we learn all about apples

Curriculum Corner Theme: Apples

Reading- We will continue with the same heart words—words that we need to know “by heart.” These words are: I, is, like.

We will discuss attributes of words—sounds, creation, and spaces between words.  We will begin discussing capital and lower case letters.  Our Star Book (explained more at Back to School Night), is Caps for Sale. We will do comprehension work related to this book.

Writing- We have been writing everyday and making many pieces of writing.  We will then learn how to pick our favorite piece and publish it (now we can add markers/color etc!).  Later on in the week, we will start with Small Moments.  Small moments capture stories and experiences we have had in our life—ones that are closest to our hearts.

Math- We will start work on numbers 11-20.  We will practice writing using a variety of sensory tools: sand, salt, paint, and shaving cream.  We will do related apple activities as well.

Science- Apples!  We will touch on a variety of Science standards during this unit: history of Apples and Johnny Appleseed, seasons, observations, plants/part of an apple, graphing etc.

Happy Birthday to…

Gus Grand- September 11*

Joe McDonald- September 25

Zeyong Wang-Sept. 18

Important Dates September 15- Back to School Night @ 6:30

September 24^th- Deadline for Scholastic Book orders.

** Breaking NEWS*

• We have 5 new room parents for the year!  They are: Maggie Gumbinner, Trena Mills, Hilary Singho, Galen Acar, and Lisa McDonald.  Look out for any emails from them in the near future!
• murchkindergarten3.wordpress.com This is my semi-completed website for our class!  I will post more pictures to discuss more what we have been up to!
• Homework:

o   Please bring in an apple (red, yellow, green will do!)

o   Write heart words on an index card and practice daily.

o   Read for at least 15 min. a day.

o   Find numbers 1-20 around in our daily lives.

• The Murch Mustang went home with Claire Abrams this Friday.  Next Friday, Zoe Blanton will take home “Rachel” (what our class voted on for our Murch Mustang’s name).

* Any Questions? Feel free to email Ms. Fitzpatrick  katelyn.fitzpatrick@dc.gov *

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our friendship circle

Read All About our Kindergarten class…

Curriculum Corner Theme: Caterpillars

Reading- We are learning that words are made up of letters which have certain sounds. We are making ABC books, working with words in our monthly poems (“It is September,” or “Friends, Friends 1,2,3″).  We have started ‘heart’ words this week—words that we need to know “by heart.” These words are: I, is, like.  I have also been taking individual students to perform the DIBELS assessment on reading. The data we receive from this assessment will help form the base for our small groups in the future.

Writing- We have launched Writing Workshop.  The students are allowed to write about whatever they want—with a focus on writing about themselves.

Math- We have read, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and are doing counting related activities which integrate this story!

Social Studies- We are learning about being unique individuals and about our families.  This is a two/three week unit on community.

Happy Birthday to…

Gus Grand- September 11

Joe McDonald- September 25

Zeyong Wang-Sept. 18

Important Dates September 15- Back to School Night @ 6:30

** Breaking NEWS**

• I am going to send out a complete list of our students’ names with parents’ email addresses.  If you would NOT like your email posted for the class, please email me.
• Homework:  I will send homework home periodically—it is essentially for extended work that we are working on at school.  It is by no means mandatory—just something extra I feel could be beneficial. Please don’t stress about it, or feel like you need to turn it in unless otherwise noted.  **Homework sent home today includes a Calendar, which I will send home every month.  Practice forming numbers to fill in the dates, and discuss the days of the week.  The number sheet is just a cute rhyme which helps children learn how to form numbers.
• We will start the Murch Mustang routine this Friday.  Our Mustang will go home with one student per weekend and that child/parent will write all about their weekend with the Mustang.  More specific directions are included in the book that will be sent home with each specific child.   It is a great way to build community, practice writing skills, and keep your friends updated on your weekend.
• We will need three-four room parents this year!  Duties include: planning/setting up parties, scheduling events etc.  I will accept the first 3-4 that send me a request email.

* Any Questions? Feel free to email Ms. Fitzpatrick at  katelyn.fitzpatrick@dc.gov *

Kindergarten Butterflies

Ms Fitzpatrick,

September 1, 2o1o

• The IMPACT survey that was sent home is to help determine the amount of funding DCPS gets from the federal government.  We are required to have all surveys returned to Murch.  So please send them in ASAP.
• My email is katelyn.fitzpatrick@dc.gov.  I will be sending Newsletters and class announcements through this email from this point on. If you have not received an email from me using this address, please send in your address in your child’s folder.
• Last week we integrated pumpkins throughout our lessons, as we read seasonal books and carved a pumpkin.  We did science investigations with the pumpkins and will be carving a “Jack-O-Lantern” face closer to Halloween.
• The students are doing wonderful with the math concept of graphing.  We graphed our eyes, hair color, birthdays, gummy bears, and even characters from Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
• I have decided that our words of the week (which we call our “heart words”) are so important; that we will be spending two weeks on the selected words of the week to be sure the children are really learning these words!
• Due to our field trip being cancelled on Friday, we re-scheduled the trip for November 3rd.  We will be putting up a new chaperone list outside for any parent volunteers.
• Snack this week will be provided by Paty Bravo’s family.  Thank you to Duncan’s family for providing last week’s snack!
• Minh Do will take home the Murch Mustang this week.

Overview of the Week Ahead:

November 14th: We will be having a pot luck dinner at Kathryn Harllee’s house (Lucy’s mother).  This is a Murch tradition, where all the parents meet for dinner and bring a dish.  I will send something closer to the date with directions and time.
October 23rd: We will start reading with Ms. Martell-Stevenson’s fourth grade class for buddy reading.
October 24th: Fall Fair 12:00-4:00.
October 29th: Halloween Party and Parade.  (More details will follow.)
Theme of the week: Leaves

Reading: We will finish reading the literature book, Corduroy. We read these books five times each, so children become familiar with the text, and then can read it on their own once we put multiple copies on the shelves.  We will also be reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, focusing on sequencing and summarizing.

Writing: We will continue writing about personal stories and small moments in our lives.  We will be attaching 3 copies pieces of paper together to help the children stretch out their stories.

Math: We will work with the concepts of more than and less than, in greater terms.  We will also start measuring common objects with non-standard and standard units.

Social Studies: Unit of Study: “We are all citizens in our community.”  We will learn and practice our home addresses.