Dec. 18, 2015

12-18-15

          

KB News

Social Studies - Festival of Lights

Kwanzaa.   – An African tradition that will start on December     26 and lasts for seven days.

            -Mkeka- A mat on which the symbols of Kwanzaa are placed.

-Kinara – A candleholder.  The seven candles are called the mishumaa saba.  There is one black candle in the center, with three red candles and three green candles.  The black candle is lit on the first day of Kwanzaa and another candle is added each day until all seven are lit.

-Kwanzaa Hug Card

      Las Posadas – Hispanic tradition December 16^th-24^th

            -Made luminaries – Paper bag candles placed outside of their houses

-Made poinsettias

Jolly Phonics: Please have the children review Tricky Word Charts 1, 2 and 3 at home. The Tricky Word charts were given out at conferences. Thank you for working with your child on sound books and word lists found in the Jolly Phonics Envelopes.

Important Date:

            Dec. 22           Big Blast and Limo Rides – Cadet Wear

            Dec. 23-Jan. 1 Winter Break

            Jan. 4              Classes Resume

            Jan. 8              End of 2nd Quarter/ 1^st Semester

            Jan. 12                        Beginning of 3rd Quarter/2^nd    Semester

Happy Holidays!

Dec. 11, 2015

12-11-15

KB News

Lead 21 –Literacy: Home and Family. Unit theme “What makes a home?”  This week we focused on the question, “What do families do at home?”

Writing: Being a Writer curriculum promotes students’ growth as “skilled writers”.  Students become creative accomplished writers and critical thinkers.  The children listen to multiple genres and authors while learning the craft of writing.  This week the children listened to the story  My Favorite Bear  by Andrea Gabriel. The children discussed how authors write about facts and things they know. As a class the children generated an “Animals We Know About” chart. The children used their iPads to write down names of animals that peaked their interest.  From the list the students then created their own stories about an animal and shared it orally with the class.

The words are, can, have, some, and they were added to the classroom word wall. The students were able to use the word wall as a reference when they created their stories.

Math: This week we worked on playing various games that involved the numbers 1-20. The focus of these games was to reinforce number recognition and number comparisons.

Social Studies: Festival of Lights

St. Lucia Day – Swedish tradition December 13^th

-Lucia wreaths – Girls made a wreath of evergreens to wear on their head, and the wreath is adorned with candles.

-Star Boy caps-Boys made tall pointed hats covered with stars to wear on their head.

Hanukkah- Jewish tradition December 6th – December 14th  (this year)

The following activities were done this week to learn about Hanukkah.

-Menorahs- A special candleholder, used only for Hanukkah.  It has eight branches that represent the eight nights of the holiday.  The ninth branch holds the shammash or “ helper” that lights the other candles.

-Blue Stars- Hanukkah decoration

Important Dates:

         Dec. 18           Winter Party

            Dec. 22           Big Blast and Limo Rides – Cadet Wear

            Dec. 23-Jan. 1 Winter Break

            Jan. 8  End of 2nd Quarter/ 1^st Semester

            Jan. 12            Beginning of 3rd Quarter/2^nd    Semester

Dec. 4, 2015

12-4-15

          

KB News

Lead 21–Literacy: Home and Family. Unit theme “What makes a home?”  This week we focused on the question, “Who is part of a home?”

Writing: We read the story titled My Friends by  Taro Gomi. The class made an “Our Friends” chart and talk about friendship. The children then independently drew and wrote about their friends.

Math: This week we made a color graph identifying our favorite colors.  We also learned how to use a pan balance that balanced blocks and washers.

Social Studies - Festival of Lights

Christmas projects completed this week:

-       Reindeer which are pulling Santa’s Sleigh in the hallway.

^-               Santa Stars hung in the hall.

^-               Choir people that are displayed in the hallway. They have their mouths open because they are busy singing Rudoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

^-               Christmas tree puzzles that were sent home.

Sharing: Next week please have the children bring in an item that represents or reminds them of a family Holiday tradition.

Jolly Phonics: Please continue to review letter sounds at home. Thank you for working with your child on sound books and word lists found in the Jolly Phonics Envelopes.

Assemblies:

The LaCrosse Children's Theatre performed Stuart Little on Monday, November 30^th in the High School auditorium.

            On Friday, December 4th we watched a presentation by The NED Show. NED is a loveable cartoon character whose name is an acronym for Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best. The NED Show was simple, relatable and kid-focused.

Nov. 20, 2015

11-20-15

KB News

Lead 21 –Literacy: Home and Family. Unit theme “What makes a home?”  This week we focused on the question, “Why do we need a home?”

Writing: We read the story titled Lunch by Denise Fleming. The children discussed how authors write about things they like to eat. As a class, the children generated a list of their favorite foods. Then from the list the students created their own stories.

The words like, of , and to were displayed on to the word wall in our classroom. The students were able use the word wall as a reference to write about their favorite foods.

Math: This week we worked on measuring items in the room with unifix cubes and paper clips.  We also worked on number identification and sequencing activities using number cards 0 to 20.

Sharing: We will not have sharing next week.

Social Studies: We have read various books about Thanksgiving this week.  Number Turkey, Thankful Owls, and pilgrim hats were some of the activities completed this week by the children.

    Weather: Our cold winter weather is here! Please remember to dress your child according to weather conditions.  The children go outside for two fifteen minute recesses and one thirty minute recess, so we would appreciate your help making sure your child comes to school with a hat and mittens.  Also, when snow is on the ground please have them wear snow pants and boots.  It may also be a good idea to put an extra pair of socks and mittens in their backpack as the children get pretty wet playing outside in the winter. Thanks for your help!!

Reading Buddies: Flashlight Reading activity with Mrs. Kisleys’s 4^th grade students.  We had a great time connecting and reading with the 4^th graders. 

Important Dates:

Nov. 25                     No School Teacher In-service

Nov. 26-27              No school Thanksgiving Break