Let the Writing Begin

Today the kids began their first official Writer's Workshop.  They are writing information texts.  After a mini-lesson where I wrote a piece about making a scarecrow with my son this past weekend, they were VERY eager to write about something they like to do.  I gave them each the gift of a pen to write with.  It is amazing how far they have already come!

Marvelous Mathematicians

We have been working on numeral formation in math workplaces. I wanted to share one great mathematician's thinking today.  He incorporated shapes with his numeral writing.  This is just one example of many throughout every math work period of these students taking their thinking above and beyond expectIons. This visual representation helped this thinker show his justification for his work.  That is a mouthful but the types of words we are having in our conversations about math in Kindergarten!  So different than when I was in Kindergarten.

Name Plates

I have noticed that the kids need practice writing their names with proper letter formation.  This craft is a start to helping them identify the skyline, plane line, and worm line letters in their names.

Predictions & Measurement in Math Work Places

Classmate Memory

It's a big hit!

Fire Safety Day

Renata: "We were learning about fire.   If you have fire on your clothes, stop, drop, and roll.
Rachel:  " We went in the smoke house."
Owen:  "If you are sleeping a fire alarm will go loud."
Macaela: "Drop down to the floor if you smell smoke."
Kaiden: "You put your hand like this (hand backwards) to feel the door."
Penelope:"911."
Charlie:"Go outside with your family to your family meeting place."

Magnus: "We were learning about putting on fire gear."

Reese: "Tools and toys."

Andrew:" A fire car."

Ryan: "Stop, drop, and roll."

Our OK book

The children completed their first class made book titled THE OK BOOK.  It is a spin off from a book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld.  In our book, each child wrote and illustrated one page about what they are ok at.  We also talked about the topic of persistence and how even when things are tough, growth mindset people push through and simply try their best.  Hence, there are some things that we are good at and other things that we must work towards making ourselves better at. We also talked about how everyone has things that they can improve upon.

Mini-Me Projects

Just a couple of snapshots...They are CUTE!

Picture Day

SCS picture day is Thursday, September 19th.  Forms went home with kids today.  Please email me if you do not receive the order form.

Library Day

Our class will be having a Library Time every Thursday.  Today your child brought home one library book.  Next week, if the book has been returned, s/he may choose up to three books.  These books can be checked out for up to two weeks.  However, new ones can not be taken out until others are returned.  Please have your child return their book(s) to me on Thursdays.

Hands On Nature

Today the children has their first Hands On Nature lesson. They learned about the difference between insects and bugs through a puppet show.  They worked together to design 3 different types of insects.  We all went outside to observe insects.  Thank you AnnMarie (Aedan's mom) and Bradie (Jacob's mom) for being our classroom volunteers this year to lead this wonderful program.  They will be back next month with another topic to share.

Mini Me Project

The children are finishing up their little mini-me project in the next few days.  As part of our social studies curriculum, we discuss and read a lot about what makes each person a different and unique individual.  We are doing many projects in literacy and math that talk about differences and similarities.  Here are a couple of students finger painting on their skin color.

Community Building Fun

Today the staff from Shelburne Farms came to help with some community building activities.  The children played a couple of class games and prepared a special vegetable and dip snack to eat as a Journey Team.  

Hopes & Dreams

Math Workplaces

Today the children were introduced to the first three workplaces of the year.

Unifix cubes

Polydrons

Pattern Blocks

Happy Birthday To You

In our classroom, the kids are introduced to the materials in a slow, organized fashion called Guided Discovery.  Today the  kids finished working on their birthday crowns.  The material for decorating their crowns was crayons. 

Hopes & Dreams

The kids began discussing their hopes and dreams for the school year.  They learned how to use oil pastels and water color to decorate their dream clouds.  Tomorrow we will take this project a step further where the children will read and cut a part their sentences to go with their hope.  They will be using glue to place their cut sentences in correct order on their dream clouds.

Totally Terrific Child Adrian

Today Adrian was our first Totally Terrific Child. After studying the letters in his name and hearing about things that Adrian likes, the kids helped to create a book for him to take home.  Each child in our class will be honored with a day where s/he is our "Totally Terrific Child."