Reading:
VISUALIZING! Visualizing is a comprehension skill that teaches readers to make pictures/movies in their head as they read a story. They use the pictures to do that but should also be making their own pictures in their head. I am introducing this skill using Polar Express. We will listen to it with no pictures, draw our visualizations and watch the movie at the end of the week. You can practice this skill at home by reading to them and just having them close their eyes and listen to the story. They can even draw while listening to stories.
Writing:
Writing winter holiday stories using story webs.
Math:
Size and position
Social Studies:
Different cultures/our own cultures. Winter holidays.
Wish List:
I am looking for small/cheap, new/used toys that I could put in my classroom store.
Mr. E
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
December 10th week
Today we started a wonderful week of learning and fun.
Reading:
We are reading three different books this week. They are focusing on hibernation. We are learning all about hibernation as winter approaches. The students will bring home a cool interactive worksheet on Thursday that I am excited for. We are working on the comprehension skill of making connections. Ask your child what making a connection is when they are reading. They should be connecting things they read to experiences they have in real life.
Writing:
We are focusing on what makes a sentence a sentence. This has been a struggle for the students to grasp so I think after this week they should have a better grasp. Just so you are aware, I am using these terms when describing a sentence: a sentence is one complete thought, it has both sight words and usually sound out words, it has a capital at the beginning, spaces between words, and ending mark. After winter break we will be working on making paragraphs so please help your student master writing sentences first. Our writing topic this week is what foods we like. We are also still working with story webs.
Math:
One less/one fewer. I am introducing the basic principals of take away. We are doing a fun snowman/name activity in math. And make sure to ask you child about using the activoters today during math. They loved it.
Science:
Hibernation.
Social studies:
Working with a partner.
Keep working on sight words at home. Play some fun games with your child to help them memorize the words.
Thanks,
Mr. E
Reading:
We are reading three different books this week. They are focusing on hibernation. We are learning all about hibernation as winter approaches. The students will bring home a cool interactive worksheet on Thursday that I am excited for. We are working on the comprehension skill of making connections. Ask your child what making a connection is when they are reading. They should be connecting things they read to experiences they have in real life.
Writing:
We are focusing on what makes a sentence a sentence. This has been a struggle for the students to grasp so I think after this week they should have a better grasp. Just so you are aware, I am using these terms when describing a sentence: a sentence is one complete thought, it has both sight words and usually sound out words, it has a capital at the beginning, spaces between words, and ending mark. After winter break we will be working on making paragraphs so please help your student master writing sentences first. Our writing topic this week is what foods we like. We are also still working with story webs.
Math:
One less/one fewer. I am introducing the basic principals of take away. We are doing a fun snowman/name activity in math. And make sure to ask you child about using the activoters today during math. They loved it.
Science:
Hibernation.
Social studies:
Working with a partner.
Keep working on sight words at home. Play some fun games with your child to help them memorize the words.
Thanks,
Mr. E
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
reminder
As the holiday season is upon us. I ask you to please save any boxes during the season and send them in to school. In February we will be constructing homes out of different material and will need boxes to use as the houses. Thank you.
Monday, December 3, 2012
This week
Parents/guardians,
I apologize for not getting this out by Sunday night the past couple of weeks. I will try my best to post on Sunday nights so you all know what to expect for the week. Thanks again for the classroom donations. We should have enough disinfecting wipes to get through the cold season now! Besides having the time of our lives being in wonderful community with each other, this is what is going on in room 110 this week.
Reading:
We are reading Life in an Ocean. This book is piggy backing off Animal Homes from last week. We did a great partner sorting activity today where the students sorted the animals by where they live. The kids are getting really into this unit already and are expanding their vocabularies with words like: predator, prey, shallow, hibernate and nocturnal. This is the second week I have been meeting with small reading groups. This has been great for the kids to get more attention with students at their same level. In most groups, we are learning the steps to solving words we don't know in the text. Here is the progression so you can teach it at home: sound it out, use the picture, skip it and read the sentence without the word in it.
*Last week we started the Daily 5 which has been going great. We do it from 10-11:15ish each day. It is similar to centers but the five stations never change names (only the writing task and word work task change weekly). Here is what the Daily 5 includes: read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, word work, work on writing and meet with Mr. E. We have also been given an aid that comes in the room daily from 10-11. (which is why I changed the times and no longer need parent volunteers) The students do three rounds a day so they don't do everything daily but they get to all the spots over the span of one week.
Writing:
We are learning how to write sentence (capital, spaces, ending mark). This week we are writing about things we see in the classroom. I have also started introducing story webs so students can organize their ideas before writing.
Math:
We are composing and decomposing numbers, which are essential skills (number knowledge) for adding and subtracting later in the year.
Science:
Animals. We have a class frog named Fin (Finny). They love him. All students will get the opportunity to take Fin home for a weekend or night and take care of him. Their is a journal that travels with him too.
I sent home stuff last week. The writing journals (prompt journal and "free" journal) stay home. If your child brought home a green or yellow word book please send it back to school so they can use it during writing the rest of the year.
Mr. E
I apologize for not getting this out by Sunday night the past couple of weeks. I will try my best to post on Sunday nights so you all know what to expect for the week. Thanks again for the classroom donations. We should have enough disinfecting wipes to get through the cold season now! Besides having the time of our lives being in wonderful community with each other, this is what is going on in room 110 this week.
Reading:
We are reading Life in an Ocean. This book is piggy backing off Animal Homes from last week. We did a great partner sorting activity today where the students sorted the animals by where they live. The kids are getting really into this unit already and are expanding their vocabularies with words like: predator, prey, shallow, hibernate and nocturnal. This is the second week I have been meeting with small reading groups. This has been great for the kids to get more attention with students at their same level. In most groups, we are learning the steps to solving words we don't know in the text. Here is the progression so you can teach it at home: sound it out, use the picture, skip it and read the sentence without the word in it.
*Last week we started the Daily 5 which has been going great. We do it from 10-11:15ish each day. It is similar to centers but the five stations never change names (only the writing task and word work task change weekly). Here is what the Daily 5 includes: read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, word work, work on writing and meet with Mr. E. We have also been given an aid that comes in the room daily from 10-11. (which is why I changed the times and no longer need parent volunteers) The students do three rounds a day so they don't do everything daily but they get to all the spots over the span of one week.
Writing:
We are learning how to write sentence (capital, spaces, ending mark). This week we are writing about things we see in the classroom. I have also started introducing story webs so students can organize their ideas before writing.
Math:
We are composing and decomposing numbers, which are essential skills (number knowledge) for adding and subtracting later in the year.
Science:
Animals. We have a class frog named Fin (Finny). They love him. All students will get the opportunity to take Fin home for a weekend or night and take care of him. Their is a journal that travels with him too.
I sent home stuff last week. The writing journals (prompt journal and "free" journal) stay home. If your child brought home a green or yellow word book please send it back to school so they can use it during writing the rest of the year.
Mr. E
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
The storybus visit
It was a fun time in the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story.
Thanks to Jeanette for the pictures.
Mr. E
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This week
Reading:
Your child should have brought home a paper today explaining the book we are reading this week. Please ask them about it. We are reading Animal Homes. It is a non-fiction book all about different animal homes. It is kicking off our new unit. We are focusing on animal homes for a few weeks and then after winter break we will dive into human homes with a fun mini-unit. I will be assessing the students on setting and character tomorrow.
Writing:
We are writing about things that interest us and at the end of the week the students will be introduced to a story web.
Math:
We are composing and decomposing numbers. (I apologize for spelling this wrong on the worksheet) This is a fun and important chapter! I am also sending home the chapter three packet tomorrow. We just finished chapter three and the packet is a great review. Have your child do it at their leisure. Don't return it please.
Science:
Animal homes!
Wish list:
Your child should have brought home a paper today explaining the book we are reading this week. Please ask them about it. We are reading Animal Homes. It is a non-fiction book all about different animal homes. It is kicking off our new unit. We are focusing on animal homes for a few weeks and then after winter break we will dive into human homes with a fun mini-unit. I will be assessing the students on setting and character tomorrow.
Writing:
We are writing about things that interest us and at the end of the week the students will be introduced to a story web.
Math:
We are composing and decomposing numbers. (I apologize for spelling this wrong on the worksheet) This is a fun and important chapter! I am also sending home the chapter three packet tomorrow. We just finished chapter three and the packet is a great review. Have your child do it at their leisure. Don't return it please.
Science:
Animal homes!
Wish list:
We need more paper towel. Although students are starting to only use one paper towel at a time, 28 students go through paper towels pretty fast. A stock up before winter break would be great. We could also use some more disinfectant wipes. As the cold season hits we will continue to keep the classroom as germ free as possible.
Here are a few other classroom wants not needs:
Mr. E
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The next two short weeks
Reading:
We are reading a book called Abuela. It is a book with lots of Spanish words and the kids seem to enjoy that. (especially the Spanish language students) We will read it a couple more times tomorrow and Friday and discuss the parts of a story. Here is the song we sing to help us remember the parts of the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWuGYp2YrVI The students will bring home a paper weekly that has the title, author, illustrator, setting and characters from our story of the week. Please discuss it with them.
Next week we will not be reading a specific story for the week. We will read some fun Thanksgiving books and do some Thanksgiving activities.
Over these next five days of school I will be teaching the students how to do "Daily 5" and practicing it. It is similar to centers but bit different. I will be sending something home about it soon.
Writing:
We are reading a book called I Love my Hair. It is giving us ideas about things we love about ourselves. Students will be making a book about the things they love about themselves. Still working on sounding out words (turtle talking), labeling, adding detail, capitalizing the first letter of a sentence and putting an ending mark (period) at the end of a sentence.
Next week we will be doing some fun Thanksgiving writing.
Math:
We have moved on to chapter 3 which is size. Students are learning new vocabulary like biggest, bigger than, medium sized, smallest and smaller than.
Phonics:
We are doing our "blue book" daily which is a call and response time for students to work ongoing phonics skills. This weeks letter is Oo.
Social Studies:
Thankfulness.
Next week we will be doing an ongoing project where students create a flip book that shows their world. It will start with them, then their home/neighborhood and then their community. Eventually they will add their city, state, country, and so on. It will come home complete sometime in the Spring.
Thank you for the wonderful birthday surprise and gift. It was extremely generous of you. Thanks again.
Mr. E
We are reading a book called Abuela. It is a book with lots of Spanish words and the kids seem to enjoy that. (especially the Spanish language students) We will read it a couple more times tomorrow and Friday and discuss the parts of a story. Here is the song we sing to help us remember the parts of the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWuGYp2YrVI The students will bring home a paper weekly that has the title, author, illustrator, setting and characters from our story of the week. Please discuss it with them.
Next week we will not be reading a specific story for the week. We will read some fun Thanksgiving books and do some Thanksgiving activities.
Over these next five days of school I will be teaching the students how to do "Daily 5" and practicing it. It is similar to centers but bit different. I will be sending something home about it soon.
Writing:
We are reading a book called I Love my Hair. It is giving us ideas about things we love about ourselves. Students will be making a book about the things they love about themselves. Still working on sounding out words (turtle talking), labeling, adding detail, capitalizing the first letter of a sentence and putting an ending mark (period) at the end of a sentence.
Next week we will be doing some fun Thanksgiving writing.
Math:
We have moved on to chapter 3 which is size. Students are learning new vocabulary like biggest, bigger than, medium sized, smallest and smaller than.
Phonics:
We are doing our "blue book" daily which is a call and response time for students to work ongoing phonics skills. This weeks letter is Oo.
Social Studies:
Thankfulness.
Next week we will be doing an ongoing project where students create a flip book that shows their world. It will start with them, then their home/neighborhood and then their community. Eventually they will add their city, state, country, and so on. It will come home complete sometime in the Spring.
Thank you for the wonderful birthday surprise and gift. It was extremely generous of you. Thanks again.
Mr. E
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Nov. 5 - Nov. 9
Here is what is up for the week.
Reading:
We are reading If You Could Go To Antarctica. We will be reviewing and learning the parts of a story. We have a fun video/song to remember the parts. See if your child can sing it. The parts of a story we are reviewing are the author and illustrator (and what they do) and I will be introducing characters and setting. Tomorrow your child should be bringing home a "Parts of a story" worksheet about this week's book. This will be a weekly worksheet that they will bring home on Mondays. Please use the sheet as a talking tool when asking your child about school and review the parts of a story with them weekly/daily.
This week I am introducing the Daily 5 to the students. It is a daily activity that we do each morning that will replace "center" time. I will be sending material home about the "Daily 5" around Thanksgiving.
Writing:
We are writing about shapes and learning what good writers do. The kids will also be bringing home a book they wrote about them as a super hero with super senses (these should be great!) This will close our study of the 5 senses.
Math:
Finishing up numbers to 10 and giving the students an assessment to see how much they learned during the first quarter of math. They will also be bringing home their math books that we are finished with. Please go through your child's book with them and discuss some of the things we have been learning. If there are any unfinished problems in the book please have your child finish. Keep the book at home. DO NOT RETURN IT. We are having fun with shapes this week too. Introducing antonyms.
Social Studies:
Discussing our theme of classroom community. Learning about different feelings.
Science:
Finishing up the 5 senses.
Remember that Friday is a half-day and dismissal is at 11:15. Plan accordingly.
Sign-up for parent teacher conferences on November 13th using the google document that Sarah made. See you next Tuesday.
Mr. E
Reading:
We are reading If You Could Go To Antarctica. We will be reviewing and learning the parts of a story. We have a fun video/song to remember the parts. See if your child can sing it. The parts of a story we are reviewing are the author and illustrator (and what they do) and I will be introducing characters and setting. Tomorrow your child should be bringing home a "Parts of a story" worksheet about this week's book. This will be a weekly worksheet that they will bring home on Mondays. Please use the sheet as a talking tool when asking your child about school and review the parts of a story with them weekly/daily.
This week I am introducing the Daily 5 to the students. It is a daily activity that we do each morning that will replace "center" time. I will be sending material home about the "Daily 5" around Thanksgiving.
Writing:
We are writing about shapes and learning what good writers do. The kids will also be bringing home a book they wrote about them as a super hero with super senses (these should be great!) This will close our study of the 5 senses.
Math:
Finishing up numbers to 10 and giving the students an assessment to see how much they learned during the first quarter of math. They will also be bringing home their math books that we are finished with. Please go through your child's book with them and discuss some of the things we have been learning. If there are any unfinished problems in the book please have your child finish. Keep the book at home. DO NOT RETURN IT. We are having fun with shapes this week too. Introducing antonyms.
Social Studies:
Discussing our theme of classroom community. Learning about different feelings.
Science:
Finishing up the 5 senses.
Remember that Friday is a half-day and dismissal is at 11:15. Plan accordingly.
Sign-up for parent teacher conferences on November 13th using the google document that Sarah made. See you next Tuesday.
Mr. E
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Parent Conference Sign-Up Sheet
Tues 11/13 Mr Edwards will be holding parent-teacher conferences. Each conference should not last longer than 10 minutes. Please click on the link below to sign up. Enter your child's name in an available time slot that best suits you. Appointments will be made on a first come-first served basis.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Just a check-in
Parents and guardians,
Just wanted to clarify some things.
Homework:
Please do the homework on the calendar, DAILY. Do some sort of sight word memorization/practice daily as well. Have your child spend time on Raz-kids and IXL a few times a week. Do the assigned phonics pages throughout the week they are assigned. Other things that are sent home (handwriting book, math packet, other extra stuff) should be done as needed (if your child has time).
Here are some pics from the week of pumpkin carving and Halloween party.
Just wanted to clarify some things.
Homework:
Please do the homework on the calendar, DAILY. Do some sort of sight word memorization/practice daily as well. Have your child spend time on Raz-kids and IXL a few times a week. Do the assigned phonics pages throughout the week they are assigned. Other things that are sent home (handwriting book, math packet, other extra stuff) should be done as needed (if your child has time).
Here are some pics from the week of pumpkin carving and Halloween party.
Monday, October 29, 2012
October 29-November 2
Reading
We are reading a book called On The Move. It is a book about how people use different types of transportation in different parts of the world. Please continue to review author and illustrator with your child. We learned a little jingle that goes like this: "Hey have you heard, the author writes the words. And the illustrator, can draw and alligator."
Writing
We are continuing to label our pictures as we write about things that are a certain color. Encourage your writer to label their pictures at home to add detail.
Math
Number 8-10. Hopefully we can finish chapter two but with Halloween activities we may not.
Social Studies
Bucket filling
Science
Pumpkin fun and the five senses.
Please get your student on the IXL and Raz-kids web sites as often as possible. See me for passwords/usernames.
Mr. E
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Mid-week report
We had a fun day in kindergarten today. We went outside and did some messenger games, students received a message from a peer and we did a play involving seven bees. I had a blast so I hope the kids did. Ask them about it.
Wish List
We could use a set of these. http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CproductSubCat~~p%7C2534374302330429~~f%7C/Assortments/Lakeshore/ShopByCategory/music/classroomequipment.jsp
Some kid magazines (you could just google kid magazines)
Thanks,
Mr. E
Wish List
We could use a set of these. http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CproductSubCat~~p%7C2534374302330429~~f%7C/Assortments/Lakeshore/ShopByCategory/music/classroomequipment.jsp
Some kid magazines (you could just google kid magazines)
Thanks,
Mr. E
Monday, October 22, 2012
October 22-26
Reading
We are reading Messenger, Messenger. A book about a community helper (messenger) that bikes around NYC delivering things. We are discussing community helpers more this week and we will be going on a community helper field trip on Thursday (to the fire station and bakery). We are also having a police officer come to talk to the kids on Thursday.
Writing
We are learning about labeling our illustrations. We read a book all about signs and students put signs up all over the room. Students should start labeling their illustrations with with letters or entire words.
Math
We are reviewing numbers 6 and 7 this week.
Social Studies
Being a bucket filler (not a bucket dipper) and community helpers.
Mr. E
We are reading Messenger, Messenger. A book about a community helper (messenger) that bikes around NYC delivering things. We are discussing community helpers more this week and we will be going on a community helper field trip on Thursday (to the fire station and bakery). We are also having a police officer come to talk to the kids on Thursday.
Writing
We are learning about labeling our illustrations. We read a book all about signs and students put signs up all over the room. Students should start labeling their illustrations with with letters or entire words.
Math
We are reviewing numbers 6 and 7 this week.
Social Studies
Being a bucket filler (not a bucket dipper) and community helpers.
Mr. E
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A couple things
Here is some clarification of what to do with student papers that come home.
Students bring papers home that they do in centers. This work is not graded and is sometimes incomplete. Students should finish the work at home but the work SHOULD NOT be returned. When this work is brought home please ask your child about it. This will help with the school to home connection and conversation. Also, sometimes I will send home extra work that I planned on doing in school but didn't get to it. This work can be done if your child needs extra work or just wants to do it. Please DO NOT RETURN this work either. Friday or Monday I will be sending home two math packets. The packets are "enrichment" work that correspond with the math chapter we are in. These packets will help the students a lot and help you as parents/guardians know what we are studying in math. Please DO NOT RETURN these packets. The reason I am sending two home is because we have finished chapter one and are now on chapter two. From here on out, they will come home when we start a new chapter.
Thanks,
Mr. E
Students bring papers home that they do in centers. This work is not graded and is sometimes incomplete. Students should finish the work at home but the work SHOULD NOT be returned. When this work is brought home please ask your child about it. This will help with the school to home connection and conversation. Also, sometimes I will send home extra work that I planned on doing in school but didn't get to it. This work can be done if your child needs extra work or just wants to do it. Please DO NOT RETURN this work either. Friday or Monday I will be sending home two math packets. The packets are "enrichment" work that correspond with the math chapter we are in. These packets will help the students a lot and help you as parents/guardians know what we are studying in math. Please DO NOT RETURN these packets. The reason I am sending two home is because we have finished chapter one and are now on chapter two. From here on out, they will come home when we start a new chapter.
Thanks,
Mr. E
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Progress reports and more
So, the progress reports are done and will be sent home tomorrow. This marks the half way mark of quarter number one. Here is some stuff you should know about the progress reports.
1) They are pink! Can't miss it.
2) The letters/grades on the progress report are based on where your child should be AT THE END OF KINDERGARTEN not at the end of the quarter or currently. (Example: Students doing well and right on track in math will have a N (not yet developed) for a grade. This means they are not YET at a "end of kindergarten" level. However, if they keep learning with the curriculum, they should be a W by the end of the year.) Please comment if confused by this.
3) The letters are your students progress. We are only 25 days into school so please don't look so much into the letter/grade but instead focus on my comments.
4) An N/P or P/W means "somewhere in between".
5) You will see a P for a homework grade. I apologize for not asking for homework binders earlier so I could give a more accurate grade. Before next progress reports, I will ask for your student to bring in their homework binder so that I can check it. Keep up the good work on homework!
6) Return the progress report signed please.
As for other things...
Sight words should be MEMORIZED. This is why they are sight words, they can't be sounded out but they need to be known by memory. (flashcards are a great way to do it and can be used for fun games)
Your child's monthly reading log (on the back of binder) should be turned in at the end of each month with at least 20 books read or read to them) They will receive a prize!
We started a process in our classroom this week called "bucket filling". It is a fun way for students to learn/practice kindness towards others. They each have a "bucket" in the room and when they "fill someone's bucket" (do something kind that makes someone else feel good) they are rewarded with me filling their real bucket. When they get to ten they get a prize. Have them explain it, it will make more sense. Here is a website about it http://www.bucketfillers101.com/have-you-filled-a-bucket-today.php. Also, I have heard of a couple students that have taken this idea and started bucket filling in their home. Awesome idea! Anything you can do to help your child "make connections" is great. Learning is all about "making connections"!
Signing off for the night. Go be a bucket filler!
Mr. E
1) They are pink! Can't miss it.
2) The letters/grades on the progress report are based on where your child should be AT THE END OF KINDERGARTEN not at the end of the quarter or currently. (Example: Students doing well and right on track in math will have a N (not yet developed) for a grade. This means they are not YET at a "end of kindergarten" level. However, if they keep learning with the curriculum, they should be a W by the end of the year.) Please comment if confused by this.
3) The letters are your students progress. We are only 25 days into school so please don't look so much into the letter/grade but instead focus on my comments.
4) An N/P or P/W means "somewhere in between".
5) You will see a P for a homework grade. I apologize for not asking for homework binders earlier so I could give a more accurate grade. Before next progress reports, I will ask for your student to bring in their homework binder so that I can check it. Keep up the good work on homework!
6) Return the progress report signed please.
As for other things...
Sight words should be MEMORIZED. This is why they are sight words, they can't be sounded out but they need to be known by memory. (flashcards are a great way to do it and can be used for fun games)
Your child's monthly reading log (on the back of binder) should be turned in at the end of each month with at least 20 books read or read to them) They will receive a prize!
We started a process in our classroom this week called "bucket filling". It is a fun way for students to learn/practice kindness towards others. They each have a "bucket" in the room and when they "fill someone's bucket" (do something kind that makes someone else feel good) they are rewarded with me filling their real bucket. When they get to ten they get a prize. Have them explain it, it will make more sense. Here is a website about it http://www.bucketfillers101.com/have-you-filled-a-bucket-today.php. Also, I have heard of a couple students that have taken this idea and started bucket filling in their home. Awesome idea! Anything you can do to help your child "make connections" is great. Learning is all about "making connections"!
Signing off for the night. Go be a bucket filler!
Mr. E
Sunday, October 14, 2012
October 15th week
Here is what we are up to this week in room 110.
Reading: We are reading the book Plaidypus Lost. It is a story about a stuffed platypus that is sewed together with plaid fabric that keeps getting lost throughout the story. We will be focusing on reading with purpose (Why are we reading this book?) and understanding. The purpose is to get your child to start thinking about their thinking (meta cognition). I want them to not just know answers to things but know how and why. So please ask these questions at home when reading or doing homework.
Writing: This week we will focus on sharing with a partner. Students will be given writing partners that they will share with over the next few weeks. They will be asked to think of ideas with their new partners and share their writings/ideas with partners. Learning to share in partners is apart of our overall classroom community building. The students will also be receiving new journals that will be kept at school and be their free writing journals. They will be encouraged to be creative and write/draw whatever they want in these journals. This week I will also be introducing how students should correctly use lined writing paper. Just so you can be on board and know the vocabulary I use when teaching this, I use the idea of a man standing on the line. The top solid line is the man's "head", the middle dotted line is the man's "belly", and the bottom line is the man's "feet". Ask your child about it on Thursday for an explanation if confusing.
Math: In math we will continue to review numbers up to ten. We will also continue to play the "magic number game". Ask your child how to play. It is a big hit. We are going to have fun with patterns too!
Social Studies: We are continuing to work on being a classroom community and how to be "caring friends" to one another. I will be introducing a new "behavior system" and we will not be doing the kindness hearts anymore. The new "system" is not really a system but more of an idea. Students will learn about "Filling theirs and others buckets". The idea is that we all have a bucket and our bucket can be filled by others or ourselves through kind acts we do or or have done to us. They will also learn that you can take from others bucket when you are unkind to others. Also, we will still be talking about community helpers.
Science: We will be studying fabrics and talking about our senses. We will, hopefully, get to do a fun pumpkin activity too.
There is a look at the week.
Wish List:
-paper towels (I know the year just started, but when the students realized they could use the washroom whenever they needed to, we went through a roll a day. The amazement of using the washroom has slowly dwindled and so too should our paper towel use.)
-magnetic letter (the colorful fridge ones)
-books (listening books, TAG books, any good/fun books that students will like, non-fiction books)
Sorry so long, thanks for making it through.
Mr. E
Reading: We are reading the book Plaidypus Lost. It is a story about a stuffed platypus that is sewed together with plaid fabric that keeps getting lost throughout the story. We will be focusing on reading with purpose (Why are we reading this book?) and understanding. The purpose is to get your child to start thinking about their thinking (meta cognition). I want them to not just know answers to things but know how and why. So please ask these questions at home when reading or doing homework.
Writing: This week we will focus on sharing with a partner. Students will be given writing partners that they will share with over the next few weeks. They will be asked to think of ideas with their new partners and share their writings/ideas with partners. Learning to share in partners is apart of our overall classroom community building. The students will also be receiving new journals that will be kept at school and be their free writing journals. They will be encouraged to be creative and write/draw whatever they want in these journals. This week I will also be introducing how students should correctly use lined writing paper. Just so you can be on board and know the vocabulary I use when teaching this, I use the idea of a man standing on the line. The top solid line is the man's "head", the middle dotted line is the man's "belly", and the bottom line is the man's "feet". Ask your child about it on Thursday for an explanation if confusing.
Math: In math we will continue to review numbers up to ten. We will also continue to play the "magic number game". Ask your child how to play. It is a big hit. We are going to have fun with patterns too!
Social Studies: We are continuing to work on being a classroom community and how to be "caring friends" to one another. I will be introducing a new "behavior system" and we will not be doing the kindness hearts anymore. The new "system" is not really a system but more of an idea. Students will learn about "Filling theirs and others buckets". The idea is that we all have a bucket and our bucket can be filled by others or ourselves through kind acts we do or or have done to us. They will also learn that you can take from others bucket when you are unkind to others. Also, we will still be talking about community helpers.
Science: We will be studying fabrics and talking about our senses. We will, hopefully, get to do a fun pumpkin activity too.
There is a look at the week.
Wish List:
-paper towels (I know the year just started, but when the students realized they could use the washroom whenever they needed to, we went through a roll a day. The amazement of using the washroom has slowly dwindled and so too should our paper towel use.)
-magnetic letter (the colorful fridge ones)
-books (listening books, TAG books, any good/fun books that students will like, non-fiction books)
Sorry so long, thanks for making it through.
Mr. E
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Field trip week
Hello everyone,
Please excuse my tardiness on posting this week. I was out of the state for a few days. Anyways, this is what is up for this week.
We are reading Ms. Bindergarten goes on a Field Trip with Kindergarten. This story focuses a lot on community places and workers, so we will be talking about that a lot. We are learning about rhyming too.
For phonics we are focusing on Ss, Cc and still practicing our letter names and sounds.
For math we are reviewing numbers 1-5 and continuing to discuss 'same' and 'different'.
For writing we are working on adding more in our journal and also writing about our field trip coming up.
For social studies we are and will continue to focus on community helpers.
Announcements:
I sent home folders today should help with communication and getting papers where they need to be. The folders should stay in your child's backpack each day so they can get papers home safely and to me safely. Please go over the process with your child about taking papers out of their folder that are for me and putting them in my mailbox at school. Also, because we now have these folders, your child DOES NOT need to bring their homework BINDER to and from school anymore. (unless they do their homework at JCC after school) I WILL BE checking the folders quarterly before progress reports come out but I will communicate when that will be. CONTINUE TO DO THE HOMEWORK ON THE HOMEWORK SCHEDULE.
That brings me to my next point.
So far this year I have sent home handwriting workbooks (pink) and phonics workbooks (purple). Please continue to have your child work in these periodically or daily. These are theirs to keep when they finish. Soon I will be sending home math packets. These packets are enrichment for what we are doing in the classroom. They go over the same problems and use the same vocabulary. Please work with your child on these because they may need help reading/understanding and MORE IMPORTANTLY so you can be knowledgeable about what we are learning in kindergarten math. Please have your child reading on Raz-kids and spending time on IXL to supplement pencil and paper work.
Great job on the Family projects! they were great and make our room look awesome! Can't wait to see the family trees.
Field Trip Friday
We are going to the pumpkin farm on Friday! All parents are invited to come as chaperones. I have already informed the five chaperones that are paid for already. If you didn't hear from me about coming for free then bring money to pay when we get there. I will send out an email tomorrow morning about when we are leaving. Please have your child dress warm because the high is 55 with no rain.
Remember: HALF DAY TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY)! DISMISSAL IS AT 11:15. JCC aftercare is provided until 2:45. Students can eat in the classroom from 10:45-11:15 (school lunch provided for same price as always)
Alright, that is enough.
Mr. E
Please excuse my tardiness on posting this week. I was out of the state for a few days. Anyways, this is what is up for this week.
We are reading Ms. Bindergarten goes on a Field Trip with Kindergarten. This story focuses a lot on community places and workers, so we will be talking about that a lot. We are learning about rhyming too.
For phonics we are focusing on Ss, Cc and still practicing our letter names and sounds.
For math we are reviewing numbers 1-5 and continuing to discuss 'same' and 'different'.
For writing we are working on adding more in our journal and also writing about our field trip coming up.
For social studies we are and will continue to focus on community helpers.
Announcements:
I sent home folders today should help with communication and getting papers where they need to be. The folders should stay in your child's backpack each day so they can get papers home safely and to me safely. Please go over the process with your child about taking papers out of their folder that are for me and putting them in my mailbox at school. Also, because we now have these folders, your child DOES NOT need to bring their homework BINDER to and from school anymore. (unless they do their homework at JCC after school) I WILL BE checking the folders quarterly before progress reports come out but I will communicate when that will be. CONTINUE TO DO THE HOMEWORK ON THE HOMEWORK SCHEDULE.
That brings me to my next point.
So far this year I have sent home handwriting workbooks (pink) and phonics workbooks (purple). Please continue to have your child work in these periodically or daily. These are theirs to keep when they finish. Soon I will be sending home math packets. These packets are enrichment for what we are doing in the classroom. They go over the same problems and use the same vocabulary. Please work with your child on these because they may need help reading/understanding and MORE IMPORTANTLY so you can be knowledgeable about what we are learning in kindergarten math. Please have your child reading on Raz-kids and spending time on IXL to supplement pencil and paper work.
Great job on the Family projects! they were great and make our room look awesome! Can't wait to see the family trees.
Field Trip Friday
We are going to the pumpkin farm on Friday! All parents are invited to come as chaperones. I have already informed the five chaperones that are paid for already. If you didn't hear from me about coming for free then bring money to pay when we get there. I will send out an email tomorrow morning about when we are leaving. Please have your child dress warm because the high is 55 with no rain.
Remember: HALF DAY TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY)! DISMISSAL IS AT 11:15. JCC aftercare is provided until 2:45. Students can eat in the classroom from 10:45-11:15 (school lunch provided for same price as always)
Alright, that is enough.
Mr. E
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Week 4
So here is what our upcoming week looks like.
We will be reading an awesome book called This is the Way we go to School. It is about how kids get to school all over the world. With this story we will be learning about movement words, ways of transportation, and geography. We will continue to work on features of a book: front, back, author, illustrator and reading left to right. The kids have been hearing a lot of stories. They hear them from me, from each other, from our TAG pens, and from our listening center. (see wish list) I have some fun centers planned for this week: sorting A and P objects, drawing ways to move, etc.
For writing this week we will be writing things we like to do in kindergarten (students main writing topic during each week is kept and made into a classroom book) as well as continuing to write in our shiny new journals.
In math we will be learning/reviewing numbers 1-4 as well as adding same and different to our "AMAZING MATH WORDS" poster and doing fun math centers.
For phonics the students will do some letter play and review letter names and sounds as well as focus on the letters Aa and Pp. (do these pages in purple phonics book)
We are starting our social studies curriculum this week too. It focuses a lot on feelings at the beginning.
P.S. The students will have a substitute on Friday and Monday. Please review the rules with them before school these days and encourage them to be good listeners/rule followers. Thanks!
Announcements
-Please get me your field trip permission slip and $20 by Thursday to confirm your child will attend the field trip October 12th. Also, the five free chaperone spots are filled but any parent may attend the trip. You will pay the adult price upon arrival so bring cash.
-As stated above, the students are loving listening to the TAG books and listening center. Donations of new books would be great so the students can stay interested in listening to new books. Please inform me if you plan on buying any of these so I can let you know what we already have. Thanks!
Mr. Edwards
We will be reading an awesome book called This is the Way we go to School. It is about how kids get to school all over the world. With this story we will be learning about movement words, ways of transportation, and geography. We will continue to work on features of a book: front, back, author, illustrator and reading left to right. The kids have been hearing a lot of stories. They hear them from me, from each other, from our TAG pens, and from our listening center. (see wish list) I have some fun centers planned for this week: sorting A and P objects, drawing ways to move, etc.
For writing this week we will be writing things we like to do in kindergarten (students main writing topic during each week is kept and made into a classroom book) as well as continuing to write in our shiny new journals.
In math we will be learning/reviewing numbers 1-4 as well as adding same and different to our "AMAZING MATH WORDS" poster and doing fun math centers.
For phonics the students will do some letter play and review letter names and sounds as well as focus on the letters Aa and Pp. (do these pages in purple phonics book)
We are starting our social studies curriculum this week too. It focuses a lot on feelings at the beginning.
P.S. The students will have a substitute on Friday and Monday. Please review the rules with them before school these days and encourage them to be good listeners/rule followers. Thanks!
Announcements
-Please get me your field trip permission slip and $20 by Thursday to confirm your child will attend the field trip October 12th. Also, the five free chaperone spots are filled but any parent may attend the trip. You will pay the adult price upon arrival so bring cash.
-As stated above, the students are loving listening to the TAG books and listening center. Donations of new books would be great so the students can stay interested in listening to new books. Please inform me if you plan on buying any of these so I can let you know what we already have. Thanks!
Mr. Edwards
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Moving forward
The first seven days of school have been great! We did a bunch of stuff like learned names, learned rules and procedures (ask your child the five steps to using the washroom or have them name the five classroom rules!!!), read books, made books, played games, learned centers (ask your child what their favorite center is), laughed and had a blast.
Next Monday, September 24th will mark the start of our curriculum for this kindergarten year. We will dive into our weekly book The Little School Bus and do lots of fun activities with that. We will start our math series and review numbers. We will start our writing block and students will get journals! For phonics we will learn about the letters M and T and the sound they make as well as start rhyming.
I am looking forward to a great week!
Mr. Edwards
Next Monday, September 24th will mark the start of our curriculum for this kindergarten year. We will dive into our weekly book The Little School Bus and do lots of fun activities with that. We will start our math series and review numbers. We will start our writing block and students will get journals! For phonics we will learn about the letters M and T and the sound they make as well as start rhyming.
I am looking forward to a great week!
Mr. Edwards
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Almost ready
The room is so close to ready. The curriculum is ready and great! And I am ready for a great new year. Can't wait for next Tuesday.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Teaching resources
http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/
http://www.carlscorner.us.com/
http://pinterest.com/all/?category=education
http://polsellikindergarten.tripod.com/
http://www.carlscorner.us.com/
http://pinterest.com/all/?category=education
http://polsellikindergarten.tripod.com/
Getting ready for a new year!
Well, it is that time of year again. As the summer draws to an end my mind/life begins to think about kindergarten again. My fellow kindergarten teacher and I have been planning out the year to a T. It looks like it is shaping up to be the best kindergarten year I have ever taught. Can't wait!
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