Kindergarten Connection ~ September 11th

KINDERGARTEN CONNECTION 

 SEPTEMBER 11TH

Literacy Highlights

The children are so excited about the opportunity to write and illustrate in Writer’s Workshop. The “big ideas” in Writer’s Workshop thus far are:

• Writers can use pictures, letters and words to tell stories, share ideas, and to teach others
• Writers can reread and add to their work
• Writers can problem solve
• Writers can share their work
• Writers never waste precious writing time
  
  
  We are on our way to becoming letter/sound and “trick word” (sight words) experts in kindergarten! We can read the “trick words” I, a, go and to. The listed words are those I have formally introduced the children to. However, we also take notice of other “trick words” as we engage in shared reading and writing experiences. There are two important reasons why sight words are an essential component of good reading. First, many of these words do not sound like their spelling might suggest, so “sounding them out” would be unproductive. Also, good readers cannot afford the time to dwell on too many words, or he/she may lose the speed and fluency necessary for determining the author’s message. Therefore, good readers have a bank of words they can read automatically, and their energy is spent on applying learned reading strategies to decode and comprehend text.

Math Highlights

We are busy counting collections, naming and ordering numbers, and extending patterns. We are using five and ten frames and our math hands to support our understanding of numbers 1-10. 

Science Highlights

Fall is almost here! We are noticing early signs of fall such as leaves changing, chilly morning air, darker evenings, and fewer birds flying around the playground. We read a book about the change of seasons and predicted what the trees might look like in a few weeks. 

Homework Suggestions

*Read, Read, Read!  Find a cozy place in your house to enjoy books with your children.  Read for a minimum of 20 minutes every day. 

*Help your children practice writing their names using an uppercase first letter followed by lowercase letters.

*Set up a writing center in your home filled with paper, markers, stamps, scissors, tape, envelopes and pencils.

*Encourage your children to help you write grocery lists, messages and letters to family and friends.

*Spend time hunting for letters and words in your house and in the neighborhood.    

*Practice counting objects.  How many spoons are in your kitchen?  How many windows are in your house?  How many beans are in a handful?  Can you make 10 groups of 10 objects such as beans or pennies?

Volunteers Wanted

We would love a batch of homemade play-dough every month. Please sign up on the Bringit volunteer sign-up sheet that I will send to you via email. Play-dough recipe will be posted on the sheet. Thanks in advance for your time and support!

We read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and danced to a variety of ABC songs to celebrate the beginning of reading and writing in kindergarten. 

We made our own alphabet trees to help us practice using and taking care of classroom materials. 

We are learning that it feels good to persevere and complete new and/or challenging jobs.

We learned how to play a game called Spill the Beans. This game taught us how to make combinations of 5 on a five frame.  

We are learning how to be respectful partners and how to "talk math".

We kicked off our Writer's Workshop and celebrated the fact that we are all authors and illustrators.

We love writing!

We learned how to use FOUNDATIONS  lined paper to help us form letters the kindergarten way. This paper has a sky line, plane line, grass line and worm line. 

We decorated the alphabet with gems, ribbon, squares and pompoms. 

On Fridays we get together with Ms. Rowntree's class for FUN FRIDAY. We read the story Rainbow fish and painted fish. The focus of this lesson was on sharing to create a safe  learning environment in which everyone feels included and important. 

We couldn't resist showing off our best fish faces.

And of course the week was full of lots of indoor and outdoor play!