Kriletown Adventures - Week 13

Welcome to week thirteen of Kriletown News. 

Here is a look into what we have been learning during week 14 of our Kriletown adventures. 

Important Date

• Wednesday, November 26-Friday, November 28 - No School, Thanksgiving

• Tuesday, November 25th Report cards sent home

• Friday, December 19th last day of 2025 together

• Monday, January 5, 2026 School Resumes! Happy New Year!

Curriculum

Word Work

This week we worked with magic e which is added to the end of words to make the vowel sound long. Our heart words this week were who, by, my, where, and there. These are words that do not follow traditional spelling rules. Our FANCY vocabulary words were ’float', ’allergic, ‘hexagon', 'and ’accessory’. 

Reading

This week we read books centering around the theme of thankfulness. We tried to connect with the feelings of the characters in our books. Our new reading unit centers around the theme 'what do people lear by studying animals?' We read What Do You Do With A Tale Like This? which has MANY different animals. We learned about several UNIQUE adaptations. We also read Dear TreeFrog and will be learning all about backyard habitats.

Math

We concentrated on counting forwards and backwards to 120 this week by 5's and 10's! We learned number puzzle problems called frames and arrows. We reviewed the rules for nonstandard measure.

Writer’s Workshop

This week we started a new writing unit. We are learning how to write simple 'how to' books. This week we practiced organizing simples steps for painting a picture, making slime and taking a bath. 

Social/Emotional Learning - Life Skills

This week we discussed what it means to be thankful. We each brainstormed five things we are thankful. Some of the things the Krile kids are thankful for include....family, clean air, the seasons, a safe school, our pets and good food.

Social Studies/Science

This week and next we are discussing how to stay healthy. We reviewed handwashing and discussed healthy eating habits along with the importance of brushing our teeth twice a day! 

Parent Corner

Each week I will share ideas of ways you can aid in your child's education. Soft skills modeled at home have the most impact on life long learning. 

Bedtime is not just another part of the day. It is a biological reset. Kids shift from stimulation to stillness, and from separation to closeness. During that transition, their brains are wide open to safety cues like your tone, touch and eye contact. Because sleep consolidates memory, the moments before lights out are memories that stick. You do not need flawless parenting. You need a safe landing where love is the last word.

School Stuff:

Report card message

The following message is from our district reading specialist concerning reading scores on report cards.

The Ann Arbor Public School District adopted a new reading curriculum, Arts & Letters, this year. This program is a rigorous knowledge and skill-building curriculum that allows students to build skills in English language arts. It has increased Demands for critical thinking and stamina. As with any new endeavor, some students may have lower scores initially as they work to meet new demands and build stamina. Over the course of the program, stamina and skills build, and should increase over time. The implementation dip in scores is often part of making a change and not indicative of lower performance overall. Students, over time, will build the skills necessary to carry them forward to success.

Winter Gear

We are officially in the winter season. Please be mindful each morning and send the appropriate outdoor gear with your little. 

Snack Donations

Our snack box is full! Thank you so much to all who donated!

From past newsletters....

Class books

These books will are making their way to each of your homes. When a large manila envelope comes home in your littles backpack please read through the book together and return the next school day. If you would like to leave a book review on a class book that comes home. Please attach a post it note to the large envelope. The littles love to hear what you think of their creations :) 

Computers

Please be sure to send the computer FULLY charged each day. We will be using them daily. Please also send the charger. I am not supplied a classroom charger. Please do not let your littles change the settings on their computers. This is against the user agreement and poses a big problem when using them in class. Changes and creation of personal backgrounds interfere with programs run at school. 

Attendance Line

When your student is absent please use the following email to report the absence log_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us

Instagram

If you would like to see adventures from our days together you can request to follow @Kriletown. 

Donations

To donate much needed items you can find the Kriletown wishlist here. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving break full of love and laughter. I am so thankful to have each of your littles in Kriletown this year!!

Kriletown Adventures - Week 12

 Welcome to week twelve of Kriletown News. 

Here is a look into what we have been learning during week 12 of our Kriletown adventures. 

Important Date

• Wednesday, November 26-Friday, November 28 - No School, Thanksgiving

• Tuesday, November 26th Report cards sent home

• Monday, December 1 School Resumes

Curriculum

Word Work

This week we worked with the digraphs ng and nk. Our heart words this week were could, would, should, or, and for. These are words that do not follow traditional spelling rules. Our FANCY vocabulary words were ’challenge', ’journal, ‘comfort', 'and ’cling’. 

Reading

This week we read different versions of the Little Red Hen. We compared and contrasted the stories. We started our second unit in reading and writing this week. Our learning will center around the question "What do people learn from studying animals?" We read the book Seven Blind Mice and discussed how we can use all of our five sense to 'see' clearly. We read a nonfiction article about elephants and studied how an elephant uses each body part.

Math

We concentrated on counting forwards and backwards to 120 this week. Your little should be able to count and write any number to 120 by this time in first grade. We have MANY numbers that are still being written backwards. Our classroom goal is to be able to write all numbers correctly by the end of December.

Writer’s Workshop

This week we concentrated editing. We discussed the different purposes writer's write, to inform, to persuade and to entertain.

Social/Emotional Learning - Life Skills

This week we discussed what it means to be grateful. We talked in detail about how lucky we are to have grown ups who love and take care of us. We also chatted about how lucky we are to have such a great school to come to each day.

Social Studies/Science

This week we reviewed wants and needs and how important it is to take care of your needs first. We had a great discussion about trade and barter with Mrs Lemmen. Her grandma taught in a one room school house in Indiana. The community was not always able to pay her for her services so instead would give her eggs and chickens.

Parent Corner

Each week I will share ideas of ways you can aid in your child's education. Soft skills modeled at home have the most impact on life long learning. 

Confidence is not luck. It is the brain remembering what it has already survived. Each small win releases dopamine, fuel for the "I can" circuit. The circuit strengthens only through repetition in the same challenge. A child who keeps puzzling builds pattern recognition. One who keeps zipping coats and backpacks build motor mastery. Self-efficacy isn't global confidence. It's earned, one domain at a time. Confidence is not inherited. It is built one skill at a time. As a parent we often what to do for our kids however what we need to let them do build. 

School Stuff:

Report card message

The following message is from our district reading specialist concerning reading scores on report cards.

The Ann Arbor Public School District adopted a new reading curriculum, Arts & Letters, this year. This program is a rigorous knowledge and skill-building curriculum that allows students to build skills in English language arts. It has increased Demands for critical thinking and stamina. As with any new endeavor, some students may have lower scores initially as they work to meet new demands and build stamina. Over the course of the program, stamina and skills build, and should increase over time. The implementation dip in scores is often part of making a change and not indicative of lower performance overall. Students, over time, will build the skills necessary to carry them forward to success.

 

Snack Donations

Thank you for all of the donations.

From past newsletters....

Class books

We are missing three class books! Please check your home for Ish, Fun Run and The Dot. The children put SO much work into these creations. I would hate for them to be lost.

These books will are making their way to each of your homes. When a large manila envelope comes home in your littles backpack please read through the book together and return the next school day. If you would like to leave a book review on a class book that comes home. Please attach a post it note to the large envelope. The littles love to hear what you think of their creations :) 

Computers

 Please be sure to send the computer FULLY charged each day. We will be using them daily. Please also send the charger. I am not supplied a classroom charger. Please do not let your littles change the settings on their computers. This is against the user agreement and poses a big problem when using them in class. Changes and creation of personal backgrounds interfere with programs run at school. 

Attendance Line

When your student is absent please use the following email to report the absence log_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us

Instagram

If you would like to see adventures from our days together you can request to follow @Kriletown. 

Donations

To donate much needed items you can find the Kriletown wishlist here. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with your littles. Thank you to all of you for the great conversations during conferences the last few weeks. 

Kriletown Advetures - Week 11

Welcome to week eleven of Kriletown News. 

Here is a look into what we have been learning during week 11 of our Kriletown adventures. 

NO PROGRESS REPORTS OR FRIDAY FOLDERS THIS WEEK!

Important Date

• Tuesday, November 11th Fall Conferences Google Meet

• Wednesday, November 12th Picture Retake

• Wednesday, November 26-Friday, November 28 - No School, Thanksgiving

• Tuesday, November 26th Report cards sent home

• Monday, December 1 School Resumes

Curriculum

Word Work

This week we worked with the digraphs ch, ph and wh. We also continued work with the consonant digraph ck which shows up at the end of words with a short vowel. Our heart words this week were their, were, talk, and walk. These are words that do not follow traditional spelling rules. Our FANCY vocabulary words were ’concentrate', ’humongous', ‘exquisite', 'and ’spectacular’. 

Reading

Last week the kids cast their votes for this weeks read aloud series. Pigeon won by only ONE vote! We started our second reading unit of the year this week centering around the theme 'what do people learn by studying animals?' We will spend the next few months exploring and learning using both fiction and nonfiction texts.

Math

We hoped on the number line up and back, played more sums of 10 games with coach Natalie and read tally graphs this week.

Writer’s Workshop

We are  finishing up our last narrative writing project this week. 

Social/Emotional Learning - Life Skills

This week we discussed respect. We talked in detail about how we show respect to everyone we come in contact with. We discussed how you show others respect with not only your words but body language.

Social Studies/Science

This week we discussed scarcity. We learned you can not only have scarcity of goods and services but you can also have a scarcity of time or space. Ask your child about the Mitten book we read.

Thank you so much to those of you who took your child outside to observe the moon this week. We learned a few interesting facts about this months' full moon. The November 2025 full moon is a Beaver Supermoon, and it will be the largest and brightest supermoon of the year. It is called the Beaver Moon because it traditionally marks the time when beavers prepare for winter. The supermoon will be especially bright because it will be the closest the Moon gets to Earth in 2025. 

Parent Corner

Each week I will share ideas of ways you can aid in your child's education. Soft skills modeled at home have the most impact on life long learning. 

Children are ALWAYS watching and listening. How we treat others will become how our children treat others. Children's first model of respect, how we treat our partners. Kids notice every kindness, every dismissal, every repair after conflict. You are their textbook on love and respect. Your tone today becomes their default tomorrow. What can parents do: Model affection and repair openly. Show that real love and respect isn't perfect. It's practiced.

School Stuff:

SNACK DONATIONS

We need November snacks please.

Conferences

Thank you SO much for the great discussions this week. If we have not yet met I am excited to chat with you about all of the amazing things your little is learning. 

From past newsletters....

Class books

These books will are making their way to each of your homes. When a large manila envelope comes home in your littles backpack please read through the book together and return the next school day. If you would like to leave a book review on a class book that comes home. Please attach a post it note to the large envelope. The littles love to hear what you think of their creations :) 

Computers

 Please be sure to send the computer FULLY charged each day. We will be using them daily. Please also send the charger. I am not supplied a classroom charger. Please do not let your littles change the settings on their computers. This is against the user agreement and poses a big problem when using them in class. Changes and creation of personal backgrounds interfere with programs run at school. 

Attendance Line

When your student is absent please use the following email to report the absence log_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us

Instagram

If you would like to see adventures from our days together you can request to follow @Kriletown. 

Donations

To donate much needed items you can find the Kriletown wishlist here. 

It has been a joyful week in Kriletown!! Thank you for sharing your little learner with me.