Week of October 4, 2010

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and the beautiful weather! This week the students focused on the following:

• Math: We experimented with volume by comparing the amount of waters two containers could hold (which had more or less). We also created patterns with sounds, motions, and colors. We sorted coins by their different attributes (color, size, heads/tails, smooth edges/bumpy edges. Lastly, we played, "Give the Next Number." To play this game, the students sit in a circle. As we whisper count from 1-10 or from 1-20, I point to each student. When I tap a student's head, he/she has to stand up, say the number, and clap

that many times.

Making patterns with instruments

Sorting coins using their attributes

• Reading/Writing: We made a predictable chart titled, "I like (favorite color)". We composed the chart together, then we touch read the sentences, and we built the sentences. This allows us to focus on the concepts of written print, the concepts of print in relation to reading, and sentence structure (letters make words, words make sentences; sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a period).
• Phonics/Word Study: We continued to learn about letters by using our names. The principles for the week include,

1. "Words have letters in them."
2. "Your name has letters in it."
3. "You can say the first letter of your name."

Using name puzzles to notice letter features

• Handwriting: We learned how to write the number 2 and the following letters: R and N.

Wet-Dry-Try for the letter R

Making Chameleons with Mrs. Hoxie and Mrs. Kamen during Speech/OT

Week of September 27, 2010

The students and I had another productive week in Kindergarten. We focused on the following:

• Math: We continued to make number posters for the numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9. As we made these posters, we continued to practice counting skills with one-to-one correspondence and grouping items. We also learned how to sort objects using different attributes (color, shape, size).
• Reading/Writing: We made a predictable chart title, "My Name Is..." To create the chart, I wrote "My name is" and the students came to the easel to write their names. During the dictation aspect of this lesson, we focused on sentence structure (starting with a capital letter, left-to-right directionality, and punctuation). We also learned that our name always starts with a capital letter. On day 2, the students read the chart by following my example. For this aspect of the lesson, we focused on the concepts of print (left-to-right directionality, one-to-one correspondence). We also learned that sentences are made up of words and words are made up of letters.
• Phonics/Word Study: We are continuing to learn letter features to make letter identification more automatic for the students. To do this, we looked at the letters in our names.
• Science: We continued to examine the characteristics of Fall during our class meeting and at the Writing Workstation.
• Handwriting: We learned how to write the letters P and B. We also practiced the number one by discussing that it is made of one big line.

Handwriting - We were practicing the letter D in our workbooks. After the children finish their letter practice, they can color the picture at the bottom of the page (This is good fine motor activity.).

Computers - The children have been using paint, but they will soon use www.starfall.com and www.educationcity.com.

Art Creation Workstation - Geometric Buses

Math Workstation - "Pick a Number" For this workstation, the children had to pick a number out of the cup and count the correct number of bear counters. This allowed them to practice using one-to-one correspondence when counting.

Blocks and Legos Workstation - What a creation!

Math Workstation - Working with Pattern Blocks

Art Creation Workstation - Painting at the easel

Week of September 20, 2010

Welcome to the class blog! I hope you enjoy viewing the blog each week. Unfortunately, I am not posting pictures this week because the class camera was being used by the school on Friday afternoon. Not to worry, I will make up for it next week.

We learned the following this week:

• Math: we created a number poster for the numbers 1-5. As we created the posters, we practiced counting using one-to-one correspondence, grouping items, and recognizing number words.
• Reading/Writing: we finished learning about our classmates by conducting interviews and recording the students' responses. We have been conducting one interview each day since the second day of school and learn things such as the student's age, favorite color, favorite food, and number of siblings or pets. Through this activity the students learn concepts of written print (top-to-bottom and left-to-right directionality). They also learn the concepts of print as it relates to reading (left-to-right directionality, a return sweep, and starting at the top of the page) because I read each written interview once it is complete.
• Science: we learned about the start of Autumn by reading, "A Tree for All Seasons," which is a non-fiction story about the seasonal cycle of a maple tree. The book has real, high-quality photographs that show the different characteristics the tree has in each season.
• Handwriting: the students practiced writing the letters E, D, and P. First, we practiced with Wet-Dry-Try (using a wet sponge on the little slate, drying it with a larger sponge, and tracing the outline of the letter with a small piece of chalk). The following day we practice the letter in our workbooks. We learn one letter over a two-day period. Also, for the first half of the year we learn only the capital formation patterns for the letters as these are developmentally easier for the children to form because they follow the four basic shapes of big line, little line, big curve, and little curve.
• Phonics/Word Study: we practiced letter recognition skills by looking at the different features of a variety of letters during our class meeting, handwriting, and phonics lessons.

Also, I started assessing the students this week using the Observation Survey, which is designed by Marie Clay. This assessment tool has five components, which look at letter identification knowledge, writing vocabulary, letter sound recognition in spoken words, concepts of print (reading), and sight word recognition. All of this assessment data will be reviewed with you at the parent-teacher conferences in the beginning of November.

Week of June 14, 2010

Sadly, the school year has come to an end. How time flew! I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for a wonderful year. I will always cherish the memories from this class. Enjoy the summer vacation, and I look forward to seeing everyone in the fall.

Overhead workstation: counting by 5s

Library workstation

Writing workstation: writing about our favorite season

Computer workstation

Pocket chart workstation: sorting pictures using final consonants

Handwriting workstation: practicing n and m

Math workstation: playing an exchange game with 1s to 10s and 10s to 100s

Week of June 7, 2010

What another exciting week in Kindergarten! The students excitedly participated in Move Up Day, and they had a great time. Ms. Mahoney and Ms. Zargiel are very excited for next year.

We also had our Kindergarten Celebration! Both classes did such a wonderful job with reciting the poem and singing, "You've Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman. I couldn't be more proud!

We had really short week because of Move Up day and the Celebration, so we couldn't cover as much as I would have liked. In math, we made Name Collection posters for the numbers six and seven. This activity requires that we list different ways to make a given number using addition/subtraction, drawings, or representations (dominoes, tally marks, popsicle sticks). We also learned about number pairs. For this activity, the students were introduced to function machines. Each function machine has a given rule, for example, plus two. The students put a number into the machine, apply the rule, and determine what number comes out. If the number one was put into the function machine, the rule is plus two, the number pair would be 1, 3.

In writing, we wrote in our journals. We also learned how to write the lowercase n and m.

In phonics and word study, we learned that you can hear the parts of words. For example, you can hear the /t/ and /ake/ in take. We played a game called, "Follow the Path," which a copy of the game board was sent home on Wednesday evening. The students rolled a die, landed on a picture, said the name of the picture, said its parts, and said its name.

The students also had their workstations.

I wanted to thank everyone again for making the first Kindergarten Celebration such a wonderful event. I will always remember it.

Week of May 31, 2010

We had a short week this week because of Memorial Day and Field Day. The students had a blast at Field Day this week. I am sure they all slept very well Tuesday night. I took some pictures, which will be seen at the Kindergarten celebration.

In math, we learned the "Ones, Tens, Hundreds" game. In this game, the students rolled a cube to determine how many popsicle sticks to pick. The cube was labeled with 1, 3, 5, 10, 10, and 10. When a student had ten single sticks, he/she had to trade them for a bundle of ten popsicle sticks. When a student had ten bundles of popsicle sticks, he/she would trade it for a bundle of 10o popsicle sticks. The first person to get the bundle with 100 popsicle sticks wins the game. We also learned about the hour hand on a clock. To practice telling time to the hour, we made our own clocks with paper plates. To practice telling time, I would tell the students a specific time, such as 7 o'clock. They had to move the hour hand to the seven.

In reading, we learned about inferring words that we don't know the meaning of. To practice this skill we started reading the story, "The Magic Gourd" by Baba Wague Diakite. I modeled how to infer with the words drought and famine by re-reading the text to find clues that would help me. I also inferred the meaning of gourd by using the pictures in the story. In phonics and word study, we learned about consonants and vowels. With our magnetic letters, all of the consonants are blue and the vowels are red. I made the word, "sit" on the easel with magnetic letters, and the students had to identify the vowel and the consonants.

In writing we wrote in our journals. We also learned how to write the lowercase p and r in handwriting.

We also practiced the poem and song we are going to perform for our kindergarten celebration. In addition, we finished our decorations. The children's excitement is continuing to grow.

Also, please make sure your child has his/her library book for tomorrow. This Monday will be their last day of library.

Workstations:

Handwriting Workstation: the students were practicing the lowercase y and e

Writing Workstation: the students were writing about their favorite toy

Week of May 21, 2010

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend in honor of Memorial Day.

Tuesday is Field Day, so please remember to have your child wear sneakers and dress appropriately for the weather. Also, the t-shirt money is due Wednesday June 2, so that I can place the order. Also, please try to R.S.V.P. for the Kindergarten Celebration by June 4, so that I can continue with preparations for our special day.

We worked diligently this week preparing for the Kindergarten Celebration. The students and I are very excited!

We learned several new concepts in Math. First, the students learned a new game that allows them to practice addition and subtraction skills. The student rolls a cube that is labeled with 0, +1, +2, +3, -1, and -2. The student then places the corresponding number of chips on his/her gameboard. The students also practiced representing numbers with popsicle sticks. For this lesson, we focused on tens and ones. For example, if a student were to represent the number 23 with popsicle sticks, he/she would have to create two bundles of ten and have 3 single sticks. We also learned about ordering numbers from least to greatest.

In reading workshop, we practiced asking questions before, during, and after reading. To practice this skill, we read, "Dandelions," by Eve Bunting. This concludes our work with questioning, and we will now start to learn about inferring. In phonics and word study, we learned about subject-verb agreement by adding s to some words, so the sentence makes sense. For example, I put the following sentence on the pocket chart: "I run to the store." The I changed the sentence to, "She run to the store." Then we talked about how we can add -s to "run" so the sentence makes sense.

In writing, we worked on a Kindergarten Memory Book, so the students will have a keepsake for the end of the school year. In handwriting, we learned the lowercase letters y and j.

Workstations:

Math workstation: Playing the game addition/subtraction game learned during Monday's math lesson

Handwriting workstation: Practicing letters we've learned previously

Writing workstation: Writing about a game we like to play

Pocket Chart workstation: Sorting pictures that have the short o and short e sounds