Language Arts :· Our theme continues to be, “AMAZING CREATURES!” This week, w e will enjoy fiction and non-fiction literature as we compare and contrast animals from long ago to the animals we know about today. This week we will review all previously taught high-frequency words. Math: This week we will continue our unit in math that focuses on understanding addition as putting together and adding to, and understanding subtraction as taking apart and taking from. Fluency in adding and subtracting within 5 and counting by ones and tens to 100 are also focuses. Academic Vocabulary : +, plus sign, means add; =, equal sign, means is the same as; teen numbers, group of ten and some more, calculator, one more, one less, number path, fewer/lesser/least, ten frame, double ten frame, expression, equation, number sentence Annoucements: WELCOME BACK! We hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather and had a relaxing time with family during the break. We are now in the home stretch with exactly 19.5 school days left! We will stay busy practicing for our end of the year performance, completing our end of the year assessments, and discussing how much we have grown and learned as Kindergartners! Please make sure your child comes to school every day… VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON: We would like to thank all volunteers for volunteering your time on field trips, in the classroom, office, library, cultural arts day, field day, and the list goes on. As a “Thank you!” we would like to invite you for a volunteer luncheon on Thursday, May 1 st from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in room 403. Kindergarten Performance- Save the Date : Wednesday, May 7 th will be our end of the year Kindergarten Performance. This year, for your convenience, we will have two parent performances. You may choose to come to the morning performance at 10:00A.M. or the afternoon performance at 1:30 P.M. Parent Volunteers Needed : We are in need of your expertise! Do you know how to tie-dye shirts…are you creative in stage decorations, or do you just have some time to spare? For the show to be a success, we are in need of a few parents from each teacher’s class to volunteer their time or talent. If you are interested, PLEASE let your child’s teacher know. **GALLERY NIGHT PROJECTS: If you were not able to join us for Gallery Night, you may still send in a donation towards your child's auction item. $5.00 is suggested, but not required. Please send to school in an envelope marked “Gallery Night”. Proceeds help us pay for supplies and a portion will be donated to the St. Tammany Humane Society. Thank you! Dates to Remember: May 1 PTA Volunteer Luncheon May 8 PBS Celebration May 5-9 Staff Appreciation Week May 7 Kindergarten Performance at 10:00am & 1:30pm May 15 Field Day May 16 Newspaper Drive May 23 End of 4 th Nine Weeks/ Half Day for Students Homework: Reading to your child nightly is the most effective homework you can do to foster literacy development. Please read to your child daily and have them retell the story to you. Writing: Need some ideas of what to write about this week? Draw pictures and write about what you plan to do this summer! Have your child practice personal information like recognizing their first and last name, birthday, address, phone number, and counting to 100 by 1’s and 10’s. The time spent on homework should not exceed 15 minutes daily. Essential Questions important to our theme: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Addison 4/30 Colin 5/8 Payton 5/19 Jursey 5/22 Erin 5/27 April 28-May 2, 2014 · Why are creatures important to our lives? - What is the difference between fantasy and reality? - What are the similarities and differences of creatures? - All kinds of creatures are in our world.