Writer's Workshop

We're midway through Writing Unit 1, "Launching the Writing Workshop". Boy, have we covered a lot of ground already! Moving from "picture writing" to using letters and words is no small endeavor for a kindergartner, and I am very impressed and pleased with their effort. Here are the goals, or "Learning Targets" that your child is aiming toward in this unit:

• I can write a letter to represent the sound I hear.
• I can stretch out a word to write the sounds I hear.
• I can work independently.
• I can work on my writing with a partner.
• I can write about a topic I know and care about.
• I can label my drawings.
• I can begin to revise to make my writing better.
• I can write across several pages.
• I can organize my folder and other materials.
• I can write using both pictures and words.
• I can plan out my stories before I write.
• I can write different kinds of writing.
• I can choose a piece to edit and revise for publishing.

Be watching for samples to come home at the end of this unit!

Read to Self

Read to Self is going so well! The children read independently for a full 15 minutes every day this week. They need little guidance now to get started right away, stay in one spot, read the whole time, and use a quiet voice. They know the reason we have Read to Self is because becoming a better reader takes time and practice. And, it's fun!

More Library Fun!

"You put the shelf-saver in, and the book comes out,

  You look through the book to see what it's about.

  You do the Bookie Lookie to see if it's just right,

  That's what it's all about!"

Shaving Cream Letter Writing!

We have been practicing our handwriting every day since school started. We took a break yesterday and had a little fun by smearing shaving cream on our tables. The boys and girls wrote their names, letters, and numbers. What messy fun!

Library Books!

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."

— Jacqueline Kennedy

Today was an exciting day in kindergarten! After a month of learning in "Bookworm School", Mrs. Roth helped the boys and girls find and check out their very first Willard Central library book. Just look at their smiles!

"I Wonder..."

We call it the "Wonder Table". Sometimes a single child will go there to quietly study the ever-growing sweet potato vine. Other times a pair of new "best friends" will meet and notice details on the snakeskin together. Right after the goldfish is fed, a larger group is likely to gather.

"Look at all those roots! I wonder how long the vine will get?"..."I see where its eyes were. I wonder what kind of snake it was?"..."I wonder if Bubbles will eat all of the food, or save some for later?"

These are curious, intensely focused, and keenly observant young scientists. Our science table is truly a place for wonder.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear...

Did your child come home chanting "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see..." this week? We read this favorite children's book several times, learning color words, noticing question marks, and practicing the comprehension skill of retelling a story. The boys and girls discovered that the illustrator retells the story himself with stripes of color on the inside front and back covers!

Yesterday, the children colored the story's characters to match the book, then sorted M&Ms on each picture. They counted and recorded the number in each set. They compared their sets using the terms greater, less, more and fewer, and some curious learners even decided to count the total number of M&Ms in their collections. Such a fun way to finish another week of teaching and learning together in kindergarten! 

A Very Special Visitor

This week our classroom was “visited” by Mother Goose-- she left white feathers and “clues” for the boys and girls to find in the room as we enjoyed these classic rhymes. It was a lot of fun for all of us! Young children learn best when they are fully involved in activity-- moving, singing, and imagining.  This is something that we playfully take advantage of! Be sure to ask your child what Mother Goose left in the room, including the creature that nearly "frightened Mrs. Miles away...."

Pattern Block Math

Pattern blocks are used all year for math investigations. This week, the boys and girls are just getting their hands on them to see how they feel and what they can do. It's so interesting to see them at work. They are building, sorting, counting, making patterns, even experimenting with fractions--  2 red trapezoids together make a hexagon. And it's only September!