Dear Parents,

Fall is our new theme, a theme that brings opportunity for celebration and reflection. During this unit we will focus on the following concepts:

1. A tree is a plant that has roots, leaves, branches, and a trunk.
2. There are two kinds of trees, deciduous and evergreen (deciduous trees have a yearly cycle).
3. Trees produce seeds in the form of fuits and nuts.
4. Trees can be identified by their leaves.
5. Harvest is an important time when fruits and nuts on trees and other ripened crops are gathered.
6. Around the world, the harvesting of food is cause for celebration.
7. In the United States, corn is harvested in the fall.
8. In Harford County, close to home, apples, pumpkins, and other fruits are harvested in the fall.
9. Artists depict the harvest through music, poetry, and painting.
10. People honor the harvest because food is a basic need that sustains life.
11. At the first American Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims showed gratitude to the Native Americans for teaching them to hunt, fish, and plant corn by sharing a feast together.
12. In the United States, Thanksgiving is a special day when people gather together to show their thankfulness for what they have.

Listed below is our integrated language arts (ILA) content:

Week #1 Oct. 29	Leaves		see, my
Week #2 Nov. 5	Rosie's Walk	Ii	for, am
Week #3 Nov. 12	Pumpkins	Dd	are, out
Week #4 Nov. 19	Who Will Help?		go, to
Week #5 Nov. 27	Apple Tree, Apple Tree	Ee	an

As we read our big books, we will focus on the following ILA outcomes:

• Before reading, use the cover illustration to make and support a prediction (a smart guess)
  
• After reading, locate and/or provide specific information to confirm or adjust a prediction
  
• After reading, connect the story to personal views and experiences
  
• Tell stories by connecting events in a series of illustrations
  
• Use connecting language, or linking words (first, next, so, then, after that, finally), to tell a story
• Determine if the story is real or pretend
• Define “character” and classify characters as people, animals, or things
• Determine which character is the main character
• Use a variety of stimuli as a source for writing; visualize a story and then record through print and pictures (stories make reference to a character)
• Write stories using phonetic spelling and print directionality
• Blend and segment 2—3 phoneme words
• Read written stories to others; practice author presentation behaviors
• Identify the letters Ii, Dd, and Ee, as well as their sounds in context; write the letters in Zaner-Bloser letter formation

Our songs for this unit include:

• Theme Song: I'm a Nut
• Movement Song: Fall Leaves
• Old Favorite: The Turkey Stroll

In math we will work on the following processes and skills:

• Numbers and Numeration
  • Draw the correct quantity of items to represent number.
  • Practice writing numerals.
  • Discuss and reinforce the concept of zero
  • Count dots on a single die.
  • Read and write numbers 1-6.
  • Count numbers of dots on dominoes.
  • Match numbers of dots to written numerals.
  • Become aware of equivalent names for numbers.
  • Read numbers.
  • Compare and order numbers.
  • Practice oral counting.
  • Practice one-to-one counting.
  • Recognize numerals and represent numbers with objects.
  • Compare and order numbers.
• Operations and Computation
  • Develop and use strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems using concrete objects.
  • Begin to understand the meaning of addition and subtraction.
• Data and Chance
  • Create a simple graph of dice rolls.
  • Make predictions about dice throws and discuss results.
  • Think of and categorize likely, unlikely, certain, and impossible events.
  • Use the basic language of probability to describe single events.
  • Use the basic language of probability to describe predictions.
• Measurement and Reference Frames
  • Investigate the use of the pan balance and weighing techniques.
  • Use a pan balance to compare and describe the weight of various objects.
  • Measure items using objects of uniform length.
  • Compare lengths and arrange items by length.
  • Use clay and a pan balance to experiment with adding and removing weight.
  • Balance objects with lumps of clay.
• Geometry
  • Describe symmetrical objects.
• Patterns, Functions and Algebra
  • Create and describe a pattern.

The Fall unit is filled with many exciting activities for the children. We will read and follow a recipe in order to make delicious pumpkin pudding! We will celebrate the Green Corn Festival in Native American attire. We will gather for a Pow-Wow, make music, dance, and enjoy the bounty that is provided by the corn harvest. The children will be working hard to prepare for this celebration.

A copy of the Fall Trees/Harvest center contract was sent home with this unit's newsletter; the original contract is kept in class throughout the unit. The star tasks are listed on the contract to let you know what your child will be working on during center time. This copy of the contract may be helpful in understanding the center projects and worksheets that come home throughout the unit. Your child’s Kid’s Choice center contract will be shared with you at your Parent-Teacher Conference.

Please review the following reminders and requests:

• Have your child write his/her first name and last initial on all papers before beginning an assignment.
• Practice shoe-tying. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Encourage your child to become a shoe-tying helper! In the meantime, please tie double knots in shoelaces.
• Practice buttoning and zipping coats. Cool weather is here and it is very helpful if your child can put on and fasten his/her coat independently. Remind your child that a coat worn to school must be worn for outdoor play and must be worn on the ride home.
• Be sure to check your child’s folder and book bag every day, even on Fridays!
• Review sight words, both in isolation and in sentence format.
• Send in a laundered rest towel every Monday.
• Our kindergarten day begins at 8:50 A.M., with the JES Morning Announcements. If you are driving your child to school, please allow enough time for your child to complete morning unpacking procedures before our work day begins. Routine tardiness, particularly when passing through other classrooms, tends to cause distractions for the other students who are already participating in Opening Exercises.
• The JES Publishing Company is available to publish stories written by the kindergarteners. Click here for the Publishing Company guidelines.
• Please send in a variety of pressed fall leaves by Monday, November 5th. We will create our Leaf Art projects on that day (see previous memo for details).
• During American Education Week, November 13th – November 17th, Library Helper duties will be cancelled.
• Pumpkin pudding ingredients must be sent to school by Thursday, November 15th.
• Please send in nonperishable donations for the November 19th Green Corn Festival at least one day early. Fresh food items should be brought to school the day of the event. This request will apply to all future celebrations as well.
• Please note the Thanksgiving (Eve) 1:30 early dismissal for Wednesday, November 21nd.
• With the approach of the holiday season, classroom behavior tends to become more disruptive. Please encourage your child to maintain good classroom behavior by being a good listener and following directions the first time they are given.

You can contribute to your child’s early school success by checking homework, reading theme-related books together, working on related projects and crafts at home, playing rhyming games and board games, listening attentively as your child talks about school activities, and involving him or her in experiences that reinforce our Fall lessons. Please send photos of your child participating in theme-related activities for inclusion in the Fall Photo Album.

The Kindergarten Team thanks you for your continued support!

Sincerely,