kindergarten updates!

Hello! Here are your kindergarten updates! We are busy with many projects going on in our room! Keep reading to find out what we are up to :)

Reminders:
 
*Yearbook orders are due tomorrow!
 
*100th day trail mix project! (see below and email).

Upcoming Events:

* Valentines Party is on Friday, Feb. 12th at 2:35-3:20. A class list is being sent home tomorrow in Friday Folders! I put the names in boxes so that your child could cut out each name and glue it to the valentine envelope and save a little time. It is really important that your child sign his/her own name to their cards :) 

 
Reading:
 
Sight Words: The students have started working on sight word practice books. Sight words are also known as "popcorn words."  These are frequently read words that we want the kids to memorize. The students have to read these words without sounding them out before moving on to the next list.  Each time they pass a list , they receive a sticker on the cover of their practice book. There are two lists per level- one with words and one with phrases. They practice both each day! They love this challenge :) 

Leveled Books:  I have spent the past few weeks assessing and leveling each student.  They all have leveled readers in their book boxes and practice these everyday! The students move levels at their own pace. They need to be able to read the level fluently , retell, and answer comprehension questions before moving to the next one. The retell and comprehension is tricky for kindergarteners because it is a new skill. We are practicing a lot as a group and I am also spending time each week with each student to help him/her develop their skills.  See below on how you can help at home!



 Comprehension: We are working on retelling stories and making connections to what we read.

You can work on this at home too!  Before, during, and after reading we stop and ask if anyone has connections to what is happening. This helps the kids really start thinking about books as you read to them. Sometimes we share our connections out loud, sometimes we just use our finger signal to show that we have one!

Here is an example from our class:

We were reading the book Can't You Sleep Little Bear?  After reading the page below,  I asked the class to think about what is happening and any connections they may have to this part of the story. Of course they ALL had at least one connection (I know as parents you have many more related to this page ;)

Lena:  "Sometimes I roll around in my bed when I am supposed to be sleeping and my sheets fall off too!"

Sam:  "In the middle of the night- I play too."

Ryan: "I like to bounce all over my bed when I am supposed to be sleeping."

      

It is fun to hear the connections they make! You may learn some new things about your child as well ;)


Writing:

We are authors!  This week we read the book Cookie's Week. It is  about a cat that gets into new trouble each day. This book focuses on cause and effect which we are working on as well. We are using this story as a mentor text and writing our own versions! The students all chose an character of their own (animal) to write about.

One of our little writers showing off her story about a giraffe!

Math:
 We are getting very close to 100th day!!! Shhhh.....this day actually falls on Valentines Day but all the  Kindergarten classes are  going to celebrate on Wednesday, Feb. 17th. This is the day that students return from mid-winter break! For the past few years we have celebrated both 100's day and Valentines on same day and it is overload for the kids!

We are going to  make a 100th day snack together and need your help! I am asking each child to bring a baggie of 100 items to add to our trail mix snack . We will combine all the treats into a bowl to make a trail mix treat! Here are some ideas:

100 cheerios, 100 m&ms, 100 peanuts, 100 pretzels, 100 Chex, 100 raisins or dried cranberries, 100 chocolate chips, 100 mini marshmallows, 100 teddy grahams, etc-be creative!

Please have your child count out the treat they are bringing and put their name on the baggie. It is important that they help count!!!  You can send these in anytime before the 17th!

We are working on graphing, counting to 50, writing numbers 1-10 (correctly), counting objects up to 100, counting by 10's, basic addition (with objects), shapes, number recognition.


Social Studies/Science:

Last week we studied Martin Luther King Jr. The students were very interested in this topic and had many great questions. We also spent a lot of time talking about how everyone is unique.  We have special skin color paints that the PTO bought us last year. Miss Shelley worked with each child  mixing these paints to match their skin color. We also discussed different hair types/colors, eyes, and all the characteristics that make us unique. The kids used the paint, mirrors, different color yarn to create a face that looks like themselves. They are so cute!

This week we are learning about penguins! We are talking about their habitat, diet, habits, and life cycle. The students are working on a report "All About Penguins."  



Project 64:

 This was a very exciting week for the kids as you may have heard! They have been waiting to draw the dragon all year! We had many skills to learn before we could do this and yesterday they were ready! They did a fantastic job!  Our imaginations were going so wild during our drawing times that we decided to write stories about the dragons too! This unexpected writing project is perfect to help the kids work on writing a beginning, middle, and end! 

We LOVE project 64!!!
Colors used: yellow green, dandelion, yellow, Scarlett, red-orange, orange, green
Skills : following directions, focusing,  pencil and crayon pressure, Holding tools correctly, drawing shapes, drawing guidelines, base colors, blending, creating shadows, paying careful attention to details.


 

  Have a great day!