Weekly News (Feb. 22-26)

Wow! Is March really right around the corner? Our kindergarten days are flying by!

Math

We played Guess My Number this week and took turns listening for clues like the ones below to figure out a mystery number. 

What number is 2 less than 5?

What number is between 7 and 9?

What teen number has a 6 in it?

What number has a 2 and 4 as the digits?

What other number has a 2 and 4 as the digits?

What number tells how many legs are on a chair?

We also took a closer look at measurement this week and talked about different measuring tools. We learned that long ago before standard measuring tools were invented, people used their hands, fingers, feet, and even arms to make measurements! Then the students practiced using their own feet to measure the length of our rainbow rug and recorded their findings in their math journals.

Literacy

Reading Workshop

During reading workshop this week, the students learned how to use different text features to understand the meaning of the bold words found in nonfiction books. We practiced studying the photographs, reading the labels, and using the glossary to help us learn the meaning of new words.

We also learned that nonfiction books don't always have to be read from cover to cover. We talked about using the Table of Contents and the Index to help us locate a topic or specific information. 

Writing Workshop

We integrated our writing into our science investigations this week. Students recorded their observations during our bubble experiment and wrote about things they like for each color of the rainbow.

World Read Aloud Day

We were so excited to welcome Mrs. Crandall's 3rd graders to our room to read stories aloud to our class, and then the students in our class read to them. What a wonderful way to celebrate World Read Aloud Day!

Word Read Aloud Day from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.

Science

Take a peek at our science page to see what we have been learning about Rainbows, Color, and Light this week. 

All About Me

It was great to learn all about Eva this week! The class loved Eva's pictures showing her swimming with a dolphin while vacationing in the Bahamas. We learned that Eva likes playing with her Littlest Pet Shop toys, and she loves to collect mini Tsum Tsums. Eva loves going on vacation with her family and shared her shell collection and her autograph book from her latest Disney vacation!

Art Appreciation

A huge thank you to Mr. Barbieri for a great lesson on Mary Cassatt. The children learned about her use of color while studying two of her famous works of art--The Bath and After the Bath. Then students were able to create their own drawings using chalk to represent some of the pastel colors she used.

Art Appreciation from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.

Outdoor Fun

It was great to get outside and enjoy the fresh air this week!

Outdoor Fun from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.

Have a great weekend!

Also, if you didn't see it in the weekly Dolphin Splash Newsletter, Dryden is creating a "maker space" that will include many resources so that our students and staff can have many hands-on opportunities to promote student innovation, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and curiosity. This space includes items that we recently received through a large ABC/25 grant, but we would also like to fill our maker space with a variety of household items that our students can use. We would greatly appreciate any donations of the following items:

• paper towel, wrapping paper and/or toilet paper rolls
• yarn, ribbon and/or string
• beads and/or buttons
• tools
• newspaper
• aluminum foil, wax paper and/or saran wrap
• various clean containers with lids (ex. yogurt, cottage cheese)
• empty boxes (ex. cereal, pasta, or if they're bigger, flattened please!)
• things that can be taken apart (old or broken electronics or small devices)
• anything else along these lines that you think might be of good use

Thank you!

Weekly News (Feb. 15-19)

Math
This week we began Unit 5 in math. Students will explore the following concepts in this unit:

• measurement
• attributes
• addition and subtraction
• identifying equivalent names for numbers
• making exchanges
• introducing the class number grid
• skip counting by 5
• tally marks
• continued practice with counting, estimation, patterning, and graphing

Early in the week, the students learned how to use ordinal numbers to describe a sequence of events. We talked about our daily routines at home and school and practiced sequencing a series of events using the words first, second, third, next, and last. Take a peek at the game below to practice your sequencing skills!

The students revisited the concept of patterning this week and used their math journals for the first time--so exciting! They practiced copying and extending a given pattern and then had some time to create their own patterns using popsicle sticks too.

We also played a game this week that helped us learn how to describe objects using different attributes. The students picked a block and had to describe it using the following attributes: shape, color, size, and thickness. Then I picked a "mystery block" and students had to use the attributes to figure out what shape I picked!

Reading Workshop

This week during reading workshop, we learned how good readers STOP and THINK before, during, and after reading. Using the book How Bees Make Honey, we practiced how to stop and think and share our new learning with our classmates.

Nothing like getting cozy with a good book!

Writing Workshop

This week the students did a FANTASTIC job writing two sentences about their weekend adventures.  I always LOVE reading about what the children like to do with their families over the weekend. They continue to gain confidence in themselves as writers every week. They are doing a great job matching up letters with the sounds they hear, and they are working to include the following elements in their writing:

• Capital letter at the beginning of each sentence
• Spaces between words
• Lowercase letters throughout each sentence
• Period at the end of each sentences

Rainbows, Color, and Light
Our super scientists continue to make new discoveries as we explore the concepts of rainbows, color, and light. Be sure to check out our science page to see what we have learned this week!

Social Studies
In honor of Presidents' Day this week, we spent some time learning about our very first President--George Washington. We learned that George Washington was a boy who loved to learn math and ride horses. He learned how to make maps and later became a soldier. He became the first President of the United States after leading his troops to victory during the American Revolution. 

For those of you who didn't get to see the staff act in the Dryden Variety Show, here is a video. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

Weekly News (Feb. 8-12)

What an exciting week in Kindergarten! The students were thrilled to celebrate our 100th Day of Kindergarten as well as Valentine's Day. What a fun week of learning!

Math
This week we focused on the number 100! We practiced counting to 100 by 1's, 5's, and 10's. The children shared their collections of 100 items and talked about the different ways they put their collections together. While the students were sharing their collections, we quickly realized that 10 groups of 10 make a 100. Take a peek at our 100's Day slideshow below!

Celebrating the 100th Day of Kindergarten!

Happy Valentine's Day

A huge thank you to all of the parents who donated items for our party and to the parents who helped run our stations. The children had a great time thanks to all of you! Take a peek at some of our Valentine's Day fun in action below!

To play our Valentine's Day matching game, click on the picture below!

Reading Workshop

The students did a great job this week making connections to the books we have been reading. They have been practicing using the phrase "This reminds me of....." and have been making connections to their own lives, other books they have read, movies they have seen, or conversations they have heard to help us make new connections as we read and learn.

Writing Workshop

The class had a great time writing about what they would do if they had $100. It was fun to read about what the students would buy---Legos, a new dog, racecars, Shopkins, and other toys! They did a great job using details to describe what they would buy.

Rainbows, Color, and Light

Visit our science page to see what we have been learning in science! Thank you to those of you who have sent in items for us to explore during our unit. In the picture below, Ian is showing us how to use a flashlight and a CD to make a rainbow. 

Free Choice Centers

Weekly News (Feb. 1-5)

The days are flying by in Kindergarten. Take a peek at what we have been learning! :)

Math

We played a new game this week called "What's My Rule?" to help prepare students for some math routines that they will learn in first grade. Using a group of children, we had to identify what trait or traits all of the children had in common such as: hair color, color of clothing, hairstyle, etc. In first grade, students will apply this type of skill when trying to identify an addition or subtraction rule for a given set of numbers. We also practiced reading, locating, and ordering a series of two-digit numbers. Practice putting these numbers in order by clicking on the picture below.

We revisited number stories this week as well and used our interactive whiteboard to create some of our own addition and subtraction number problems.Then we wrote a number sentence to match. Take a peek at some of our work below.

Literacy

Reading Workshop

This week during reading workshop, we revisited the book How Bees Make Honey to help us learn strategies to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words. Using some of the strategies from our "S-T-O-P-I-T!" chart, we were able to better understand the meanings of the words--cells, mate, and nectar.

We also read the book Healthy Habits and learned how to identify key details that support the big idea of the text. While listening to the book, the students acted like detectives and used good thinking skills as they worked to figure out how all the facts fit together to support the big idea---keeping our bodies healthy everyday. After examining the table of contents, reading the headings, and thinking about the big idea, the students were able to identify the following habits we should do everyday to stay healthy:

1. eat good foods like fruit, eggs, and nuts and drink plenty of milk and water  
2. clean and protect our skin
3. brush and floss our teeth
4. play hard for exercise
5. get lots of sleep

At the end of the week, we had our first mini-lesson of our nonfiction unit and practiced what we should do when we pick up a book to read. In order to get our mind ready we ask ourselves, "Do I think this book is fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or something else?" We then look closely at the front and back covers, look at the different text features, and take a picture walk to help us get ready to read and learn. We practiced these skills with the nonfiction book What We Wear: Dressing Up Around the World--a book that uses beautiful photographs to show the different ways children dress for school, sports, play, and celebrations all around the world.

All About Me

This week the class loved learning all about Tyler. We learned that Tyler LOVES dinosaurs, and his favorite colors are red, blue, and green. Tyler enjoys watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and he is a big Star Wars fan!

A big thank you to Tyler's mom for coming in to read Snake Alley Band.
It was a huge hit! 

Science

Check out our new science link at the top of our blog post just above the date to find out what we have been learning about Rainbows, Color, and Light.