Welcome to Kindergarten!

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Reading

We're working in our last reading unit: Becoming Avid Readers.  We've practiced playing school with our books, acting out the emotions of the characters, and using precise words.

Our shared reading book was Where Are You Going? by Kimberlee Graves and Rozanne Lanczak Williams, and our read-aloud was Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister.

We have 72 "snap words" on our word wall, including all 25 from the first list.  We are working our way toward the 78 words on our list (see lists below.)  Students should be able to read 50 words fluently (within 3 seconds) and out of order by the end of the year. Being able to read these words in a snap is important because it improves the overall fluency of a reader.  We're hoping students know about 40 snap words by this point in the year.  If you don't, please practice your snap word power in order to read end-of-kindergarten books.  Ways to practice include reading, flashcards, Lexia, Bingo, Memory/ Concentration, and Old Maid.

Writing

In writing we continued with our persuasive writing books. Students added reasons in their writing to convince others to make a change, and reread their books to find areas where they could revise their writing. They also wrote letters asking for help to fix the problem they wrote about in their books.

Handwriting

We finished all of our lowercase letters.  We have several practice pages to go.

  • Click here for information about pencil grip and letter and number formation.
  • Click here for information on how to build fine motor and visual motor skills.

Math

We have wrapped up Module 4.  Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts within 5.  We hope for students to be fluent in these facts by the end of the year, just like our snap words.  Module 5 focuses on numbers 10-20.  We want students to know a teen number is a group of 10 with some more.

Science and Social Studies

In our Animals Two by Two unit, we learned about the structure of fish and what fish do. Students observed the goldfish and answered the questions - What are the parts of a goldfish? and What do goldfish do?

Social/Emotional Learning

Ms. Patterson continues to come in to co-teach our Second Step Lessons. This week we taught Lesson 24: Handling Name Calling.  There was no Home Link.

Important News/Dates

- Friday, May 24 - All library books are due this week!

- Friday, May 24 - Olympic Day, 8am

- Thursday, June 6 - Weather permitting, our last day of school will be spent across the street at Longfellow Park.  All are welcome!  Pack sunscreen and a swimsuit for the splash pad.  We'll be there approximately 9:40-11:20 and 1:10-2:45.

- Please let us know if your child is not returning to Longfellow next year.

- On rainy days, students line up in the PKP hallway.  PLEASE DO NOT COME RIGHT TO THE CLASSROOM.  Students can enter the building through the lunchroom, the Jackson door, or the front door.  If you're not walking your child in, please ask them to tell you where the PKP hallway is, in order to confirm they know.  If you miss our line in the PKP hallway, please go to the office for a tardy pass.

- Please keep a set of spare clothes in cubbies/lockers at school in case of accidents, spills, mud, etc.

Fantastic Fridays

May 24: Longfellow Spirit Day/Team Day

Wear your favorite spirit wear, either for Longfellow or a team of your choice!

May 31: Mix-Match

Stripes and polka dots? Yes! Put on your silliest clothes in the most mismatched way possible!

Thursday, June 6: Flip-Flop/Sandal

Celebrate the end of the end of the school year by wearing your favorite flip-flops or sandals!

Special Area Teachers

Special Area Teachers

Art - Ms. Raia - email

Library - Ms. Pearce - email

Music - Ms. Friesen - email

P.E. - Ms. Patterson - email

Spanish - Señora Lynch - email

PTO

Keep clipping those Boxtops! Every Boxtop clipped adds 10 cents to the PTO Budget which allows it to do more great things for the school. 

Helpful Links

Great Websites for Kids

Please always monitor your child while on the internet.

Important Policies