Non-Fiction Writing & More

HOW TO WRITING
Last week, we begin a new type of non-fiction reading and writing:  HOW TO!  Writers can write in order to tell how to do something.  So we have been reading some how to texts and practicing sequential and step-by-step thinking involved with this genre.

First, I showed our Ks how to make a bowl of cereal.  We talked about each step and I modeled how to draw and write it:

(Notice the capitals and bold word big?  Well, Toby suggested that we do that in order to emphasis the word big.  What readers and writers we are becoming!)

We also worked together this week to draw and write how to wash our hands.  Pairs of Ks worked together on one step of the process.  Take a look at our work:

We have also been reading how to texts in our small-group guided reading lessons.  You may see some how to books in your child's book package over the next week or two.  Take some time to talk about the steps in order.  Ask your child to re-tell how to do the topic of the book in his/her own words.  You may even talk about and add in any new steps you can think of (This would also be a great idea for writing!).

This week, we will work on brainstorming how to ideas for our individual writing.  Talk with your child about things he/she can do that he/she could tell or teach to someone else. 

Coins, coins, coins!

This week, we also learned about the dime.

This dime and nickel can be tricky for kids to tell the different between.  Grab a handful of coins at home and ask your child to sort them.  Talk about each one.  These songs may help:

Penny, penny

Easily spent

Copper brown

And worth one cent!

Nickel, nickel

Thick and fat

You're worth 5 cents

I know that!

Dime, dime

Little and thin

I remember

You're worth 10!

Subtraction

We have also been working on telling take away or subtraction number stories.  We drew and wrote our stories and often showed subtraction by crossing out.

These was 5 fish and a shark came along and ate one.  How many fish are left?

Practice telling some take away number stories at home! :)

SEEKING WEEKLY VOLUNTEER

I am seeking a weekly volunteer to help with math stations on Thursday afternoons from 12:20-1:40.

I need some help running a station (Mrs. A is out of the room at this time).  Please let me know if you can help during this time slot each week.  Thank you!

Book Package Reading: How's it Going?

I hope everyone is enjoying the recent arrival of Spring and your week!

So... have you been reading?! :)

Here is some information about how to best use this reading assignment:

1.  Each time you read together, record it on the reading log.  For this assignment, YOUR CHILD is doing the reading, not you.  You are there to observe, listen, prompt, and guide your child.

Feel free the make the log work for you, but this is your communication to me about what and how your child as been reading.  If I don't see every book title written down, I assume you have not read it.  And if I only see the title once, again I have to assume you have only read it once.

For the "Comments" section, consider comments related to reading accuracy and comprehension.  If your child needed a lot of prompting, jot that down!  If it's too hard, jot that down.  If your child says something really great about the book, jot that down!

Keep this out as well while your child reads.  When your child gets stuck or makes a mistake while reading, don't simply tell them or correct them - instead use these prompts!  These prompts help your child learn how to be more independent and strategic readers.

2.  Read every day together!  Your child should be reading all of the books within the package multiple times, but not necessarily every book every day.  Re-readings are important for all reading skills!  Your child will have at least one book within the package that he/she has never read before.  Plan to spend at least 20 minutes on reading per day (including the word work or writing along with it).

3.  TALK, TALK, TALK about the book together!  (see included notes)

4.  Do some word work together and/or write about one of the books! (see notes)

While working on word work or writing, it is best if your child does not simply copy sentences or words out of the book.  Encourage your child to write from memory or to "stretch out the words."  Kindergarten writing is not about accuracy, it's about learning to develop confidence as a writer.  I will discuss sight words in a later post (which you can encourage your child to write accurately).

Secondly, expect that your child does his/her best work that includes detailed drawing and coloring.  Quality is just as important! :)

5.  Keep the package in a safe place.  All of the contents should remain inside when not in use.  You do NOT need to return the package to school everyday; but if you prefer you may keep in within your child's backpack.

6.  When you feel like your child is reading all of the books solidly (after multiple readings and several days of practice), return the package to school for new books.  There will not be an assigned day of the week for this, but instead do what is best for your child.  I will be checking the log for evidence that each book has been read many times.  Make sure your child understands when he/she is turning it in for new books.  This should be about once a week.

7.  Enjoy this time together! :)  This is not meant to be a stressful time, so make it work for you and your child.  If your child is too tired/unfocused at night, consider reading together in the morning instead.  And continue to read together over the weekend.

Keep in mind that when you return it to school, you may not get it back right away.  I will try my best to get it filled with new books that day or the next day.

I look forward to seeing the confidence and progress that your children will make in reading with this assignment.  Please let me know if you have further questions!

Annual The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!

Today is the first day of Spring and also the annual The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!  This year marks the 45th Anniversary of this classic book by Eric Carle.  So we celebrated today:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar marshmellow painting!

Building The Very Hungry Caterpillar by putting the days of the week in order!

Making The Very Hungry Caterpillar hats!

Roll & Draw The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Once we finished our marshmellow painting, we drew some things he eats in the book.  Here, Blake adds a speech bubble: "I'm full."  Love it!

Caterpillar Patterns!

Want to enjoy the book at home together?!  Take a look:

Eric Carle himself reading the book:

Today, your little reader also received his or her Book Package!!!  FINALLY!  :)  Thanks for your patience.  They all promised me they would read tonight, so when you see your child's "I'm a Very Ready Reader," ask him or her to read to you!

I encourage you to take some time to read the information that is included.  I will post more on using this Book Package at home soon.  But, until then JUMP ON INTO READING!

Pete the Cat & His 4 Groovy Buttons!

Oh, we just LOVE Pete the Cat!  Today we read Pete the Cat & His 4 Groovy Buttons and it helped us learn about subtraction!  Take a look and enjoy together at home:


We discussed that subtraction involves things going away or taking away.  When that happens, the number becomes less.  It is different from addition, when things are being put together to make more.

Then, we wrote our own Pete the Cat number story.  Take a look:

Tomorrow, we will learn about the minus symbol and practice writing number sentences to match the story.  What mathematicians!

Report Cards and More

REPORT CARDS:
Your child's second semester Report Card came home with him or her today.  Remember, you sign and date the brown envelope & return it to school.  YOU KEEP what's inside.  I encourage you to review the report card carefully to look for skills that are still developing (marked D).  Those are the skills you should be working on at home.
If you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.  We can also set up a meeting to discuss things.
You also may want to look ahead at the skills we will be addressing in the future.  Start working on those now!

WILD SWAN THEATRE:
Next Friday, March 28th, the Kindergarten & First Grade classrooms will be going to a Wild Swan Theatre Production at Towsley Auditorium at Washtenaw Community College.  We will leave at 9:15 AM and return at 11:45 AM.  Permission slips went home today.  The cost will be $6.

We are in need of a few chaperones, but tickets are limited (they were pre-bought).  We may not get more tickets.  You must also pay $6.  For this trip, the chaperones MUST DRIVE SEPARATE.  We have limited space on the two buses and need to seat 5 classes.  If you are interested, return all of the elements, and I will confirm whether or not you will be a chaperone.  Thank you!

DONATIONS:
Some of our supplies need replenishing.  If you can donate any of the following to the classroom, that would be wonderful!
* Glue Sticks
* Bottles of Glue
* Hand Sanitizer
* Snacks (Easy-to-store: Goldfish or other crackers, pretzels, raisins, etc.)

TOYS IN THE CLASSROOM:

There are a few students who have been bringing toys lately to the classroom.  Please have discussion about keeping toys and other distracting items (distracting jewelry & accessories) at home.  Thank you for your support with this issue.

Skip Counting & Coins

In math, we have been up to learning some important K skills.  Last week, we learned how to count by 2s to 20!  Here is a Math Journal we worked on:

By the end of Kindergarten, your child should be able skip count by:

* 10s to 100

* 5s to 100

*2s to 20

Practice at home often! :)

We also have been exploring coins lately.  We have learned about the penny and the nickel:

So today, we practiced showing the nickel as 5 cents in our Math Journals:

By the end of Kindergarten, your child should be able to identify and tell the value or worth of each coin in cents!

Other Odds & Ends:
* This week, I am working on assessments for the Report Card that will come home on Monday.  If you have some extra time this week and would like to volunteer your time in the classroom, I could use some help getting all the students assessed on some skills.  Please email me if you can help.

* Kaia is missing a pair of snow pants!  They disappeared from the classroom at the end of last week.  The only thing I can think of is that another student took them home by accident.  Please check at home for:  black bibs, size 7, Faded Glory brand.  Thank you!

* TARDIES:
I have noticed over the course of the school year that our class has had an increasing & significant number of tardies.  I do understand that poor weather conditions can contribute to this, but I have noticed a growing trend over the course of the school year.  Please make every effort to make sure your child is in the classroom on time (by 8:48).  The responsibility of the morning routine is important for each child.  We do start our day right away; therefore it is disruptive and detrimental when students are coming in late.  Thank you.

* Book Packages are on their way soon!  Thank you for turning in your reading contracts and sorry for the delay!

Big Day: Rising Scholars!

Today we took part in a special program.  The Rising Scholars from Huron High School spent the morning learning with the Ks at Carpenter!  We read & wrote together, interviewed each other, & had lunch & recess together!  Take a look:

 Saying "Affirmations" as a group.

We had a special PIZZA lunch today with our buddies!  (So your child's lunchbox still may be a bit full.)

And Orange Leaf donated some frozen yogurt today - yum!

Remember, no school on Monday!

Home Reading Book Package

Your child is reading!  March is Reading Month so it's time to share that with you at home.  This week, we will begin to send home a reading book package.  Inside the book package will be various tools to support your child as a reader and a writer.  There will be sets of books your child has read in the classroom as well as new books to experience at home.  The books will be at your child's independent or instructional reading levels:

An independent reading level is the level at which a child can read a text on his/her own with ease. The child makes hardly any errors when reading the text and has excellent comprehension of the story. The child can read the story alone with confidence.

An instructional reading level is the level at which a child needs the support of a teacher, parent, or tutor. This is the level where students are introduced to new vocabulary and is where the greatest progress in reading occurs. Children are reading with 90-95 percent accuracy or better and possess at least 80 percent comprehension on simple recall questions about the story.

This will be a DAILY homework assignment (even on the weekends!).  Your child becomes a strong reader by reading daily!  Your child should read at least 2 books from the package per night and do some sort of word work or writing with it (more ideas to come).  Re-reading the same book multiple times promotes fluency and greater comprehension, so that is also a goal of this assignment.  You will also complete a Reading Log regarding the work you do.  Once per week you should return the package to school for new books.  This can be any day you like (simply when you are ready for new books!).

Much more information is to come but this weekend you should read and discuss the Family Reading Contract with your child.  Please have your child sign it, sign it yourself, and return it to school on Monday!

The books used for this assignment are the books I use for instruction with students.  So it is critical that you take care of the books and return them to school (otherwise I am missing instructional materials for future students).

Thank you for your support and I look forward to sharing in this great reading experience with you!