Newsletter

Dear Parents,
As May begins and it finally feels like spring, we are looking forward to spending more time outside.
May promises to bring butterflies and garden planting, USA Day, Young Authors Week, Family Literacy
Night and our class trip to the Turtle Back Zoo!

Here are some May Highlights:

Integrated Literacy:

RTI continues to focus on our students needs this month.
Trick Words of, have, from, by, my, do, one, am, like, your
Write sentences dictated, change one word to write a new sentence (ie: Meg had the red hat.
Change Meg to Pat. Pat had the red hat.)
Describe the difference between narrative fiction and informational text.
Writing: strengthen writing as needed by responding to questions and suggestions from peers and
adding details.
Explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with
peers.
Continue to write opinion and narrative pieces and informative/explanatory texts independently,
while checking for capitalization, punctuation and spacing between words.
Create books for Young Authors Week.
Parents and students who attend Literacy Night will be able to view the books on display during
Family Literacy Night, Wednesday, May 24th. Information to follow.


Math:

Analyze and compare three-dimensional shapes by attributes.
Identify, name and describe three-dimensional shapes including spheres, cubes, cylinders and
cones.
Use positional words: above, below, beside, next to, in front of, behind.
Compare lengths, heights, weight.
Classify and count by color, shape, size.
Make and read a concrete graph.
Use logical reasoning to solve problems.

Science:
This month our focus will be on:

How can we reduce our impact on land, air, and other living things in Somerville.
How do living things meet their needs?
 Weeding and planting in our Kinder-Garden.
Identify requirements for seeds to sprout and plant growth.
Provide simplified explanations for functions performed by the parts of a plant.
Explore the life cycle of a butterfly and observe changes in the stages of development.
Exploring the Zoo and bringing last months animal unit to life!



Social Studies:
This month our focus will be on:

Explain the role of historical symbols, monuments and holidays and how they affect the American
identity.
In what ways do symbols represent our beliefs?
USA DAY: Friday, May 19th. Students will experience a presentation on the symbols they have been
learning in class.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION



Kindergarten Field Trip:

Turtle Back Zoo: Tuesday, May 16th.
REMINDERS: Please send in a bagged lunch/drink, and wear weather appropriate clothing, comfortable
shoes and sunscreen.





K2 Field Day is May 11th with the rain date of May 15th.
Make sure your child is wearing sneakers and comfortable clothing
Apply sunblock in the morning at home
Bring a water bottle filled with WATER ONLY



Author Visit: Lisa Funari Willever

Wednesday, May 24th
This year for our Young Authors Celebration we will be having award winning author Lisa Funari
Willever visit VDV to speak to the students about her books!
Author Lisa Funari Willever will visit VDV during the school day to share her books, teach children
about being an author, and autograph books for students that have purchased them in advance.
 Pre-sale forms were sent home if the students would like to order autographed copies of Lisa's
books to keep! Lisa will bring the books with her on the day of her visit.
REMINDER: If you plan to order a book, the form and money should be returned by May 8th so that
the author has enough time to compete our order and do all of the autographing!


Family Literacy Night:

Wednesday, May 24th, 5:30-7:00pm
Come on out and join us for this fun filled evening!
Books that students wrote in class for Young Authors Week will be on display at Family Literacy
Night for all to see!


Scholastic Book Fair:

Starts Wednesday May 16th- Wednesday May 24th in VDV Media Center
Information will follow. Please support our Book Fair.

Memorial Day Weekend:

School will be closed Friday, May 26th and Monday, May 29th in honor of Memorial Day.

HOME TO SCHOOL CONNECTION

Play May READO. Its full of fun literacy activities to enjoy together!
Play board games such as Monopoly Jr., Boggle Jr., and
Chutes and Ladders to review math and reading skills and teach good
sportsmanship and logical thinking skills.
Practice writing trick words outside with sidewalk chalk.
Practice reading and spelling trick words on a hopscotch board.
Teach shoe tying and zipping.
Create a free account on XtraMath.org and let your child practice math facts at their own level.

Thank you for your continued support. Dont forget to check the Kindergarten Twitter page
@vdvkindergarten for important information!
Please check my website for pictures of our school year as well as any other important information.
http://www.somervillenjk12.org/Page/2864

Sincerely,
Mrs. Coco
jcoco@somervilleschools.org
@jcoco7 twitter
#AllIn4TheVille
#VDVPartners4Progress