Category Archives: Kindergarten

Summer 2018 Update!

It’s a rainy Saturday, so what else is a Kindergarten teacher supposed to do? Work on next year of course!

This summer I have been doing a lot of professional development in topics I am both interested in and want to learn more about. In July, I took a weeklong course on Phonemic Awareness. I learned a great deal of handy tricks I will be able to use in my instruction this coming year. I also took an online course about how to teach children with learning differences that will really be helpful in the classroom.

All of this has lead to me into August feeling excited about the new school year. This morning I am writing my scope and sequence, which is basically a plan for the learning we will do each week during the year. My cat, Joe, is keeping me company as you can see. 🙂

I hope you have a wonderful August and I will see you at the start of our school year together!

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Springing Into Spring?! Let’s Hope! 4/9-4/13/18

This crazy weather of March and April has really thrown everyone for a loop. I feel like we are finally getting back into a groove of learning after all those choppy weeks! We have been working hard on some fun projects including publishing our first books. Each child wrote an “All About book” about his or her favorite community helper. They are now proudly displayed in our classroom library. We also did some experiments to understand forces better and celebrated opening day for the Red Sox with pennants and some baseball math!

This week we will be focusing on Earth Day. One of the Kindergarten science standards is to be able to communicate solutions for ways to reduce the human impact on land, air and water. We will be working on a project that will include the whole school after vacation – be on the look out for information in your child’s folder!

Here’s what else we are working on…

English/Language Arts

  • Digraphs (sh, th, ch, ck, wh) in words
  • sight words (we, she, he, me, the, and, etc.)
  • Writing/dictating opinions

Math

  • Beginning Unit 8
  • creating 3D shapes with toothpicks
  • measuring time
  • subtraction practice

Science

  • Ways to help the earth

Social Studies

  • economics – buying, selling, trading
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Marching in Like a Lion! 3/7/18

A block structure made this week.

With all the wild weather and coming back from vacation, I haven’t had a chance to post anything. We began March with a new science unit (forces and motion), and this week started to write and draw some personal narratives.

Our Morning Meeting after the storm was quite a lengthly one. Children could share about what happened during the storm and this group had a lot to say! I am happy everyone made it through and as I write this, another Nor’Easter is brewing!

Report cards come out this Friday, March 9.

Our Term Two coffee chat is next Friday, March 16 from 7:50 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

Here’s what we are learning this week:

English Language Arts

  • Writing, drawing, dictating a personal narrative
  • Fundations Unit 3
  • Blending of 3 sound words
  • Sight word recognition

Math

A block structure made with our new long wooden blocks.

  • Addition and subtraction number stories with symbols
  • 3D shape review
  • teen numbers
  • mental math combinations to 5

Science

  • Forces and Motion
  • Machines that move
  • Work words (lift, shove, pull, push)

Social Studies

  • Difference between buying and selling vs. trading
  • Little House picture books
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Feeling the Love 2/12/18-2/16/18

Valentine Bags!

It has been a fun week of learning here at school as we get ready for vacation! Lots of smiles for all the different outfits that came in throughout Spirit week! I think the kids especially loved “Fantasy Friday!”

Valentine’s Day is a special day in Kindergarten. I love watching all the children read their valentines and deliver them! Such fun! We also learned about similes in English Language Arts this week. The children wrote sentences that began, “I love you like…” and had to come up with a simile. They were so cute I’m putting them below for you to enjoy!

Based on the book, I Love You, Good Night by Jon Buller and Susan Schade.

“I love you like diamonds love rings.” – Presley

“I love you like bats love baseballs.” – David

“I love you like cupcakes like sprinkles.” – Mia

“I love you like cats love yarn.” – Sean

“I love you like guinea pigs love mice.” – Charlotte

“I love you like a soccer ball loves a goal.” – Ryan

“I love you like dogs love bones.” – James

“I love you like a football loves field goals.” – Kaileigh

“I love you like Dads love Moms.” – Broc

“I love you like thunder loves lightning.” – Henry

Have a wonderful and safe February Vacation!

See you on February 26! 

 

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Go Pats! And Partner work! 1/22/18-1/26/18

Children work in a center using RAZ-Kids, an online reading system.

Well the Patriots did it again!I’m not that sporty, but I do follow the Patriots, and what I love most about them is their work ethic and teamwork. (Great teaching points!) This week we are focusing on partner work at center time, especially during math.

For young children, it is important to practice working in pairs, then small groups and then as a whole class. Often, the bigger the group, the more issues can arise, which is why partner work can be a valuable tool. Our math program offers many games that are for an individual or for partners.

We also brought out the board games last week and small groups played Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land and Connect four for something different at choice time.

You know what else is great for partners? Card games! Grab that deck from the cabinet and play a game of war or go fish!

Here’s what we are learning this week:

English/Language Arts

  • Breaking apart 2 and 3 sound words
  • Writing a complete sentence from a prompt
  • Non-fiction on winter animals

Math

  • Skip counting by 10s and 5s to school day number
  • the addition symbol
  • writing numbers to 100

Science

  • nature made vs. man made
  • Marine Science Center visit (1/23)
  • Finish up changes in water unit

Social Thinking

  • empathy/understanding other people’s perspectives
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