We Keep on Learning!

Well, we just keep on learning in Kindergarten!

Here are some things we have been up to in math.

During Math Work Stations this week, we all learned a new game called "Match Me."  One student builds something with square colored tiles.  The other watches and then tries to build the same structure.

We also created our first classroom graph, using our birthday months.  We counted how many birthdays are in each month and created a title that makes sense for our graph:

Talk to your child about his/her birthday month and day.

We have also started to dig into learning our numbers in more detail.  Each day we have focused on a new number.  We have learned to write it and to show it in different ways (with our bodies, with sound,  with pictures, with a word, in a ten-frame, etc.).   We are each making our own number book:

To learn at home, play Simon says with different numbers.  For example, "Simon says jump 3 times," or "Simon says clap 4 times."  This helps your child to get a sense of what the number is worth.  You might even make your own number book at home together!

Each day I have given a homework page on the number, for reinforcement at home.  Please check BEHIND your child's behavior sheet for any homework assignments and RETURN homework to school when complete.  Thank you!

We have also started our Handwriting without Tears!  We learn first on chalkboards with "Wet, Dry, Try."  On Curriculum  Night I distributed sheets that explain the language we use when learning our letters and numbers.  Keep this handy and reinforce these letter formations at home. (If you need another copy, please let me know!)

Here are the letters we have learned so far:

FROG JUMP CAPITALS:  F, E, D, P, B

NUMBERS:  1, 2, 3 and tomorrow will be 4

Please practice these at home with your child. You might use:

* paper and pencil

* dry-erase

* chalk

(I suggest using something that erases.)

MODELING is a useful strategy to use at home as well.  Click here to visit the website to see a video example and find the handy-dandy App for practicing at home :)

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS

Scholastic Book orders are due TOMORROW!  This is a wonderful resource for purchases appropriate and interesting books for your child's library at home.  What better way to foster the love of reading?!

The easiest way to order books is to set up an account online.  Click here. (You can also find this in the sidebar).  We earn free books for our classroom!

Off to a GREAT Start!

Hello Kindergarten Families!

We are off to a great start to the school year! :)  We have been working hard to learn the routines and expectations.   And we are getting to know each other as classmates and friends.

One routine we have been working on is our Literacy and Math Work Stations.  During this time, students work with a partner on a specific literacy or math-based task that we have previously learned.  The purpose of this time is for students to practice Kindergarten skills, to gain independence, and to gain mastery of concepts.  Once we are up and running smoothly, I will begin small-group guided instruction during this time.  This is a critical time of our day.
Here are the rules that guide us during this time:
1.  Stay in your work space (eyes and body).
2.  Work quietly.
3.  Think like a reader and a writer. Or Think like a mathematician.
4.  Do you best.
I also encourage the kids to ask themselves, "How can I keep learning?"  Please talk about these rules at home with your child to help support the expectations.

Here are some pictures from our work stations time over the last couple weeks:

LITERACY:

WRITING STATION:  At this point in the year, we are drawing and practicing writing different types of lines.

WORD STUDY:  Sorting Letters

HANDWRITING:  Building Frog Jump Capital letters with wooden pieces

Parents, check out the Handwriting without Tears website.

I recommend using the Wet-Dry-Try App at home!

DRAMA:  House and restaurant play.  Here, she is making a shopping list!

COMPUTERS:  Starfall website with letters and letter sounds.  You can learn here at home too!

Click here.

MATH:

Making Patterns

Sorting by shape

Making Patterns

Sorting:  Coins!

To introduce the concept of SORTING, we read A Pair of Socks.  Then we worked together as a class to sort the socks in different ways.  First, we matched up the pairs.  Then, we thought of other ways:  patterning on the socks (stripes, plain, etc.), size, colors...

These 2 Ks practice it on their own in work stations.

Sorting: by shape

Sorting Buttons:  by the number of holes

Sorting:  by the number of corners

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

The kids are doing a great job adjusting to our Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) system.  The goal of this system is for students to learn to take responsibility for their learning behaviors.  In the beginning of the year, it is important for each child to understand what is expected in the learning environment and to do their personal best.  There are some behaviors I am being "pretty strict" on at this point in the year, so that we may maintain an environment where everyone can learn and feel safe.      

I hope the color-coding system is working out for you at home as well.  I find that when families are involved in this process, students work to achieve their personal best.  This system also helps me to keep track of student learning behaviors. 

Sometimes a student may move to yellow (oopsie) after I have already spoken to him/her about a problem.  I do give students the opportunity to move back up to green (ready to learn) if he/she works hard to correct the problem.

Here are a few things you can do to support your child in this routine:

1.  Check the weekly behavior chart on a daily basis.  Talk with your child about his/her behavior for that day.  Praise your child for those green and above days!  Talk about what happened on those yellow and below days and how your child might do better tomorrow.

(When possible, I will make a note explaining why you see a yellow or orange day.  If I don't get a chance, feel free to email me.)

2.  Keep this weekly behavior form in your child's folder throughout the week.  At the end of the week, sign or initial the form and return it to school the following Monday.

These forms will be an important talking point for us at conferences.

More posting to come!  Here's to a great week ahead!

WELCOME to Kindergarten!

Welcome to our Kindergarten classroom and our classroom blog!

Throughout the course of the year, you can find many important things on this blog:

* resources for you and your child (explore the links to the left and the pages above)

* schedules and important dates (check out the right sidebar --->)

* pictures and description of classroom happenings (these will be in the posts)

* important announcements

I post to this site on a regular basis (at least once a week).

First thing you need to do is subscribe to this site.  By doing this, you will receive an email notification every time I post!  This eliminates the need to remember to check the site (I know we all have busy, busy lives) - instead the information is brought right to you!

To do this, find the box in the right sidebar that looks like this:

Enter an email address that you check on a daily basis in the box and push "Subscribe".

BUT WAIT, you are not done!

Shortly after this you will receive an email from "Feedburner" asking you to confirm your subscription. You must CLICK ON THE LINK in this email in order to finish the process.

And, once you do that, you will receive an email each time I post to the site - how nifty!

I hope you will complete this process as soon as possible.  Thank you and I look forward to a wonderful year together!