Our animal unit is in full swing!  We have been reading all about amphibians and reptiles.  We have been working with arctic animals and North American forest animals.  This week, we will be choosing animals to do our oral reports on later on in the unit.  Look for the research for those reports to go home during the week before Kindergarten assessments.

We are down to several weeks left in the school year.  It's really crunch time!  We need to step up our reading to end on a really strong note!  Bu sure to read with your child at least 20 minutes a day.  Please be sure that at least 5-10 of those minutes consist of your child reading to you.  This is essential!  

We are still short a few drums.  Please send those in ASAP.  Thank you!

We start our final IB unit of the year this week.  This is a great one!  We will kick off with a zoo trip, and go from there.  The unit culminates with a presentation on a animal of the students' choice.  As before, research will be sent home for you to use with your child to prepare the report.  You will get this research before the Kindergarten Assessment week so that your  student will have lots of time to prepare. 

Read, read,read!  We have several weeks left, let's really go for it!  Please be sure to read with your child daily.  Let's get these ready for first grade!

Off we go!  The fourth term in upon us!  Nine more weeks to work with the kids, nine more weeks to read as Kindergarteners, nine more weeks to learn shoe-tying, coat zipping, or any other skills not mastered yet.  I can't believe the time has gone so fast!

I am excited to experience job reports this week!  These are always fun to see.  Please remember to use posters that are not too thick to hang up (maybe I'm too late with this reminder).  Here is the grading rubric once again:

The People in our Neighborhood

I was ready to present on time ___

I spoke clearly ___

I had visual aids or dressed up ___

I presented by myself ___

I showed knowledge of my job ___

I talked about the tools used in my chosen job ___

I presented at least three interesting facts about my job ___

I answered questions about my job ___

I kept within the required time (2½-3½ minutes) ___

I was a respectful listener as others presented ___

Each point is worth 10 points for a total of 100.

We will be going to the zoo on April 18th (Thursday) to kick off our last IB unit, How the World Works (Animal Parade).  We will need 5 chaperones from each class.  Please volunteer for this if you were not a chaperone on the farm trip AND you are familiar with the children in the class.  If you are chaperoning, no siblings please, you will need to focus on the five children assigned to you.

Let's really step up the reading for this last term and go out with a big bang!  Please be sure to do a MINIMUM of 20 minutes reading with yoru child each night.  By now, your child should read to you for at least 2 of those 20 minutes.  9 weeks left - we can still make a big difference!  Thank you!