Dinosaurs Will Be on the Mind of Your Youngster Next Week. We Will Discuss Their Length

November 6, 2015 Dear Parents, Dinosaurs will be on the mind of your youngster next week. We will discuss their length, what they ate, and how they moved. We will learn Triceratops walked on four short legs, had three horns on his head, was fearless, and ate plants. Triceratops means “three-horned face.” Tyrannosaurus Rex had the nickname of “tyrant king.” He was the most terrible dinosaur and had huge jaws. He walked on his hind legs and he was a meat eater. Apatosaurus, formally known as Brontosaurus, was called the “thunder lizard.” He was as long as two school buses. He had small teeth and ate plants. Stegosaurus had large, spiky plates and a spiked tail. He ate low-growing plants. Stegosaurus means “roof lizard.” ____ Have your child cut around the dinosaur shape. After your child cuts out the shape, let him or her complete the sentences about what kind of dinosaur he or she would like to have for a pet. Get your child to describe the pet (size, color, what it likes to eat, what they like to do together, how they move, etc.) Help your child “stretch” the words and write the letter sounds that he/she hears. Remind your child to space between words. Since scientists do not know what physical characteristics the dinosaurs had (besides their sizes and shapes), your child may want to enhance their pet dinosaur by adding spots or stripes! Your child can even make and glue those stripes and spots out of aluminum foil, construction paper, etc. Make sure your child writes his/her name and returns this to me. ____Math Focus: Parents cut out the “dinosaur” footprints with the numbers on them. Review the numbers with your child. Have your child place the footprints in order as they count. Mix them up and let your child do it again. Then have your child write the numbers 0-20 in sequential order on the enclosed paper. Next, have your child look at the number on the footprint, identify it, and make a corresponding set using beans , buttons, pennies or anything else you might have available to you. Check his or her work for accuracy. ____Number Songs: Review the number songs I sent home a couple of weeks ago. Sing all of the songs in this folder frequently as a fun way for your child to review important skills and concepts. ____Review: letters, letter sounds, identifying at least the beginning and ending sounds in words, identifying numbers to 20, counting sets to 20, counting to at least 50, recalling the days of the week and the months of the year, identifying shapes, describing shapes, identifying the five senses, describing solids, liquids, and gases, recalling address, recalling telephone number, recalling birthday, writing first name, and identifying and writing sight words. Most of the review items can be covered when you are driving in the car or waiting in line! ______The words your child should easily recognize are: a, am, and, can, in, it, is, I, like, run, see, to, the, we. He/she should be able to identify and write these words quickly. New words: eat, yes, no The book, Thanksgiving Dinner, is in the folder for your child to read to you. This book puts the new word back into text. ____Books: Read to your child every day. We are working on every child reading at least 100 books with their families this year. ____My child and I have read the following books: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. You can add additional books on a separate sheet of paper. _____ My child and I have read 50 minutes (5 books) this week. Reminders Thank you: Thank you for the candy and treats you sent for the children’s “treat bags.” Conferences: If you did not make your conference time, please write me a note so that we can reschedule. Report Cards: If you have not already done this, please sign the back of the report card envelope and return the signed envelope to school. Keep the report card at home for your reference. Communication Connection: Because we had conferences and report cards so recently, there will be no “Communication Connection.” Leveled Readers: Your child will bring home one book each week to read to you. This book is selected especially for your child, based on how many sight words he/she knows. As you know, the children are expected to read on Level D before going to first grade. By allowing your child to read these leveled books (and other books I send home) to you, you will be reinforcing words that he/she knows and will help your child work on fluency (reading like he/she talks). Please fill out the form that is in the bag after your child reads to you. Your observations help me when I am selecting books with your child. Please send the book and the form in the bag to school the next day. Please remember (if your child eats breakfast at school) to have him/her at school by at least 7:45 am. Many of the children are not getting here in time to eat. This means that a lot of food is going to waste. Please let me know if your child no longer wants to eat at school. Carolina vs. Clemson-We are collecting money for Relay for Life. We will do this until November 20th. We are also having a friendly competition between Carolina and Clemson. As your child brings money to dónate to Relay for Life, he/she will either put it in the Clemson or the Carolina container. Your child may bring coins or bills! On the 20th we will add up the donations and determine if Carolina or Clemson wins the competition!

Thank you for all of the time you spend working with your child. You make a tremendous difference by helping your child to complete the homework and by being actively involved in your child’s education. Your Partner in Education, Ginger Carter

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