Wow! We had such a great day learning about our classroom, making new friends, and searching for Chester raccoon as we took a tour of Dryden school. Take a peek at the pictures below to see what we did today!!
Monday, August 29, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
Welcome to Kindergarten!
I am SO excited to begin a new school year, and I can't wait to meet all of you! Take a peek at the photos below to learn all about Mrs. Riesing.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Weekly News (June 6-7)
It's hard to believe this is the last post of the school year. What an amazing year it is has been! Thank you all for sharing your children with me each day. I am truly going to miss seeing them each day. I hope you all have a WONDERFUL summer vacation, and perhaps I'll see you around town! I actually already ran into one of our kindergarten friends while I was out running errands today! Hope you enjoy the last set of pics!
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Weekly News (May 31-June 3)
What a great week! The kids had a blast at Field Day. I bet they all slept well! A huge THANK YOU to all of the parents who helped out. Check out the field day slideshow below!
Math
This week in math we made name collection boxes for several different numbers and reviewed "In-and-Out" machines. We practiced applying an addition or subtraction rule to a given number, and we also figured out the rule given the "in" and the "out" numbers. We also reviewed telling time to the hour and introduced the minute hand. We talked about the difference between analog and digital clocks as well and played a matching game.
Field Day 2016 from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.
Math
This week in math we made name collection boxes for several different numbers and reviewed "In-and-Out" machines. We practiced applying an addition or subtraction rule to a given number, and we also figured out the rule given the "in" and the "out" numbers. We also reviewed telling time to the hour and introduced the minute hand. We talked about the difference between analog and digital clocks as well and played a matching game.
Literacy
During reading workshop this week, we revisited the book Molly's Organic Farm and practiced using all of our senses to help us better understand the story. We also practiced using the different reading strategies we have learned this year to help us figure out the meaning of new or unfamiliar words. Using the books Flowers and Stems, we used several strategies to help us figure out several new vocabulary words such as using the pictures, thinking about the other words on the page, and trying out a similar word to help us understand.
Students also completed their final entry in their writing journals for the month of May. It has been amazing to watch the children grow and develop as writers this year!
Science
Check out our Plants and Animals link to see what we learned this week!
Free Choice Time
It's hard to believe we only have two days left!
I sure am going to miss seeing
these kiddos each day!
Monday, May 30, 2016
Weekly News (May 23-26)
Yikes! Are there really only 6 more days of school?! We're still busy learning in kindergarten. Take a peek at what we've been up to below.
Animal Habitats from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.
Recess Fun
Math
This week we took a closer look at the dollar bill and learned some interesting facts about some of the symbols and numbers that are found on each $1.00 bill. We also practiced counting out dollar bills and learned how to record these amounts using a $ sign. We even figured out how many pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters equal a dollar.
We also played a game of roll-and-record to practice writing numbers 2-12 and we learned how to find patterns to solve addition and subtraction problems using an in-and-out function machine like the one below.
Literacy
This week during reading workshop we revisited the book What is a Scientist? and talked about the different ways scientists and readers are alike. They both ask questions and look for answers. They both use tools to help them understand and find answers to their questions. They both take notes and use drawings to make sense of what they're learning, and they both have fun and don't give up!
We also reread the book The Dandelion Seed and used the clues in the book to help us understand the life cycle of a dandelion seed.
The students also spent time writing about their weekends during writing workshop and using their inspiration journals to write about topics of their choice!
Junior Achievement
We began our Junior Achievement unit this week. During this unit, the students will learn the difference between needs and wants, and they will learn how they can earn, save, and share their money.
LMC
Last week in the LMC, the students worked together in small groups to build habitats for the animals they researched. Take a look at the slideshow below to see our engineers at work!
Recess Fun
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Weekly News (May 16-20)
Math
This week in math, the children learned a new partner game called "High Roller." One player rolls two dice and keeps the die with the larger number. The player rolls the second die again and then adds the two dice together to find the sum. Player 2 repeats the same process, and the player with the larger sum wins the round and earns a counter. It's a fun and easy game to play at home too!
The children also learned how to tell time to the hour and played a game with popsicle sticks that reviewed place value. Students worked together in teams to roll a die and collect popsicle sticks. The goal was for students to collect sticks and exchange them for bundles of 10 and then 10 bundles for a bundle of 100 sticks.
This week during reading workshop, we learned how good readers are able to identify the "big idea" in a text. After reading In a Nutshell, the students gained a better understanding of the life cycle of an oak tree and learned that even after an oak tree dies, it becomes part of the earth again and leaves behind rich soil for other plants and trees to grow. While reading In a Nutshell, we were also able to understand some of the cause and effect relationships that help an acorn grow from a seed to a tree.
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| Recording the "big idea." |
Science
Be sure to check out our science page to see what kind of plants we planted in our classroom greenhouse this week!
It was great to see so many families at Dryden's first STEAM Night! We had a blast making our very own banana pianos!
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Weekly News (May 9-13)
Math
In math this week, we practiced reading and writing 2-digit numbers by rolling 2 dice. For example, we rolled a 2 and a 4 and were able to make the numbers 24 and 42. We talked about which number was larger and reinforced the concept of place value.
The class LOVED playing a new game this week called the Plus or Minus Game, which helped students identify pairs of numbers with sums of 10. In this game, the children rolled two dice--one labeled with plus or minus signs and the other labeled with the numbers 1, 2, or 3. Students rolled the dice and then added or removed counters from their ten-frame. After each roll, students had to identify the numbers that add to 10 by saying the following statement: "I have ____ counters. I need ___ more to make a 10."
Making 10 from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.
We also learned how to use a Name Collection Box to show different ways to write a number. During snack time, I asked students to count out 3 of whatever snack item they were eating. Then I asked students to place some of their snack in their left hand and some of their snack in their right hand. Then we recorded the different ways students grouped their snacks using numbers. Then we tried it again with the number 5.
Reading Workshop
This week during reading workshop, we read Molly's Organic Farm, a literary nonfiction book about a real-life stray cat that was taken in by an organic farmer. As we read the story, we took a closer look at some of the vocabulary and learned the difference between descriptive and precise vocabulary words. We also learned how to use the pictures and other words around an unfamiliar word to help us understand the meaning of unknown words.
Reading Outside from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.
Writing Workshop
After listening to a BrainpopJr. video about the different parts of a plant, students wrote facts about what they learned.
Students also put their final touches on their animal research reports and had a chance to share them with their classmates. Next week, we will use the Seesaw app to reflect on our learning and share some of the interesting facts we learned.
LMC
This week in the LMC, the students worked together in teams to research the needs of an animal so they could design a habitat for that animal. They did an amazing job collaborating with their teammates! Next week they will use their designs to build a model of their animal's habitat.
Science
Be sure to check out our Plants and Animals link to see what we have been learning!
All About Me
We had a great time learning all about Jake this week! We learned that Jake loves to play football, and he enjoys using his telescope to take a closer look at things. He is also a big fan of airplanes and fighter jets, and he loves learning about the armed forces.
Getting Ready for First Grade
What a great way to practice getting ready for first grade--eating lunch in the lunchroom! The children were SO excited to bring a lunch to school or order a hot lunch and eat at the table in the lunchroom. We went over the hot lunch routine as well as some of the lunchroom rules. They had a blast!
In math this week, we practiced reading and writing 2-digit numbers by rolling 2 dice. For example, we rolled a 2 and a 4 and were able to make the numbers 24 and 42. We talked about which number was larger and reinforced the concept of place value.
The class LOVED playing a new game this week called the Plus or Minus Game, which helped students identify pairs of numbers with sums of 10. In this game, the children rolled two dice--one labeled with plus or minus signs and the other labeled with the numbers 1, 2, or 3. Students rolled the dice and then added or removed counters from their ten-frame. After each roll, students had to identify the numbers that add to 10 by saying the following statement: "I have ____ counters. I need ___ more to make a 10."
We also learned how to use a Name Collection Box to show different ways to write a number. During snack time, I asked students to count out 3 of whatever snack item they were eating. Then I asked students to place some of their snack in their left hand and some of their snack in their right hand. Then we recorded the different ways students grouped their snacks using numbers. Then we tried it again with the number 5.
This week during reading workshop, we read Molly's Organic Farm, a literary nonfiction book about a real-life stray cat that was taken in by an organic farmer. As we read the story, we took a closer look at some of the vocabulary and learned the difference between descriptive and precise vocabulary words. We also learned how to use the pictures and other words around an unfamiliar word to help us understand the meaning of unknown words.
I have also been working with students one-on-one to complete some end-of-year assessments including one final guided reading benchmark assessment. The growth the children have made as readers this year is amazing! They have become so engaged during independent reading time and continue to build their reading stamina each day!
After listening to a BrainpopJr. video about the different parts of a plant, students wrote facts about what they learned.
This week in the LMC, the students worked together in teams to research the needs of an animal so they could design a habitat for that animal. They did an amazing job collaborating with their teammates! Next week they will use their designs to build a model of their animal's habitat.
Designing Animal Habitats from Kathy Riesing on Vimeo.
Science
Be sure to check out our Plants and Animals link to see what we have been learning!
All About Me
We had a great time learning all about Jake this week! We learned that Jake loves to play football, and he enjoys using his telescope to take a closer look at things. He is also a big fan of airplanes and fighter jets, and he loves learning about the armed forces.
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| A big thank you to Jake's mom for sharing one of Jake's favorite books--What's Inside Submarines? |
Getting Ready for First Grade
What a great way to practice getting ready for first grade--eating lunch in the lunchroom! The children were SO excited to bring a lunch to school or order a hot lunch and eat at the table in the lunchroom. We went over the hot lunch routine as well as some of the lunchroom rules. They had a blast!
Art Appreciation
Thank you SO much to Jeanie's mom and dad for being our Art Appreciation volunteers this year! We have been introduced to so many amazing artists and different forms of artwork. We enjoyed our last presentation this week. Mr. Barbieri introduced the students to Horace Pippin's painting Domino Players. Then the students drew pictures of their favorite games to play with their families.
Thanks for reading!
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