New Year, New Learning!

Sometimes I need to remind myself that I'm teaching Kindergarten...these kindergartners impress me every day and often make me think I am teaching first grade again!

The children had a smooth transition back to school after our holiday vacation.  Last week, we spent time reviewing the expectations and procedures for all parts of our day.  Responsive Classroom research supports that it is important to to do this throughout the year, such as before or after a vacation.  Mrs. Gross, our school counselor, came in on Monday to teach our class about good listening skills.  The children love her puppet shows!

In addition to reviewing/practicing routines and procedures, we also reviewed reading strategies.  I introduced children to an animal that they can use to remember each reading strategy:

• EAGLE Eye - Look at the pictures to help you figure out a word
• Lips the FISH - Get your lips/mouth ready with the first sound of the word
• Skippy FROG - Skip the word you don't know, read to the end of the sentence, and then go back to the beginning of the sentence to see if you know what the word is
• Stretchy SNAKE - stretch the word out and say all the sounds you hear

Ask your children about these strategies, and I bet they will be able to explain them to you!!

• During Reading Workshop we also reviewed cross-checking: Asking ourselves if the word we're thinking of looks right, sounds right, and makes sense.
• After reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear and I Went Walking, the children completed a "Snowman, Snowman, What do you See?" activity.  These are hanging in the hallway, so be sure to check them out when you come for your child's conference.

• During reading centers, children practiced matching uppercase letters to lower case letters, and they practiced reading and writing word wall words.

 

With the new year brought a new writing unit: small moment stories.  Prior to vacation the children had been immersed in writing pattern books.  A long vacation was the perfect time to transition to writing small moment stories, as I'm sure the children's vacations were filled with small moments!  Throughout the week the children practiced telling and then writing small moment stories.

Last week in Math we:

• Learned a new game, Bunny Hop.  This game helps children practice adding and subtracting on a number line.
• Played "Follow My Pattern."  One child creates a pattern and his/her partner has to continue the pattern.  I was impressed with the multiple part patterns children were creating! 

• Played "Number Top-It" to practice comparing numbers.
• Solved addition and subtraction number stories.

One of our biggest obstacles to overcome the last two weeks has been getting ready for recess! Every day the children become more and more independent and efficient when getting their snow gear on.  Seeing their joy when they finally get into the snow makes the process all worth it!!

Conferences are just a few weeks away.  I am excited to meet with all of you to share your child's growth since last time we met!