Carpenter Teaching Garden

With the help of the American Heart Association, Carpenter is building a Teaching Garden!  Personally, I am really excited for the hands-on teaching and learning that will be happening at our school with this project.

We are in need of volunteers to help set up raised-bed planter boxes during and after school on Thursday, October 18th.  No experience is needed - we just need all hands on deck!  Please contact Mrs. Giltner if you can volunteer any time that day (giltnerm@aaps.k12.mi.us).  Thank you for your support with this program!

Off to a GREAT Start!

Welcome and thank you for subscribing!  I bet you are wondering, what have we been up to in our first few weeks of Kindergarten?!  Well, take a look...

NAMES!

Literacy Work Stations

In partners, our Ks work on a particular task.  Once we get these routines down, it will allow me to work in small groups to provide guided reading instruction.

Sorting Letters

Matching letters to our Alphabet Linking Chart

 Drawing

Fishing for Letters

Kiddos fish for magnetic letters & color in what they found on our Alphabet Linking Chart.

Handwriting

Ks use wooden pieces to build various letters.

Overhead Station

Dramatic Play:  Restaurant

Memory with Alphabet Linking Chart pieces.

Library

Pocket Chart

Kiddos practice one-to-one pointing while "reading" our song.

Math Work Stations

In partners, we work on a particular task for 10 - 15 minutes.  The goal is for the kiddos to manage their learning so that I can meet with small groups to provide guided math instruction.

Building & Coloring Patterns                                                       Sorting Coins

Patterning

Interesting way to pattern! :)

These rules help us in our Work Stations.  Please discuss these at home with your child.

1.  Stay in your workspace.

2. Work quietly.

3. Think!

4.  Do your best!

(You may have seen some stars on papers.  We try to earn 3 stars: 1 for your name, another if you follow directions & finish your work, and another if it is done neatly.)

When we think we are done, we ask ourselves, how do I keep learning?

Social Studies

As we get to know each other, we have been talking a lot about who we are, making good choices, and getting along with others.

As a part of talking about feelings, we read When Sophie Gets Angry.

We discussed how everyone gets angry but it is important to learn how to deal with our anger.  We discussed both good and not so good ways to deal with anger.

We have also begun discussions about Bullying.  We read The Recess Queen.

We discussed different types of bullying: body, words, and feelings.

Next week, we will talk about ways to respond to bullies.

We haven't had much homework yet but I hope that you are reading together at home! :)  Homelink 1.3 was sent home.  Whenever you have one of those, please return it to school completed.  I only have a small percentage returned, so I wasn't sure I made that clear at Curriculum Night.  Thank you!

We are off to a great start! :)