Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop
In reading, the guiding question is: How do readers read, think, and talk about books?
In writing, the guiding question is: How can writers tell stories from their lives?
These last few months have been incredibly exciting for our readers and writers. We have been working towards understanding that print carries meaning. Our students are studying words and letters every day and looking for print in the environment. Students are labeling their stories with the sounds they hear in words and identifying “snap” words (words that are recognized instantly in a «snap», such as and, it, the, etc.) in books. In January our readers will be asked to really think about what they are reading. A crucial part of reading is not only being able to decipher and decode words but also to comprehend —aquire a deep understanding of what they are reading. Students will learn how to get their minds ready to read by looking closely at the pictures and making predictions about the story. We also want to encourage students to think about their books as they read them. To help build your students’ reading and writing skills over break, read and write with them every day and ask them questions such as “What do you think this story will be about?” “What is your favorite part? Why?” When they draw pictures, ask them to tell you their story by explaining all the details and encourage labeling. Engaging children in these conversations will strengthen their reading comprehension and increase retention. You can also help your child by practicing “snap” words with them, help them make flash cards and play a memory game. Have your child find snap words in the stories you are reading. You can also review letters of the alphabet, asking them to identify the sounds letters make and words that begin or end with that letter.
Word Study
In word study, the guiding question is: How do the letters and sounds help us read and write?
In word study, we have continued focusing on phonemic awareness, or the individual sound of the letter, and at the same time practicing writing the upper case letters of the alphabet correctly. At this time, we have gone through all the letters in the alphabet! The first day we study a particular letter, we brainstorm words that start with that letter and discuss what the letter looks like. The next day, students practice writing the letter and draw pictures of words beginning with that letter. Challenge your child to listen to a word and tell you the letter sound heard at the beginning and at the end of the word. In January, we will begin to use students’ names as a starting point for word study. A great way to do this at home is to write down all the names of family members and look for words within the names or use the letters in the names to build new words. Have your child practice writing the new words as well as the names.
DWOK (Different Ways of Knowing)
In project-based learning, the guiding question is: How do families show care through shelter?
To learn more about how shelter shows care and also how to work collaboratively in a group, students worked in groups of four or five to build a tent shelter out of sheets. Students problem-solved and worked together to make a shelter they could all enter and fit into. They used chairs, tables, bookshelves and packing tape to help construct their shelters. Afterwards, students thought about how they felt while inside, and the teacher documented their feelings and comments. In other lessons, students thought about their own shelters, what they were made out of and the different rooms in their homes. A math graph was made showing students’ favorite rooms in their homes. Through teacher read-alouds, students learned more about how shelters are built, the different building materials used in shelters all over the world and animal shelters. To explore shelter construction, students began looking at the building features of their classrooms and the school campus. Soon after, each class had an architect guest speaker come to their classrooms as an “expert” to share with the classes more about what architects do, their role in designing and constructing a shelter and also to answer the students’ questions about building. As a culmination to the end of the unit, students used what they had learned about shelter to design and construct a shelter for their sock puppet pal out of cardboard boxes. Students made neighborhoods out of their shelters, and played with their sock puppet pals and their shelters. Lastly, parents were invited into the classroom to see what the students had learned about shelter. Kindergarteners learned that shelters help to keep us safe and provide protection, which leads into our next unit on how families show care through protection.
Math
In math, the guiding question is: What do numbers represent?
Throughout the months of November and December, students showed what they knew about the different attributes objects have and how they could sort those objects, based on the attributes they identified. Students were then asked to explain and extend patterns they see in the world. They have a deep understanding that patterns repeat themselves, and they never change. We will begin identifying patterns as AB and ABB patterns, which is just a different way of representing a pattern. We have been studying number sense (1-10) so students know the relationship between a number symbol matching a specific quantity. We will continue to explore numbers and discuss how we can represent numbers through counting, recognizing, writing, naming and ordering numbers (1-30). Students also have a clear understanding of the relationship between numbers and quantities and the concepts of “more/greater” and “less/fewer”.
Some math tips to help your child: Begin asking your child to explain their mathematical thinking about patterning, sorting, counting, and number quantities. Play the game of «war» with cards, as it is a great way to reinforce concepts of bigger and smaller numbers and more than and less than. Look for patterns, shapes, numbers in nature and in your home. Practice counting objects (1 – 10) and have your child practice writing numbers.
Some helpful websites for all subject ares are:
http://www.learn4good.com/kids/index.htm
http://www.kidsknowit.com/
http://www.edutopia.org/
Your Kindergarten Team Members:
Ms. Fann – msafann@gmail.com
Ms. Pardo – lilliepardo@yahoo.com
Ms. Jindra – erinlanejindra@aim.com
Mr. Dmytriw – meegelone@yahoo.com
