Stations

Last week we started our literacy and math work stations.  The children really look forward to this time each day.  We will do literacy work stations on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Math work stations will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  During work station time, children work either independently or with a buddy to practice skills we have been learning.  Here is a snapshot of our station time!

During Reading Workshop, we have been Reading-to-Self and Buddy Reading nearly every day.  On Monday, we all started reading books and poems from our own individual book baskets.  Children will change the books in their baskets every week. 

Last week during Math we:

• learned about ten frames.  Children can use a ten frame (two rows, five squares in each row) to build a number then count the remaining squares to determine how many more would make ten or five.
• learned about triangles, squares, rectangles, and squares.  We talked about the characteristics of each of these shapes and discussed how they are alike and different.  We looked for these shapes around our classroom and found them in everyday objects, like a ceiling tile and mirror.
• played Spin a Number.  This game helps children recognize and name numbers and count/move spaces on a game board.
• played Bunny Hop to practice moving forward and back on a number line.

Last week during Writing Workshop we:

• learned that writers write words on every page.  Some writers write labels, some write sentences, and some write both.
• learned that when you write part of a story on one page but still have more to say, you can get another sheet of paper and continue writing your story.  You can staple the pages together to make a book.
• learned that when writers want to spell a word they say the word, say the sounds they hear, then write at least one letter for every word they hear.

I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weekend!
Until next week,
Katie

Off to a great start!

Dear Kindergarten Parents,

It always amazes me how quickly a kindergartner settles into a classroom/school environment.  In just three weeks, your children have developed an understanding of classroom routines and expectations.  They are off to a great start!

We launched Reading Workshop on the second day of school.  We will have Reading Workshop nearly every day throughout the year.  Reading Workshop begins with a mini-lesson and is followed by independent reading, buddy reading, and a closing.  In addition to learning and practicing reading workshop routines, students have learned the following:

• there are three ways to read a book: read the pictures, read the words, and retell a story you've heard before.  At this point, most of our focus has been on reading the pictures and retelling a story.  The children have started reading words in shared reading texts (poems/songs/books that we have read together several times and the children have memorized).
• readers look closely at each page and tell what they see.
• readers can use a storyteller voice when reading the pictures/retelling a story.
• readers can make their voices sound like they think the characters would sound.
• readers can act out a story they know.

We also started Writing Workshop on the second day of school.  On that day, students wrote a story about something they had done before.  They completed this story without any help.  This writing prompt will serve as a baseline, and we will compare it to other writing samples throughout the year.  You will be amazed at the writing growth that occurs during a child's kindergarten year! 

Like reading workshop, writing workshop begins with a mini-lesson.  Students then have independent writing time, and we end writing workshop with a share.  During our mini-lessons, the children have learned that:

• when writers want to write a story, they think, draw, then write.
• writers can use an alphabet chart to help them spell words and form letters.
• when you're done, you've just begun...an expression your children will hear often throughout the year!  When they think they are done, writers can add more to a story or start a new one.
• when you think you don't know how to write/draw something, make it look "ish"...treeish, boatish, friendish.  The inspiration for this lesson came from the book Ish, by Peter Reynolds.
• writers can listen to the sounds in a word and write a letter for each sound they hear.

During our Math time, we have:

• used pattern blocks to make patterns, learn about shapes, and complete pattern block puzzles.
• used buttons to practice sorting.
• learned about taller than and shorter than.  We searched our classroom to find things that are taller and shorter than us.
• practiced subitizing, being able to see how many dots there are without counting by ones. 
• practiced comparing numbers through a card game, Number Top-It. 
• learned about tag-and-drag as a strategy for counting a collection of objects.
• practiced counting and identifying numbers.

As you can see, your children have been very busy.  The information above gives you just a glimpse of some of our days.  Normally, I will post lots of pictures on my weekly blog update.  As soon as I receive the go ahead from Cheryl, I will begin posting pictures.  Stay tuned!

On a final note, thank you for all the supplies that have been donated to our classroom.  I appreciate all the wipes, baggies, and play-dough.  We are so lucky to have your support!

Warmly,
Katie