Mackintosh Pre-Kindergarten Newsletter

MAY 14-JUNE 1 MRS. MELINDA LASCURAIN, MRS. MANDY BOCKHOP

Upcoming Events:

May 16th – Field trip to Hudson Gardens

May 25th – Half Day, Pre-K Dismissal 11:00

May 28th – No School, Memorial Day

May 29th – Field Day, Pre-K – 2nd Grade

May 31st – Graduation Practice

June 1st – Graduation (9:00 am), Children dismissed directly following the celebration at approximately 11:00

Word Wall Words:

May 14-18

could

way

May 21-25

first

been

Curriculum Snapshot

Mathematics: The students have been busy perfecting their skills reading and writing

digital times. This week we will move into telling time and showing time to the hour on

analogue clocks to read a digital clock and an analogue clock to an hour. If they are

showing strength in telling time to an hour on an analogue clock they will move on to

more challenging time telling skills. We will round out the year with some fun math

games and activities that utilize the variety of mathematical skills we have learned

throughout the year. We encourage you to engage your child in using math in natural

ways over the summer such as helping count change, telling the time, measuring while

helping cook, identifying and discussing shapes on outings, as well as applying their

number and problem solving skills.

Reading: The students have been doing a wonderful job identifying the setting and

characters in stories. Over the next two weeks we will study characters a bit more

deeply and also delve into plot. The students will practice retelling the plot using a

strategy called “five finger retell.” For this they put up a finger as they expand on each

of these elements: characters, setting, in the beginning, in the middle, in the end. We

will also encourage them to then close their hand and think about how all these

elements go together and create the heart of the story and what that “heart” might be

for the text. This helps them consider the themes, main idea and/or author’s purpose.

We hope you are able to continue to enjoy and discuss a variety of rich literature this

summer as you also enjoy your own adventures.

Writing: Our students continue to wow us with their fiction accounts. We look forward

to the stories they will plan and create over the next two weeks. This week the

students will begin to plan their “published” fiction story by creating a story map

outlining the characters, setting and plot of their story. They will then move into

creating, editing and revising their stories. We will conclude with giving the children

the opportunity to share their stories with their peers. A great way to extend their

exploration of writing this summer would be to create a journal of their summer

experiences. I am certain this is something their teacher next year would love to read

in the fall!

Unit of Inquiry: The students have completed their preassessment for our frogs unit

and have started learning about the structure of frogs during various life stages. Over

the next two weeks we will continue this exploration as we also study more deeply how

frogs change and the purpose of these life changes. We will also discuss how we

Vocabulary Focus:

Abbreviations

Mackintosh Academy Picnic

Trying food from the country of Ethiopia on the

continent of Africa

change to adapt to our world as well as allow students to share their own knowledge of

various animals and their changes and adaptations. We are looking forward with great

anticipation for our “Frog Hunt” field trip to Hudson Gardens on Wednesday. The

students will be provided with exploration backpacks and learn a wide array of

information about frogs. We look forward to their explorations and inquiries inspired

by this trip. We hope you have lots of fun explorations as a family as well and that your

children continue to ask amazing questions. We have loved their curiosity and

determination to learn more about the world around them!

Quotes of the Week

The students were in a deep discussion about marriage this week. One little girl said, “I

am going to marry my brother because he is the nicest boy I know.”

One student has been exploring the website “Brain Pop” extensively at home. When he

began discussing it at lunch one day a student commented, “Brain pop? That doesn’t

sound healthy.”

While taking a tour with Mrs. Anderson a family had the pleasure of meeting one of our

students. When she was asked how old she was she said 4. Then she was asked when

she will turn five. She kindly responded, “On my next birthday!”

When trying Ethiopian food one student gave the gracious cook a lovely compliment by

enthusiastically saying, “I wish Geby was my mother so she could cook me this food

every day!”

We are so impressed with the children’s participation in the Annual Fund drive.

We deeply appreciate the children’s donations of their own personal money.

The pride they show when they hold out their coins and share their kind words

Spotlight On

Action

for Mackintosh is simply heartwarming. In addition to these personal donations

several of our families have already donated for which we are deeply grateful.

We would love to reach 100% participation by the close of the year.

We loved hearing the students’ presentations of their self selected focal

content. The growth in their research and presentation skills from the start of

the year was so evident in these presentations. One student even brought in

food samples from Africa, the continent he studied. This food was graciously

prepared by his family friend and caretaker Geby.

We wish you all a safe, relaxing and enriching summer of bliss. We

look forward to the students’ return in the fall. Thank you for

allowing us to be such an integral part of your child’s education. It

has been a tremendous year filled with wonder, love, and lots of

learning! We are grateful for every moment!