Primary II
Lead Teacher :: Theresa Zuluaga :: tzuluaga@mdpsc.org
Classroom Assistant :: Thomasa Ramirez :: tramirez@mdpsc.org
Thanks everyone for making the Spring Fling a big success! The Baskets looked great. Please check the Calendar below for important May dates!
CURRICULUM NOTES
We have begun the the month of May with the study of the world’s oceans and all the sea life; dolphins, whales, shells, mollusks, fish, seahorses, etc. Come see our class mural!
In geography we will be studying the continent of Europe, her flags, her animals, and the study of the culture.
Kinder news
The kinders have begun a concrete impression of multiplication and are practicing everyday. Any reinforcement at home is always helpful. We use the words times, multiply and skip counting to reinforce this concept. Using objects at this age is very helpful. They are working on their multiplication tables, and on random multiplication with the colorful bead box material. They are also beginning work with fractions.
We are busy writing in our journals learning about sentence structure, and how to describe pictures; we are earnestly working on our handwriting to describe pictures, both drawn by us and from photographs. We read every day!
In math we are working on the stamp game, number roll, strip board addition and the multiplication board. Math work is individual as well as small group. Some of the children are working with the bead chains. This is a great way to reinforce skip counting.
In grace and courtesy we are practicing how to open and close the door softly.
Ages 2-5
We have been working with all the materials, especially the golden beads. Some of the children like to lay out the entire ‘bird’s eye view’ with all the numbers and beads to 9000! We are learning about patterns and sequences. We like using chalk to learn our letters! We have also begun outdoor environment, with painting, water works and gross motor works, led by our talented Ms. Tomasa; and we’re working in our garden.
HOMEWORK
Please continue to work with the Kinders with Skip Counting ( i.e., 5, 10, 15, etc., or 3, 6, 9… ). This can be a fun auditory game (perhaps on the way to school in the morning!) to reinforce learning multiplication tables. The sensitive period for memorizing those tables is 5-7 yrs old. Playing multiplication memory games with them now will keep the learning fun for them and make their life in elementary much easier! Reading at home is a big plus, and if you read, the children will watch and emulate their parents. We recommend 15 – 20 minutes every night.
CALENDAR & EVENTS
Friday May 10 Goodbye Party for Cayden Macktima 10 am art room
Tuesday, May 24 is fave book/pj day Wednesday May 25 is Water day and Thursday May 26 is crazy hair day!
Kinder Celebration Friday, May 27, 9am Pri II room, Light refreshments afterward on the patio. This is the last day of school, with dismissal at 11:30 am. No lunch, no extended care.
CLASSROOM NEEDS
I would like to repair our chain work if anyone would like to work with me on this. It can be done at home. Also we have a puppet theatre made out of cardboard, which would be nice if someone could make it sturdier by covering it in contact paper or glue fabric on.
THANK YOU
Thank you to all our wonderful families for all the help during the year; phone trees, laundry, water runs, material making etc etc. We can’t do it without you!!!!
HELPFUL LINKS
Schoowide Encylopedia
Access! http://go.grolier.com username: mtnside Password: remote