Weekly News (Jan. 21-23)

It may have been a short week, but we sure were busy! Here is what we have been learning this week.

Math

This week in math we reviewed how to add numbers with sums up to 10, and we worked to solve subtraction problems too. Using our interactive whiteboard, the children took turns subtracting or "taking away" dragonflies from our jar while playing a game called "Fly, Fly Away!" They did a great job recording their thinking using a number sentence such as 10-7 = 3, and they even learned how to use addition to check their work! We also used our mental math skills to practice solving number puzzles such as, "What number comes before 35?" We had some time to use our IXL math accounts in the LMC last week too. Here is the web address if you'd like to login at home!

www.ixl.com/signin/dryden

Subtraction on the Interactive Whiteboard

Literacy
This week during our reading workshop time, the students began to think about and develop their own identities by reflecting on themselves as readers. Thank you SO much for working with your child to complete the "Who Am I as a Reader?" and the "Book Favorites" surveys. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through each and every survey and talking about our favorite books in class. During our interactive read aloud lesson this week, we read But Excuse Me That is My Book by Lauren Child, which is a story about a girl named Lola who goes to the library to check out her favorite book only to find out that some else has already checked it out. Her brother Charlie tries to help her see that there are other books at the library she might enjoy. As we read through the story and Charlie showed Lola different kinds of books, the students gave a thumbs up or a thumbs down to show their interest in a particular genre. They had some time to talk about their favorite books with a partner too!

In another reading workshop lesson, the students learned how to use pictures to help them read words and make meaning of a text. Using an "action rhyme" poem called Catch the Moon, they studied the pictures to help them figure out the words on the page and understand the poem. They practiced reading the poem independently, and then we acted it out as we read it one more time. Take a peek at us in action below!

Reading Catch the Moon

Acting out and reading the poem Catch the Moon

Handwriting/Writing

The children have been doing a nice job practicing their handwriting skills. As we practice each letter of the alphabet, we are working on the following skills: correct letter formation; proper placement using the top, bottom, and dashed lines as a guide; and writing letters using a top down approach. We have a song that we sing to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It", and it goes like this: 

I always start my letters at the top. (At the top!) 


I always start my letters at the top. (At the top!) 


When I write another letter, 
I get better, better, better, 


When I always start my letters at the top. (At the top!)

We have been using the following guide as we introduce each letter. So far we have been practicing all of the letters that begin with what we call a "magic c." The letter "c" forms the foundation for many other letters as you can see below. Next week we will begin working on some of our "tall letters."

During writing workshop, the children continue to make progress stretching out the sounds they hear while trying to record their ideas on paper. We have recently been working on adding detail to our writing by adding more words to our sentences or writing multiple sentences on a topic. We have also been working to use lowercase letters when writing, with the exception of using capital letters for names and at the beginning of each sentence. 

Social Studies

With the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday this week, we spent some time learning about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream for peace and equal rights. We watched a BrainPop, Jr. video and read a book about his life. We had a great discussion about what it means to be fair as well as what it means to be kind or cruel to others. Some very thoughtful and compassionate responses!

Centers

The children had some time to work in a center of their choice this week, and all students had time to practice reading books on their RAZ Kids account. The children have responded very well to the RAZ Kids reading program and are eager to earn stars for their rockets! Here is the web address for at home access. Keep up the great reading K-2!

PJ Day!

Have a great weekend!
Thanks for reading!

Weekly News (Jan. 12-16)

It was great to be in school for a full week! The children jumped right back into our kindergarten routines. Take a peek below to see what we have been learning!

Math
The children completed their "Teen Number Books," which were a great way for them to understand and reinforce the concept of our teen numbers as "ten plus some more." In our number books, we practiced writing each teen number, reading each teen number word, and using a ten-frame to show each number. We took a closer look at shapes this week as we identified some of the similarities and differences between squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. We also introduced the terms: corner, side, and angle. 

Literacy
The children have been learning many new skills and strategies during both our reading and writing workshop time. This week the children learned how to be "active listeners" during our interactive read aloud. I modeled for students how to pay close attention to the illustrations and words of the story, how to think about what's going on in the story, and how to talk about what the characters in the story are doing. Students were able to practice this "thinking aloud" strategy with a partner. Then they were able to use books from their individual book bins to practice their reading skills during independent reading time. 

During writing workshop, the students have been doing a great job leaving spaces between words and adding detail to their writing. The students are working on a writing activity that encourages them to focus in on one "small moment" of a winter activity. They will soon be working with a partner to edit and revise their first draft!

The kindergartners were also treated to a special reading of the book
Stranger in the Woods by Mrs. Sessler. What a beautiful story!

Winter Fun
The children were SO eager to finally get outside to play! They had a blast in the snow. Here are a few pics from recess!

All About Me

This week the class loved learning all about Sophie's favorite things. It was easy to see that Sophie enjoys arts and crafts. She loves to color, paint, and create! Sophie enjoys playing with her American Girl dolls and her Lego Friends. She loves the movie Frozen and spending time with her family!

Sophie's mom read a Bailey story to the class, which is now a class favorite!
Thank you so much for coming in to read!

Weekly News (Jan. 5-12)

What a chilly way to start off 2015! I hope everyone stayed warm and enjoyed the days off from school. 

Kate and James keeping busy on one of our snow days!

Math
This week in math, the children were introduced to calculators for the first time this year. We learned about the different keys and functions of the calculator, and we even played a math game using our calculators! The students also continued to work in their "Teen Number Books." They will bring home their books soon! We spent some time reviewing our shapes while the children had their first introduction to the concept of area.

Jolly Phonics

Now that all the Jolly Phonics sounds have been introduced, please continue to review these sounds with your child regularly. Knowing their sounds well really helps when learning to read and write. I can tell many of the children have been practicing. Keep up the good work!

Literacy

The children learned some new routines during Reading Workshop this week. They are learning how to be an active listener during our read aloud and shared reading lessons and an active participant during our "turn-and-talk" activities with classroom partners. I have also begun to reassess the students' guided reading levels. It is amazing to see how much they have grown since the beginning of the year! Students will not bring a new guided reading book home this week. 

During Writing Workshop, the children learned about "small moment" writing. We used the book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats to help the students identify small moments throughout the book. Then the students had a chance to talk about and begin writing about their small moments from our two day cold days off from school. The children will be working through the writing process to edit their sentences, add more detail, and create a final draft of their writing. Can't wait to see their finished pieces!

Centers

The students have been working in centers on a variety of word work activities such as: sight word practice, labeling practice, writing CVC words, identifying missing sounds in words, and working on RAZ Kids. 

Looking forward to a great week in kindergarten!