March 4, 2011

Dear Families,

I hope you had a nice week of vacation last week! My trip to Colorado was wonderful and we snowboarded in Breckinridge, Keystone, and Vail. Later in the trip it started snowing and it was so amazing to snowboard in fresh powder! Of course, adjusting to the high altitude was a little challenging!

Here are some highlights for the week:

• Star of the Week: Kai-Ting
(On our website under “Curriculum” and “Star of the Week.”)

• Letter of the Week: D
(You can see our computer center drawings in the “Classwork” section of our website.)

• Story of the Week: Pip and Squeak

• Writing: In our journals on Monday, we wrote about what we did over vacation. Also, the week we were assessed on whether we are writing our sentences with capitals, spaces, and periods. We wrote about our favorite season and explained why.

• Language Arts: We have been learning about Dr. Seuss this week because his birthday was on Wednesday. We read many of his books and practiced our rhyming words. We made a portrait of the Cat in the Hat, and then wrote different –at rhyming words on the stripes of our cat. Students should be able to master rhyming words at this point of the year. We also made our own striped hats today during Friday Centers and took a silly picture! Finally, we learned some facts about Dr. Seuss including his real name, his birthday, and why he wrote some of his most famous stories! On Tuesday, we had a special visitor from the Cupertino Rotary come to read us the story, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!” Also, Mrs. Rowe and Roselyn read us Dr. Seuss stories!

• Math: We started a new unit this week on more numbers from 11-20. We have been practicing writing our numbers from 1-20 (or more) and we also reviewed our shapes, sorting, patterns, and identifying the days of the week and months of the year. In addition, we reviewed showing more than, less than, and equal to, using two groups.

• Computer Lab: Since it was Dr. Seuss’ birthday this week, we did a rhyming activity using Kidspiration. We had to match pictures of different objects that rhymed. You can see an example of a finished project on the “Classwork” section of our website. Please continue to review rhyming words with your child!

• Science: Our focus for the next few weeks in science is to talk about weather, specifically rain. This week we introduced the poem, “Plip! Plop! Raindrop!” and started learning about the water cycle. Students began learning some big vocabulary words such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

• Social Studies: In Friday centers, we learned how to make origami fish! This activity was related to Dr. Seuss’ book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Our Friday parent helpers, Madhav and Madeline’s mom, helped to teach students how to make origami fish to match this book. Some students were not able to finish the four fish, however, I sent home the directions so students can finish them at home.

• Art: On Thursday, Mrs. Abada read us the story, “Where the Wild Things Are.” Afterwards we talked about opposites. Using tear art, we made a picture of a monster and then the opposite of a monster. Also, we got to take home our clay bird nests that we made last month! We were very excited.

• Assembly: Today we had a kick-off assembly for the Walk-a-thon on Wednesday, March 23rd. All kindergarteners need to come in the PM Session. Also, we had Madeline and other Kindergarteners from Room 1 perform a play that they prepared for Destination Imagination!

Since it is raining on and off, I’d like to remind everyone where to wait when you come to school. AM Kinders, if it is raining, you can wait by the covered lunch tables in front of Room 8’s door. PM Kinders, if we are having an indoor recess, then you can wait in the hallway side of Room 8. However, if you see the rest of the school outside for recess (even though it may be sprinkling), please continue to wait in our regular spot. This has to do with student supervision. If 1st-5th grade is outside playing, then no one can supervise the hallway area. Thank you for understanding.

Finally, Nobuaki’s family will be moving and his last day with us is on Wednesday, March 16th. Please plan on saying goodbye to Nobuaki and his family, and your child can make a card or something special for Nobuaki!
Have a great weekend!