End of October Update

I find that at the end of each month I am wondering where the time has gone?!

The past few weeks the students have learned 3 sight words:
a

I

see

We are incorporating our sight words into our writing and learning that lines are for writing while open space is for drawing/illustrating. Our next sight words we will be learning are and and the. Students are still working on adding detail to their writing and also matching their words/story to their illustrations.

In reading we are spending a lot more time working with books. We have been talking about choosing books that are right for us. Choosing books about topics we are interested in, choosing books that are "right" for us (Do you like pictures? Do you like a lot of words? Do you like a few words on each page you can read? Do you like having a little bit of words so you can find sight words in the story? Do you like what the books is about?). Students have been looking at picture books and telling their interpretations of the stories, looking at books with a few words, and looking at books to find out sight words.

In math students have been working hard. Their work mats are usually 3-4 pages (yikes!) and we are working on building their math stamina. We are still working on writing our numbers and are now going to 10! We use rhymes to help us remember how to write our numbers:

1: a straight line down, makes a 1 a lot of fun

2: Around the bend and straight to you - makes the number 2

3: Around the tree, around the tree, makes the number 3

4: Halfway down, then turn right - a tall straight stick and a 4's in sight

5: Go down and around and then you stop! Finish your 5 with a line on top.

6: Go down and around - the number 6 has been found

7: Across the sky and down from heaven - makes the number seven

8: Make an S, do not wait - go back to the top and you've got an 8.

9: Make a circle then a line - you've got the number 9.

We have worked on letters:

Rr, Ss, Tt, Nn, Ll, Ii, Cc, Dd, and Mm.

We are still working on problem solving words and kind words to solve conflicts.
The students react very well when their peers use problem solving words and usually minor conflicts are solved right away. I am so proud of the manners and calm words the students are using!

Reminder:

TONIGHT IS KOOKY SPOOKY!! :)

5:45 - 7:00

We hope to see you there!

Work is Underway!

We are starting to dive into doing lots of Kindergarten work and getting into our usual daily routine. Here is what we have been working on!

Math

Counting to 10

Writing numbers to 7

Writing

Adding details to our stories

Being brave writers

How to hold a pencil

Reading

Identifying Letters

Letter sounds

Independent reading

How to hold/look at book

Turning and talking to partners about books/stories

Classroom Routines

How to clean up

How to work independently

Packing and unpacking all of our materials

Following directions the first time

Raising our hand rather than shouting out

Washing our hands

Social Skills

Using problem solving/kind words

Keeping hands to ourselves

Using school appropriate language

Sharing with friends

Using inside voices

New this week:

- student best work board

- October writing journals

EXCITING NEWS!

This month our class earned the Rockstar Music Award!

Each month one class is chosen out of Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade.

Our class was chosen for the K-2 award! This meant that the students have been using listening ears, participating, and doing a great job!

Important Dates:

October 10th - Early Release

October 11th - No School

October 14th - No School

October 22nd - Parent Teacher Conferences

October 24th - Parent Teacher Conferences

October 30th - Kooky Spooky

We Had a Butterfly!

One of our classmates brought in a chrysalis to our classroom a few weeks ago and last week it hatched! After about 5-6 days our chrysalis began to darken and hatched right in the middle of snack time. The kiddos were SO excited and voted to name the butterfly "Elsa Snowball." We tried giving Elsa Snowball a little sugar and letting her wings dry before we set her free in the afternoon.

After eating snack outdoors we were joined by another class to set our butterfly free and talk about how butterflies migrate all the way to warmer places like Mexico for the winter. After taking the stick she was on out of the container she seemed to know exactly what to do and was off! The students were so excited to see and we have had lots of conversations about butterflies.

I am thinking perhaps we need a class pet. That will have to be our next order of business!

Our First Few Weeks

Our First Few Weeks!        

       Kindergarten is underway and the kiddos have been doing all sorts of activities! We are learning kindergarten routines such as morning meeting, washing hands before snack and lunch, quiet boxes, rug and work expectations, and the kiddos made a poster for class behavior goals as well. They chose:
                       1. Eyes and ears on the speaker
                       2. Sitting in our own square on the rug
                       3. Walking feet in school
                       4. Quiet voices
                       5. Cleaning up our activities and putting them back
                       6. Keep our hands to ourselves
                       7. School appropriate play and words
                       8. Please do something the first time
                       9. Raise your hand
They students really liked being able to create their own expectations and contribute to our class.

       We have started our reading program and the students are listening to stories and discussing them with their class partners. We are also adding to our alphabet song each day - giving each letter and letter sound a movement.

       We have practiced counting and writing numbers to 5. Some numbers are incredibly tricky to write but I am so proud of their hard work when they try! Our number rhymes are as follows:
                       1. A straight line down, makes a 1 a lot of fun.
                       2. Around the bend and straight to you, makes the number 2.
                       3. Around the tree, around the tree, makes a number 3.
                       4. Half way down, then turn right - a tall straight stick and a 4's
                           in sight.
                       5. Go down and around and then you stop! Finish your 5 with a 
                           line on top.
We have practiced righting on paper, whiteboards, and using our fingers in the air.

     Writing is also underway! The students have been creating stories and I see some kiddos including letters and even labeling their picture already with letter sounds! They have such creative minds and I am excited to see where they continue to go during writing time.

     The students are doing great so far and I can't wait to see them continue to learn and grow!