Week of April 28-May2, 2014

Kindergarten News 

~This week we will be introducing the two sounds of digraph th.  Digraph th makes a voiced (vibrating) sound as in feather and an unvoiced sound as in thimble.  This will be difficult, so going over daily worksheets to review would be helpful!  Please continue to practice writing and reviewing sounds with your child at home.  There will be NO Show and Tell.

**Word List 23 will be tested on Thursday or Friday, May 1^st or 2^nd.

~For Reading we will begin the story The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.  It is a classic fantasy story, and we will be talking about how trains move.  We will be learning more about short /u/ sound and the comprehension skill, plot.  Watch for your new Family Times newsletter on Monday.

~In Math, we will be working with Topic 12; Measurement.  We will be comparing objects by length, height, capacity, and weight.  Review the new math words; longer, shorter, as tall as, taller, and lighter.

~The last round of DIBELS testing will begin this week.  Students will be tested on many of the same skills as they were at the mid-year testing.  Review blending sounds to read nonsense words and break words apart into the individual sounds, or phonemes.  Kindergarten is scheduled for Thursday, 5/1 and Friday, 5/2.

~At the beginning of May the Reading teachers will test each child for an End-of-the-year Kindergarten test.  Children will need to write a dictated sentence or two, recognize, write, and give the sound of every letter of the alphabet, be able to provide a word that begins with every letter of the alphabet, and be able to write as many words correctly in 10 minutes.  (HINT:  word families provide lots of words)  Please try at home to work on some of the areas to be tested to ensure that your child is fully prepared. 

            ~White order forms for our Kindergarten Graduation DVD were sent home in your child’s folder on Friday, 4/25.  Please return it to your child’s teacher no later than Monday, May 5^th.  PLEASE NOTE:  NO orders will be taken after this date in order to have the DVDs by the end of school.  **Each DVD will be $10 and checks can be made out to Legal-Eze video.

            ~Monday, April 28^th will be Kindergarten’s last day to shop at the school store.  The school store will be closing on Friday, May 2^nd for this school year!

            ~Students attended the PTO sponsored program BRAINSHOWMANIA this past Wednesday.  The boys and girls really enjoyed the fun, game-show style assembly!

            ~FYI:  “A Child’s View” insert for Kindergarten was printed with the Thursday, April 24^th edition of the newspaper.  Our class’s entries and photo were included in this special edition!!!

            ~If your child plays baseball for an organized team, then please do not have your child wear his/her team cap to school.  We do not want the caps to get lost or forgotten at school, resulting in your child missing his/her cap for a game.  Thank you!!!

            ~Due to the Science PSSA testing for Fourth Grade, Kindergarten and 4^th grade will be switching schedules for specials and lunch on Monday, 4/28 and Tuesday, 4/29.  Kindergarten will have specials 11:00-11:40 and Lunch 11:40-12:10 for those two day.

Monday, April 28^th will be Day 5 – Be sure to wear gym attire and sneakers on Monday!  Don’t forget library books for exchange on Thursday, May 1^st.  **Please note that Thursday, May 1^st will be the last time students will borrow new books for this school year.  All books will then need to be returned by the following exchange day.