Monday, November 28, 2011

Bear Snores On

Our story of the week is Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. Students will be learning what unique thing a bear does in the winter.  Our sight words of the week are play and go.  Our letters of the week are Ss and Tt.  In reading centers, students are practicing independent reading and finding sight words,  building and writing sight words, word sorts, computers, and a letter matching game.  During this time, I am seeing guided reading groups to provide more individualized instruction.

In math, the kindergarten team is focusing on comparing numbers.  We are practicing referencing the number line to help us tell which number is bigger. Students also count out the number of objects and to compare which group is bigger.  In math centers, students will get practice with comparing numbers, writing numbers to 30, patterns, and will play a dice counting game. Students will also go on Compass Learning math for one rotation of centers.

In writing, students are learning to tell a story through their pictures, rather than drawing one thing and saying "I'm done". They are learning to include a setting and characters in their story pictures. We have also begun a sharing schedule to share our writing each day. The kids get to sit in the "special sharing chair" when it's their turn!

Students also engage in Positive Action lessons several times during the week. Positive Action is a character education program new to the district this year.  Follow this link for more information: Positive Action- Kindergarten

The kids have been learning about self-concept (how we feel about ourselves) and things that affect our self-concept; our family, friends, our own choices, etc.  Throughout the lessons, the class gains keys to get through the gates to reach Castle Self-Concept.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Compass Learning

MTA has a wonderful computer program called Compass Learning.  The program features reading and math activities for students to practice on the computer.



The kids can also use this program at home.  Follow this link:  Compass Learning Odyssey

The username will be your child's first and last name with no spaces.
The password is mta123.

Example:  Student name John King

Username: johnking
Password: mta123

Be sure to check the website out. It's very kindergarten friendly. Once you help your child log in, they will be off and running on their own!

Please let me know if you have any trouble logging in.  Have fun exploring!

A Plump and Perky Turkey

A Plump and Perky TurkeyA Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fun, rhyming Thanksgiving story!



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Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat: I Love My White ShoesPete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


We love this book! Be sure to check it out of the library to read with your child!



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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Math is Fun!

Writing Numbers 1-30

Find the missing number!

Missing Numbers with Magnetic Numbers
& Number Lines

Sequencing Numbers Puzzles 



Monday, November 14, 2011

Nature Spy & Animal Babies in Grasslands

This week we are focusing on two Scott Foresman books, Nature Spy and Animal Babies in Grasslands.  Both books are nonfiction,  so students will be learning some of the features of nonfiction text.
Our sight words this week are have (review), like, and and.  The kids have been making great progress with learning their sight words.  I'm so proud of them!  Our letters of the week are Oo and Pp.

During reading centers this week,  the kids will be working on sight word practice,  independent reading with books containing known sight words,  letter matching, computers, and word family practice. 

In math,  we are working on mastering the teen numbers.  Here are the number poems we have been practicing to help the kids remember their numbers:

A 1 and a 1 makes 11 fun.

A 1 and a 2 tell 12 what to do.

A 1 and a 3 send 13 up a tree.

A 1 and a 4 make 14 shut the door.

A 1 and a 5 keep 15 alive.

A 1 and a 6 make 16 pick up sticks.

A 1 and a 7 send 17 to heaven.

A 1 and an 8 make 18 great.

A 1 and a 9 make 19 shine.

A 2 and a 0 make 20 a hero!

Don't forget, conferences are on Thursday.  Thursday is an early dismissal day.  Students will be dismissed at 1:30. Have a great week!

Friday, November 11, 2011

November is the New Month Here at School!

Sorry for being MIA the past couple of weeks!  I started a new grad class and it has been keeping me busy in the evenings with homework and papers.  My class is about differentiating instruction for diverse learners and I am getting lots of ideas for ways to meet the differing needs of my students!

I will update later this weekend to let you  know what we will be focusing on next week, but here is a little video to entertain you in the meantime...


Have a great weekend!