Fall is here and we've been working on a lot of fall themed activities during the past two weeks. In Science class, we finished up our study of the Five Senses by using our senses of sight and touch to observe some Fall finds. The children worked very hard to draw what they observed like real scientist. They used realistic colors and added details to their drawings. Next we'll be working on diagrams and adding labels to pictures. We also worked to improve our drawing skills in Reading class. For some reason, Kindergarteners love to draw arms and legs sticking out of their characters heads. We used a song called Mat Man to help the children learn to draw more realistic people. This will help them to create better pictures in their writing journals. They find it funny that I am not much of an artist and they know that they do not need to make perfect drawings either. We just try our best. The children have been doing an excellent job during writing workshop. Even though this is pretty new for them, they are coming up with complete sentences to tell about their pictures. We then sound out the words in their stories together. Right now they are expected to try writing the beginning sound and perhaps the ending, as those sounds are easiest to hear. Some children are writing even more! You'll be able to see their journals during Parent-Teacher Conferences in November. We have been doing a lot of work with shapes during Math class. Our first Math test on shapes was a bit challenging for the students. The questions were fairly straightforward (find the circle and mark it) but I think the children were not quite ready for the test format and the need to remain quiet and follow directions during a test. So, as we were working on the next topic (15: Position Words), we continued to review shapes-naming them, sorting them, tracing them, etc. We also did some extra practice pages in the same format as our tests. I believe there will be a lot of improvement on the next tests and you should see some grades coming home soon. You will also receive a Progress Report next week. We have just a bit more testing on some skills we've covered so far and they will be ready. We ended our week today with our PBIS Pep Rally! PBIS is our school wide program for rewarding good choices and behaviors. I am sure you have heard your child talking about the PRIDE cash they earn each day they are on green or blue. They also earn PRIDE cash for instances of extra good behavior each day. Today we reviewed our PRIDE rules, discussed being helpful at school, shopped at our classroom PRIDE Prize store, and attended a district-wide pep rally. As one student summed up, "This day was totally awesome!"
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Thank you so much to those of you who were able to attend Back to School Night. I always enjoy sharing a bit about our daily routine and curriculum with you. If you weren't able to make it, information and a very special project will be sent home.
This past week was very busy. We had a program to kick off our fall fundraiser, class pictures and visited the nurse to have heights and weights measured. In the classroom we continued to work on shapes and our Three Bears and Tortuga stories. We began learning about the five senses and will use our senses as we explore the upcoming Fall season next week in Science/Social Studies class. At home you can look at the mini-storybooks from our Reading program with your child. Have them retell the story to you. They can look at each picture and tell what they remember from each story. Saying the ABCs or counting out loud to at least 20 will also reinforce what your child is learning at school. Today the children were very excited to visit our PRIDE store for the very first time. We set this up in our classroom and the children can spend PRIDE cash they've earned with good behavior to shop. Many children were excited to buy a prize while some decided to save up for an even better prize next week! Quite a few papers were sent home today. You can find our weekly newsletter, a letter naming practice page, and your child's work in their folders. Please remember to clean the folder out for Monday, returning only the behavior calendar. Have a great weekend! This past week the students for practicing all of the routines and procedures the learned in week one. For example, they now know it is their responsibility to turn in their folders every morning and clean out their desks every afternoon and they are just beginning to do tasks without so many reminders from me. I will continue to encourage this independence and a sense of responsibility as the year progresses. We we also spent a lot of time in Social Studies class on following rules and being respectful in school. We read No, David! And David Goes to School, discussing how difficult it can be to behave all day long. I think David Shannon is our favorite author at the moment. We followed up with a lesson on good choices and bad choices. The students know it is my job to remind them of our rules; it is their job to make good choices and follow them. In Reading, we finished up Red Riding Hood and moved on to The Three Bears. I introduced Aa, B.B., Cc, and Dd. The students name the letter, learn its sound, and are shown the proper formation for writing the letter. We usually refer to the "big" letters as capital rather than uppercase. This is just a letter preview. We will study one letter per unit in depth and do more Handwriting practice when we begin our Superkids Reading program later in October. The children have also been using their iPads to practice identifying letters and spell their names with the app ABC-Magnetic Alphabet by Dot Next. In Math class the children continued to practice writing and counting numbers 1-5. We also began a Math topic on shapes. The children will learn about flat shapes (square, circle, rectangle, hexagon) and solid shapes (cone, cylinder, cube, sphere). We will be doing several shape projects and practiced making shapes on an app called Geoboard by The Math Learning Center/Clarity Innovations.
The first week is over and the children have learned so much in just five days! This past week was all about routines and behavior. The children spent this week learning how to work, follow directions and be good friends. We began using our behavior clip chart as well. Everyone begins the day on green for good behavior. Children can become blue star students through extra special behavior, being a helper and being a good friend. Yellow is a visual reminder to make good choices while red indicates a time-out or other consequence is needed due to more serious or repeated bad choices. You can see it for yourself on Back to School Night September 14h. We will also begin a behavior calendar next week. Each day your child will color a circle representing their behavior for the day. Please keep this sheet in your child's blue BEAR folder. We also introduced our school wide rules using special videos created by our staff. The children learned that they will earn a PRIDE dollar whenever they stay on green all day. They can also earn PRIDE cash for isolated instances of good behavior. This is our Pride wall with our PRIDE $$$ Bank. Reading-This week the children learned to be good listeners as we read The Kissing Hand, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Little Red Riding Hood. After reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom the children found the first letter in their name and made it climb up our coconut tree. Math: We have been practicing counting and writing the numerals 1-5. We will continue this next week. The Kindergarten teachers have decided to begin our Math curriculum next week with Topic 14 all about shapes. This is a change from the newsletter I sent home in your child's folder.
The children are off to a good start. If you are wondering what to work on at home, you can help your child practice writing his or her name and read stories together. Enjoy your long weekend! |
Mrs. BubnisKindergarten teacher at John S Clarke Elementary. Categories |