Orange Party!

Today, after Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we worked on a short art project, and colored and read a pumpkin book (which should have come home in backpacks today) - encourage your child to read it to you. We spent a some time working with the 100s chart as well in math.

We then headed to the Media Center for our time there. Meanwhile the parents were setting up for the Orange Party. It was a really fun time -- thank you, thank you, thank you, to all who helped -- planning, working at the party, and donating supplies.

Have a great weekend!

Today, after Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we had a little bit of time to preview the book that we were to analyze later in the day for our Author Study of Ezra Jack Keats -- Whistle for Willie. Then, it was up to the Computer Lab for reading and math practice. After 1/2 hour of time there, we cam back down to the room, and talked about plot and characters in Whistle for Willie, and added our collective thoughts to the chart.

Then, on to Pumpkin Math - I brought in a pumpkin, and we made guesses about its circumference (the distance around the outside -- we tried to learn the big word today: we'll see if it sticks). The kids cut a piece of yarn to the length that they thought would fit right around the pumpkin. We then tried all of their guesses, and charted them on the wall. Ask your child all about it!

At the end of the day, we talked about the fact that even though it is Halloween (a fact that the kids won't let me forget...), we will not be wearing costumes in school. Don't forget to send your child to school tomorrow in their orange tie-dye shirt for our Orange Party!!

Today, I had a substitute for the morning, so here is what I gathered happened this morning -- check with your child to make sure!!

After Choice Time and Morning Meeting, the kids read a Pumpkin Book with the sub. Then, they headed to gym, where they stayed inside today. Then, they worked on phonics - and met a new High Hat friend -- Itchy Itch (the /i/ sound, obviously). They did a little work on stroy seqencing, putting the pictures from the High Hat story in order, and then writing and drawing words that begin with that sound.

They finished up with a couple of math activities. They got a wonderful report from the sub!

Today, after Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we had a got to read a book that our Star of the Week, Zarah, brought in -- one of her favorites, Olive my Love. Then, it was off to the Computer Lab for a half hour of log-ins, reading and math.

When we finished or time in the computer lab, we cam back down to the classroom, fed and observed our fish, and then had Writer's Workshop. Today, I taught a mini-lesson on using speech bubbles (like in the comics) to add characters' voices to the kids' stories. Next time, we'll talk about adding the conversations to our writing. We wrote for about 20 minutes.

At the end of the day, we reviewed the letter sounds that we have covered so far this year with the High Hat series, and then played a little game with the sounds and some pictures. After the kids got their backpacks and jackets on, we read a little more of Esio Trot, and then went home or to Minneapolis Kids.

Today, after Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we had a little bit of time to read the Ezra Jack Keats book for the day (Hi, Cat!). We also had a chance to look again at our fish. We are working on making predictions and inferences about their behavior. The current question before us is how the fish know when there is food in the tank -- do they see it, smell it, feel it (via vibrations in the water), or hear it when it hits the surface. We're still working on that question.

Then it was time for art class in our room with our art teacher, Ms. Gilman. She made a fun spider art project with the kids, that should be in their backpacks today. After art, we worked on our author study, analyzing the the plot and characters in Hi, Cat! -- ask your child all about it. They should know what "plot" means by this point (we say that it means "what the story is about").

At the end of the day, we had just enough time to do a little counting practice, and then be on our merry ways!

Today was a busy, busy day in Room 145. After Choice Time, we were very lucky to have four moms in to help out with putting the rubber bands on our t-shirts for our Orange Party tie-dying. We had a busy, busy room as we were all working on our shirts!

After the adventure in tie-dying, and before we knew it, it was time to go to the Media Center for our hour with Mrs. Hennen. The kids got to check out books at the end of the time -- hopefully it made it home in your child's backpack!

After Library, we came back to the room and we kept at our Author Study of Ezra Jack Keats. Today we analyzed Pet Show, looking at the plot and the characters. The kids are really getting good at making summaries of the action and thinking about the characters in the books -- this will really help them in their writing and the reading!

Have a great weekend!

Once again, sorry for the late post. A meeting after school, and then a baby shower for Mr. and Mrs. Wold (the other two kindergarten teachers).

Today after Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we took a quick look at our fish, who seem to be doing swimmingly (get it?). Then, we finally had the long-awaited trip to the computer lab. In the lab, your child will be working on an individualized program of math and reading practice that is suited to his/her level. After we got log-on issues resolved, we worked for about 20 minutes. In the future, the plan will be to go back to the lab once or perhaps twice a week.

When we got back to the room, we had some time to read another Ezra Jack Keats book for our Author Study this week (we read Pet Show) to get ready to analyze it tomorrow.

We then went off to the gym for our Book Fair Preview. The kids had a chance to look at all of the books that will be for sale at the Burroughs Book Fair on Saturday. If you haven't been before, it's great fun. There are snacks for sale, great (and pretty inexpensive) books -- like the ones on the book orders that I send home for sale, and a chance to socialize with other Burroughs families. Several of the teachers have volunteered to read a book at the fair, and, if you happen to be there at 11:15, you can hear me read (probably no great treat for your child, though -- they hear me read to them every day!).

We had another special treat today -- Ms. Cory, who is the bilingual program assistant at Burroughs, came in to read a Peter Rabbit story to the kids. When Ms. Cory finished, we had a little bit of time to practice some math counting skills, and play a quick math game.

Sorry, first of all for the late post -- a series of meetings at school, and then a series of 'meetings' once I got home. At any rate, here goes.

After Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we learned about the "tub mystery" -- we have had two small tubs of water in the classroom for several days, and yesterday predicted what would go into them. Well, it's FISH! We have guppies and goldfish -- your child hopefully came home tying to think of good names for them. Tomorrow we will try to name them and figure out a way to tell them apart. Wish us luck!

After the fish adventure, we had a bit of time to meet a new friend of Mr. High Hat (from our phonics program). The new letter/sound is /t/, and the friend is Tiger Tom. Oddly enough, High Hat has a tool that makes the t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t sound. Then we went to the gym for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson, which is never a dull time.

When we got back from the gym, had another visit from Ms. Barb (Ryan E.'s mom) who read a couple of books to the kids -- The Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin and Mouse Soup. Then, after a quick check of the fish (who seem to be adjusting nicely, thank you very much), it was off to Minneapolis kids, pick-up in the Atrium, or the bus home!

Today we had a busy day in Room 145. After Choice Time and Morning Meeting, we started Writer's Workshop.

During Writer's Workshop, we learned about "stretching words" to sound them out, instead of the more staccato, sound by sound method (not buh-o-ah-t for boat, for instance). Ask your child if they can demonstrate it - they did a super job, and we got some of our best writing yet today.

After Writer's Workshop, we had a whole group reading lesson. This week we are doing an "Author Study" on Ezra Jack Keats (one of my all-time favorite authors). Today we re-read Peter's Chair, and discussed the "plot" and how the main character changed during the book. Staty tuned for updates on future books this week!

We had a quick recess, and then we were back to work on Peter's Chair, and then we talked about some mysterious small tubs of water that have been in our classroom for a couple of days. We all got a chance to guess what we will be using the tubs for in the next weeks -- be sure to ask your child what they think will be going into the tubs! Finally, we finished up with a math game that used the 100s chart.

Welcome back after the long weekend -- I hope that it was a good one for all.

After choice time today, we had our morning meeting. Aiden got to read his Star of the Week poster (nice job, Aiden!!), and we were able to read a short book before art class with Ms. Gilman today. The kids worked on painting with watercolors today in art -- they turned out pretty nicely, I think.

After art, we began our reading project for the week. We will be doing an author study this week of Ezra Jack Keats (books like The Snowy Day, Whistle for Willie, etc.). Today we read Peter's Chair to get ready for analyzing it tomorrow.

We also met a new friend of Mr. High Hat's from our phonics program -- Buzzy Bee. Buzzy, predictably enough, makes the b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b sound. We brainstormed words that began with that sound.

At the end of the day, we got to play a number game on the 100s chart in which I turned some of the numbers around (they are on little cards on a pocket chart) and the kids had to figure out which ones were turned around -- it goes right with the 100s chart work that the kids are doing on their weekly homework.

Picture Day!

That pretty much sums up our morning -- we had a bit of choice time, and then we gpot ready to go take our pictures (we were lucky to be able to sign up for a time that was before gym class). After our photos, we had our morning meeting, and them we were off to gym class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson -- the kids went outside and had their class.

After gym, as is the case every Wednesday, Ms. Barb (Ryan E.'s mom) came in to read two stories to the class. After our Wednesday storytime, it was time for us to pack up and get ready to go!

Enjoy your long weekend!!

Today we had choice time to begin, as always. After we had our morning meeting, we went immediately into Writer's Workshop. today the mini-lesson was about what writers do when we are 'stuck' -- the kids went back to 'old' writing in their writing folders to see if they needed revisions oe additions, or if they could get inspiration for a new story from one of the old ones. We looked at the author Don Freeman's work (he wrote Corduroy, among many others) as an example -- when he was stuck, he re-read Corduroy and then wrote another book about the same bear. Many of the kids chose to do the same.

After we wrote, the kids each read their most recent writing to a friend, so everyone got to share today. then we had a phonics lesson, in which we made another "magic book" -- see if your child can tell you how to fold it (here's a link to a webpage that shows how: http://www.makingbooks.com/hotdog.shtml). It's still pretty confusing to many of them. In the books, which the kids took home today, we glued words that began with our focus letter, /p/. The kids had to choose the words that began with the /p/ sound from a page that had many words on it, then cut and glue the words on their books. If they had time, I also asked them to write the word that they made on the same page in their books.

Finally, we went outside to choose our "class tree." We picked a nice one, I think -- we'll go back to it, throughout the year, and write about and draw it in the different seasons to see how it changes. (We put a sign on it, so if you are ever out back behind the school, you can see which one we picked.)

Finally, we got packed up for home, and read a little bit more of Esio Trot- it's getting to the main part of the story, and the kids are getting into it.

Monday, October 13, 2008

We began another fun (but short) week in Room 145 today.

After choice time, we had our morning meeting as usual. We had a little bit of time left before art class, so we read a short math book (Ten Black Dots, by Donald Crews) to set up our math time after art class. On Mondays, we have art in our room - Ms. Gilman comes in to teach us. Today they began a project with leaves that had two steps -- the second will be done next week.

After art, we spent some time learning about the number 5 - and the combinations of numbers that add up to five. The kids put together 2 colors of linker cubes to make the number 5. This skill is an important one, as it leads not only to a better understanding of how numbers work, but also it directly corresponds to addition skills.

We also met a new friend of Mr. High Hat's today - Penny Put. the story and the sequencing cards are in your child's backpack today. Finally, we did some more work on counting by 10s, and then finished up with a couple of pages from Esio Trot.

October 10, 2008

Welcome to the trial kindergarten blog. Feel free to leave comments, if you like. I'm going to try to post snippets of what we have done each day, in an attempt to give you some leverage as you ask "So, what did you do in school today?" (Especially if you have a kid like mine, who always says, "um, nothing much..." I can't promise that it will be workable, but I wanted to give it a try.

So, here goes:

Today we had choice time, as always - the pizza parlor is still up, and so is the painting easel, the writing center, and the art table. We had morning meeting, and we sang Happy Birthday to Julia B. -- ask your child about the "musical" tradition that we have for singing to our friends on their birthdays. We had a short Math Workshop (playing Button Match and Attribute Block Match) and then we went to the Media Center/Library for a lesson with Mrs. Hennen, and to check out books. After Media, we did Writer's Workshop, and learned about how some writers make the pictures before the words, and others make the words first. Then, we WROTE for about 15 minutes.

At the end of the day, we had just enough time to eat the birthday snack that Julia brought for us (Oreos - YUM!) and read a little bit more of Esio Trot by Roald Dahl (our end-of-the-day book) before we went home or to Minneapolis Kids.

Have a great weekend!!