A Look into the Kindergarten Year
This second semester is a most challenging time for Kindergartners at Valley. It is an opportunity for all children to use the incremental sounds of phonograms and form meaningful words and sentences; truly a large step into the integrated skill of language arts. We will be learning the remaining phonograms to 70, increasing the Focus Phonograms to 20, begin graded spelling and reading. Over the years of building Valley's curriculum, we believe that young minds can learn! from the very first year that I announced our LAST phonogram, thinking the children would cheer, what I heard surprised and taught me. The children groaned in disappointment; they WANTED to learn more! That is a consistent yearly reaction. Now, who can deny that thirst for learning?
Our Reading Log Challenge begins this quarter where children read to parents, keeping a log of every 10 books. for children this is a moment of practice, discipline and pride. For adults, our goal is strongly set on the FLUENCY that is gained. Fluency is a precursor to comprehension, the singular factor for the enjoyment and understanding what we read.
In Math, we will continue the practice and review of every previously taught concept, adding the identification of 3 dimensional shapes, time to the hour, money to the quarter and dollar, the fraction of halves and measuring. Our addition facts will increase to the sum of ten, and we will begin the understanding of subtraction.
In this clear academics, there is still the joy of poetry, excellent daily books read to the class, history and science topics and citizenry, and the Friday art project. Homework time will increase with the addition of the Reading Log Challenge, and spelling. Time with parent oversight is a valued factor that has added to the success of Valley's students; it is primary, never incidental.
In Extended Day, the class will explore the units of the Forest and Pond Life, Fairy Tales and puppetry, the works and book making of Eric Carle, Desert and Arizona life, Peoples of the World and Ocean Life. It is a rich and wonderful way to extend the learning day of young children (and 2 enthusiastic teachers)!
Please remember that our class is open daily for parent participation by signing up in the classroom. Your child would love to have you come in and witness their world. You are always welcome. It is also a wonderful way to see our beautiful new classrooms.
Our Reading Log Challenge begins this quarter where children read to parents, keeping a log of every 10 books. for children this is a moment of practice, discipline and pride. For adults, our goal is strongly set on the FLUENCY that is gained. Fluency is a precursor to comprehension, the singular factor for the enjoyment and understanding what we read.
In Math, we will continue the practice and review of every previously taught concept, adding the identification of 3 dimensional shapes, time to the hour, money to the quarter and dollar, the fraction of halves and measuring. Our addition facts will increase to the sum of ten, and we will begin the understanding of subtraction.
In this clear academics, there is still the joy of poetry, excellent daily books read to the class, history and science topics and citizenry, and the Friday art project. Homework time will increase with the addition of the Reading Log Challenge, and spelling. Time with parent oversight is a valued factor that has added to the success of Valley's students; it is primary, never incidental.
In Extended Day, the class will explore the units of the Forest and Pond Life, Fairy Tales and puppetry, the works and book making of Eric Carle, Desert and Arizona life, Peoples of the World and Ocean Life. It is a rich and wonderful way to extend the learning day of young children (and 2 enthusiastic teachers)!
Please remember that our class is open daily for parent participation by signing up in the classroom. Your child would love to have you come in and witness their world. You are always welcome. It is also a wonderful way to see our beautiful new classrooms.