Thank you for bringing your children back for the afternoon assessments. I will use this information to group children according to their academic needs.
Be Seen & Heard Assemblies
As you have heard in communications from Union School District, the district will be hosting the "Be Seen & Heard" assembly virtually (we will view the livestream in the classroom) this Wednesday, 9/20. If you were not able to attend the parent information night they hosted, more information about the assembly can be found here. Here is a brief summary about the K/1st grade content: This assembly will address the dangers of child sexual abuse, the differences between a safe and unsafe touch and a safe and unsafe secret, strategies to stay safe, and how to identify trusted adults. The phrase “sexual abuse” is not used. Please refer to the message sent through ParentSquare if you have any further questions about this assembly.
Language Arts
In language arts, we continue introducing letters and letter sounds, along with the handwriting of those letters, using the Fundations program. We have introduced Tt, Bb, and Ff, which are all "sky-line letters" and this week, we will introduce Mm and Nn, which are "plane-line letters." If you'd like more information about the formation of these letters to support your student at home, as well as posters that are similar to the ones we use in the classroom, please read this week's home support letter.
We will wrap up our drawing unit this week. Once we extend our day, we will begin moving onto labeling our pictures using phonetic spelling. We encourage children to sound out words on their own using their knowledge of phonics, and we encourage you to do the same. Rather than spelling words for beginning writers, have them listen for the sounds they hear in that word. If they spell "goat" as "got" at first, that is ok! This is a stage in writing, and we want the focus right now to be on developing their independence as writers.
We will also begin rolling out our Daily 5 literacy centers this week. Daily 5 "is a literacy framework that instills behaviors of independence, creates a classroom of highly engaged readers, writers, and learners, and provides teachers with the time and structure to meet diverse student needs." Children are placed in differentiated groups and cycle through different literacy centers each day, which includes meeting with me for small group instruction.
Math
We will continue reviewing both 2D and 3D shapes. Children should be able to name and describe these shapes: square, rectangle, triangle, circle, hexagon, cube, sphere, cone, cylinder.
Kimochis
This week, the Kimochis® Character named Huggtopus will join our classroom to teach your child about the feelings: silly, frustrated, excited, and proud. Huggtopus (or Huggs) is our Kimochis® Character who is strong and affectionate, but she sometimes gets a little carried away with her big, friendly personality. She might hug too tightly or play too roughly, which upsets her friends. This can be confusing and frustrating to Huggs because she doesn’t know why her friends say, “Don’t bother me.” With Huggtopus, your child is learning to read social cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and sounds from peers. Huggtopus also teaches children how to celebrate our differences. Huggs is a six-legged octopus and is proud that she is so unique!
Library Books
Remember to return your child's library book on Monday, so that they can check out a new book when we go to the library again on Wednesday. This week, we have Caitlin helping out in the library.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, 9/20: Be Seen & Heard Assembly
Friday, 9/22: Alta Vista Movie Night
Friday, 9/29: "Dry Run" of lunchtime procedures (more info to come)
Monday, 10/2: First Day of Extended Day (Dismissal at 1:40)
Friday, 10/13: Alta Vista Walkathon
10/19-10/22: Fall Break
