Kindergarten Connection ~ September 30th

KINDERGARTEN CONNECTION

Literacy Highlights

We are learning strategies good readers use.  We know that good readers sometimes use their pointer finger to track words (match) as they read print from left to right.  Good readers look at the pictures.  Good readers get their lips ready and look closely at the beginning letter/sound of new words.  Good readers stretch words out and they put sounds together.  Good readers look for chunks or parts of words they know to read tricky words.  Good readers read punctuation and pay attention to bold print.  In addition, good readers ask, “Does it look right?”  “Does it sound right?”  Does it make sense?”  

We can read and write the sight-words:  I, am, go, to, see, we, will, like and to.  Encourage your children to practice writing these words in shaving cream on a cookie sheet and in their everyday writing experiences.    

We are busy authors and illustrators in kindergarten!  We are using mentor texts to teach us how informational texts are organized as we work to write and illustrate our own teaching books.  Ask your children to share their writing topics with you and to explain their plans for adding more details/information to their books.  Encourage your children to write at home.  Kindergarten children love to create lists, write letters, label items, write words, practice forming letters, etc.  

Math Highlights

We are working hard at counting, comparing and ordering numbers.  Specifically, we are focusing on mastering numbers 1-10 and beginning to work on teen numbers 11-19.  We will spend a lot of time working to understand that numbers 11-19 are made up of a group of ten and some more (additional ones).  We are using tens frames, counting mats, and linking cubes to help us compose and decompose teen numbers.  For example, we are learning to represent 13 by filling a ten frame with 10 pennies and then placing three more pennies on a second ten frame.  This representation helps the children understand that the numeral 1 in 13 stands for one group of 10, and the numeral 3 in 13 stands for 3 more than 10 (10+3=13).  Ask your children to show you how to organize a collection of beans or pretzels into groups of ten and more.  

Science Highlights

Ask your children to explain the life cycle of an apple to you.  If you have an apple at home, ask your children to identify the skin, flesh, pulp and seeds.

Family Project Idea

Make green Oobleck! This NON-EDIBLE recipe is named after the strange material that falls from the sky in Dr. Seuss' book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck. It's a fun recipe to be used as a science experiment of sorts with young children.  Is it a solid?  Is it a liquid?  It's a liquid until pressure is applied. Squeeze it hard and it feels like you are holding a rock!  Release your hand gently and the material will flow around your fingers like water!  Have fun using different utensils to play - see what form it takes while using different cups, spoons, bowls, etc. 

Oobleck Ingredients:  Cornstarch and water 

Directions:  Mix 1 part water with 1.5 to 2 parts cornstarch. You may wish to start with one cup of water and one and a half cups of cornstarch, then work in more cornstarch if you want a more 'solid' oobleck. It will take about 3 minutes of mixing to get the perfect consistency oobleck.  Mix in a few drops of food coloring if you want colored oobleck. 

We can match a set of dots to a numeral.

We can extend and record patterns.

We can write numerals the kindergarten way!

We are learning how to count to 100.
We can notice patterns in the 100 chart.
We can count by 10's.

We can build tall towers by adding one more to each building.

We love to partner read!

This is a anchor chart we use to help us write true stories.

We know that writer's are never done.

We are learning how to form lowercase letters the kindergarten way using FUNdations writing prompts. 

We are learning how to use this chart to connect letters to their corresponding sounds.

We love Writer's Workshop!
We are building our writing stamina and learning how to solve our own writing problems.

We are feeling proud of our work in Writer's Workshop.

We can practice writing letters in our lowercase letter books.

We are learning how to form numerals the kindergarten way.
Ask your children to teach you the rhymes that go with  numerals 1-10.

We are readers!

We can match ten frames with numerals 1-10.

We studied books of self portraits and then used mirrors and colored pencils to make our September portraits. 

We celebrated our good work taking care of ourselves, each other and our school
by having any apple crisp and popcorn party! Yum!

Kindergarten Connection - September 20th

Kindergarten Connection ~ September 20th

We take care of our friends!

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.
  
  We started Work Board! This is the time of day when students work independently or in small groups on literacy, math, science and writing jobs. Soon I will hold small guided reading groups during this time. 

Math Highlights

We are busy counting collections, naming and ordering numbers, learning about different shape attributes, and extending patterns. We are using five and ten frames and our math hands to help us compose and decompose combinations. We are learning how to talk about our math work and thinking in service of learning different ways to solve similar problems. We work together to make each other smarter!

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. 

We know reading begins with our names! We decorated our names with tiny stickers to help us notice the lines and curves that make up different letters. We are going to become letter experts in kindergarten!

Say Cheese!

We added our first two sight words (snap words) to the word wall!

We added our first snap word book to our green book baskets!

We are learning how to use a reading finger to track the words we read on each page.

We can quickly recognize how many dots we see on dice. 

We have a huge collection of ABC books in our classroom. 

On Mondays we pass a microphone around the morning circle to share our personal stories. Some days we have lots of news to report and others a slow news days. We are working on using complete sentences and a loud voice when talking to the group.

Tanya brought her therapy dog into the classroom for a quick hello. The dog was a big hit and put big smiles on all of the children's faces.

We started Work Board! The children rotate through different stations and have opportunities to work in small groups and independently. Soon I will begin working with children in small reading groups during this time. 

Lexia Station

ABC (Literacy) Station

Theme (Science) Station

123 (Math Station)

We always make time to create and play in kindergarten!