Ms. Serrano, our Visual Arts teacher, asked us to read Eric Carle’s The Mixed-Up Chamaeleon. We read the story in class, and when students went to Visual Arts, each student created a part of the body. As students combined the body parts, a new animal was born. Many connections were made during this lesson. Students saw that a read aloud used in the classroom can carry over into an Arts class, and the sharing and caring students did in Visual Arts is part of our overarching theme in DWOK this year (Different Ways of Knowing).
Reader’s Workshop:
What do readers have to know and be able to do?
Last week in Reader’s Workshop we learned how to take care of our library. We learned that strong readers are able to keep their books organized to show care for the library, but also to show care for other readers. Students learned how to work with partners this week and focused on looking at details in order to build stamina for independent reading during Readers Workshop. Students continued to practice compromising as they chose a book together. Students used viewfinders together to be able to zoom in and really read the pictures as text. Next students practiced using words (i.e. next, then, later) to read individual pictures as narratives to their partners. Finally, students read the pictures of an entire book to their partner. This week we continued working with partners, finding things that interest us in books, and exploring feelings that come up as we read. We are searching books for characters showing emotion. We are marking those places with post-it notes. We are learning to read with feeling and expression. Please read with your child each night.
Mathematics:
What do effective mathematicians need to know and be able to do?
Last week kindergartners learned the names of the geometric shapes (circle, half-circle, square, rectangle, and triangle) and about qualities that make them unique. They learned that a shape with straight sides always has the same number of sides and corners (vertices) by using hands-on manipulatives such as yarn, straws and teddy bear counters. Now, we’re moving on to exploring numbers, why they are important and the context in which we use them. We’ll start by accessing what students already know about numbers. We have begun to understand the relationship between numbers and quantities and the concepts of “more” and “less.” Students will practice counting and learn strategies for counting small quantities (1 – 10) as well as practice writing numbers. Some math tips to help your child: Have them practice drawing shapes and color them in. Use geometric shapes to draw animals, people and other objects. Practice making simple patterns with household objects, such as coins, buttons or beans. Look for patterns or shapes in nature and in your home. Practice counting objects (1 – 10) and have your child practice writing numbers.
DWOK/Project-Based Learning:
How do family members show they care for each other?
This past week we brought new friends into the classroom…our Puppet Pals! We are learning how to show care to our new friends and we will be doing this throughout the year. We made puppets out of socks, gloves, buttons, feathers, yarn, sparkles, scraps, goggle eyes, and love. To celebrate our new friends we made a “circle map” to describe who our puppets are. We wrote the puppet’s name in the center of the map then drew pictures to describe things about our pal. Some of us described where they like to vacation, what they like to snack on, and what some of their favorite movies are. This week we made a collage all about showing care as a group. We cut out pictures of people and animals showing care. These collages are up in the classroom if you’d like to come in and take a peak. We also got introduced to shelter. We learned what shelter is and how every living thing lives in some sort of shelter. We drew pictures of our own homes and rooms in our homes. We ended the week by creating a collaborative shelter collage. We are looking forward to building our own shelters next week in class.
Writer’s Workshop:
What do writers have to know and be able to do?
Last week in Writer’s Workshop we began “Approximating Small Moments.” Small Moments are those moments from our lives that we can pinpoint and write an entire story about. Students studied A Chair for My Mother and learned how Vera B. Williams told her story with small moments. This week, students are writing their own small moments in booklets. Again, we are drawing on children’s literature to find examples of small moments. We looked at Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand. We are also using partners during Writer’s Workshop. Partners help support us in our writing, and can ask us questions, like “What did you write about today?” and “How will you continue that story tomorrow?” We finished up our week by stretching out words we don’t know, and writing down all of the sounds we hear. This is something we will practice in great detail, and you can help at home. Please try this the next time you are writing at home with your child.
THANK YOU:
Thank you parents for attending Back to School Night. It was such a success. We really enjoyed meeting all of you. Thank you for willingness to donate your time and resources to our classroom. Thank you for all of the supplies you’ve already sent in.
Kindergarten Wish List:
-small potted plants for classroom display
-sticky tack for mounting student work-IKEA book baskets
-10 gallon size Ziploc bags
Reminders:
-please have all of your child’s belongings labeled with their first and last name
-please send in a change of clothes if you haven’t already done so
