Mitten Mania!

Dear Families:
This week, our focus was returning back to doing literacy based centers, introducing Guided Reading Groups, and finishing up Topic 6 in math. Our theme this week centered on The Mitten, by Jan Brett, and some of her other winter-based stories.

In Fundations, we officially learned the last two letters of the alphabet: z and qu!

"z, zebra, /z/"

"qu, queen, /kw/"

Next week, we will begin Unit 2 in Fundations, which features "tapping" or sounding out, three-letter words (CVC words).

In addition, students will refresh their knowledge on writing the alphabet in Uppercase letters.

We will also begin learning about "Sight Words," which are words that cannot be sounded out phonetically to read or write. These words must be taught, and memorized by the students.

Reminders: 

* Please remember to send your child to school wearing whether appropriate clothing. Now that we are getting into the bitter cold of winter, it is important that your child wears hats, gloves/mittens, and a heavy jacket to school. Please note that we do go outside for recess unless it is below freezing out.  

* There will be no school on Monday, January 18th due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Please help your child remember to bring his/her library book to school on Tuesday so he/she can borrow a new book. 

*If you are interested in chaperoning for our upcoming field trip on January 29th, please let me know as soon as possible! 

*Don't forget check the "What We're Learning" tab to find out more about Unit 2 in Fundations, and Topic 7 in enVision Math, understanding addition. 

Guiding Questions:

- Ask your child to tell you the sounds all the letters make

- Can your child write the whole alphabet using lowercase letters? 

- What was your child's favorite center this week?

- Which book by Jan Brett was your child's favorite?

-Can your child retell the story The Mitten? Can he/she remember the animals that went into the mitten in order?

- Have your child count to 100 by 1s, 2s and 10s. 

Students participating in the "Mitten Greet," where students picked a mitten in the middle of the circle and had to say good morning to the mitten's owner. 

Have a wonderful long weekend!