Class News, Sept. 2-6

Kindergarten

Math

This week we will start Topic 2: One to Five.  Students will learn/review how to write and count numbers 1-5.  Please help your child practice these concepts at home.

English Language Arts (ELA)

Our focus for this week is Kk, Ll, Mm, and Nn.  We will also play ABC bingo, listen to stories in the listening center, and learn about rhyming words.  The kids will also "read" the story We Go to School. This is a wordless book, so kids will tell the story by looking at the illustrations.  We will also discuss story structure.  A copy of this book will be sent home Wednesday.

Buddy Day
This Thursday we'll be making sand castles with our 5th grade buddies.  The 5th graders will supply the sand toys, so there's no need to send any to school.  Since the kids will get extra dirty that day, please send them in appropriate play clothes!

Library Books

Library books are due each Wednesday.  There are still some kids who have not returned their books from last week.  Only students who return their books will be allowed to check out another book on Wednesday.  

Fall Conferences
Kindergarten conferences will be held the weeks of Oct. 7th, Oct. 14th, Oct. 21st, and Oct. 28th.  If you were unable to sign-up for a conference at back to school night, I'll send home a schedule of available times in the coming weeks. 

Homework
The first homework packet was sent home today.  It is due Friday morning.  You may leave your child's packet in their folder each day, but I will not collect it until Friday.  Please review your child's homework before they turn it in Friday!

Important Dates

• Picture Day: Tuesday, Sept. 17th
• Walk-a-Thon (school fundraiser): Thursday, Oct. 3rd 
• No School: Friday, Oct. 11th
• Special Bell Schedule: Oct. 28th-31st (Thursday release time each day, 12:05 or 12:45)
• No School: Friday, Nov. 1st

4th Grade

ELA

It's test week!  As of Wednesday, your child will have all the information that may be on the Island of the Blue Dolphins test.  They are allowed to bring their ELA text book and ELA journal home to study for this test.  They will also have a study guide to help them prepare.  On Wednesday, I'll post copies of word analysis and grammar notes on this blog.  The test will be given Friday, Sept. 6th.  

Math
The Chapter 2 math test is Wednesday.

Spelling

Unit 3 spelling pages (pg. 25, 26, 28, & 29) are due Friday.  The spelling test is Friday!

Important Dates

• Picture Day: Tuesday, Sept. 17th 
• Walk-a-Thon (school fundraiser): Thursday, Oct. 3rd 
• No School: Friday, Oct. 11th
• Special Bell Schedule: Oct. 28th-31st (Thursday release time each day, 12:05 or 12:45)
• No School: Friday, Nov. 1st

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!

Mrs. Radon :-)
(and Mr. Glass too!)

Class News, Aug. 26-30

Kindergarten

Math

This week we will continue to learn about ways to sort objects based on three attributes.  The first math test will be given Friday.  It will be sent home the following week.  Please check your child's math work and have them explain what they did!

English Language Arts (ELA)

We will continue to practice writing upper and lower case letters this week.  Our focus will be Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, and Jj.  Again, it's important to review your child's work each day.

Library Books

Library books are due each Wednesday.  

*Due to the book fair this week, the kids will not be checking out a new book this Wednesday.

Book Fair/Spirit Week/Back to School Night

Information was sent home last Thursday regarding the book fair and spirit days.  Today was crazy hair day, and tomorrow is Egyptian day. Coloring contest pages are due Wednesday morning.  Back to School Night is Thursday, Aug. 29th from 6-8pm.  The Scholastic Book Fair runs the whole week (Aug. 26-30).  Check the spirit flyer for hours.

Important Dates

• Back to School Night is Thursday, Aug. 29th from 6-8 pm.  
• Scholastic Book Fair: Aug. 26-30 
• Labor Day (no school): Sept. 2nd

4th Grade

ELA

This week we'll start reading an excerpt of Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Students will take notes regarding vocabulary, word analysis, and grammar related to the story.  I will post copies of these notes each Wednesday (test week) on this blog. Students will be tested on this information and what they remember (comprehension) about the story.  The test will be given next Friday, Sept. 6th.  

James and the Giant Peach

A test will be given when the kids have finished reading James and the Giant Peach (several weeks from now).  To help them prepare for this test, it is wise for students to keep their corrected/returned homework sheets each week

Spelling

Unit 2 spelling pages (pg. 19, 20, 22, & 23) are due Friday.  The spelling test is Friday!

Important Dates

• Back to School Night is Thursday, Aug. 29th from 6-8 pm.  
• Scholastic Book Fair: Aug. 26-30 
• Labor Day (no school): Sept. 2nd 

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!

Mrs. Radon 

Class News August 19-23, 2013

Welcome Back!
This blog will be used to inform kindergarten and 4th grade parents at Southside School.  I will post a weekly class news each Monday that will cover what we're doing in class that week, and remind you of important things going on at school.  For 4th grade, I'll post information and resources you may need for English Language Arts (ELA).  If you're a Twitter user, follow me to receive blog notifications!

Kindergarten

• Please review and sign all office documents: acknowledgement of receipt of annual parent notifications, lunch application (sign and write "does not qualify" if you do not wish to receive free/reduced lunch for your child), health screening objection form (only if you have objections), emergency card (both sides), and notification cover sheet
• Remind your child to tell me first thing in the morning if they plan to get a school lunch!  
• Back to School Night is Thursday, Aug. 29th from 6-8pm.  
• Scholastic Book Fair: Aug. 26-30 
• Art Supplies: Some parents have asked me if their child needs to bring the art supplies that were listed on one of the office papers that were sent home last week.  Since our class does not participate in the art class, your children do not need to bring those supplies!  Sorry for the confusion.

4th Grade

• Please review and sign all office documents: acknowledgement of receipt of annual parent notifications, lunch application (sign and write "does not qualify" if you do not wish to receive free/reduced lunch for your child), health screening objection form (only if you have objections), emergency card (both sides), and notification cover sheet 
• Back to School Night is Thursday, Aug. 29th from 6-8pm.  
• Scholastic Book Fair: Aug. 26-30 

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!

Mrs. Radon 

Class News May 20-24

Kindergarten

• The kids did well on the math test today.  The tests will be sent home Wednesday.  We will begin learning more about the calendar, which will be our last math unit.  
• Continue to practice reading with your child daily.  
• Play Day teams will be announced Friday (5/24).  On Play Day, kids need to come to school wearing their team's color.
• Olympic Day (grades 4-8) is Thursday, May 30th.  Though our class does not participate, it is difficult for us to get a lot done due to the noise on the playground.  So, we'll be having a movie party!  Kids can come to school in comfy clothes (pajamas if they wish).  If you'd like to donate microwave popcorn please let me know!

4th Grade

• Pop's Bridge will be the last ELA test for this quarter.  We will focus on writing skills for the last two weeks.  
• Play Day teams will be announced Friday, May 24th. 
• Olympic Day is May 30th.
• Play Day is May 31st.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!

Mrs. Radon 

Class News May 13-17

Kindergarten Class News

Math

We will continue our study of time this week.  Please review your child's classwork, and help them practice the concepts at home!

English Language Arts (ELA)

We are practicing reading "short a" books this week.  Your child's reading fluency (how fast they read) improves when they read books that contain words they do not need to decode (sound out).  Your child should be reading EVERY day!

Sounds Learned: /s/, /m/, /r/, /t/, /b/, /n/, /h/, /a/ (short), /v/, /p/, /c/, /g/, /f/, /l/, /i/ (short), /k/, /kw/ (sound for q), /d/, /z/, /o/ (short), /ks/ (sound for x), /w/, /e/ (short), /y/, /j/, /u/ (short)

Sight Words Learned: I, see, my, like, a, and, to, is, go, here, for, said, the, play, are, she, he, have

Preventing the "Summer Slide"
A parent recently asked me what she can do to help her child practice reading over the summer.  Here are some ideas that can help your child retain what they have learned this year:

• read easy (cat, hat, pig, etc.) books every day
• practice sight word flash cards
• do a few pages in a 1st grade workbook each day (these can be purchased at Staples)
• read to your child every day
• helpful websites/apps- starfall.com, Duck Duck Moose Reading (app), Reading Eggs (online reading program), Pocket Phonics (app)

Play Day (repeat from last week)
Play Day is scheduled for Friday, May 31st.  For those families who are new to Southside, Play Day is an all morning event when the school is separated into teams to compete in various activities.  On Play Day, send your child to school covered in sunblock, and in their team’s color (team colors will be announced soon). A free BBQ for the kids will be held around noon.  This will also be a minimum day (pick up at 12:45).   

Promotion Ceremony (repeat from last week)

The kinder promotion ceremony is scheduled for June 6th 10:30-11:15 am.  After a brief ceremony on the side stage (by the parking lot, so bring blankets and lawn chairs), we will gather for some goodies and pictures on the playground.  Kids are dismissed after the ceremony!

Important Dates 

Friday, May 17th: Talent Show (evening performance only)

Monday, May 27th: No School (Memorial Day)
Thursday, June 6th: Last Day of School & Promotion Ceremony

4th Grade Class News

Play Day (repeat from last week)
Play Day is scheduled for Friday, May 31st.  For those families who are new to Southside, Play Day is an all morning event when the school is separated into teams to compete in various activities.  On Play Day, send your child to school covered in sunblock, and in their team’s color (team colors will be announced soon). A free BBQ for the kids will be held around noon.  This will also be a minimum day (pick up at 12:45). 

Important Dates

Friday, May 17th: Talent Show (evening performance only)

Monday, May 27th: No School (Memorial Day)
Thursday, June 6th: Last Day of School

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!

Mrs. Radon :-)

John Henry Notes and Study Guide (4th)

Kinder and 4th Grade Class News May 6-10th (With Pictures!)

Kindergarten Class News

Math

We started Topic 14- Time today. We will learn about the order of the day, order of events, finding numbers on a clock, and telling time to the hour.

English Language Arts (ELA)

We have learned all 26 sounds taught in kinder. There are 52 sounds in the English alphabet, so they are halfway there! We will continue to practice these sounds and sight words for the remainder of the year.

Sounds Learned: /s/, /m/, /r/, /t/, /b/, /n/, /h/, /a/ (short), /v/, /p/, /c/, /g/, /f/, /l/, /i/ (short), /k/, /kw/ (sound for q), /d/, /z/, /o/ (short), /ks/ (sound for x), /w/, /e/ (short), /y/, /j/, /u/ (short)

Sight Words Learned: I, see, my, like, a, and, to, is, go, here, for, said, the, play, are, she, he, have

Open House
Open house is this Thursday, 6-8 pm.  Classrooms will be open 7-8 pm.  Open house is a time for you to visit the classroom and see what the kids have been working on.  It is not a time for conferences, as I have many families to greet.  If you'd like to speak to me privately regarding your child's progress, please contact me to schedule a conference!

Play Day

Play Day is scheduled for Friday, May 31st.  For those families who are new to Southside, Play Day is an all morning event when the school is separated into teams to compete in various activities.  On Play Day, send your child to school covered in sunblock, and in their team’s color (team colors will be announced soon). A free BBQ for the kids will be held around noon.  This will also be a minimum day (pick up at 12:45).   

Promotion Ceremony

The kinder promotion ceremony is scheduled for June 6th 10:30-11:15 am.  After a brief ceremony on the side stage (by the parking lot, so bring blankets and lawn chairs), we will gather for some goodies and pictures on the playground.  Kids are dismissed after the ceremony!

Important Dates

May 6-10: Book Fair

Thursday, May 9th: Open House 

Friday, May 17th: Talent Show

Monday, May 27th: No School (Memorial Day)
Thursday, June 6th: Last Day of School & Promotion Ceremony

4th Grade Class News

Open House
Open house is this Thursday, 6-8 pm.  Classrooms will be open 7-8 pm.  Open house is a time for you to visit the classroom and see what the kids have been working on.  It is not a time for conferences, as I have many families to greet.  If you'd like to speak to me privately regarding your child's progress, please contact me to schedule a conference!

Play Day
Play Day is scheduled for Friday, May 31st.  For those families who are new to Southside, Play Day is an all morning event when the school is separated into teams to compete in various activities.  On Play Day, send your child to school covered in sunblock, and in their team’s color (team colors will be announced soon). A free BBQ for the kids will be held around noon.  This will also be a minimum day (pick up at 12:45). 

Important Dates

May 6-10: Book Fair
Thursday, May 9th: Open House 
Friday, May 17th: Talent Show

Monday, May 27th: No School (Memorial Day)
Thursday, June 6th: Last Day of School

Pictures!

 Noe and Christina painting.

 Olivia cleaning her brush.

 Jackson, Ayvah, and Matthew 
                                                                                                     reading.
Mia, Brody, Brianna, and Avery  
                                                                                                    working on the iPads.                                                                                                  
 Mia, Avery, and Brody reading.

 Fourth grade and kinder unite to 
                                                                                                    see how the chicks have grown.
 Avery, Ayvah with their buddies.

 Chalk + Water = Messy Fun!

I hope you all have a great week!

Mrs. Radon :-)