Mr. Eubanks’ Kindergarten Class Weekly Newsletter

Dear Kindergarten Families,

We had a fantastic and busy week in kindergarten! Here’s a recap of all the exciting learning and activities that took place:

Learning About Rules:
This week, we focused on learning and practicing different rules to keep us safe. Last week, we had our first fire drill, where we practiced stopping, walking, and quietly lining up outside. This week, we learned about ALICE Drills. In these drills, we talk about the “Shepherd” (that’s me, Mr. Eubanks), the “Sheep” (your kiddos), and the “Wolf” (something bad happening in the school). We discussed how sometimes we might need to be quiet and hide, and other times we’ll go to the soccer field. Most importantly, the children listen to Mr. Eubanks, even if the directions sound silly!

Fun Activities:
We had a blast learning about bus safety on Thursday morning at the “Buster the Bus” assembly! We also participated in the Color Run, which was so much fun! Don’t forget to keep your Color Run t-shirts—these can be used for spirit days and future field trips.

Phonics Fun:
In phonics this week, we reviewed every letter and sound, practicing how to form each letter correctly. We are also working on identifying the beginning sounds in words, which can be tricky! Here are some tips to help at home:

• Play “I Spy” using beginning sounds (e.g., “I spy something that starts with ‘b'”).
• Practice saying words and stretching out the sounds, asking your child to tell you the first sound they hear.

Your child should be hearing, recognizing, and naming the first letter in words. Soon, they will be expected to name the first, middle, and ending letters. If your child struggles with letter sounds, I use this Youtube video to help.

Writing Workshop:
On Wednesday, I attended a professional development seminar on teaching writing to kindergartners, and I’m excited to bring what I learned back to the classroom! We’ll be doing much more writing in the near future, so stay tuned for updates.

Math & Shapes:
In math, we’ve been working on identifying and making shapes. Ask your child to find and name shapes around the house! Next week, we’ll start learning all about pumpkins, just in time for fall.

Important Reminders:

• Poetry Notebooks: Please remember to return your child’s poetry notebook. We read them daily, and new poems go home on Fridays for you to read together.
• iReady: We’ve finished our iReady testing, and now your homework is to complete 30 minutes of iReady reading and math lessons each week. iReady tracks ACTIVE minutes, so if your child is just sitting or playing games, those minutes won’t count!
• Snap Words: Please study snap words with your child each week. I send them home on Fridays or Mondays. These words are crucial to helping your child learn to read and write, and it’s an expectation that they master these important words.

Thank you for all your support at home, and I look forward to another week of learning and fun next week!

Warmly,
Mr. Eubanks

P.S. Don’t forget—next week, we’re diving into our unit on pumpkins! 🎃