Ms. Lauren's Kindie Crew 23-24: Crew News January 26th, 2024

Announcements

Leading The Beat: Next Wednesday, our Crew will be leading the all-school meeting that we call The Beat from 9-9:30. (Parents and families welcome!) Students will be sharing a song they learned with Ms. Liesl and our ABC Book of Crew that was made with Ms. Staci. Additionally, several volunteers signed up for speaking roles to share our learning from expedition about integrity and Crew.

Here is a link to our script. Please practice these words to become familiar and eventually memorize parts by next Wednesday. Also help your child to know who speaks before them, so that they get used to the order. Don't worry- we will be practicing a lot in class too! Thanks for your support! We are excited.

Scholastic Book Clubs:

Class Order Due Date: 02/5/24
Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/YCRBR
Shop Digital Flyers for Our Grade with Your Child: https://clubs.scholastic.com/kindergarten
Class Code: YCRBR
Place an order of $25 or more and you can pick a FREE $5 book (use code READS at checkout). These are great for Valentine's or Easter gifts. I can put them in backpacks or I am happy to be more discreet to pass them to you at an alterative time to be given as gifts. Just send me a quick email if that is your preference. :)

Repeated for Reference

Valentine's Day Card Exchange: Valentine's Day is less than a month away! At REMS and in the spirit of Crew, please make valentines for everyone in our crew. Homemade is encouraged but store-bought is great too. No candy or food please. Small trinkets or crafts are okay. A list of first names can be found HERE, which has the names of students and staff members (optional). My suggestion is to begin having your child write out 2-3 names each day, rather than a large chunk right before. Your child should also bring a box to school on that day, approximately shoebox size with access to drop in valentines, and his or her name clearly displayed. What a great, authentic opportunity for writing and practicing handwriting! This is another experience that brings our crew close together. Please let me know if you have other questions! We will celebrate on February 14th.

*Please make a Valentine Card for your child's 4th grade buddy.
*Please note: do not send extra gifts, treats, or candies for buddies. There have been a lot of hurt feelings in the past from some buddies giving gifts and other not getting any- so we strongly ask that only cards are exchanged.

Rug Washing Sign Up: Now updated for Second Semester. Thank you and don't forget to log your volunteeer hours into Track It Forward.
Second Semester Rug Washing Sign Up

Calendar

Jan 31st: Ms. Lauren's Crew leads The Beat 9-9:30

Feb 7th: Cereal Box Challenge- please send in a cereal box before

Feb 14th: Valentine's Day

Feb 16th: No School (Professional Development Day)

Feb 19th: No School (President's Day)

Mar 30: Save the Date: REMS Annual Auction

Crew Highlights:

*Phonics: Our focus was on the letter U. New sight words included big & with. Here is our Updated Phonics List. Next Assessment was moved from this week to next week.

*Reading: We have been exploring a new kind of reading: How To Text. Students have noticed that there are a list of things you need, there are step in order, it uses words like first, next, then, last, and it tells you how to do something.

*Writing: We have continued to work on pattern books. Students picked things/people/places they love and wrote "I love ____" booklets. At the end of each writing workshop, students are self reflecting and rating their own writing to celebrate and set goals each time they write.

Math: Students were thrilled to bring home their volume 1 math journals on Tuesday. As a math warm up, I did an exercise with math facts 0-5. I noticed several having trouble with correctly reading the plus and minus sign and remembering which sign was which. I am asking that you practice at home with flashcards. This extra repetition will really strengthen foundational skills, as now we are moving in a Unit about numbers 6-10. I sent home copies of flashcards in Take Home Folders, but here is a link if you need it:

0-5 Math Facts Addition & Subtraction

Expedition: On Thursday, students were getting more clues about our next expedition. Their first challenge was to move a ball. Easy! The second challenge was to move a ball without touching it. Several were stumped at first, but then began to blow on it! I asked them to reflect as scientists who experiment multiple times, how did it work if you gave a soft breath? Short hard breath? Long hard breath? Breath towards the top of ball? Middle of Ball? And so one. These were great clues to our next science expedition.

Then on Friday, the great reveal! The topic of this expedition is called MOVE IT! It is a study of force and motion. We will be working as scientists to solve challenges about force and learning about simple machines. Stay tuned!

A highlight from our week was doing a drum circle with our K-3 crews. One goal of this drum circle was to prepare the students for the all-school drum circle that we will have at the end of the year.

Two teachers led the circle: Ms. Mikaela from first grade and myself. Ms. Julie from second grade was our Beat Keeper (cowbell). :) Drumming is such a special tradition that we have at our school.

Our Crew did an outstanding job! When reflecting afterward, some expressed some nervousness but most shared that it made them feel happy and like CREW! Hopefully you got to hear all about it.