Farfallina & Marcel

Our story of the week will be Farfallina and Marcel this week. In the story, the caterpillar, Farfallina, turns into a butterfly. In science, we will be learning about how caterpillars turn into butterflies. In writing, we will be writing a nonfiction "All About" book, in which students will write facts they know about caterpillars and butterflies.

Our sight words next week are: be, pretty, now

In math next week, we will continue our study of subtraction. Check out this website for some fun math addition and subtraction games online: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

Don't forget, we do not have school this Friday, May 4th because teachers have a professional development day.

I also wanted to say thank you to all the families who came out for conferences on Thursday. It was wonderful to talk to you about your child's progress and to show you what we have been up to in kindergarten! I am very thankful for all of the actively involved parents this year, from checking planners each day, to staying updated on school events, to helping your child read and do homework each night at home. I appreciate everything you do!

My Lucky Day

Our story of the week is My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza. This is a funny story about a smart pig who outwits a fox and avoids becoming the fox's dinner! We will be focusing on the elements of the story, including the characters, setting, and plot.

Our sight words this week are do, come, away. **Note: The Friday newsletter had a typo. It listed the number words, one, two, three, four, and five as our sight words, but those are for the following week!**

We have been working on the "h brothers" in phonics. Last week, we concentrated on "sh" and "ch". This week we will be working on "wh" and the following week "th".

In math, we will continue learning about place value and practicing building numbers. This is tricky for many students but provides a solid foundation for number sense, so we will spend a lot of time on this.

In social studies, we have been learning about wants and needs, goods and services, and trade. We will continue our study of these economic terms next week!

Our class is studying the author Jonathan London for reading month. He is the author of the Froggy series. Our class will be writing our own Froggy books for reading month!

 

Don't forget that for reading month, we are having a school-wide and class-wide contest to see who reads the most minutes during the month of March. This can include your child reading to you or  you reading to your child. Record your minutes each night and return the logs every Friday!

 

On Wednesday, March 28, MTA will host reading night from 4:30-5:30 in the gym. At reading night, your child can share his/her Froggy book with you. Students will be able to participate in a craft or activity that each teacher has created to match their class' author study. We hope to see you there!

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Upcoming Events

* Thursday, March 15- Progress Reports Issued

* Friday, March 16- No School (Professional Development Day)

* Wednesday, March 28- Reading Night 4:20-5:30

* Friday, March 30- Character Dress-up Day (Students may dress up like their favorite story character)

* Monday, April 2- Field Trip to the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum (permission slip will come home on Monday, March 12)

* Friday, April 6- Spring Break Begins

Rooster's Off to See the World

This past week, we focused on Dr. Seuss stories all week and the kids loved it! We made some fun Dr. Seuss art projects, which I will try to post pictures of later this week.

Next week, we will be reading Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle. Eric Carle is also author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? You can check out his author webpage here.

Our sight words for the week are: so, funny, and out. We will be working on the "H Brothers" in phonics, focusing on "sh" and "ch".

In math we will be focusing on place value and getting more familiar with how to build numbers using the ones, tens, and hundreds place.

Here is a link to a website where students can practice building numbers using base ten blocks (like we use in class): Base Ten 

In Social Studies this week we will be focusing on needs versus wants.

Last week in math we focused on geometric shapes. Check out the pictures of students working in groups to sort the shapes into the correct category!

Have a great week everyone! I will be back soon with our Dr. Seuss project pictures. :)

We have been busy!

We have been busy in kindergarten!  Two weeks ago we learned all about polar animals and had tons of fun doing it!  Last week our theme was all about dinosaurs. The kids were definitely into that topic and had tons of questions.

This coming week, our Scott Foresman story of the week is The Lion and the Mouse. The amazing words of the week from our story are: jungle, beast, nibbling, snarled, trembling, and entangled.

Our sight words this week are: they, of, and do
Our word family this week is: -in (pin, tin, win, fin, bin, spin, thin, chin)


In math we are continuing our study of addition. Students have been using manipulatives and number lines to help solve addition problems.

*Reminder: Mark your calendar for February 17th for the Black History Program at 1:30.* 

Our class will be singing a song about Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

As you know,  we did not have school on Friday because staff had a Professional Development day. I just thought I'd share what our day was about because I would be curious as a parent!

As you may or may not know, all the states are moving to "Common Core State Standards".  In other words,  students across the country will be learning the same standards in every grade level,  no matter what state you live in. The CCSS were designed to be challenging and rigorous to prepare students for college and career success. Take a look at this video to get a better understanding of the CCSS.



This Professional Development really prompted me to think about how I am challenging all my students, especially those already performing above grade level.

We also received some great resources from the school that I cannot wait to start using in my classroom.

This is a word sort program to use on the SmartBoard!

I am excited to become familiar with both Debbie Diller books in order to improve our center time. These books encourage teachers to provide choices for students during center time, while providing options that challenge students who need extra support or an extra challenge. 

I am excited to get back in the classroom after that great Professional Development day. Have a great weekend everyone!

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break!  We are back in action at school and getting reacquainted with our normal kindergarten routine. This week our story is called "Little Quack" by Lauren Thompson.  The question of the week is, "What new things can you do as you get older?"


This week our sight words are me and with. We are also concentrating on the -at family (rat, cat, bat, mat, etc.) Beginning next week, students will be benchmark tested in their basic reading and math skills in order to chart their progress. I am looking forward to seeing how all the kinders are progressing!


In reading groups, we have been working hard on using our "magic reading fingers" to point under each word as we read. We are also practicing using the picture for help in figuring out tricky words, as well as using the first letter in the word to get our mouths ready.  Click here for some ideas to use with your child beyond simply saying "sound it out": Reading Star Strategies


In math we are focusing on measurement.  So far this week we have focused on capacity. Students will learn about weight on Thursday and Friday, before moving on to length next week.


We are shifting our focus in character education away from self-concept and on to physical health. This week we explored the importance of exercise and practiced moving around to speed up our heart beats. Students also learned about the importance of eating healthy foods.

 

As you probably noticed, new daily folders were sent home on Monday. Please be sure to empty old papers from the folders each night so the folders stay in good shape and do not rip from being too full. 

Finally, Happy New year to all the wonderful families who have been so supportive this year.  I truly enjoy spending my days teaching your children!

I will leave you with a quote I love:

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”    ~Emilie Buchwald

This just reminds me of all you do at home to support your child's academic growth...I couldn't do it without you! I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2012 with my kindergarten class!

 

A Bed for the Winter

This week, our story is "A Bed for the Winter".  In this book, students learn about different types of animal homes. We read the book for the first time today and the kids were "oohing" and "ahhing" over the photographs of animals. Kindergarteners just love learning about animals!

For each Scott Foresman story, the first day is spent doing a "Concept Talk" to build students' background knowledge and introducing the "Amazing Words" of the week. The second day is the first read of the story, which is reading for enjoyment. The third day we read the story and focus on vocabulary. The fourth day we read the story a third and final time and focus on comprehension. The fifth day is used for extension activities.

Our letters this week are Uu and Vv. Our sight words for the week are she, he, and for.

In math, the mini-lessons this week are on comparing numbers. In centers, students are working on patterns, number writing, computers, and comparing numbers independently.

In science, we are working hard on becoming familiar with the Scientific Method and we are beginning a unit on balance and motion. Our first investigation of the unit will be tomorrow, focusing on balance. We are lucky to have Foss Science Kits this year and I am very excited to use them! Follow this link for more information on the Balance and Motion unit.

 

Last week, we made snowmen to decorate our hallway and we learned our new December song. Here's a video of it (pardon the poor quality, I took it with my phone).  The kids were still in the habit of singing "November is the new month here at school"...bear with us, the song was still new to them! :)

December is the new month here at school!

December is the new month here at school!

It's the time we like to say,

Have a happy holiday!

Oh, December is the new month here at school!

Have a great week!

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.

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!

Miss Bindergarten...

Our story of the week is Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten by Joseph Slate.  This week we will be exploring the question "How do people in a community cooperate?"  We will be learning about letters Gg and Hh and reviewing letters Aa-Ff.  Our sight words this week will be the and little.  Please be sure to practice these important words at home!  Our amazing words this week are bakery, fire station,  park, post office, library,  and chaperone.

We are continuing to learn about the parts of a story and will focus on setting this week.  Students will get continued practice with the alphabet,  sight words,  and phonemic awareness skills on the computer during literacy centers.  If you haven't done so yet,  please check out starfall.com. It's a wonderful resource and most kids are able to use the website fairly independently.

In math,  students are continuing to work with numbers.  This week students will get practice writing numbers,  counting sets of objects,  sequencing numbers,  and some basic skills practice on the computers during math centers.

In science,  we will continue to learn about the five senses.  Students will be making personal posters of the five senses anchor chart we made last week.  They will also be sorting the senses by matching senses to the correct stimulus. 

I have a cute video of the kids singing their October song from Friday, but I'm having trouble getting it off my camera...hopefully I can do that tomorrow!

Have a great week everyone!

Plaidypus Lost and Some Video Resources!

This week our story is "Plaidypus Lost" by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel.  The big question this week is "How do families cooperate together?"  Our sight words for the week are the and little.  Make sure to practice these at home!  So far students have learned to read the words I, am, see, the, and little.

We are also working on understanding story structure.  Our main focus so far has been on characters.  This week we are talking about the setting.  We have also learned that every story has a beginning, middle, and end.  Eventually, we will be focusing on problems and solutions.

In math we are continuing to recognize,  write,  and count sets of objects from 0-10.  Some students have been working on numbers larger than that.  Students have been practicing these skills each day in math centers.  We also practice counting to 100 each day during calendar and will begin practicing skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s,  as well.  This is the video we watch each day to practice counting to 100:

This is the Jack Hartmann video we watch each morning during calendar time to practice our letter sounds: 

We also do our days of the week rap: 

Enjoy!

We Are So Proud!

The story this week is "We Are So Proud!" by Donna Longo. 

We are exploring the question, "How do children work and play together?" Students are also learning about the parts of a story, with a focus on characters.  Please review the sight words I, am,  and see with your children at home.

In math we are continuing to concentrate on numbers 0-10.  Students are exploring counting,  writing numbers,  sequencing,  and patterning through math centers this week. 

A new addition to our classroom this week is the "MTA buck".  Students who are on green or blue for behavior at the end of the day will receive an MTA buck.  On Fridays,  a prize cart will come to each classroom and students can choose to spend their bucks or save them up.