Weekly News (Sept. 12-16)

It's amazing to see how much the children have already grown in three short weeks. They have done a terrific job learning our daily routines!

Math
We practiced a variety of math skills this week. We took a closer look at the numbers 1-9 and practiced matching number names, quantities, and written numerals. 

Click HERE to practice counting, matching, and ordering numbers!

We also practiced our counting and graphing skills as we counted and graphed the letters in our first names. As we analyzed our results, we reinforced the math terms: fewest, greatest, more than less than, and equal. 

The children also did a great job using our "magic pen" to sort a collection of buttons into different categories. After listening to one of our Frog and Toad stories called The Lost Button, we sorted buttons by size, color, shape, and number of button holes. Check us out in action below!

Sorting by size

Sorting by number of holes

Sorting by size AND color

Sorting by shape, color, and number of holes

Jolly Phonics
The children did a great job learning our new Jolly Phonics sounds. This week we learned the following sounds:

/i/ as in "igloo"
/p/ as in "pig"
/n/ as in "nose"

The children have been doing a great job learning our new sounds and coloring their Jolly Phonics pictures. We have been using these coloring opportunities as the students' first self-reflection experience. Several parents have already commented on how much progress they have seen with their child's coloring, which is probably a result of the coloring rubric we have been using. It's amazing to see how much pride the children take in their work when they really take a minute to reflect on their progress!

Our Coloring Rubric

Thank you again for all your support at home helping your child with his or her Jolly Phonics notebook. Please continue to check your child's notebook each night for a new letter. Our typical routine is to learn a new letter on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and then review on Thursday and Friday. On the nights we don't have a new letter, please spend a few minutes reviewing the sounds we have learned.

Literacy
Reading Workshop
This week during reading workshop, the children continued to practice our workshop routines so that we can grown and develop as readers. We learned about what good readers do when they are listening to a story or talking about a story with a partner.

While reading the story Wild About Books, the children practiced how to listen carefully to the words and look closely at the pictures to help them understand the story. This is a great strategy to try at home when reading aloud to your child!

Writing Workshop
Our kindergarten authors have been busy thinking, drawing, labeling, and writing as they continue to share their ideas with others. This week we thought about all the different things we can do, and then students wrote "I can..." statements. From bike riding and swimming to jumping rope, our kindergarteners can do a lot of things!

"I can go to a party with my family."

Sharing our writing with others!

Center Time
The kids have been doing a great job practicing how to play cooperatively in small groups during our free choice center time. Keep up the great work too!

Guest Reader
Next week we will have our first student bring in their "Me Bag" to share with the class. As part of each student's Me Bag Week, a parent or family member can come into our classroom to share a story with the class on Friday. Our "Me Bag" schedule was sent home at Curriculum Night with your child's assigned week. If you have any questions, just let me know! This week it was Mrs. Riesing's week to share her "Me Bag" and her mom came in to read a story to the class. They loved it!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Thanks for reading!