Kriletown Adventures - Week 5

Welcome to week five of Kriletown News. 

Here is a look into what we have been learning during week 5 of our Kriletown adventures. 

Important Dates

• Monday, September 29 - NO SCHOOL for students

• Wednesday, October 1 - Student Count Day

• Wednesday, October 8 - Logan Fun Run

• Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 143- Early Fall Break, NO SCHOOL for students and staff

• Tuesday, October 14 - School resumes

• Thursday, October 31 - Half Day 11:50 dismissal

Curriculum 

Word Work

This week we read and wrote many words with the short o. We continue to work with short i words from last week. Our heart words this week were was, look, me, be, and from. These are words that do not follow traditional spelling rules. Our FANCY vocabulary words were ’anxious', ’mustache', ’fabulous’, ‘habitat' and ’divide’. 

Reading

This week we read books centered around the theme of worry. We discussed the best way to deal with a worry is to talk about it with a trusted adult. I reminded the children they spend the day with many trusted adults at school and they can tell us ANYTHING!

We read Tomas and the Library Lady about a boys who's family are migrant workers in Texas and Iowa. The story centers around the friendship he strikes up with a librarian in a small Iowa town one summer. We compared and contrasted the book to That Book Woman from last week. Both books being based on real events. We discussed the impact librarians, teachers and trusted adults can have on us. We again discussed what it means to jump into a book and how we can be transported to all sorts of different places. Out literacy vocabulary this week was treasure, borrow, access and migrant.

Math

We continue to work with the 100’s chart and number line. We used each tool to help solve simple addition and subtraction problems. We learned and practice turn around facts. Ask your student to give you examples of turn around facts. We celebrated the 20th day of school this week and met Odd Todd and Even Steven. 

Writer’s Workshop

We continue to work on our stories about visiting the library.  This week we learned how to edit our own work for capitals and proper punctuation.  Our class goal is to have our stories ready to share with our fifth grade learning buddies next week.

Social/Emotional Learning - Life Skills

This week we discussed respect. Each day we shared examples of how we can show respect to those around us. One area we focused heavily on was respectful behavior in the lunchroom. We agreed that at home and when we are in a restaurant it is not acceptable to run around the table or throw food. We agreed the lunchroom here at school is the same as a restaurant...a place to enjoy a meal with friends while chatting calmly.  

We also discussed the concept of positive and negative thoughts. I stressed to the littles we need to be our own biggest cheerleaders telling ourselves "I am brave ! I can do this!"

Science

We learned about the phases of the moon this week. We looked at many models of the solar system. If your family has Netfix I would highly recommend the children's series Ada Twist. The science series is based on a wonderful scientific book series. 

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. 

Parents ask each year what can we do at home to help our child in school? The answer is simple READ. Studies show children who hear more words early show higher IQ's and greater school success. Every story read aloud fills their developing word bank, and words are the building blocks of thought. But it is not just about the words. It's about how the books deliver them. Stories create joint attention between parent and child that screens can't match. Screens entertain passively. Books engage actively. Stories light up circuits for creativity, empathy and meaning-making. You can make reading even more powerful by how you do it together. Pause and let your little finish sentences. Ask how a character feels. Predict what might happen next. Every question turns story time into brain training time. Twenty minutes each night before bed will be the most impactful thing you can do.

School Stuff

From past newsletters....

Scholastic Books

In your students Friday folder you will find the first scholastic book order of the year. I highly recommend ordering books from this company. The selections are great! Books are at just right reading levels for first graders. If you would like to place an order please do so online using the class code LC2KC. Books will be sent to Logan and I will send home in backpacks. If you are ordering as gifts I am happy to hold. Just send me an email so we can connect for delivery.

Sweatshirts

Please continue to pack a sweatshirt in your littles backpack. I have no control over our room temperature and we are always on the chilly side in Kriletown.

Progress reports

Remember folders come home on Friday. Please look at all of your students projects and sign the progress report. Folders should come back Monday with only the progress report inside.

Snack

Thank you so much for all of your generous donations. We are now in need of a case or two of small waters for when friends forget bottles if anyone could donate.

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. These caused major headaches during testing this week.

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. 

Thank you for sharing your little learner with me this week. Have a GREAT weekend!

Kriletown Adventures - Week 3

Welcome to week three of Kriletown News. 

Here is a look into what we have been learning during week 3 of our Kriletown adventures. 

Important Dates

• Monday, September 15 - Logan Curriculum Night, 6:00pm-7:30pm This is a child free event

• NWEA September 16 and 18 Please be sure your little gets a good night sleep and has a hearty breakfast. Students need to come with a FULLY charged computer.

• Thursday, September 25 - Logan Picture Day

• Monday, September 29 - NO SCHOOL for students

• Wednesday, October 1 - Student Count Day

• Wednesday, October 8 - Logan Fun Run

• Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 143- Early Fall Break, NO SCHOOL for students and staff

• Tuesday, October 14 - School resumes

• Thursday, October 31 - Half Day 11:50 dismissal

Curriculum 

Word Work

We reviewed short a this week. Many literacy assessments are taking place with myself and Mrs Wooley the reading specialist. This year we will learn to read and spell heart words. These are words that do not follow traditional spelling rules. We worked on she, who, you and has this week. Our FANCY vocabulary words were ’expert', ’practice', ’sigh’, ‘octagon' and ’pirouette’. 

Reading

This week we read books about kindness. Each day we shared examples from the pervious day we observed of people being kind. 

In reading workshop we buddy read The Monk and the Cat. Our new reading vocabulary words were monk, manuscript, study and monastery. We compared two very different works of art this week. Ask your little to tell you about Saint Jerome in his Study and Laila and Majnun.

Math

We continue to practice counted by 1’s to 30 and 5’s and 10’s to 100. We continue to work with the 100’s chart and number line. We used each tool to help solve simple addition problems. Coach Natalie helped us build our very own rekenreks. We celebrated the 10th day of school this week!

Writer’s Workshop

We began our All About Me books this week.  You will receive these completed treasures at curriculum night.

Social/Emotional Learning - Life Skills

In Kriletown we are working toward kids who aren't just smart on paper, but wise, resilient, and kind in the world. 

This week we concentrated on kindness. We discussed the idea of random acts of kindness. What  you can do as parents: Make kindness visible. Point it out, practice it and celebrate it louder than grades or achievements.

Social Studies

This week we began our family unit. We learned the definition of a family is a group of people who love and care for one another. We also made the discovery Kriletown is a lot like a family!

Science

We started learning about the sun and moon this week. We learned the moon takes about a month to orbit the earth. We are keeping an eye out during recess for a daytime moon. The October 2025 full moon will be a super Harvest Moon, which means the moon will display the enhanced size and brightness characteristic of a supermoon. October 6 we will have our next full moon! We will be discussing this daily over the next weeks. If you are able please take your little outside before bed to have a look at this exciting moon.

Star of the Week

Each of your students will get to be the star of the week in Kriletown. When the yellow folder comes home please help your little create a colorful poster that we might learn a little more about them. Return the folder and completed poster sometime the next week. All posters will hang in our room and then the hallway until the end of the year.

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. 

Repetition + emotion = identity

When kids here the same phrase again and again, their brains carve pathways. It becomes less of a motto and more of a mirror: this is who we are.

In Kriletown we start each day with our mirror......

I am a KRILE kid.

I am a SMART kid.

I am a KIND kid.

I am going to be the BEST kid I can be today.

Repeated sayings become mental programs, guides for how kids see themselves and the world. One phrase becomes an operating system for life!

School Stuff

From past newsletters....

Health Reminder

Please be mindful and keep your little home if they are ill. When your little is out I will collect all projects in a green absent folder and send with your student upon their return. Please do not complete all work in one evening rather spread across several days and return the folder when done.

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.

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.

Attendance Line

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

Snack

I have a snack box for students who forget snack. Please consider donating so everyone has both a morning and afternoon snack each day.

Instagram

If you would like to see adventures from our days together you can request to follow @Kriletown. Please send me an email with your user name if you would like to follow us. I do not accept requests from anyone I do not know personally.

Donations

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

Thank you for sharing your little learner with me this week. Have a GREAT weekend!