Class of 2030!
Monthly News & Updates
Miss Hill and Mrs. Mall's News
March Themes:
Dr. Seuss
Weather/Rain
Rainbows/St. Patrick's Day
Farm/Chickens/Eggs
Classroom Needs:
We'd love to add some outdoor playground Items during recess: sidewalk chalk, bubbles, hula hoops, balls, goals/nets, outdoor easel, play kitchen, sand toys, etc. If you have outgrown any gently used items, we are happy to give them a new home.
Devices Donations Being Accepted in Kindergarten! Do you have an old phone/device that is WiFi compatible that you are no longer using? We’d love to adopt it! If you have a device you’d like to permanently donate to our class, please contact me.
Math: Addition and Subtraction within 5 - Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations. Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem. Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1). For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation. Fluently add and subtract within 5.
Literacy: Unit 6: In Our Community, We Learn About Ourselves and Our World by Reading for Information. In this unit students will discover more about the world around them through information books. Key Ideas and Details - identify the main topic and retell key details of a text, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text, name the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a text, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing or idea in the text and illustration depict), identify the reasons an author gives to support points in the text, and identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
Foundational Skills Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Associate the long and short vowel sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.
Speaking and Listening Participation in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small or larger groups. Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges. Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood. Describe familiar people, places, things and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.Writing: Unit 7: InformationalWriting - All About Books
Please continue to work with your child on our High Frequency Word List. The words we have learned thus far are expected to be read and spelled correctly. Word Wall (High Frequency) Words we have learned: a, an, as, at, and, be, by, but, can, come, do, for, go, has, had, him, her, he, him, I, in is, it, if look, like, me, my, no, not, on, see, said, so, she, the, to, up, was, with, will, we, you, will, were, what. This month we will add the words:big, little, down, here, have, some, all, out, are (See “reading resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home). (See “reading resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).
Upcoming March Dates:
2nd - EARLY RELEASE (Dismissal 1:15pm)
9th - PICTURE DAY (Class Photos, Dress Your Best!)
15th - 3rd Q Electives End
23rd - FIELD TRIP - Humpty DUmpty
26th - 4th Q Electives Begin
27th - Science Night, 6:00-7:45pm
29th - Move-a-Thon
30th - NO SCHOOL (Holiday)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February Themes:
Black History Month
Careers & 100th Day of School
Valentines & Sweetness
Dragons (Chinese New Year) & Teeth
Dr. Seuss
Report cards: were sent home in today’s Monday folder. Please sign and return the envelope, the paper inside is for you to keep.
Kindergarten Kindness - The Kindergarten team would like to “Share the Love” this month with 100+ acts of kindness. We are challenging EACH Kindergarten student to complete an act of kindness, something near and dear to their heart. Choose any act of kindness. It might be as LITTLE as helping your neighbor take their trash cans in/out this month, or BIG, such as :making/collecting treats for a local pet shelter. The choice is yours. A heart shape has been sent home who you child. Please use this heart to show with your class how you shared Kindergarten Kindness. You may write about what you did, or include a photograph. In addition to completing your heart, you are also welcome to send a video to you teacher. All Kindness hearts are due BY FEBRUARY 14th.
Valentines/Friendship In an effort to to promote healthy Hunter stars, we are requesting that if you send in a treat that you consider healthy choices (strawberries, fruit snacks etc.) Also, if your child would like to send in cards to friends, please be sure include a card for EVERYONE in our class. We have 20 students. You can find a list of friends in our class on our website. We are planning some educational activities (graphing, sorting, voting) with candy. If you would prefer for your child not to eat the candy, please let us know and we will provide them with another snack after the activity.
Math
Positional Words & Shapes– Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size. Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes. Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. For example, "Can you join these two triangles with full sides touching to make a rectangle?"
Addition and Subtraction Within 5 - Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations. Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem. Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1). For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation. Fluently add and subtract within 5.
Literacy
Literacy Unit: Review and practice community partnership rules. Establish new partnerships. Careful readers get their minds ready to read before reading. Readers teach each other in partnerships. Readers reread, rather than abandon books.Readers share and celebrate the funny parts. Participation in collaborative conversations with diverse partners . With prompting and support,identify the main topic and retell key details of a text. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant. Read common high frequency words by sight – Please continue to work with your child on our High Frequency Word List. The words we have learned thus far are expected to be read and spelled correctly. Word Wall (High Frequency) This month we will add the words: she, he, we, here, have, her, him, his, this, that (See “reading resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).
Reading Strategies we have learned: listen for interesting words, use the pictures, read good fit books, play with rhyming words, know letters and sounds, stretch or blend sounds in words, check for understanding, name the characters, setting, problem and solution, identify fiction, and nonfiction, retell the beginning, middle and end, identify beginning and ending sounds, connect to the story, chunk letters and sounds, name the author's purpose, making predictions, flip the sound (long/short vowels), practice sight words, and using punctuation.
Writing
How-To Writing
Use combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Spell simple words phonetically drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
Upcoming Events:
9th - 100 Days Smarter Celebration Day!
Early Release, Dismissal at 1:15pm
19th - Snow Makeup Day
23rd - Dance In
January Themes:
Resolutions & Snow
Mittens & Cocoa
Arctic Animals
Chaperones Needed: If you have been approved as a chaperone by WCPSS you are welcome to meet us at Marble Museum for our field trip on Friday, January 26th. We are in need of several chaperones to guide a small group about the museum. We will be arriving 10:15am and departing at 12noon (times are approximate). Please email if you can help! Chaperones will need to provide their own transportation and pay entrances fees upon arrival.
Hunter Magnet Tours will be held on Wednesdays in January. Be sure to spread the news to any prospective parents. We’d love to welcome new families to our Hunter Community.
Assessments: County wide benchmark assessments and mid-year assessments will be given in January. Your child will be assessed in both literacy and math. In literacy, your child will be assessed on: Letter Identification, (upper and lowercase), Letter Sounds, (upper and lowercase), First Sound Fluency (FSF), when told a word, they are asked to segment the beginning sound (cat “c” sound), Letter Name Fluency (LNF) when shown a list of letters, they are asked to tell the letter name, Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF) when told a word, they are asked to break apart the sounds in the word, Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF) when shown a nonsense word (such as vec, tun), they will be asked to read the word, Reading Level (TRC) and comprehension (characters, setting, making connections, providing supporting evidence in the text etc.), High Frequency (Word Wall) Words.
In math, your child will be assessed on: number identification (0-100), counting to 100 by 1s, and10s, subitizing, counting objects in an array, circle, line and scattered, teen numbers, counting on from 10, identify the missing number (5, ___, 7), quantity discrimination: more/less/equal (7, 9), count forward from any given number, writing numbers 1-20, positional words (such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to), identifying shapes regardless of orientation or size (square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, hexagon, cone, sphere, cylinder, cube), describing and comparing attributes of shapes (vertices, sides, faces, corners, angles) of 2-D(flat) and 3-D shapes (solids), building and drawing shapes.
Career Volunteers Needed: Do you have an interesting, fun, unique career that you’d like to share with our Kindergarten students? We are in need of volunteers to share during Career Week (last week this month). If you can help, please email and let us know what you’d like to share.
Math: count to 100 by 1s and 10s, count forward from any given number, describe objects in the environment, using the names of shapes and describe relative position in terms (such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to), name shapes regardless of orientation or size, identify 2-D (flat) and 3-D (solid) shapes, compare 2-D and 3-D shapes to describe similarities, differences, part, attributes, (vertices, corners, sides, length etc.), build and draw shapes, compose simple shapes to form larger shapes (such as combining two triangles to form a rectangle)
Literacy: Reading Unit 5: Partners Help Teach Each Other to Read
We will read texts with confidence and use the strategies to tackle unfamiliar words and understand the text. We will review and practice how to talk with a partner making several back and forth exchanges speaking in complete sentences and using phrasing and wordage that is taught. We will begin to see how authors carefully choose interesting words to describe (verbs) what characters are doing and how knowing this will help with understanding. We will ask questions so we can understand what are reading and help partners. We will use decoding strategies to figure out unknown words. We will look for familiar sight words in books. We will use evidence from the story to support our responses. We will share the main idea of the books and give events/ key details from the story to support our answers. We will learn how authors carefully choose interesting words to describe characters.
Writing: Procedural Writing - How Tos
Writing explanatory/informative texts that name what they are writing about and supply information, steps involved in How To. For example, How To Build a Snowman (First, Next, Then , Last).
Word Wall: Students are expected to be able to read and spell all the words we have learned and added to our “Word Wall”. We practice these words daily. Be sure to practice at home too. This month we will add the words: not, but, has, had, will, with, bog, little, down
December Themes:
Holidays
Elf, Reindeer & Moose
Gingerbread
Polar Express
Supply Needs: Black Printer Ink, thick white & color cardstock, 22 packets of hot cocoa, 3 bags of mini marshmallows, oats/oatmeal, glitter, cranberries, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips (to make reindeer food), a large jar of applesacue, a large container of cinnamon...
Volunteer needed to make gingerbread playdough. Please email if you can help.
BYOD in Kindergarten: The K team is excited to launch BYOD!
In December, your child is welcome to bring their device, Monday thorugh Thursday. You and your child need to submit the BYOD contract prior to sending a device.
We need your child's device ready to go. This includes being connected to our WAKE-BYOD Wifi, and downloading some apps we will be utilizing. Please download the app for Seesaw CLASS, Epic Books for Kids and a QR Reader. These apps are free!
We will likely ask for additional downloading as we progress. Bare with us--December will be our chance to “practice” with our devices and work out the kinks, so we are ready to integrate technology for our units after the new year.
Please note: Your child will be responsible for their device!!!! Students will be required to bring devices home at the end of the school day. Here is a link to more information from the Hunter website:http://www.wcpss.net/domain/6403
Devices Donations Being Accepted in Kindergarten! Do you have an old phone/device that is WiFi compatible that you are no longer using? We’d love to adopt it! If you have a device you’d like to permanently donate to our class, please email me.
Polar Express Day, December 2oth - Pajama Day …. we will watch the Polar Express movie and enjoy some hot chocolate!
December Math:
Reading and writing number words one to twenty.
Composing and decomposing numbers 11-19: teen numbers, ten frames/groups, composing and decomposing with objects, drawings and equations, partners of 10 (10=6+4), shapes (triangle, rectangle, square, circle, hexagon, cube, cylinder, sphere, cone), attributes of shapes (sides, vertices/corners), positional words, 2 and 3 dimensions of shapes.
December Reading:
Using Reading Strategies (Tricks & Tools for Reading): Crosscheck: Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense? Use tools/strategies to make meaning when reading. Identify patterns when reading: Do pictures repeat? Do words repeat? Do actions repeat? Does it rhyme? Using letters and sounds to read and build words, CVC words. Using syllables, phonemes, beginning sounds, rhymes, phonics, decoding, word analysis skills, high frequency words to read. Asking and answering key questions in a text. Asking and answering questions about unknown words in a text. Retelling and identifying characters, setting, beginning, middle, ending, problem and solution. Making predictions and connections. Recognizing patterns in books. Three types of endings: opposite endings, endings where the whole comes to light (whole something) and funny endings. Rhyming patterns and word families. Fluency: voice changes when reading. Dramatizing: our bodies come to life.
December Writing: Opinion Writing, forming an opinion and stating reasons for it. Continue to rehearse, plan and write complete sentences. Reread own writing and practice 1-1 correspondence. Editing your writing. Forming an opinion and state a reason for it.
Word Wall: Students are expected to be able to read and spell all the words we have learned and added to our “Word Wall”. We practice these words daily during meeting time. Be sure to practice at home too.
December Dates:
8th - Walking Trip to Ligon (Holiday Concert)
20th - Polar Express Day (Wear your Jammies)
21st - Early Release, Dismissal 1:15pm
22nd-Jan. 1st - NO SCHOOL (Vacation/Break)
Jan 2nd Back to School :0)
November News
Classroom Needs: color card stock, black ink for class printer Book Fair: November 13-17th. We will preview the books on Monday, November 13th and your child will bring home a list of books that sparked their interest. If you would like to purchase books for your child, please send money in an sealed envelope marked with their name by Wednesday morning. Our class will visit the book fair to purchase books on Wednesday.
Electives began! We are super excited about our new adventures in learning. Be sure to ask your child all about their elective.
Report Cards - are in today's Monday Folder (Nov. 6). Student Led Conferences will be held Thursday, November 9th from 2:30-3:30pm. We will begin in the media center. Your student will need to have one person present to help them set their 2nd Quarter goals. If a parent is not able to come, you may send a grandparent, older sibling, or someone so that your student can share their accomplishments and goals.
November Math: Understanding the relationship between numbers and quantities: counting to 100 by ones and tens, counting forward from a given number in any sequence, writing numbers 1-20, counting 20 objects in a line, rectangular array, scattered, or circle, identifying greater than, less than and equal, comparing written numbers 1-10, addition and subtraction stories, attributes: shape, size and color. Reading and writing number words one-twenty. Composing and decomposing numbers 11-19: teen, ten groups, partners of numbers, composing and decomposing with objects, drawings and equations.
November Reading: Using Reading Strategies (Tricks & Tools for Reading): Crosscheck-Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense? Use tools/strategies to make meaning when reading. Using letters and sounds to read and build words. Using syllables, phonemes, beginning sounds, rhymes, phonics, decoding, word analysis skills, high frequency words to read. Asking and answering key questions in a text. Asking and answering questions about unknown words in a text.
November Writing: We will practice adding details to our stories. Writing like scientists by observing the world around. Including observations of size, color, shapes, texture, and number in writing. Writing a story in sequence, beginning (including a character and setting), middle (including a problem) and ending(including a solution). High Frequency Words for November: me, you, and, come, was, said
November Reminders:
6th- Electives Begin
9th - Student Led Conferences
10th - NO SCHOOL (Holiday - Veterans Day)
13th-17th - Book Fair
16th - Curriculum Night, 5:30-8:00pm
17th - Fall Picture Make-up
21st - Early Release. Dismissal at 1:15pm.
22nd-24th - Thanksgiving Break
October Weekly Themes:
Nocturnal Animals (Owls, Spiders & Bats)
Pumpkins
Monsters (No worries…Fuzzy Fun Monsters!)
Classrooms Needs: 62 Hp Ink for classroom printer (black and color)
Big Universe: Thanks to WCPSS, your child has an online library account with Big Universe. Big Universe is a great resource to practice reading and great for non-fiction books. This site does not give you a "listen and read along" option but does allow you to create your own library so you can go back to re-read your favorites. BIg Universe link: https://www.biguniverse.com/signin
Student username: wcp+student ID #
Password: student ID #
Group username: wcpss
(This link is also accessible from our classroom website, click on “Helpful Websites" on the menu to the left.)
Library Books: Please return your library book weekly so your child can check out another book on when we visit.
Clothing: Please label all jackets/clothing with your child’s name. Also, please keep a change of clothes in a Ziploc bag in your child’s backpack for accidents - that could be as simple as spilt milk :0) If you child borrows clothing from Hunter’s clothing closet, we ask that you wash and return these items for others in need.
Word Wall Words: Each week we will learn 1-2 high frequency words. Your child will be expected to read these words and spell them correctly when writing. Words we have learned are displayed on our classroom “Word Wall”. Please practice reading and writing these words at home too. Thus far we have learned: a, I, like, the This month we will add the words: see, go, at, to, is, in, and, can
Toys – Please remember to keep toys and personal items at home.
MATH: ‘Digging Deep’ with Numbers 1-10: counting, writing (number formation), number words, number sentences, tally marks, ten frames, equal/not equal numbers, dot-to-dots, same, more/fewer, alike/different, order, number line, before/after, groups of numbers, counting to 100 by ones and tens, 5-groups, counting on, number patterns, +1 pattern, partners of numbers (9=5+4), ones, tens, teens and zeros, equal sign, and plus sign.
LITERACY: Print Concepts, Reading Behaviors, (See “parent resources” tab on class website to practice at home). When reading at home with your child, be sure to let them try to sound out some of the words. In the classroom, we practice ‘tapping out’ the word on our arm (cat, c-elbow bend, a-forearm, t- wrist) then swiping our arm down these spots to blend the sounds together and hear the whole word.
Reading Strategies – Upper/Lower Case Letter recognition and letter sounds, identifying title, author, illustrator, check for understanding using picture clues, making predictions, finding patterns, play with rhyming words, discussing our favorite part, set a purpose for reading (fiction/non-fiction), retell beginning, middle ending, exploring characters (adventures, feelings, voice),
Word Wall (High Frequency Words we have learned and are expected to read and spell correctly): a, I, like, the. This month we will add the words: see, go, at, to, is, in, and, can. (See “resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).
Writing: We are learning all about the tools that we need for writing: pencil, paper, crayons, space stick and eraser, counting how many words are in the sentence, to make sure that we have spaces between those words. Good writers make sure they write down all the sounds they hear when they say a word. We are practicing using ‘meatball’ spaces (between words) and ‘spaghetti’ spaces (between letters). We have learned letter formation for letters a-z practicing within the lines: chicken letters (a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x, z), tall letters (b, d, f, h, k, l, t) and descending letters (g, j, p, q, y)
September Themes:
All About Me
Pete the Cat & Colors
Apples
Rhyme Time
GOING GREEN: To cut down on paper waste, our class will correspond primarily via email ("Monday Memos"), Seesaw Digital Portfolios and our class website. Paper copies can be provided upon request.
ROOM PARENT: If you are interested in being a room parent please send me an email. We will certainly invite additional volunteers to help in other ways.
MemberHub: is our online PTA directory and source for information from your room parents, PTA, and administration. Please be sure to join for information and reminders on school events.
T-SHIRTS: We will be wearing our class t-shirts for all our Kindergarten field trips. (The shirt will be yours too keep at the end of the school year. The cost of the t-shirt is $8.50. Please send in payment by September 29th. If paying by cash please send in exact change. Please make checks out to: Aardvark Inc. Donations for other students are always welcome!
VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: We'd love to have you volunteer! All volunteers must complete an online clearance application via a WCPSS computer. Be sure to sign-up soon. Clearance takes about 3 weeks and is needed for helping in the classroom or joining us on field trips. Even if you have submitted your information previously, YOU MUST REREGISTER EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
MATH HOMEWORK: WCPSS provides homework for you to practice the skills we have learned in class. Hard copies will come home in your Monday folders from time to time. You and your child may complete these at your convenience. Math homework does NOT need to return to school.
ENRICHMENT HW: Enrichment Homework is OPTIONAL. Enrichment homework is provided on our class website. Simply click on the ”Enrichment HW” tab on the left. Enrichment HW provides an opportunity to work with your child at home.
CONTACT US: The best way to reach us is email. Also, you are welcome to call Hunter at 919.856.7676 and leave a message with the front office staff.
HUNTER WiFi: Join WAKE-BYOD to connect to our school WiFi.
EMAIL TEST: On Monday 9/11 I will send out an email to all email addresses that were listed on your child's information form. Once you have received , please respond so I know you have received it. If you wish to add an email, please send me an email. with the information attached.
SNACK CALENDAR: A snack calendar will be posted each month to our classroom website. We participate in community snack and ask that on or before your scheduled day you provide snack for our class (20).
September Goals:
Literacy: There are three goals for students in this unit: children love reading, children learn how to read, and children learn to build relationships around books. Identify letters and sounds. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print: follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page. Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book. Take a 'picture walk' to tell ourselves about the book adventure by using picture clues. Purpose for reading, what readers do (before, during. after) and more. Recognize and produce rhyming words. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussion (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion). Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
Math: Count to 100 by ones and tens. Write numbers 0-10. Count to answer, “How many?” Count objects in a line, scattered arrangement or array. Name successive numbers without recounting. Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger. Compare numbers (more, less, equal).
March Themes:
Dr. Seuss
Weather/Rain
Rainbows/St. Patrick's Day
Farm/Chickens/Eggs
Classroom Needs:
We'd love to add some outdoor playground Items during recess: sidewalk chalk, bubbles, hula hoops, balls, goals/nets, outdoor easel, play kitchen, sand toys, etc. If you have outgrown any gently used items, we are happy to give them a new home.
Devices Donations Being Accepted in Kindergarten! Do you have an old phone/device that is WiFi compatible that you are no longer using? We’d love to adopt it! If you have a device you’d like to permanently donate to our class, please contact me.
Math: Addition and Subtraction within 5 - Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations. Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem. Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1). For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation. Fluently add and subtract within 5.
Literacy: Unit 6: In Our Community, We Learn About Ourselves and Our World by Reading for Information. In this unit students will discover more about the world around them through information books. Key Ideas and Details - identify the main topic and retell key details of a text, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text, name the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a text, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing or idea in the text and illustration depict), identify the reasons an author gives to support points in the text, and identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
Foundational Skills Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Associate the long and short vowel sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.
Speaking and Listening Participation in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small or larger groups. Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges. Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood. Describe familiar people, places, things and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.Writing: Unit 7: InformationalWriting - All About Books
Please continue to work with your child on our High Frequency Word List. The words we have learned thus far are expected to be read and spelled correctly. Word Wall (High Frequency) Words we have learned: a, an, as, at, and, be, by, but, can, come, do, for, go, has, had, him, her, he, him, I, in is, it, if look, like, me, my, no, not, on, see, said, so, she, the, to, up, was, with, will, we, you, will, were, what. This month we will add the words:big, little, down, here, have, some, all, out, are (See “reading resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home). (See “reading resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).
Upcoming March Dates:
2nd - EARLY RELEASE (Dismissal 1:15pm)
9th - PICTURE DAY (Class Photos, Dress Your Best!)
15th - 3rd Q Electives End
23rd - FIELD TRIP - Humpty DUmpty
26th - 4th Q Electives Begin
27th - Science Night, 6:00-7:45pm
29th - Move-a-Thon
30th - NO SCHOOL (Holiday)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February Themes:
Black History Month
Careers & 100th Day of School
Valentines & Sweetness
Dragons (Chinese New Year) & Teeth
Dr. Seuss
Report cards: were sent home in today’s Monday folder. Please sign and return the envelope, the paper inside is for you to keep.
Kindergarten Kindness - The Kindergarten team would like to “Share the Love” this month with 100+ acts of kindness. We are challenging EACH Kindergarten student to complete an act of kindness, something near and dear to their heart. Choose any act of kindness. It might be as LITTLE as helping your neighbor take their trash cans in/out this month, or BIG, such as :making/collecting treats for a local pet shelter. The choice is yours. A heart shape has been sent home who you child. Please use this heart to show with your class how you shared Kindergarten Kindness. You may write about what you did, or include a photograph. In addition to completing your heart, you are also welcome to send a video to you teacher. All Kindness hearts are due BY FEBRUARY 14th.
Valentines/Friendship In an effort to to promote healthy Hunter stars, we are requesting that if you send in a treat that you consider healthy choices (strawberries, fruit snacks etc.) Also, if your child would like to send in cards to friends, please be sure include a card for EVERYONE in our class. We have 20 students. You can find a list of friends in our class on our website. We are planning some educational activities (graphing, sorting, voting) with candy. If you would prefer for your child not to eat the candy, please let us know and we will provide them with another snack after the activity.
Math
Positional Words & Shapes– Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size. Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes. Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. For example, "Can you join these two triangles with full sides touching to make a rectangle?"
Addition and Subtraction Within 5 - Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations. Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem. Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1). For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation. Fluently add and subtract within 5.
Literacy
Literacy Unit: Review and practice community partnership rules. Establish new partnerships. Careful readers get their minds ready to read before reading. Readers teach each other in partnerships. Readers reread, rather than abandon books.Readers share and celebrate the funny parts. Participation in collaborative conversations with diverse partners . With prompting and support,identify the main topic and retell key details of a text. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant. Read common high frequency words by sight – Please continue to work with your child on our High Frequency Word List. The words we have learned thus far are expected to be read and spelled correctly. Word Wall (High Frequency) This month we will add the words: she, he, we, here, have, her, him, his, this, that (See “reading resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).
Reading Strategies we have learned: listen for interesting words, use the pictures, read good fit books, play with rhyming words, know letters and sounds, stretch or blend sounds in words, check for understanding, name the characters, setting, problem and solution, identify fiction, and nonfiction, retell the beginning, middle and end, identify beginning and ending sounds, connect to the story, chunk letters and sounds, name the author's purpose, making predictions, flip the sound (long/short vowels), practice sight words, and using punctuation.
Writing
How-To Writing
Use combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Spell simple words phonetically drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
Upcoming Events:
9th - 100 Days Smarter Celebration Day!
Early Release, Dismissal at 1:15pm
19th - Snow Makeup Day
23rd - Dance In
January Themes:
Resolutions & Snow
Mittens & Cocoa
Arctic Animals
Chaperones Needed: If you have been approved as a chaperone by WCPSS you are welcome to meet us at Marble Museum for our field trip on Friday, January 26th. We are in need of several chaperones to guide a small group about the museum. We will be arriving 10:15am and departing at 12noon (times are approximate). Please email if you can help! Chaperones will need to provide their own transportation and pay entrances fees upon arrival.
Hunter Magnet Tours will be held on Wednesdays in January. Be sure to spread the news to any prospective parents. We’d love to welcome new families to our Hunter Community.
Assessments: County wide benchmark assessments and mid-year assessments will be given in January. Your child will be assessed in both literacy and math. In literacy, your child will be assessed on: Letter Identification, (upper and lowercase), Letter Sounds, (upper and lowercase), First Sound Fluency (FSF), when told a word, they are asked to segment the beginning sound (cat “c” sound), Letter Name Fluency (LNF) when shown a list of letters, they are asked to tell the letter name, Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF) when told a word, they are asked to break apart the sounds in the word, Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF) when shown a nonsense word (such as vec, tun), they will be asked to read the word, Reading Level (TRC) and comprehension (characters, setting, making connections, providing supporting evidence in the text etc.), High Frequency (Word Wall) Words.
In math, your child will be assessed on: number identification (0-100), counting to 100 by 1s, and10s, subitizing, counting objects in an array, circle, line and scattered, teen numbers, counting on from 10, identify the missing number (5, ___, 7), quantity discrimination: more/less/equal (7, 9), count forward from any given number, writing numbers 1-20, positional words (such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to), identifying shapes regardless of orientation or size (square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, hexagon, cone, sphere, cylinder, cube), describing and comparing attributes of shapes (vertices, sides, faces, corners, angles) of 2-D(flat) and 3-D shapes (solids), building and drawing shapes.
Career Volunteers Needed: Do you have an interesting, fun, unique career that you’d like to share with our Kindergarten students? We are in need of volunteers to share during Career Week (last week this month). If you can help, please email and let us know what you’d like to share.
Math: count to 100 by 1s and 10s, count forward from any given number, describe objects in the environment, using the names of shapes and describe relative position in terms (such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to), name shapes regardless of orientation or size, identify 2-D (flat) and 3-D (solid) shapes, compare 2-D and 3-D shapes to describe similarities, differences, part, attributes, (vertices, corners, sides, length etc.), build and draw shapes, compose simple shapes to form larger shapes (such as combining two triangles to form a rectangle)
Literacy: Reading Unit 5: Partners Help Teach Each Other to Read
We will read texts with confidence and use the strategies to tackle unfamiliar words and understand the text. We will review and practice how to talk with a partner making several back and forth exchanges speaking in complete sentences and using phrasing and wordage that is taught. We will begin to see how authors carefully choose interesting words to describe (verbs) what characters are doing and how knowing this will help with understanding. We will ask questions so we can understand what are reading and help partners. We will use decoding strategies to figure out unknown words. We will look for familiar sight words in books. We will use evidence from the story to support our responses. We will share the main idea of the books and give events/ key details from the story to support our answers. We will learn how authors carefully choose interesting words to describe characters.
Writing: Procedural Writing - How Tos
Writing explanatory/informative texts that name what they are writing about and supply information, steps involved in How To. For example, How To Build a Snowman (First, Next, Then , Last).
Word Wall: Students are expected to be able to read and spell all the words we have learned and added to our “Word Wall”. We practice these words daily. Be sure to practice at home too. This month we will add the words: not, but, has, had, will, with, bog, little, down
December Themes:
Holidays
Elf, Reindeer & Moose
Gingerbread
Polar Express
Supply Needs: Black Printer Ink, thick white & color cardstock, 22 packets of hot cocoa, 3 bags of mini marshmallows, oats/oatmeal, glitter, cranberries, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips (to make reindeer food), a large jar of applesacue, a large container of cinnamon...
Volunteer needed to make gingerbread playdough. Please email if you can help.
BYOD in Kindergarten: The K team is excited to launch BYOD!
In December, your child is welcome to bring their device, Monday thorugh Thursday. You and your child need to submit the BYOD contract prior to sending a device.
We need your child's device ready to go. This includes being connected to our WAKE-BYOD Wifi, and downloading some apps we will be utilizing. Please download the app for Seesaw CLASS, Epic Books for Kids and a QR Reader. These apps are free!
We will likely ask for additional downloading as we progress. Bare with us--December will be our chance to “practice” with our devices and work out the kinks, so we are ready to integrate technology for our units after the new year.
Please note: Your child will be responsible for their device!!!! Students will be required to bring devices home at the end of the school day. Here is a link to more information from the Hunter website:http://www.wcpss.net/domain/6403
Devices Donations Being Accepted in Kindergarten! Do you have an old phone/device that is WiFi compatible that you are no longer using? We’d love to adopt it! If you have a device you’d like to permanently donate to our class, please email me.
Polar Express Day, December 2oth - Pajama Day …. we will watch the Polar Express movie and enjoy some hot chocolate!
December Math:
Reading and writing number words one to twenty.
Composing and decomposing numbers 11-19: teen numbers, ten frames/groups, composing and decomposing with objects, drawings and equations, partners of 10 (10=6+4), shapes (triangle, rectangle, square, circle, hexagon, cube, cylinder, sphere, cone), attributes of shapes (sides, vertices/corners), positional words, 2 and 3 dimensions of shapes.
December Reading:
Using Reading Strategies (Tricks & Tools for Reading): Crosscheck: Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense? Use tools/strategies to make meaning when reading. Identify patterns when reading: Do pictures repeat? Do words repeat? Do actions repeat? Does it rhyme? Using letters and sounds to read and build words, CVC words. Using syllables, phonemes, beginning sounds, rhymes, phonics, decoding, word analysis skills, high frequency words to read. Asking and answering key questions in a text. Asking and answering questions about unknown words in a text. Retelling and identifying characters, setting, beginning, middle, ending, problem and solution. Making predictions and connections. Recognizing patterns in books. Three types of endings: opposite endings, endings where the whole comes to light (whole something) and funny endings. Rhyming patterns and word families. Fluency: voice changes when reading. Dramatizing: our bodies come to life.
December Writing: Opinion Writing, forming an opinion and stating reasons for it. Continue to rehearse, plan and write complete sentences. Reread own writing and practice 1-1 correspondence. Editing your writing. Forming an opinion and state a reason for it.
Word Wall: Students are expected to be able to read and spell all the words we have learned and added to our “Word Wall”. We practice these words daily during meeting time. Be sure to practice at home too.
December Dates:
8th - Walking Trip to Ligon (Holiday Concert)
20th - Polar Express Day (Wear your Jammies)
21st - Early Release, Dismissal 1:15pm
22nd-Jan. 1st - NO SCHOOL (Vacation/Break)
Jan 2nd Back to School :0)
November News
Classroom Needs: color card stock, black ink for class printer Book Fair: November 13-17th. We will preview the books on Monday, November 13th and your child will bring home a list of books that sparked their interest. If you would like to purchase books for your child, please send money in an sealed envelope marked with their name by Wednesday morning. Our class will visit the book fair to purchase books on Wednesday.
Electives began! We are super excited about our new adventures in learning. Be sure to ask your child all about their elective.
Report Cards - are in today's Monday Folder (Nov. 6). Student Led Conferences will be held Thursday, November 9th from 2:30-3:30pm. We will begin in the media center. Your student will need to have one person present to help them set their 2nd Quarter goals. If a parent is not able to come, you may send a grandparent, older sibling, or someone so that your student can share their accomplishments and goals.
November Math: Understanding the relationship between numbers and quantities: counting to 100 by ones and tens, counting forward from a given number in any sequence, writing numbers 1-20, counting 20 objects in a line, rectangular array, scattered, or circle, identifying greater than, less than and equal, comparing written numbers 1-10, addition and subtraction stories, attributes: shape, size and color. Reading and writing number words one-twenty. Composing and decomposing numbers 11-19: teen, ten groups, partners of numbers, composing and decomposing with objects, drawings and equations.
November Reading: Using Reading Strategies (Tricks & Tools for Reading): Crosscheck-Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense? Use tools/strategies to make meaning when reading. Using letters and sounds to read and build words. Using syllables, phonemes, beginning sounds, rhymes, phonics, decoding, word analysis skills, high frequency words to read. Asking and answering key questions in a text. Asking and answering questions about unknown words in a text.
November Writing: We will practice adding details to our stories. Writing like scientists by observing the world around. Including observations of size, color, shapes, texture, and number in writing. Writing a story in sequence, beginning (including a character and setting), middle (including a problem) and ending(including a solution). High Frequency Words for November: me, you, and, come, was, said
November Reminders:
6th- Electives Begin
9th - Student Led Conferences
10th - NO SCHOOL (Holiday - Veterans Day)
13th-17th - Book Fair
16th - Curriculum Night, 5:30-8:00pm
17th - Fall Picture Make-up
21st - Early Release. Dismissal at 1:15pm.
22nd-24th - Thanksgiving Break
October Weekly Themes:
Nocturnal Animals (Owls, Spiders & Bats)
Pumpkins
Monsters (No worries…Fuzzy Fun Monsters!)
Classrooms Needs: 62 Hp Ink for classroom printer (black and color)
Big Universe: Thanks to WCPSS, your child has an online library account with Big Universe. Big Universe is a great resource to practice reading and great for non-fiction books. This site does not give you a "listen and read along" option but does allow you to create your own library so you can go back to re-read your favorites. BIg Universe link: https://www.biguniverse.com/signin
Student username: wcp+student ID #
Password: student ID #
Group username: wcpss
(This link is also accessible from our classroom website, click on “Helpful Websites" on the menu to the left.)
Library Books: Please return your library book weekly so your child can check out another book on when we visit.
Clothing: Please label all jackets/clothing with your child’s name. Also, please keep a change of clothes in a Ziploc bag in your child’s backpack for accidents - that could be as simple as spilt milk :0) If you child borrows clothing from Hunter’s clothing closet, we ask that you wash and return these items for others in need.
Word Wall Words: Each week we will learn 1-2 high frequency words. Your child will be expected to read these words and spell them correctly when writing. Words we have learned are displayed on our classroom “Word Wall”. Please practice reading and writing these words at home too. Thus far we have learned: a, I, like, the This month we will add the words: see, go, at, to, is, in, and, can
Toys – Please remember to keep toys and personal items at home.
MATH: ‘Digging Deep’ with Numbers 1-10: counting, writing (number formation), number words, number sentences, tally marks, ten frames, equal/not equal numbers, dot-to-dots, same, more/fewer, alike/different, order, number line, before/after, groups of numbers, counting to 100 by ones and tens, 5-groups, counting on, number patterns, +1 pattern, partners of numbers (9=5+4), ones, tens, teens and zeros, equal sign, and plus sign.
LITERACY: Print Concepts, Reading Behaviors, (See “parent resources” tab on class website to practice at home). When reading at home with your child, be sure to let them try to sound out some of the words. In the classroom, we practice ‘tapping out’ the word on our arm (cat, c-elbow bend, a-forearm, t- wrist) then swiping our arm down these spots to blend the sounds together and hear the whole word.
Reading Strategies – Upper/Lower Case Letter recognition and letter sounds, identifying title, author, illustrator, check for understanding using picture clues, making predictions, finding patterns, play with rhyming words, discussing our favorite part, set a purpose for reading (fiction/non-fiction), retell beginning, middle ending, exploring characters (adventures, feelings, voice),
Word Wall (High Frequency Words we have learned and are expected to read and spell correctly): a, I, like, the. This month we will add the words: see, go, at, to, is, in, and, can. (See “resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).
Writing: We are learning all about the tools that we need for writing: pencil, paper, crayons, space stick and eraser, counting how many words are in the sentence, to make sure that we have spaces between those words. Good writers make sure they write down all the sounds they hear when they say a word. We are practicing using ‘meatball’ spaces (between words) and ‘spaghetti’ spaces (between letters). We have learned letter formation for letters a-z practicing within the lines: chicken letters (a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x, z), tall letters (b, d, f, h, k, l, t) and descending letters (g, j, p, q, y)
September Themes:
All About Me
Pete the Cat & Colors
Apples
Rhyme Time
GOING GREEN: To cut down on paper waste, our class will correspond primarily via email ("Monday Memos"), Seesaw Digital Portfolios and our class website. Paper copies can be provided upon request.
ROOM PARENT: If you are interested in being a room parent please send me an email. We will certainly invite additional volunteers to help in other ways.
MemberHub: is our online PTA directory and source for information from your room parents, PTA, and administration. Please be sure to join for information and reminders on school events.
T-SHIRTS: We will be wearing our class t-shirts for all our Kindergarten field trips. (The shirt will be yours too keep at the end of the school year. The cost of the t-shirt is $8.50. Please send in payment by September 29th. If paying by cash please send in exact change. Please make checks out to: Aardvark Inc. Donations for other students are always welcome!
VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: We'd love to have you volunteer! All volunteers must complete an online clearance application via a WCPSS computer. Be sure to sign-up soon. Clearance takes about 3 weeks and is needed for helping in the classroom or joining us on field trips. Even if you have submitted your information previously, YOU MUST REREGISTER EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
MATH HOMEWORK: WCPSS provides homework for you to practice the skills we have learned in class. Hard copies will come home in your Monday folders from time to time. You and your child may complete these at your convenience. Math homework does NOT need to return to school.
ENRICHMENT HW: Enrichment Homework is OPTIONAL. Enrichment homework is provided on our class website. Simply click on the ”Enrichment HW” tab on the left. Enrichment HW provides an opportunity to work with your child at home.
CONTACT US: The best way to reach us is email. Also, you are welcome to call Hunter at 919.856.7676 and leave a message with the front office staff.
HUNTER WiFi: Join WAKE-BYOD to connect to our school WiFi.
EMAIL TEST: On Monday 9/11 I will send out an email to all email addresses that were listed on your child's information form. Once you have received , please respond so I know you have received it. If you wish to add an email, please send me an email. with the information attached.
SNACK CALENDAR: A snack calendar will be posted each month to our classroom website. We participate in community snack and ask that on or before your scheduled day you provide snack for our class (20).
September Goals:
Literacy: There are three goals for students in this unit: children love reading, children learn how to read, and children learn to build relationships around books. Identify letters and sounds. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print: follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page. Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book. Take a 'picture walk' to tell ourselves about the book adventure by using picture clues. Purpose for reading, what readers do (before, during. after) and more. Recognize and produce rhyming words. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussion (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion). Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
Math: Count to 100 by ones and tens. Write numbers 0-10. Count to answer, “How many?” Count objects in a line, scattered arrangement or array. Name successive numbers without recounting. Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger. Compare numbers (more, less, equal).