Language Arts: Letter M was the letter of the week. We had letter day on Monday, where we read a poem, practice writing the letter in the air, and brainstorm words that begin with that letter. Our sight word was "my." Our jolly phonics sounds were Sound Book 2 review, ai, j, oa, and ie. We read Caps For Sale and Go Away Big Green Monster. We acted out stories and create projects. We read a monkey fact book and wrote a 4 square writing piece focusing on verbs...What Monkeys Do. We read The Very Grouchy Ladybug and made a response book. For Daily 5, we learned and practiced how to do Word Work.
Math: We created patterned on our peddler after reading Caps for Sale. We learned the Monkey Game which extends from Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. We practiced our number skills by counting to put specific numbers of monkeys on or off the bed. We went on a number walk and discussed the many ways we use numbers. A ladybug counting page also gave us number practice. We learned the Monster Squeeze Game which focuses on numbers that are "more than" and "less than." I encourage your child to do the following Math Home Links: 1.5 Numbers All Around, 2.5 Patterns All Around 2.8 Coin Detective, 3.2 Shape and Color Patterns, and 3.6 Monster Squeeze.
Social Studies: The Cool Tool for the week was I Can Problem solve....Listening. we talked about the importance of being a good listener. We used our turn and talk partners to practice taking turns listening while our partner told of what he/she did that weekend. When we are in a conflict, it is important to listen to better understand what our friend feels and needs.
Notes: Don't forget!!! Picture Day is Thursday, October 6th! Send your child with their best smiles that day! Thank you again for all of the donations for our classroom. If you ever come across materials of which we might benefit, please know it will be put to good use! Thanks to Mrs. Simonich for the use of the fan. I'm afraid our warm weather is over. So bundle up and welcome fall! Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sept. 19-23
We have a new author study, Eric Carle! Please look at the links to the right to visit websites about Laura Numeroff and Eric Carle.
Language Arts - We learned and discussed the sounds, o, u, l, f, and b. Our sight word was "is." Many of our read alouds and responses were with Eric Carle books. We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We wrote a response and we created story parts so we could retell the story at home. We read Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? and learned about the reading strategy "Look at the picture clues." We made our own mixed up animals after we read The Mixed Up Chameleon. We learned that Eric Carle likes to have a "gimmick" in all of his stories which tend to center around animals and nature. We made our own beautiful Eric Carle collages.
Work on Writing was the Daily Five practice this week. We learned how to write in our journals the whole time. Writing can look different depending on one's skills. Maybe we are writing through a picture. Maybe we can draw a picture and add a few sounds or a label. We might even be writing words and sentences! Our picture needs to tell the story with lots of detail. We will challenge ourselves and grow into writing words too.
Math - We played lots of fun games centered around patterns, counting, instant number recognition, and number recognition. We began our Math Wall. The students travel to the hallway for an engaging set of lessons focusing on number sense.
Social Studies - Our Cool Tool for the week was "How to Cool Off." We introduced this last week and reinforced it with stories like Mean Soup and videos like Hoppin' Mad.
Notes - Thank you to ALL who brought in donations of supplies!!!!!!! I am so appreciative of the support and everything will be put to good use! Thank you! Have a great weekend!
Language Arts - We learned and discussed the sounds, o, u, l, f, and b. Our sight word was "is." Many of our read alouds and responses were with Eric Carle books. We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We wrote a response and we created story parts so we could retell the story at home. We read Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? and learned about the reading strategy "Look at the picture clues." We made our own mixed up animals after we read The Mixed Up Chameleon. We learned that Eric Carle likes to have a "gimmick" in all of his stories which tend to center around animals and nature. We made our own beautiful Eric Carle collages.
Work on Writing was the Daily Five practice this week. We learned how to write in our journals the whole time. Writing can look different depending on one's skills. Maybe we are writing through a picture. Maybe we can draw a picture and add a few sounds or a label. We might even be writing words and sentences! Our picture needs to tell the story with lots of detail. We will challenge ourselves and grow into writing words too.
Math - We played lots of fun games centered around patterns, counting, instant number recognition, and number recognition. We began our Math Wall. The students travel to the hallway for an engaging set of lessons focusing on number sense.
Social Studies - Our Cool Tool for the week was "How to Cool Off." We introduced this last week and reinforced it with stories like Mean Soup and videos like Hoppin' Mad.
Notes - Thank you to ALL who brought in donations of supplies!!!!!!! I am so appreciative of the support and everything will be put to good use! Thank you! Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sept. 12-16
We just completed our first full week of kindergarten! It has been a busy week!
Language Arts: We finished Jolly phonic sound book two. As they come home, have your child repeat the actions to go along with the sound. Our sight words were "a" and " the." Notice the sight word poems that come home. We practiced reading those all week and raised our thumbs as we heard and read the sight word. We continued our exploration of shapes through literature this week by reading many shapes books including A Bear in a Square and The Shape of Things. We made a small book about shapes and worked with partners to create a scene made up of all types of shapes. We also read the book I Read Signs. We made a response book and went on a shape walk in and around our school. We read the book Officer Buckle and Gloria and talked about the importance of rules.
We are beginning to learn about Daily 5, our management program during guided reading. This week we practiced Read to Self. The students know that the teacher's responsibility is to work with a small group. Their list of responsibilities is much longer. If they follow the expectations, they are being independent. some of the expectations are Eyes on Book, Stay Still, Zero Voices, and Build Stamina. We started reading for 3 minutes and have successfully worked our way to 6 minutes. We will continue to lengthen our time until we reach 15 minutes.
Math: Shapes have been our main focus. In addition to reading many books, we have played a Shapes by Feel game, a listening game with a song, explored tracing with templates, and created pictures with shapes.
Social Studies: Our Citizenship Cool Tool this week was I Can Problem Solve. this is a process for solving a problem. 1. Stop and Cool Off (we talked about different ways) 2. Talk and Listen (Use I Messages - I feel ___ when...) 3. Think of Ways to Solve the Problem 4. Choose the Idea You Like Best!
We spent some time talking about what anger looks and feels like. We discussed the anger thermometer....annoyed...irritated...angry...furious...enraged. We know that it is important to control our anger and that most of the time it is not appropriate to go high on the anger thermometer.
Notes: Thank you to all who could make it to curriculum night. If were unable to attend, please look into your child's backpack where you can find a large ziplock full of resources and materials. Please look over and let me know if you have any questions. There are many upcoming May Watts events, including the optional Reflections program. Please refer to any emails sent directly from May Watts or check the May Watts website calendar.
Have a great weekend!
Language Arts: We finished Jolly phonic sound book two. As they come home, have your child repeat the actions to go along with the sound. Our sight words were "a" and " the." Notice the sight word poems that come home. We practiced reading those all week and raised our thumbs as we heard and read the sight word. We continued our exploration of shapes through literature this week by reading many shapes books including A Bear in a Square and The Shape of Things. We made a small book about shapes and worked with partners to create a scene made up of all types of shapes. We also read the book I Read Signs. We made a response book and went on a shape walk in and around our school. We read the book Officer Buckle and Gloria and talked about the importance of rules.
We are beginning to learn about Daily 5, our management program during guided reading. This week we practiced Read to Self. The students know that the teacher's responsibility is to work with a small group. Their list of responsibilities is much longer. If they follow the expectations, they are being independent. some of the expectations are Eyes on Book, Stay Still, Zero Voices, and Build Stamina. We started reading for 3 minutes and have successfully worked our way to 6 minutes. We will continue to lengthen our time until we reach 15 minutes.
Math: Shapes have been our main focus. In addition to reading many books, we have played a Shapes by Feel game, a listening game with a song, explored tracing with templates, and created pictures with shapes.
Social Studies: Our Citizenship Cool Tool this week was I Can Problem Solve. this is a process for solving a problem. 1. Stop and Cool Off (we talked about different ways) 2. Talk and Listen (Use I Messages - I feel ___ when...) 3. Think of Ways to Solve the Problem 4. Choose the Idea You Like Best!
We spent some time talking about what anger looks and feels like. We discussed the anger thermometer....annoyed...irritated...angry...furious...enraged. We know that it is important to control our anger and that most of the time it is not appropriate to go high on the anger thermometer.
Notes: Thank you to all who could make it to curriculum night. If were unable to attend, please look into your child's backpack where you can find a large ziplock full of resources and materials. Please look over and let me know if you have any questions. There are many upcoming May Watts events, including the optional Reflections program. Please refer to any emails sent directly from May Watts or check the May Watts website calendar.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sept. 7-9
We had a busy short week in kindergarten. We are slowly but surely getting used to the routine of school. The kids feel so good about themselves and their day when they know what to expect.
L.A. - We continued our Jolly Phonics program learning a letter sound and action each day. So far, the letter sounds presented are s, a, t, i, p, n, c/k, e, and h. After every 6 sounds, we have a review day and make a book to practice at home. Keep them handy. Last we we read stories about mice, names, and school. This week we focused on fish, colors, and patterns. We are making our own class books in response.
Math - Colors, patterns, sorting, and graphing have been the main focus these past two weeks. We will continue these skills through morning math boxes and afternoon centers.
Social Studies - Since school began, our s.s. topic has been school rules. We will always review throughout the year. All social skills are taught, modeled, practice and reviewed all year long. We are beginning to talk about friendship and what makes a good friend. We will then move into conflict resolution. This involves identifying the conflict, cooling off, using words to talk it out and come to a resolution that you can agree upon.
Science - We did our first science experiment using the scientific method. We predicted what would happen when a red ice cube was placed in yellow lemonade. Our predictions were spot on! Have your child show you the record sheet.
Notes: Don't forget to be a part of the May Watts community by attending the ice cream social on Monday, Sept. 12th. I look forward to seeing everyone (parents only) at Curriculum Night on Thursday, Sept. 15th. This is a night to receive information about the kindergarten curriculum and our schedule in KP. We will have a sign up for November conferences that night. Due to the short time allotment and large group setting, I will not be able to discuss your child's progress on Thursday. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time.
Have a great weekend!
L.A. - We continued our Jolly Phonics program learning a letter sound and action each day. So far, the letter sounds presented are s, a, t, i, p, n, c/k, e, and h. After every 6 sounds, we have a review day and make a book to practice at home. Keep them handy. Last we we read stories about mice, names, and school. This week we focused on fish, colors, and patterns. We are making our own class books in response.
Math - Colors, patterns, sorting, and graphing have been the main focus these past two weeks. We will continue these skills through morning math boxes and afternoon centers.
Social Studies - Since school began, our s.s. topic has been school rules. We will always review throughout the year. All social skills are taught, modeled, practice and reviewed all year long. We are beginning to talk about friendship and what makes a good friend. We will then move into conflict resolution. This involves identifying the conflict, cooling off, using words to talk it out and come to a resolution that you can agree upon.
Science - We did our first science experiment using the scientific method. We predicted what would happen when a red ice cube was placed in yellow lemonade. Our predictions were spot on! Have your child show you the record sheet.
Notes: Don't forget to be a part of the May Watts community by attending the ice cream social on Monday, Sept. 12th. I look forward to seeing everyone (parents only) at Curriculum Night on Thursday, Sept. 15th. This is a night to receive information about the kindergarten curriculum and our schedule in KP. We will have a sign up for November conferences that night. Due to the short time allotment and large group setting, I will not be able to discuss your child's progress on Thursday. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time.
Have a great weekend!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)