, 2020

I hope you and your family enjoyed the snow day on Friday!  The kids were super excited when the snow began to fall at school on Thursday!  The last few days of February are upon us and it sounds like they are going to be wet days.  Slip some dry clothes in those backpacks if you haven’t already done so in case we are able to get outside and play.  And thanks to all that have already done so and to those that are sending in notes / emails when your child is out of school.    

***Check Homework for the week.  I’ve been adding something to ask your child each week about school!  :)  

This week we will:

• Learn about a forest ecosystem – animals and plants, animal adaptations, food webs
• Continue learning about short /i/  - name, read and spell –ip and –ig words (exs. hip, lip, pig, wig)
• Learn to read the Power Words can’t  live  down
• Read all 1G PWs at flash speed
• Celebrate the 100^th day of school
• compare fiction and nonfiction stories
• identify characters in stories that we read aloud 
• identify the setting and events in stories that we read aloud
• use letters, sounds and Power Words to write about forest ecosystems
• compare the volume of 2 containers
• compare the weight of 2 objects
• identify the attributes of a penny and a nickel
• tell how much each coin is worth
• identify how many pennies is equal to a nickel
• count by 1s 5s and 10s to 100

Homework for the week:

• What does /i/ say? /a/?  How do you spell hat, map, van, bag, hit, win?  (Hint:  Tell your child to use the roller coaster if he/she is having trouble!)
• cut apart and practice reading the Power Words can’t  live  down
• read for 30 minutes each night – log in 2 Home Reading steps

Important dates to remember:

·       Feb. 24 – 100^th day of school

·       Feb. 26 – Black History Wax Museum expo (3^rd grade/Mr. Sciarotta) @ 6:00

·       Feb. 27 – Kids Heart Challenge @ 6:00

·       Mar. 2 – Book Fair begins

·       Mar. 6 – Grand Lunch – (our lunch is from 12:15 – 12:45)

·       Mar. 12 – Soring Picture day

·       Mar. 16 – No school for students

Week 23 ~ Feb. 18 - Feb. 21, 2020

A few reminders:  Don’t forget to send a note to excuse your child from school each time he/she is absent.  You can send a note in the red folder or email me or call the school.   Don’t forget to put ‘extra clothes’ in your child’s backpack.  The playgrounds are so wet but we’re Kindergartners and we really need to get out and play! :)  Don’t forget that the 100^th day of school is approaching (Friday, Feb. 21)!  Your child may dress as an “old person” on this day if he / she would like.  And finally…don’t forget to sign and return the report card envelope if you have not already done so.  Thanks so much!

This week we will:

• Learn about the sound of short /i/ and name, read and spell words with the –it and –in  chunks. (exs.  hit, bit, sit, quit and bin, pin, tin, win)
• Read all Power Words at flash speed and learn new PWs get  for  had
• recognize PW’s when reading and use them in our writing
• use letters and sounds to write a sentence (or 2!!!)
• listen to and answer questions about fiction and nonfiction stories that are read aloud
• continue comparing the length and height of objects and identify the shorter/ longer/ taller object
• begin comparing the volume/capacity of different containers
• learn why we celebrate President’s Day
• count to 100 by 1s, 5s and 10s
• count backwards from a given number

Homework for the week:

• ask your child to tell you what happened when we made root beer floats last week?  Which ingredient was the solid, liquid?  Was there any gas?
• practice all Power Words – learn to read get  for  had at flash speed
• read for 30 minutes each night and log in 2 Home Reading steps

Important dates to remember:

• February 21 – 100^th Day of School!
• February 27 – Kids Heart Challenge event (evening event)

Week 22 ~ Feb. 10 - Feb. 14, 2020

Valentine’s Day is Friday.  We will have a Valentine card exchange throughout the morning.  Send Valentine cards on Friday if your child would like to participate.

Report cards come home Wednesday, February 12.  Make sure you sign and return the envelope.  You may keep the contents of the report card envelope.

This week we will:

• Listen to stories read aloud and make predictions about what will happen next
• learn to recognize and read our new Power Words:   little  lots  has
• recognize, read and use all Power Words in reading and writing
• use letters/sounds to spell words and write our thoughts on paper (writing sentences!)
• decode and spell 1 and 2 syllable words
• blend sounds to read new words
• learn about the sound of short /e/ and name and read these patterns in words –eg  -et
• continue learning about measurement (length and height)
• count to 100 by 1s, 5s and 10s
• count backwards from a given number
• learn about water- different ways we use water and how it can be a solid, liquid or a gas

Homework for the week: 

·      ask your child to read these words: cap, mat, ran, sad, led, pen – these are all short vowel word families that we have been working on at school!

·      Name the 2 different kinds of clocks we studied (analog / digital) Which clock has hands?  (analog)

·      practice Power Words – especially the one’s that begin with ‘w’ and ‘th’!!!

·      read for 30 minutes – Log in two HOME reading steps each night in your reading log

Important dates to remember:

• Feb. 14 – Valentine’s card exchange
• Feb. 17 – President’s Day – No school
• Feb. 21 – 100^th day of school!
• Feb. 27 – Kids Heart Challenge event

Week 21 ~ Feb. 3 - Feb. 7, 2020

The 2^nd semester is here.  We are halfway through our kindergarten year.  Keep up with the reading and the Power Word practice every day.  Talk with your children.  Ask them about school.  I’ll be adding a question or 2 under Homework each week to help give you an idea of how to get something other than- “Nothing” when you ask your child what he/she  learned today. :) 

      

We will be having a Valentine’s Day card exchange on Friday, February 14 in our classroom.  Be looking for a list of student names coming home in the red folder this week!  

This week we will:

• Begin learning about a savanna ecosystem – plants and animals that live there; learn about savanna animal adaptations; a savanna food web
• Listen to stories and make predictions about what will happen next
• Review the Power Words up  went   that
• Practice reading Power Words at FLASH SPEED   - said  one  of
• Find Power Words in messages that we write or books we read together
• Begin learning about the sound of short /e/ and name and read –en and –ed words (Ben, den, hen, Jen, Ken, men, pen, ten and bed, fed, led, Ned, red, shed, Ted, wed)
• Use beginning and middle (short a and short e) sounds to decode and read new words
• blend sounds to read words
• use letters and sounds to write sentences
• name day/ night activities, activities that take longer/ shorter amounts of time
• recognize the differences in digital and analog clocks
• identify numbers to 100
• identify 1 more and 1 less than a given number
• count to 100 by 1s and 5s and by 10s

Homework for the week:

• What are the 5 different kinds of animals we’ve learned about? (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish)
• What number comes right after 29?  65?  17?
• read for 30 minutes each night and log in 2 books that you read for Home Steps in your reading log
• practice old and new Power Words said one of

Important dates to remember:

• Feb. 5 – Class Picture day
• Feb. 7 – GO RED – wear red for American Heart month
• Feb. 14 – Valentines exchange
• Feb. 17 – No school – President’s Day