Curriculum Updates

Phonics/Letter Awareness We worked hard on rhyming, beginning sounds, blending words and spelling them. We continue to work on HFW in our weekly poems along with rhyming words. The students also learned about the word families –ot, -ig, -en.

Math We talked a lot about number sense in math. We have been working on grouping numbers, teen numbers and writing our numbers. We also have been working on number order and counting to 100. We will begin working on addition and subtraction this next month.

Reader’s Workshop We have added some new books to our browsing boxes. We dug deep into our non-fiction research. (otherwise known as the “matrix”) We have been talking about what scientists do and how they observe. It has connected well with our project lead the way in science.

Poetry The students have really enjoyed our poems each week. The poems we did in January were “Three Blind Mice,” “A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track,” “Jack Sprat,” and “A Chubby Little Snowman.” We learned new high frequency words and some new word families.

Writer’s Workshop In writer’s workshop we continued working on our writing process. We also began talking about the “why” in our stories. We also continued to talk about how our sentence should begin with a capital letter and end with a period. We began writing on lines in our own journals and we have begun writing more than one sentence. We talked about using two pictures to match our two sentences. The students are becoming wonderful writers. I can’t wait to share with you at conferences. In February, we begin writing book reviews.

Last Month’s Highlights

Jackson Elementary February 2016

Ms. Rutter’s

Classroom News

SCHOOL NEWS

Jackson Pride The students are still continuing to work hard with Jackson PrideJ They are doing a wonderful job as we earned our 3rd PAW party in January.

January Events Wildlife Refuge Fieldtrip: We had a wonderful time on our field trip. Thank you to all of the volunteers that came out to help. Pictures are posted on the website.

Theme We began Project Lead The Way. The unit is entitled “Structure and Function.” We are learning to be scientists and engineers. The students’ are using fairy tails to create and explore different projects while changing their designs to make them better. We reflect on what we created and what we needed to change to make it work. The students are having a lot of fun with it. In February we will be exploring “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “The Three Little Pigs” where the students will be creating beanstalks and houses.

Social Studies: Dental Health Math: Groups of 10, Number stories, sorting. Writer’s Workshop: Book Reviews Reader’s Workshop: Visualizing Poetry: Word Family Poems Phonics: Ending and Middle Sounds, blending, spelling. Science: Project Lead the Way

Website Go to www.shakopee.k12.mn.us Schools (Jackson), Classes (Kindergarten), Ms. Rutter. I will post all weekly updates, pictures, and other information. Thanks!

Ms. Rutter’s Classroom Newsletter Page 2

Upcoming Events February 16th, 18th, and 23rd: Conferences/Book Swap

Friday Feb. 12th: Valentines Party

Monday Feb. 15th: NO SCHOOL (Presidents Day)

Wednesday Feb. 17th: Book Orders Due

Friday Feb. 19th: 100th Day of School!

Valentines Party

Friday February 12th is our Valentine’s Party. We do not need volunteers for this party but students are allowed to bring in valentines. Your child can bring in valentines but we ask that they just sign his/her name. Please do not address to each student in the class as it takes quite a while to pass them out. A letter is in today’s folder with more details.

Book Orders Thanks again for all of the book orders received last month. This month all book orders will be due on Wednesday February 17th. Please look through the flyers and because we had orders over $50 last month, Scholastic gave a “free book” coupon to all of you. It is attached to your book order today!

Conferences Conferences are Feb. 16th, 18th, and 23rd. If you have signed up for your conference time please do so as soon as possible. It is essential that you attend to see your child’s progress. This will be the last conference this year. If you have any questions regarding your child’s time do not hesitate to contact me.

100th Day We will be celebrating the 100th day of school on Friday February 19th. We are going to be doing a variety of activities to celebrate the big day!!

I Love to Read Month!

February is “I Love to Read Month.” We have a month full of activities with special Friday’s. A letter was sent home in today’s folder with details of our “theme Friday’s.” Please let me know if you have any questions.

Be A Guest Reader

During the month of February we will be having guest readers come into our classroom. We would love to have YOU!! In today’s folder is a detailed letter with times and opportunities. If you are interested, please fill it out and return it to school.

Report cards will be sent home next Monday. Please look over them carefully and if you have questions please do not hesitate to contact me or we can talk during conferences.

Report Cards Upcoming Curriculum