News from Lakeside Preschool and Middle School
Lakeside Staff
January 23, 2012
NEWS FROM LAKESIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Preschool News ~ Katie Schreuder, teacher
The preschoolers are half way through learning the letters of the alphabet. The preschoolers are so excited to be learning their letters. They work very hard every day to master the letters of the alphabet. They continue to work on learning what the letter looks like, what it sounds like, and also how to write it. Their fine motor skills, such as coloring, holding a pencil, and cutting have also improved since Christmas break. They are also continuing to master the numbers 1 to 10, colors, and shapes.
The preschoolers took a break from letters at the end of January to learn about Kansas. We discussed the State Symbols such as the Flag, Motto, and Seal. They also learned about the State Tree, Reptile, Insect, Flower, Animal, Bird and Amphibian.
5th Grade - Mrs. Goth
Wow! Can we already be past the holiday time of year? I hope everyone had an opportunity to hear and see how wonderful the students were for their Christmas Music Program. Amazing!!! I was also impressed with their wonderfully respectful behavior when other groups were performing. It makes it so nice for everyone when we can enjoy it without distractions! They deserve a big pat on the back and many ‘way to goes’!
During December, Fifth Graders were busy making our room and building look festive as well as continuing in the curriculum. Science focus moved from ecosystems to landforms. Landforms/features and maps make the earth’s surface easier to understand. Did you know that the ocean has many of the same features as the land does….just under water? The earth has many layers but the core is solid metal with molten metal over it. Studying landforms/maps in Science overlaps nicely with many elements of Social Studies. We are continuing to study how the United States was settled and came to be a nation with the USA Weekly.
Sixth Graders moved from ‘Atoms and Matter’ to ‘Motion, Forces and Simple Machines’ and then to “Energy”. They are seeing the overlapping of Math and Science as we work with the formulas for work, mechanical advantage, acceleration and velocity. They are currently designing a “marble race track” to apply the concepts of friction, potential and kinetic energy acceleration, and variables.
We are now entering the big ‘push’ time prepping for the TESTS!! Encourage your child to stay focused and strengthen those skills!! Being healthy and rested are two very important keys to success and we appreciate your help in that area.
Before we know it, it will be time to enjoy Spring Break and then work through the last of the year’s curriculum before moving on!
Mrs. Porter
Fifth and Sixth graders are busy preparing for the Kansas Reading Assessments. We are responsible for four different text types: narrative, expository, persuasive, and technical. Study Island is a computer program we started this year to help prepare for the assessments. Our computer lab is busy each week with students completing formative tests covering each text type. We are practicing daily in the classroom to master the skills required to achieve Exemplary statis. Each year our goal is higher and our students are ready to meet the challenge. The testing will begin Feb. 15, 2012.
