Mrs. Blickenstaff’sNews

Sept. 11th-15th

Dates to Remember:
  • Sept. 13th – first library day!
  • Sept. 20th – early release at 12 PM
  • Oct. 2nd-6th – Fall Book Fair
  • Oct. 4th – early release at 12 PM
  • Oct. 5th – Academic Night (more info. to come)
  • Oct. 25th – early release at 12 PM; conferences
  • Oct. 26th – early release at 12 PM; conferences
Important Reminders
  • Remember to have your children to school on time as often as possible. We begin instruction after announcements (around 8:05 AM).
  • Don’t forget to send a snack with your child EVERY DAY! They are starving by 9 am! 
  • Wear tennis shoes on PE days; Monday &Thursday
  • Bring a water bottle daily
  • Car riders need a sign with their grade level for easier dismissal
/ Homework:
  • Read, read, read! Encourage your kids to read daily for at least 20 minutes. Take them to the library, allow them to earn new books, or anything that will get them excited about reading!
  • I will begin sending “Just Right” readers, sight words, and other literacy homework within the next few weeks.
  • Encourage your child to read to you and review common sight words (to, the, my, me, we, this, that, why, when, is, it, too, number words, color words, etc.).
  • Practice counting to100 or higher (goal for the end of the year is at least 120) each day by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s forward and backward.
  • Practice writing letters and numbers often!
  • Reversing numbers and letters is common at this age, but do point out the reversals and show the correct way to write the letter/number.
  • Start using the 120 chart and sight word activities suggested in your child’s purple folder.

What are we Learning About?
  1. Reading and Writing
  • Mentor Texts – Chrysanthemum, The Kissing Hand, David School Rules, No, David!
  • Building reading stamina, “Good Fit” books
  • Three Ways to Read – read the words, read the pictures, retell the story
  • Decoding and Comprehension strategies
  • Words Their Way – Introduction of spelling sorts; review kinder sight words
  • Writing Conventions – left to right, complete sentences, punctuation
  • Story writing routine
  • Correct pencil grip, posture, and letter formation
  1. Math
  • Calendar Focus – place value, coins, tally marks, comparing numbers
  • Math Skills – counting and writing numbers up to 50, number bonds, base ten blocks, graphing, number lines, number words
  • Math Workshop – explore math manipulatives
  1. Science
  • What is a scientist? What does a scientist do?
  • Matter – What is matter? Sorting buttons, sorting crackers (shape, texture, color, size, and other attributes)
  • Vocabulary – attribute, matter, sort, properties
  1. Social Studies
  • Classroom, lunch, hallway, restroom, recess, and dismissal rules and routines
  • School safety
  • Be a good friend, get to know everyone, be a good student

100 High Frequency Words

*Please practice any words from these lists your child does not know. They are expected to read all of these words by the end of the year.

List 1
than
about
back
after
I’m
been
big
came
away
your
who
when
them
because
from / List 2
have
there
any
into
just
little
make
before
two
four
mother
where
very
could
were / List 3
over
ride
don’t
said
that
one
with
five
their
what
but
here
going
our
three / List 4
want
able
bad
give
today
week
something
bus
year
can’t
tell
across
world
cat
take
dad
hide
almost
dog
anything
home
down
become
end
behind
fish
why
car / List 5
books
good
help
city
write
top
room
under
fast
hill
know
use
let
place
sleep
love
much
stay
name
new
paper
rain
door
fun
sky
both
time