Math
This week in math we reviewed patterning, and we took a closer look at coins. After sorting our collection of coins into piles of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, we talked about the value of each coin and put the coins in order from least to most value. We also practiced counting by 1's. Our goal for the end of kindergarten is for students to be able to confidently count by 1's to 100 with smooth transitions at the 10's. We will also practice counting by 10's. Our end of year goal is to count by 10's up to 120. Although counting by 2's and 5's is not part of the kindergarten report card, we will introduce these counting patterns as well when students are ready.
We worked together to complete a number board this week using our interactive whiteboard. After completing the board, we talked about the different patterns we saw. Seeing the numbers 0-10 represented in this visual way prompted some great conversation!
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| Number Board |
Jolly Phonics
This week we learned the following letters and sounds in Jolly Phonics:
/g/ as in "good"
/o/ as in "octopus"
/u/ as in "umbrella"
The children continue to practice matching letters with sounds as they work on their writing during Writer's Workshop and blending sounds to read new words. I can tell many of the children have been practicing their sounds at home. Keep up the great work!
Literacy
We wrapped up our apple themed literacy activities this week. We welcomed in fall by reading a book titled Fall is Here and practiced our reading skills during a shared reading of the book The Picnic at Apple Park. The students brought home a new sight word book this week, and we also made a book about different colors of apples that we added to our individual classroom book bins. During Reading Workshop this week, the children practiced sitting "hip-to-hip" while taking turns reading a book to a buddy. Then they practiced sitting "knee-to-knee" while they used their speaking and listening skills to retell a story to their buddy.
The children brought home a "Poetry and Song" folder this week. We will continue to add to this folder throughout the year. Please read and sing these poems and songs together at home. It is a great way for children to learn the cadence and rhythm of language. This week the students brought home our September Song. Take a peek to hear them singing it below!
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| Our September Song |
Next week I will begin meeting with the students in small guided reading groups. It is a great opportunity for me to provide instruction that matches students' individual needs. Please continue to check your child's blue book bag nightly and be on the lookout for any books that come home. Please be sure to have your child read the book(s) in the book bag over and over again throughout the week. The repeated practice of reading a familiar book really boosts confidence and strengthens students' reading fluency and sight word recognition. Also, please try and carve out some time each night to snuggle up and read a book to your child. After decades of research in the field of literacy, experts continue to agree that reading aloud is one of the most important things you can do to help your child develop skills needed for reading success. Reading aloud to your child:
- strengthens early language skills and vocabulary.
- helps develop a positive attitude toward books and promotes curiosity.
- builds background knowledge.
- provides a model for expressive and fluent reading.
And as Dr. Seuss once said, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child!"
Science
Next week will begin our first science investigation of the year--Collections in Nature. We will be investigating a collection of fall leaves. Be on the lookout for a letter coming home toward the end of the week!
All About Me
We introduced our first "All About Me" student this week--Tyler! The class loved Tyler's "Me Box," and they were eager to learn all about his favorite things. We learned that Tyler loves Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and playing Legos. He is also a big sports fan and loves to golf and play baseball. He loves to eat out and spend time with his family, especially at their lake house!
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| Tyler's Me Box |
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| A big thank you to Tyler's mom for coming in to read Too Much Glue! |
Centers
The children did a great job during centers this week. Here is what we working on this week.
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| Listening Center: Fox and the Falling Leaves |
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| Painting Ten Frames |
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| Kitchen Center |
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| Apple Tree Play-Doh Mats (Reinforcing counting, adding, and fine motor skills) |
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| Roll an Apple Tree (Reinforcing subitising--instantly recognizing the number of objects in a small group, without counting) |
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| Our Class Behavior Chart We're almost to the top! Soon we will celebrate. Keep up the great work K-2! Thanks for reading! --Mrs. Riesing |
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