TCE Tiny Texans

Friday, September 10, 2021

September 13th - 17th

Welcome to our Kindergarten blog! Each week we will update this with important information, reminders, dates for your calendar, plus a peek into our week! Thank you for taking the time to read it.

What We Are Learning

Language Arts

In Writing Workshop this week we will continue using labels (words) to tell part of our story! We will also start our word folder which is a folder that helps us learn our high frequency words! This week we will learn the words: I, like, can.

In Reading Workshop we will begin talking about reading "old storybook favorites." We will learn that when we read books again and again we can tell the story ourselves!

In Phonics we will continue to talk about the common sounds that letters represent!

We have learned almost all the letter sounds and are continuing to practice them!

Math

In Math this week, we will be learning about SUBITIZING! Subitizing is a fundamental skill in Math. It means to instantly recognize a structure arrangement - here is a video below! See if you can subitize like our Kindergartners!

Science

In Science this week, we will learn about how heating and cooling can change an object. We will learn about melting and freezing. We will do several fun experiments to observe melting and freezing!

Social Studies

In Social Studies this week we will continue to learn about "Me and My World." We will learn about authority figures in our homes, schools, and communities. This week we will discuss why these authority figures give us rules and why they are important for us to follow!

9/11 First Responders Day:

On Friday, September 10th we read a book called "Fireboat." This is a positive story that tells about some of the many heroes of 9/11. We did not get into any details of the day! I simply shared the book with them (which is a true story) and shared about the people who helped that day!

Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Click HERE for Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Calendar Dates:

September 21st - PTO Meeting via Zoom

Important Information

Headphones

We will be starting many assessments and activities using our iPads soon, and these will need good working headphones. Please check with your child to see if they need a working set of headphones! A lot of the ones that came in the supply pack are not working well or have already been broken. If you need some suggestions for ones to get, here and here are some we have seen work well!

Breakfast

Breakfast is free for all elementary learners. If you would like for your child to get a breakfast from the cafeteria, please have your child at school between 7:20 and 7:25. This allows them plenty of time to eat breakfast in the cafeteria without missing any valuable class time!

Masks

Our Coppell ISD Board of Trustees has mandated masks at all indoor facilities in CISD until September 27th . Please talk to your child about the proper way to wear a mask and please send a mask with them to school each day. For more information on COVID 19 protocols and masking, including the mask exemption form please click HERE!

Friday, September 3, 2021

Week of September 7th - 10th

Welcome to our Kindergarten blog! Each week we will update this with important information, reminders, dates for your calendar, plus a peek into our week! Thank you for taking the time to read it.

What We Are Learning

Language Arts

In Writing Workshop this week we will begin to use labels (words) to tell part of our story! As we create stories using pictures and words we will learn how labels help to give the reader more information about the writing!

In Reading Workshop we will continue to talk about how we are all readers and we can "Look, Think, Read, and LEARN!" We will talk about how readers can learn from books too and how re-reading helps us to learn more!

In Phonics we will continue to talk about the common sounds that letters represent! We are doing such a great job learning our letter sounds on our apple poem!

Math

In Math this week, we will be learning about our counting strategies. We will learn strategies for counting a collection of objects correctly. We will also set up our Dreambox accounts. Dreambox is an app that we will use to practice all of our amazing Math skills! Your children are welcome to play on Dreambox at home, but it is not a requirement!

Science

In Science this week, we will continue learning about properties of objects. We will learn that objects can be sorted and classified by their properties (like size, color, shape, and texture). We will sort many different objects according to their properties.

Social Studies

In Social Studies this week we will continue to learn about "Me and My World." We will learn about authority figures in our homes, schools, and communities.

Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Click HERE for Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Calendar Dates:

September 6th - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL!

September 7th - 10th - Book Fair Week (See information below)

Important Information

Book Fair

This fall we have both in-person and online options for purchasing. Due to our current visitor policy and to provide a way for our virtual learners to purchase as well, we are excited about the online option. Please see below for important information:

Thursday, September 2nd - Online shopping option opens!

Visit https://www.scholastic.com/bf/towncenterelementaryschool to purchase books that will be shipped directly to your house.

Both in-person and virtual learners can choose this option

Tuesday, September 7th - Shopping available in the TCE Library

For in-person learners only (families/visitors will not be able to attend)

We encourage you to use the eWallet feature. Instead of sending cash with your children, you can create an eWallet account and place a predetermined amount of money on the account for your children to shop the in person fair. To create an eWallet go to https://www.scholastic.com/bf/towncenterelementaryschool

Thanks for supporting book choice and TCE!

Breakfast

Breakfast is free for all elementary learners. If you would like for your child to get a breakfast from the cafeteria, please have your child at school between 7:20 and 7:25. This allows them plenty of time to eat breakfast in the cafeteria without missing any valuable class time!

Masks

Curriculum Night 2021

Here is a link to our recorded Zoom session from Curriculum Night:

Here are our slides:

Friday, August 27, 2021

Week of August 30 - September 3rd

Welcome to our Kindergarten blog! Each week we will update this with important information, reminders, dates for your calendar, plus a peek into our week! Thank you for taking the time to read it.

What We Are Learning

Language Arts

In Language Arts this week we will continue to introduce Writing and Reading Workshops! In Writing Workshop we will continue to talk about how we are all writers and we can write using pictures and words! In Reading Workshop we will continue to talk about how we are all readers and we can "Look, Think, Read, and LEARN!" We will talk about how readers read their books from cover to cover!

In Phonics we will begin to talk about the common sounds that letters represent!

We will also read some fun books about APPLES and talk about storybooks vs. learn about the world books!

Math

In Math this week, we will be learning about 2D shapes! We will learn about shapes and their attributes - like sides and vertices. We will do some FUN math stations to practice our learning.

Science

In Science this week, we will learn about properties of objects. We will learn that objects can be sorted and classified by their properties (like size, color, shape, and texture). We will also do some FUN apple activities, too!

Social Studies

In Social Studies this week we will continue to learn about "Me and My World." We will review the importance of rules and discuss what rules we should follow at school, at home, and in our community!

Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Click HERE for Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Calendar Dates:

September 1st - Picture Day!

September 2nd - Curriculum Night via Zoom from 5:00 - 6:00

September 6th - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL!
September 7th - 10th - Book Fair Week

Important Information

Curriculum Night

Please join us for Curriculum Night via Zoom on Thursday, September 2nd from 5:00 to 6:00. This will be a chance for us to share a little bit more about the year this year. We will record this Zoom if you are not able to make it. We will send out the Zoom link Wednesday afternoon!

Picture Day

Picture Day is Wednesday, September 1st. If you would like to purchase them online, please go to mylifetouch.com and enter the code: EVTQN689C

You are welcome to send a change of clothes for your child to change into after we take our pictures Wednesday morning.

Apple FUN

This week, we will be having lots of FUN with apples! We would love for each child to bring in their own apple if possible. It can be any size or type - we will not be eating them. Thank you for helping us with the fun!

iPads

We are so excited to have iPads for each of our Kindergarten learners. These come home each night so they can be charged. The charger can stay at home with you! Please do NOT add any additional apps or games to the iPad. These are for learning, and we will take care of adding any of the apps we need. Thank you!

T-Shirts

If you have not yet ordered your Kindergarten spirit shirt, you can do so my using this link here:

https://towncenterpto.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/18107933

We will wear these shirts for Field Trips and Field Day.

Friday, May 21, 2021

Last Week of Kindergarten!!

Happy Last Week of Kindergarten!

We have lots of fun planned over the next few days to celebrate the last week of Kindergarten!

Monday, May 24th - FIELD DAY

Virtual Learners:

All of the Field Day activities will be in your PE Course in Schoology! If you have one, wear your gray Kindergarten T-Shirt to show your Kindergarten Spirit!

Face to Face Learners:

Please send your child in their gray Kindergarten T-shirt and in comfy shoes they don't mind getting wet!

Please also send a change of dry clothes (including underwear) - we have a few events planned with some water, and they will probably want dry clothes to go home in!

Finally, please send a water bottle with your child's name! We don't want to get too hot on Monday!

Wednesday, May 26th - LAST DAY!

We cannot believe this will be our last day of school! We can't wait to celebrate with a fun class party at 11:00 on Wednesday. The learners will use the link in their Schoology Calendar to join their party!

Virtual learners, please come by school on Tuesday, May 25th from 7:45 - 8:30 to pick up your party supplies.

Face to Face learners, school is out at 12:30! Please be sure to make arrangements to have your child picked up then.

If you are not returning to the district next year, please make sure to send your child with their iPad and charger, so we can collect them. If you are a virtual learner, please make arrangements to return your iPad and charger to the school. All learners returning to CISD next year will keep their iPads through the summer.

Click HERE for Ms. Martin's Parent Newsletter

A Note From Mrs. Brehm:

You all have worked so hard on your amazing Habitat Keynote presentations! Way to go! If you didn't finish and would like to finish over the weekend, feel free to! There are directions in the Schoology Science course! You can show off all your amazing work to your parents!

Friday, May 14, 2021

May 17th - 21st

What We Are Learning

Language Arts

In Reader's Workshop we are going to continue practicing our reading! Make sure you have logged into Raz Kids and tried it out so you know how to use it over the summer!

In Writer's Workshop we will begin to review all of the writing skills we have learned this year! We will continue to practice using our writing checklist to make sure our writing is good and easy for others to read!

We will complete two FUN end of year of choice boards in both Reading and Writing. We will celebrate all of our hard work in both Reading and Writing this year!!

Math

In Math this week, we will be reviewing and celebrating all of our hard work this year in Math!! We will do lots of fun activities to reflect on all we have learned!

There will be NO Math Zooms this week! Miss Rice will send you an email about an individual assessment time.

Science

In Science this week, we will be completing a Habitat Hangout Keynote! Each day we will visit another habitat and learn some fun Keynote tools along the way!

Social Studies

In Socials Studies this week, we will be completing a FUN end of year Choice Board! We will review important life skills and celebrate all of our hard work throughout the year!

Ms. Martin's Principal Newsletter

Click HERE for Ms. Martin's latest Newsletter!

Calendar Dates:

May 17th - Supply Pick up / Supply RETURN!

May 24th - TCE Field Day

May 26th - Last Day of Kindergarten - End of School Party - Early Release

May 26th - Report Cards Sent Home

Important Information

Supply Return

On May 17th we will have one last supply pick up for your to complete your last week of school activities! We will also have a box where you can return any and all supplies borrowed throughout the year (Any left over books or Math Manipulatives such as cubes, counters, dice, shapes, coins, etc.)

Library

All library books are now past due! If you have any library books at your home, please return them!

Yearbook

If you ordered a yearbook, they have arrived! Virtual learners, your yearbook will be sent home in your supply pick up on Monday, May 17th. Face to Face learners will bring them home today!

Your child is welcome to leave their yearbook in their backpack - we will allow some time over the next few days to sign them!

End of Year Conferences and Summer Practice

As the end of the school year is approaching, we would like to let you know that if you would like a conference with your child's teacher, you may reach out to your child's homeroom teacher. We can set one up via Zoom. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have via email. Before the end of the year, we will send home a list of activities to enhance skills during the summer that will benefit all students! IStation, Dreambox, and Raz-Kids will all be available throughout the summer as well! More information about apps and websites to use over the summer (including usernames and passwords) will be coming!

Friday, May 7, 2021

May 10th - 14th

What We Are Learning

Language Arts

In Reader's Workshop we are going to continue practicing our reading! Make sure you have logged into Raz Kids and tried it out so you know how to use it over the summer!

We will begin to finish up our SNAP Word folders! We have learned so many words!

Book Bags:

Face to face learners please bring back any books that you have at home! Mrs. Torti is going to begin collecting all of the books she has sent home this school year so please send in any books you have at home that might belong to her!

Library Day

All library books were due May 7th! If you have any library books at your home, please return them!

Math

In Math this week, we will be learning about graphing. We will learn about picture graphs and bar graphs. We will learn the steps to make these graphs. We will also be able to analyze and interpret our graphs!

Science

For the next few weeks, we will be learning about animal and plant habitats and their basic needs to survive in their environment. Animals and Plants need food, water, shelter, nutrients, space, etc. to grow and survive in their natural habitat. We will also explore Habitats such as Deserts, Rainforests, Arctic, Ocean, and Forest to find animals and plants that live in these environments and explain that animals live in different habitats due to their unique attributes and have homes just like people have homes.

Social Studies

In Social Studies this week, we will be learning about needs and wants. We will read several Mo Willems books to help us explore this concept! We will sort different various needs and wants.