January Newsletter – Ms Soranson’s Class

Hello ParentsThe children had a

fantastic time this week at the Kindergarten Red

Market. I have included some

pictures in the months photo

gallery. Thank you to all the

parents who came on to our

CNY celebration to help with

the activities and also to

those parents that made food.Thank you also to those parents came this past

week to Reading Workshop. Reading is such vital skill

and it is important that our children have success in reading from these very

first steps. Thank you for supporting our class

learning Program.

Language ArtsSpeaking & Listening -this quarter we will again work on the skills needed to retell a story.

This is not only an important speaking skill but

important for reading

comprehension. Lessons will be

integrated with quality literature during Shared Reading time. We

will be able to view students growth in this area at

Portfolio Conferences in March, as

we compare a task from the beginning of the year and

a task from February.

Reading –Small readers will

continue to come home 4/5 days per Week. Please continue

to read these each night

with students. Each day students will have a

small group instruction time

where the focus is strategies to decode text. In Shared Reading we will continue

to work on our

comprehension toolbox strengthening students ability to think about what they are

reading. Take a look at our

favorite books of the past few

weeks on the next page.

MathStudents will begin to work with

the 100s grid as we prepare for 100

days of school. They will count by 5s &

10s to 100. They will work with pennies & nickels and also apply their

knowledge of 2D shapes to 3D shapes. Time

also features in the coming month,

with students learning to tell time on

the hour.

WritingIn February we begin our Non-Fiction writing Unit where students will begin

to focus on writing

procedures and reports. That term

reports sounds very grown up

doesn’t it. The students will be incorporating pictures

into their How – To books, thinking about the Table

of Contents and other

features of Non-Fiction books, making labeled diagrams

and more. We will continue to learn more words in a

Snap, sound out words and

work on the conventions of

writing. This will be an exciting

unit for students with their

final piece of writing going on

the shelf in the Library for a

few days.

A few of our favorite books about China and Chinese New Year

Shirin Yim Bridges– Ruby’s WishGrace Lin– Bringing in the New Year

Julia Donaldson – The Magic Paintbrush

REMINDERS FOR FEBRUARY

• Friday February 6th – 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION

• Friday February 23 – PD Day no school for students

Please email me anytime at soransons@tas.edu.tw

ScienceThe Goldfish & Guppies have been exciting for the students these

past weeks. We will continue to

investigate small animals with either snails or

worms being our next science

investigation. These topics provide perfect

hands on experiences for the students to

write about in Writer’s Workshop

May the Year of the Ox bring your families much peace, prosperity and happiness. I look forward to the months

ahead watching your children grow in strength

and wisdom