Butterfly News

October 13-30, 2009
 
 

Vocabulary Sight Word of the Week

Go (Oct.13^th)
For (Oct. 19^th)
Put (Oct. 26^th)
 
 

Mark you Calendar
 

Oct. 30^th- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Oct. 15^th- Picture Day

Nov. 2^nd- First Day of Reading Street (new Kindergarten curriculum)
 
 
 

What is Reading Street?

Scott Foresman Reading Street an all-new reading instruction program that will be implemented in all Kindergarten classes at McNair Elementary. Reading Street is designed to help teachers build readers through motivating and engaging literature, scientifically research-based instruction, and a wealth of reliable teaching tools. The reading program takes the guesswork out of differentiating instruction with a strong emphasis on ongoing progress-monitoring and an explicit plan to help with managing small groups of students. In addition, Reading Street prioritizes skill instruction at each level, so teachers can be assured they will focus on the right reading skill, at the right time, and for every student.
 
 

Family Time

Reading/Language Activities

Encourage your child to identify capital and lowercase letters. Use ideas from the Theme 1 Home Activities to make the letter shapes in sand, with jelly, or with other materials. Write your child's name and talk about the lines and/or curves that make up each of the letters.
 

Book Share

Go to the library or share books with friends. Suggest a topic of interest, such as marine animals, and have friends select books based on the topic. Ask a librarian to help children gather books based on topics of common interest. Children can then get together and talk about what they have read.
 

Vocabulary Boost: We're learning words about our senses! Here are some words to discuss with your child: hear, see, senses, smell, taste, touch.
 
 

Family Time

Look at family pictures and talk about family stories. Encourage your child to draw a picture of your immediate family members. Help your child label the picture, using terms such as “uncle,” “cousin,” and “grandmother” in addition to their names. Ask questions, such as Who is Mom's brother? How is (Frank) related to you? You can also collect photographs or illustrations of families from magazines and newspapers. Make sure to include diverse family groups.

Talk about the people in your neighborhood and the stores and buildings that make up your neighborhood. Use blocks and a variety of art materials to create a model of your street. Take an imaginary walk down the street, stopping at each “store” or “home” to name the owner or occupants. For example, say: (Mrs. Martinez) lives here. Who lives next door to (Mrs. Martinez)?  Have your child ring the bell and introduceherself/himself to the neighbors.

Math Activities

Recognizing Numerals

Together page through newspaper or magazine headlines or advertisements to look for the numerals 1 through 5. Encourage your child to name each numeral. Ask if these numerals are anywhere else in your home.
 

Order Words

Use order words when you talk with your child. Use the terms first, next, and last when you are referring to events in a series. For example, use these terms while you are getting dressed for school in the morning. Say: I put on my pants first. Next, I put on my two socks. I put on my shoes last.

You can also use these terms while you are playing with your child. For example, if you're building a tower with blocks, you can say: First, I put the biggest block at the bottom. Next, I put a thin, tall block. Last, I put the small, round block.
 

Counting

Gather groups of up to five common household items, such as spoons, jar lids, crayons, and blocks. Place the objects in groups of one to five objects each. Touch and count each of the items in one of the groups. Have your child do the same for that group and for the remaining groups.

You can also create groups by combining different types of household items. For example, you can place one spoon, two crayons, and one block together for a group of four items.
 

Number of Objects

Display up to five common household items, such as spoons or crayons. Ask your child to pick up or hide a certain number of objects, up to five. Take turns touching and counting the number of objects and naming each one. You can also ask your child to close her or his eyes. Remove one or more objects. Ask your child to touch the objects and tell you how many are left.

Games with Senses

As you talk with your child, describe sights, sounds, tastes, and textures using number words. For example, you can say: I see two bright lights, I hear three clicking sounds, and I eat one ice cream. You can also have your child close his or her eyes and describe what he or she sees, hears, tastes, and touches. Encourage her or him to use number words.

Go for a short walk around your neighborhood. Choose one sense, such as hearing, and ask your child to focus on that sense. Have her or him name the sounds he or she hears as you point them out. Count the number of sounds you hear. On the return trip, choose a new sense and continue the activity.
 
 

Return to McNair School's website

Return to Ft. Bragg Schools' website

page updated 10-14-09