My cable was out for about 5 days last week. I have a feeling my two curious kitties had something to do with it, but it was a good chance to remember what “quiet” feels like and how reading is a very pleasurable hobby.,

This got me thinking about reading and my students. I love, love, love children’s literature. I don’t seem to mind dropping a few dollars here and there on a good book when it comes to a lesson or to enhance curriculum, but reading for my own pleasure (besides newspapers) during the week does not happen as much as I’d like. I’m sure I’m not alone in the matter – as adults we have a lot going on, especially all of you as working parents, and the ease of those handy devices it makes it harder to actually read, let’s say a novel?

Here’s what we are working on this week:

English Language Arts

• Fundations Unit 1 Week 4
• Retelling key details in a text
• Review uppercase letter formation
• Writing/drawing on a specific topic

Math

• Introduction of ten frames
• practicing fluency up to 5
• counting collections up to 20

Science

• Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Social Studies

• Understanding Christopher Columbus

In conclusion, I still love reading and that’s because I come from a family of readers. I’ll get a call asking me “did you read this article in the paper?” And if I haven’t, i’ll get it summarized; if I did, we will have a discussion.. My dad was the the one that found this article (see below – hand drawn arrow included) in the paper about how to raise a family of readers. And now I share it with you. Enjoy!

Share this:

Our Mystery reader program started Friday with a parent who is also a fire fighter! What fun!

We were a buzz today getting ready for our field trip tomorrow! I am looking forward to another great trip – I think this might be my 6th or 7th Kindergarten class I’ve taken to the apple farm. I haven’t had any apple cider yet this season, so I am looking forward to enjoying the outdoors and a special snack with the class. And making apple crisp with all the apples I bring home!

This week to me really feels like we are in the zone of learning. There’s more lessons on learning objectives and less lessons on behaviors (though we still need reminders of learner behavior – especially after lunch recess.) The class enjoys the work at center time and we have been doing a lot of science in the afternoons learning about weather and life cycles. Once we are back from the farm, we will begin our study of pumpkins.

Here’s what we are learning this week:

English/Language Arts

• Fundations Unit 1 Week three Uu and Ii
• Understanding the purpose of non-fiction texts
• Speaking and listening during group lesson time
• Phonemic awareness of previous letters

Math

• beginning addition and subtraction problems
• sorting
• attributes of circles

Social Studies

• Trip to Brooksby Farm

Science

• Finish up life cycle of an apple
• Seasonal changes

Share this:

I love teaching Kindergarten in the Fall! There are so many wonderful “place based” learning opportunities to do with young children – from seasonal changes, to farming to life cycles of apples and pumpkins it is so much fun to be in Kindergarten! The weather looks great for the next few days so I hope to have a chance or two to do some learning outside!

And of course, our field trip is coming up (October 3), which is something to look forward to!

Here’s what our learning objectives are this week:

English Language Arts

• Introduction of Writer’s Workshop – Oral storytelling / answering questions
• Fundations Unit 1 Week 2 (Mm, Nn)
• What is Non-fiction?
• Concepts of Print

Math

• Beginning Unit 2
• Comparing numbers 1-10
• Describing shapes
• dot arrangements

Science

• Life Cycle of an Apple
• Weather Unit

Social Studies

• What is work? A job?
• Farming

Reminders:

1. Library books need to come back on Wednesdays (or before).
2. Scholastic Book Order is due Friday, September 29 Click here for online ordering

Share this:

The humid weather seems to be sticking around for a bit longer…hopefully we will stay cool and hydrated. Please send your child with a water bottle (WITH ONLY WATER) every day. Thanks!

Please send back your apple farm trip permission slips! 🙂 Looking forward to a great trip!

Here’s what we will be learning this week:

English/Language Arts:

• Rhyming words – hearing rhymes, making rhymes, matching rhymes
• Concepts of Print
• Fundations Unit 1 Week 1 Tt, Bb, Ff

Fine Motor:

• Practicing proper pencil grip
• scissor practice

Math

• Introduction of 5 frames
• describing shapes
• patterns
• Finishing Unit 1 and baseline assessments

Science

• Weather changes
• Hurricane Jose
• Preparing for weather

Social Thinking

• Continuing to practice classroom and school rules and routines
• Second Step with Mrs. Sullivan
• Friendship

Share this:

We had a great week last week as a class! Everyday I am enjoying getting to know your children better and seeing what they are able to do as a new kindergartner. I see they are an industrious group and like projects (yea!) and learning (woo hoo!) Last week we wrote our “Hopes and Dreams” and came up with our classroom rules.

In my classroom, I first have children brainstorm all the rules they think we should have. At their developmental age, it is a lot of “no this” and “no that.” The next day we sort the rules by if they are about “Me” “others” or “classroom.” Once that is done, we look at the rules and I ask, “if we shouldn’t (for example) hit or kick people, how should we treat our friends?” We then come up with three to four simple, positively written rules on how we should behave. The last step is signing the rules. Our completed rules list is below.

Our final list of rules

Our original list of rules, colored coded by sorting.

Every week, I’ll be listing what we will be learning by subject. I hope this helps you!

English Language Arts

• Name Recognition
• Introduction of Foundations (our Phonics program)
• Shared Reading of patterned text books, poetry, songs (Ex. Brown Bear, Brown Bear)

Math

• Understanding #1-5
• Counting
• Shapes

Science

• Colors

Social Thinking

• Listening Skills
• Practicing our classroom rules

Library starts this week! 🙂

Have a great week!

Ms. Purdin

Share this: