SK2 Weekly Updates! (Dec 16 – Dec19)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts: In Phonics, we learned how to rhyme words from the –at word family. Word families, also known as chunks, help readers look for patterns when decoding words. When learning to read, patterns are important. Children recognize word patterns and this makes it easier when sounding out words. We read “Cat In The Hat” by Dr. Suess to learn the -at family. Following this, we did a lot of group activities to practice the -at word family. We also read a cute poem called “My Cat” as a shared reading activity and circled the rhyming words which are in the -at family (at, cat ,mat, sat , hat , fat, that). SK2 had a lot of fun learning and practicing their first word family.
 

In addition to this, we also learned how to blend, sound out, and write new words by stretching each sound first and then blending them quickly to say a word. Last week, Sk2 started learning new sight words. They also got a bookmark with new sight words on it. (He, She, We, You, Are, and That). Please help them practice these sight words in their daily reading time at home.

Personal / Social Development: We read an Islamic story book called ”Searching for kindness.” We talked and discussed about how we can find kindness around us. SK2 brainstormed different ways that they can be kind and show little acts of kindness in their homes, at school and in their community.

Your child brought home an ``Act of Kindness`` calendar. Please talk to your child about what he/she can do to show an “Act of kindness” (e.g; helping mom or dad, sharing toys with siblings, talk politely, smiling, going to the masjid, giving charity, sharing food, cleaning up, etc). Put the calendar on your fridge and write the act of kindness they perform on it, every day.

After the winter break, if your child manages to fill most of the days, send the calendar back to the class and he/she will get a reward from the teacher. This calendar will help them practice what they have learned in the class.

Please note: This “Act of Kindness” is an optional activity. I highly encourage everyone to do it during the break because it applies Islamic characteristics and values practically throughout our daily lives, insha-Allah.

Literacy Tips: 

·     Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday. 

·     Practice finding two letter and three letter words with your child while reading at home.

·     Pick some nursery rhyme books or Dr. Suess books from your local library and practice finding    rhyming words with your child.

Math: In patterns, we learned how to create and extend the “AAB” pattern. We did lots of learning activities through math manipulative, bear counters and fruit loops cereal.

 Math tips:    

· Have your child skip count by 10’s out loud.

· Lay down a row of spoons pointing in an “AAB” pattern (up, up, down, up, up, down, up up, down,-----) and ask your child to extend the pattern.

Science: In Science, we did a review on  “Living And Non–Living things.” We have sent home information about our latest diorama project, “Living Things-Allah’s Creation.”

                        

Visual Arts: In Visual Arts, we made a Cat in the Hat “hat” related to the –at family in language.

Class Party: Thanks a lot everyone for sharing snacks in the class party. Special thanks to Hala's mom who made a special and yummy treat on our request. Students had a blast eating the marshmallow hats. May Allah reward you all!

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

Message from Arabic Teacher - Tr. Salam

Arabic

Assalamoalaekum:

We almost Elhamdollallah finished the first term . So far We studied the letters from Alif to zaa and we learned words which have these letters . We also Practice these letters through activities. We have had fun reading story and learning new songs. I’m amazing of the Senior Kindergarten’s ability in learning Arabic. MashaAllah!

The student will be expected to:

* Know and read all of the letters from Alif to Zaa.

* Read and write the above letters with Fatha, Kasra, and Dama.

* Recognize words which have above letters.

Jazakuma Allah Khairan

Tr. Salam

Message from Quran Teacher - Tr. Sahar

Assalaamu Alaicom,

Dear Parents
We finishedSurat Al-Adyat. We have quiz in this Surah

Jazaacom Allahu khayran
Tr:Sahar

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Dec 09 – Dec 13)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts: In Phonics, we did activities from Jolly Phonics book 3. We practiced how to write some tricky words that can not be sounded out (The, Are, You).  We also learned how to rhyme by matching and recognizing the ending sound of different words. To learn more about rhymes, we will start our first word family next week, Insha-Allah. In addition to this, we also learned how to blend, sound out, and write new words by stretching each sound first and then blending them quickly to say a word. Sk2 did an excellent job reading, practicing, and writing the new sight words that are written on the classroom door. Great work SK2! MashaAllah! 

In reading, we read “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See” again to practice choral reading. We have been learning how to orally retell simple events and simple stories in proper sequence. This time, we retold the story of “Goldilocks And The Three Bears” by sequencing the picture cards. We also talked about the importance of respect and empathy towards others.

Personal / Social Development: We also read different books about feelings and emotions. We talked and discussed about different feelings and how important it is in our religion to take care of feelings of people around us. Some of the books we read were “Harold And The Purple Crayon,” “My many colored days by Dr. Seuss,” “The Way I act.”

Literacy Tips:

·   Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.

·   Practice finding two letter and three letter words with your child while reading at home.

·   Pick some nursery rhyme books or Dr. Seuss books from your local library and practice finding rhyming words with your child.

Math: As only limited time left until winter break, we decided to start a mini-unit on patterns for term 2. We
learned how to create and extend the “AABB” pattern and did different learning activities. We also opened an “ice cream shop” in winter by making “AABB” ice cream cone patterns with our favourite flavors.

In our math center, girls made necklaces with colored pasta and boys made fire safety “AABB” patterned hats.

Math tips:    

·    Have your child skip count by 10’s out loud.

·     Lay down a row of spoons pointing in a “AABB” pattern (up, up, down, down, up, up....) and ask your child to extend the pattern.

Science: In Science, we watched a power point on  “Living And Non–Living things” for review. Next, we filled out an anchor chart “Is It Living’ as a whole class activity. We did different worksheets regarding living and non-living things. We have sent home an information about our latest diorama project, “Living Things-Allah’s Creation.”

If you have any questions, please feel free to email.

                        

Visual Arts: In Visual Arts, we completed the rainbow fish (from colored coffee filters) craft, Alhamdo-lillah.

Islamic Studies: Sk2 are memorizing a new dua for the month of December, Masha-Allah!  Also, we like to sing along to the nasheed, "Give Thanks to Allah" By Zain Bikha.” Here is the link for the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdHfVF5Zfg

This week, SK2 made a class book “A B C’ s of Allah (SWT) Creations. Students were given one alphabet to draw and write about something that Allah (SWT) created. Here is a sneak peak of the book:

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Dec 02 – Dec06)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts: In Phonics, we completed Jolly Phonics workbook 3, Alhumdulillah. In this workbook, we learned how to sound out these letters: ”b,g,o,u,l,and f.” We also learned the correct letter formation for the letters listed. In addition to this, we also learned how to blend, sound out, and write three letter words by stretching each sound first and then blending them quickly to say a word. We have been practicing the new sight words that are posted on our classroom door. We will practice some review activities from book 3 until winter break. We will start workbook 4 after winter break, Insha-Allah!. Sk2 is doing an excellent job reading, practicing, and writing the new sight words that are written on the classroom door, great work SK2!

In reading, we did choral reading. We read the books, “Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes,” “Pete the Cat, My Four Groovy Buttons,”  and “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See. We also integrated Islamic studies by doing story sequencing for the story of Prophet Nuh. We put picture cards from the story in the right order, to retell the story.

Literacy Tips:

•  Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
•  Please go to http://www.starfall.com/ at home to do some extra practice for the sounds we already     covered in class.
•  Practice finding two letter and three letter words with your child while reading at home.

 Math: We were learning how to write numbers in words and reviewing how to do tallies in our Math class. We had completed how to write the numbers 8, 9, and 10 in words. Also, some students came up on the board to find numbers, that were written in words, in the poem “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.” Lastly, we did some hands on activities in our math centers to review what we learned in Number Sense and Numeration over the past few weeks.

Math tips:    

•  Have your child skip count by 10’s out loud.
• Have your child distribute cookies or some healthy snack to family members, with each person getting     an equal amount.

Science: In Science, we  started a new unit about “Living And Non–Living things”. In our first class, we watched a power point and an educational video on living and non living things, then we had a class discussion about it. It was a very interesting and meaningful session, Alhamdulillah. We will continue learning about living and non living things until winter break.

Visual Arts: In Visual Arts, we made rainbow fish from coloured coffee filters to integrate with the letter “F” (for fish) and with the living things unit we started this week.

Islamic Studies: Sk2 are memorizing a new dua for the month of December, Masha-Allah. Also, we have been practicing a new nasheed, "Give Thanks to Allah" By Zain Bikha.” Here is the link for the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdHfVF5Zfg

We started learning about the first pillar of Islam, “Shahadah”. We learned what Shahadah means (There is no god but Allah and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last messenger of Allah). We also learn what we say after the name of Allah (Subhana Wa Taala) and prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We read a book “Allah Created Us All” and discussed that all living things and non living things in nature (Rocks, Sun, Moon, Sky, Stars, Clouds, Sand ) are created by only one creator, Allah (Subhan Wa Taala). We also made a beautiful frame for the name of Allah (Subhan Wa Taala) with colored egg shells!

Health & Physical Education:

As winter has already started, we talked about fire safety at home. We watched a video on fire safety and did a good class discussion about it. Students participated very enthusiastically about fire safety and a few students volunteered to show the “Stop, Drop, and Roll” drill, Masha-Allah! We also practiced (with a  fake fire alarm on computer), how to line up quietly and which exit to use, in case of a fire drill at school. Finally, we started working on a craft about fire fighters. Here is the link for the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fltEmbUm_8

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

Message from Tr. Sahar

Assalaamu Alaicom, 

Dear Parents

We finished Surat Al-Takathur and we are working in Surat Al-Adyat ( 1 - 4 )

Jazaacom Allahu khayran

Tr:Sahar

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Nov 25 - Nov 29)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts: In Phonics, we learned the vowel sounds ” O” and “U”.

In order to learn how to make secondary colours from primary colours in Art class, we began our week by reading  different books about  Colours .The books we read were “A Little Blue and A little yellow” ,”The Carrot Seed”, “I Eat Rainbow”, “Pete the Cat.” I Love My White Shoes,” (the most popular among SK2) and  the poem, “Rainbow Hair.” SK2 really enjoyed these books and did a great job doing  story sequencing, choral reading, and text to self activities, Masha-Allah.

Literacy Tips:

• Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
• Please go to http://www.starfall.com/ at home to do some extra practice for the sounds we already covered in class.
• Play "I spy with my little eye" something that starts with ____ and say the sound of a letter (for e.g; ta..ta..ta..for letter T). 

 Math: We are learning how to write numbers in words and reviewing how to do tallies in our Math class. We completed how to write number 6 and 7 in words. We also read a poem ”One, Two Buckle My Shoe” to recognize number words in reading.

Math tips:    

• Have your child skip count by 10’s out loud.
• Have your child distribute cookies or some healthy snack to family members, with each person getting an equal amount.

Science: In Science, we did a cool  experiment about colours . It was an explosion of colour! Some very exciting visuals happened when we  mixed a little amount of milk,  drops of different food coloring, and liquid soap. Students were amazed  and exited to see the burst of secondary colors  in white milk.

Visual Arts: First we read a poem “The Rainbow Hair “ and then we made our rainbow hair by using the seven colours of the rainbow. Also we coloured coffee filters with markers and later sprayed them with water. The children's eyes lit up as they saw colour move across coffee filters and sprayed with water. They were surprised to know what other colours they can make!!

Cooking: Yes, we did made some treats last Friday. The little readers did an awesome job reading and recognizing all the sight words written on the classroom door, Masha-Allah.

Way to go Sk2! To celebrate this excellent teamwork, we made rainbow krispies treats that also go along perfectly with our learning activities about secondary colours. Sk2 loved to eat the rainbow krispies and were eager to eat more!!!

Islamic Studies: Sk2 have memorized the monthly dua for the month of November, Masha-Allah. I am very proud of their enthusiasm and dedication on learning new duas. Starting from last Monday, we have been practicing a new nasheed "Give Thanks to Allah" By Zain Bikka. Here is the link for the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdHfVF5Zfg

Also, we worked on our “Five pillars of Islam File Folder game craft,”

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!