Weekly News (Apr. 27-May1)

Hope everyone is out and about enjoying the beautiful spring weather that has finally arrived! I cannot believe May is already here. We've been busy learning and growing in kindergarten!

Math
We took a closer look at place value this week and played a game to help students understand the concept of tens and ones. In our mystery bag filled with popsicle sticks, there were sticks grouped together in bundles of 10 as well as several unbundled sticks. We practiced counting by 10's first and then by 1's to see how many sticks we had altogether. We then practiced writing two-digit numbers.  

The students learned another new game this week called the "Plus and Minus Game!" In this game the children practiced both their addition and subtraction skills, but the major focus of this game was to help the children learn what numbers make a ten, such as 4 and 6, 3 and 7, 2 and 8, etc. This is a game we will play again soon! 

The students also had their first introduction to a number scroll. In first grade, the students will be making their own number scrolls where they practice writing their numbers in order beginning with the number 1 and going up as high as they can go.  Although the students won't be making their scrolls until first grade, we got a jump start by practicing how to write our numbers from 1 up to 110. They did a terrific job with this activity!

Reading Workshop
This week during reading workshop time, we read Big Al and Gilbert in the Deep to help us understand the following ideas:

• Readers use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Readers use all of their senses as they read to help deepen their understanding of a topic.

The class did a great job using context clues while listening to the story Big Al to help them figure out the meaning of the words bulged and grain. They also were able to think about some of the senses they used when listening to Gilbert in the Deep and recorded their ideas with pictures. 

The students continue to do a great job reading from their blue book bins, and they even had some time this week to practice their reading with a buddy. Keep up the great work K-2!

Writing Workshop
It is always so much fun to read about what the children have been up to over the weekend as they work on their "Weekend News" writing. The children continue to gain confidence in themselves as writers each week, and it is getting easier for them to record their ideas on paper and extend their thinking with specific examples and details. We also had a special treat this week. The second graders from Miss O'Sullivan's class came to our room to share their latest writing pieces, which were fantastic! The kindergarteners absolutely LOVED having our 2nd grade friends come in for a visit, and they were very impressed with their stories!

Looking forward to another great week with my kinder friends!!