Welcome to Room 104!

Hello New Parents of Room 104,

I want to personally thank you for choosing Murray Language Academy’s Kindergarten program! I am very excited to be your students teacher and I am happy to assist in this transition process. I want to highlight some useful resources to help you and your student prepare for Kindergarten. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out via email at vmelanson@cps.edu

To best prepare your student please use this summer packet reviewing all the skills they have learning in pre-school. The packet will last the whole summer, please do one page a day to keep skills fresh.

SummerPacketPREK

I recommend purchasing supplies early to get the best deal. Our supply list can be found here as well.

– 2 Composition notebooks
– 12 Glue sticks
– 1 pack Expo* Dry Erase Markers (colorful chiseled)
– 1 pack Expo* Dry Erase Markers (black and fine tip)
– Pencils: 3 dozen, Dixon Ticonderoga* only, please
– Large Pink Erasers: 2 three-packs, no pencil top erasers
– 3 Tissue boxes
– 3 bottles of hand sanitizer, pump top
– 3 packs of disinfectant wipes Clorox*
– Liquid hand soap: 2 bottles, pump top
– 2 packs of paper towels
– 4 boxes of paper Dixie cups
– Liquid school glue: 2 bottles, standard size
– 1 box gallon bag (boys)
– 1 box sandwich bags (girls)
– 1 pack copy paper
– 1 pack colorful Astrobright* paper
– 1 pack white cardstock
– 1 pack colorful cardstock
– 1 pack packing tape
– 1 pack scotch tape

Have a wonderful and safe summer! I look forward to meeting all of you at Kindergarten Orientation!

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Item Retrieval

Hello Parents,

Parents have until June 18th to retrieve any remaining items. The hours for June 18th are from 9AM to 4PM.

• Parents will ‘grab and go’ and will NOT have entry into the building.
• Items are already bagged.
• Parents must come to door #10 (the staff parking lot)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Mason.

Thanks!

E-Learning and Online Log – ins

Hello,

We are all set for online learning. I just send out an invitation for Seesaw Learning, our e-learning site. On Seesaw you will see students daily assignments and your students will be able to send me their work. Students can take photos, draw, write, take video, and much more. I will assign daily activities everyday. What you see when you log in will be the activities for Monday. You will see all your students assignments in their journal. If you have any questions check out Seesaw’s help page, this site is new to me too so I will help the best I can.

For reading we have two apps we use in class that I would like you to continue to use. I will be assigning books, quizzes, and phonics activities on Raz-Kidz online. We also have access to Epic Learning, this site is like the Netflix for children’s books. Students can choose popular and current titles to read, listen to, and they can watch videos.

I will be keeping office hours during normal school hours. I will be available via email, phone calls, texts, and dojo. All this is unprecedented and we need to work together as a community to make sure our students keep a sense of normalcy. I will try my best to give the best e-learning experience to you guys. I’ve never done e-learning so I do ask that you are patient, if something is not working please let me know and I will do my best to solve it.

I have provided a link to the district Kindergarten Packet for your convenience. Physical copies can be picked up at school in my mail box.

Raz-Kidz Login: www.raz-kids.com
*click ‘Kids Login*
*Use user name and password given in Dojo Message*

Epic Reading: www.getepic.com
*click log-in for students & educators – Then click enter email address to log in*
*Use user name and password given in Dojo Message*

SeeSaw: web.seesaw.me
*click login as a student*
*Use user name and password given in Dojo Message*

CPS District Kindergarten Packet:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UJD7zjsHIXDqgf_WFoUSrz-UGRpzzS5K/view

Please let me know if you have any questions, I should get a notification when you sign into Seesaw. Please try signing in today so I can solve any problems that may come up.

Thanks and stay safe!
Ms. Melanson

Week 26: Pushes/Pulls & Our World

Welcome to another week in Room 104,

We will be going to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s showcase of Jack and the Beanstalk on Monday. Please send your student with a disposable lunch and dressed in their Sunday Best! If you have any questions please reach out.

We are staying updated on the Coronavirus. What we know is that at this time CPS is keeping schools open and it containing the potential spread of the virus. School will be in session until we hear more from the district. If your child is sick please keep them home, if your child is showing any symptoms (cough, fever, upset stomach) we will call you and ask that you pick them up. We will continue to deep clean the classroom everyday and have student wash their hands every hour.

Sight Words: two, more, write, go, see

Spelling Words: their, use, on, each, which

This week we will learn…

Reading:  How can we read more challenging books?

• I can locate known words and read those words in a snap.
• I can monitor my reading for meaning, structure, and visual information. If my reading does not make sense, sound right, or look right I can fix it up.
• I can graduate to new reading powers. I can use picture power differently to read more challenging.

Phonics: How can we read more challenging books using decoding strategies? 

• I can blend word parts together.
• I can say, hear, and write all the sounds from the first to last.

Writing: How can our writing be easier to read?

• I can write a true story about my trip to the Orchestra.
• I can make a piece of writing beautiful by adding depth to the story.
• I can share and celebrate my writing.

Math: How can we sort to solve problems? How can measurement solve real life problems? How can we use math tools to solve problems?

• I can figure out and apply sorting rules as I play a game.
• I can use sticky notes to measure their heights to determine whether they are tall enough to ride amusement park rides.
• I can share and discuss my strategies for measuring and whether it makes sense.
• I can model number stories with counters and the subtraction symbol.

Science: How do we make a moving pinball change direction?

• I can explain that a moving object changes direction what another moving object exerts a force on it.
• I can explain my ideas and solutions to share with others.

Social Studies: Where do I live in the world?

• I can explain what a map is and how people use it.
• I can make a map of our classroom and include the most important locations.

Week 25: Pushes/Pulls & My World

Welcome to another wonderful month of Kindergarten in Room 104. There has been a sighting of a Leprechaun on the loose at Murray Language Academy. Mr. Mason has given Room 104 the very important job of designing and building a Leprechaun Trap. Please check out your student’s folder for more information.

Speaking of your students folder, this week you will find a new monthly calendar, newsletter, family project, and family bonus homework. You will also see important information outlining our units of study for the month of March as well as graded student work. Please check your student’s folder every night to keep up to date on all news in Room 104. Please turn in you field trip slip to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Tuesday. 

Sight Words: him, into, time, has, look

Spelling Words: we, when, your, can said

Specials: Monday – World Language, Tuesday – Art, Wednesday – World Language, Thursday – Art & Library, Friday – World Language

This week we are learning….

Reading Essential Question: How can we read more challenging books?

• I can look at the first two or three letter to help me read more challenging words in bigger books.
• I can solve words by first looking at the beginning parts of words and then moving my eyes to the ending of the word.
• I can locate known words and read those words in a snap.

Phonics Essential Question: How can I read more challenging books using decoding strategies?

• I can hear and say the first and last parts of words. I can blend word parts together.
• I can blend word parts together.

Writing Essential Question: How can my writing be easier to read?

• I can revise my own work and help my partner revise their work as well.
• I can choose a piece of my writing to celebrate and begin revising my work.
• I can end my writing with a strong feeling.

Math Essential Questions: How can I use measurement to help solve problems? How can I describe different shapes?

• I can compare and order straws by length.
• I can sort, count, and compare as I make and interpret a graph about pets.
• I can name, describe, and compare 3D shapes in everyday objects.
• I can analyze differences and relationships among 2D and 3D shapes.

Science Essential Questions: Pushes and Pulls, How do we make a pinball move to a certain place?

• I can use evidence to explain my thinking.
• I can explain that moving objects change direction when you push them, or when they hit something.
• I can explain that a moving object changes direction when another moving object exerts a force on it.

Social Studies Essential Question: Where do I live in the world?

• I can use positional words.
• I can explain what a map is and how people use it.

Week 24: Pushes/Pulls & African American History

Sight Words: some, her, would, make, like

Spelling Words: but, not, all, what, were

Specials: Monday – Art, Tuesday – World American, Wednesday – Art, Thursday – World Language, Friday – Gym

Hi Parents of Room 104,

Thank you for coming to Murray’s Annual African American Fair last Friday! We will be having our African American Assembly this Friday, more details to come.

We are celebrating the 100th day of school this Thursday. Please send in your 100 day projects before then. Also please have your child wear their 100 day shirt on Thursday as well.

Finally, we will be starting unit 6 in math this week. Please keep an eye out for the parent letter outlining this units’ goals.

This week we will be learning…

Reading: How can we read more challenging books?

• I can use my letter-sound knowledge to solve unknown words.
•  I can blend two or three consonant sounds together.
• I can solve words by looking at the beginning and ending parts of words.

Writing: How can my writing be easier to read?

• I can write beginnings that hook my reader.
• I can revise my own work and share it with a partner.
• I can choose a piece of writing to celebrate and make more meaningful.

Phonics: How can we decode and spell more challenging words?

• I can read and write color words.
• I can read and write number words.

Math: How can I use math tools to solve more complex problems?

• I can play a game to model addition and counting on.
• I can write numbers on scrolls to deepen my understanding of the count sequence.
• I can combine shapes to make new shapes.
• I can celebrate the 100th day of school.
• I can use string to measure and compare height.

Science: Pushes & Pulls: How can we make an object go the direction we want it to go?

• I can explain that objects go in the direction you push them.
• I can tell where the force came from based on the direction an object moved.

Week 22: Black History & Pushes -Pulls

Sight Words: Unit 3 test. Please review the following words: there, use, an, each, which, she, do, how, their, if, will, up, other, about, out, many, then, them, these, so.

Spelling Words: at, be, this, have, from

Specials: Monday – World Langage, Tuesday – Gym, Wednesday – World Language, Thursday – Art, Friday – World Language.

Announcements: Please turn in your Jackson State Research projects this week. We will be displaying them in the hallway. Please turn in your 100 day shirt money.

Valentine’s Day: Please send your students Valentine’s box to school on Wednesday. On Friday please bring have your student bring a Valentine for everyone in the class. They may also bring candy to give to everyone as well. A class list will go home for Valentines.

This week we will learn….

Reading: How can we read more challenging books?

• I can search the picture and use the first letter to solve unknown words.
• I can expect pattern breaks and use all my super powers to read those parts.
• I can monitor my reading to find meaning and structure. If my reading does not make sense I can fix it up.

Phonics: What decoding strategies help us read fluently?

• I can use the pattern to help read and spell words.
• I can use parts of words I know to read or write new words.

Writing: How can I make my writing easier to read?

• I can work with my writing partner to hear more sounds.
• I can reflect on my past work and what I have learned in order to make plans to move forward in my writing.
• I can make my previous writing even more amazing by revising using my own pictures.
• I can use the tools to insert material into many different places in my draft.

Math:  How can a shape’s qualities help me identify them? How can we understand numbers 11-19 by building them with different tools?

• I can identify shapes on a ‘shape walk’ and use positional words to describe their locations.
• I can use fingers to explore the concept that teen numbers represent ’10 and some more ones’.
• I can solve comparison number story and justify my solutions.
• I can discuss and analyze different solutions and arguments.

Social Studies: How can studying Black History help us understand our world?

• I can tell about Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson.
• I can tell about Duke Ellington.
• I can tell about Langston Hughes.

Science: How do we make a pinball start to move? How do we make a pinball move as far as we want?

• I can make solutions to problems that helps people do what they want to do.
• I can explain that things move a longer distance when we push them harder and a shorter distance when we do not push them as hard.

Week 21: Black History and Pushes and Pulls

Sight Words: out, many, then, them, these

Spelling Words: as, with, his, they, I

Specials: Monday – Gym, Tuesday – World Language, Wednesday – Art, Thursday – Library & World Language, Friday – Art

Announcements: This month we will have several projects that you will need to complete at home with your student. This week we will be sending home the Jackson State Research project (due 2/10) and the Valentine’s Day Box (due 2/12).

This week we will learn…

Reading: How can we read more complex books?

• I can share my gift of reading by reading to others by performing readers theater.
• I can draw on all I know about reading to tackle reading challenges.
• I can figure out that patterns can help me read my books.

Phonics: What decoding strategies help us read fluently?

• I can hear, say, and blend syllables together.
• I can say a word slowly to hear all the sounds.

Writing: How can I make my writing easier to read?

• I can use word walls to help me spell sight words correctly.
• I can include storytelling words in my writing.
• I can use a partner as a tool to help make my writing more readable.
• I can work with my writing partner to hear more sounds.

Math: How can math tools be used to solve problems? How can we understand numbers 11-19 by building them with different tools? What qualities do shapes have and how can we describe them?

• I can explore the Number Grid and use it as a counting tool.
• I can find, record, and analyze sums of dice rolls.
• I can play a cooperative game to generate combinations that add to 10.
• I can describe and draw shapes found in pictures.

Science: How do we make a pinball start to move?

• I can explain how things work by saying how a cause made an effect happen.
• I can make solutions to problems that help people do what they want to do.

Social Studies: How can studying Black History help us understand our world?

• I can make a poster that shows how I will respect others and stand up for them.
• I can recognize that we are alike and different and differences are what make us special.
• I can look closely, notice, and wonder about our nation’s history on race.

Week 20: Pushes and Pulls

Sight Words: out, many, then, them, these

Spelling Words: he, was, for, on, are

Specials: Monday – Gym, Tuesday – World Language, Wednesday – Gym, Thursday – Library & World Language, Friday – Art

This week we will learn…

Reading: How can we be Super Readers?

• I can retell stories after I read them:
• I can share my gift of reading by reading out loud to others.

Phonics: What decoding strategies help us read fluently?

• I can find patterns that are the same in many ways.
• I can look at patterns to help spell words.

Writing: How can I make my writing easier to read?

• I can use tools, such as checklists, to help me write the best I can.
• I can use vowels to help spell the middle of words.
• I can use sight words to make my writing easier to read.
• I can include storytelling in my writing.

Math: What math tools help us answer questions? How can we put together or split things apart to help us answer questions?

• I can compare the capacities of containers.
• I can learn and practice skip counting by 10s.
• I can play a game with number cards to practice comparing written numerals.

Science: How do we make a pinball start to move?

• I can talk about how forces happen between two objects.
• I can explore how things work by saying how a cause made an effect happen.

Social Studies: What makes a community?

• I can explain how and why people work.
• I can explain the difference between wants and needs.

 

Week 19: Pushes and Pulls

Sight Words: will, up, other, about, out

Spelling Words: in, is, you, that, it

Specials: Monday – Gym, Tuesday – World Language, Wednesday – Gym, Thursday – Library & World Language, Friday – Art

Happy Week 19! We will be moving onto our second unit in Science – Pushes and Pulls! Over the course of this quarter your student will learn about forces and apply their knowledge to designing their own pinball machine. It is an amazing project!

We are in desperate need of parent volunteers to share about their job. We are looking for parents to come in for about 30 min. dressed in your uniform, and willing to share what you do, and how it helps our community. Please fill out the volunteer form and interest sheet to participate.

This week we will learn….

Reading: How can we become Super Readers? 

• I can match my tone to the feelings in the story to show I understand the story.
• I can talk about the books I read to bring them to life and learn more from them.

Phonics: What decoding strategies help us read fluently? 

• I can add -s to the end of a word to make it sound right in a sentence.
• I can add -ing to the end of a word to show it is happening right now.

Writing: How can I make my writing easier to read?

• I can write sentences in my story.
• I can reread my writing often. I can write a little, then reread a little, and write some more.
• I can use tools, such as checklists, to help me write the best I can.
• I can use vowels to help spell the middle of words.

Math: What math tools help us answer questions? How can we put together or split things apart to help us answer questions?

• I can re-engage with my work from the previous day to consider the many ways to make a hexagon.
• I can use connecting cubes to compose and decompose numbers in multiple ways.
• I can compare the weights of objects through an exploration of the pan balances.

Science: How do we make a pinball start to move?

• I can explain that an object starts to move when someone pushes or pulls it.
• I can explain that an object starts to move when another object exerts a force on it.

Social Studies: What makes a community? 

• I can explain different jobs in a community and tell why they are important.
• I can explain how and why people work.