Posted by jstutz1 | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on March 5, 2017
February 27 – March 3
Popcorn words: about, home, went.
Math: This week we worked with partners to help build partners that make up 10. We continued to practice making Math mountains. The Kindergarteners are also beginning to explore 2-D and 3-D shapes. Noticing the difference between these two kinds of dimensional shapes. We are continuing our practice of adding and subtracting as well. We are really becoming amazing Math magicians!!
Reader’s Workshop: This week we started a new Unit: Nonfiction Reading. We have learned that Non-Fiction books are not fake…they are about real topics. They are books that teach us something that we want to know more about. We have explored the many features that we see in a Non-fiction book. Labels, diagrams, pictures, table of contents, highlighted words, etc. This week we dove into learning about Chickens and all of the Kindergarteners added a Non-fiction book to their book boxes. Including their own All About Chickens Non-fiction book. The Kindergarteners have LOVED looking at our variety of Non-fiction books in our classroom!! We also introduced “Iggy the Iguana” as another strategy to predict what we are reading. Iggy reminds us to make inferences, predictions of what will happen next in a story.
Shape Go Map: The Kindergarteners have begun learning about digging deeper into their comprehension of a book. We have started by exploring Fairy Tales with our non-fiction genre. Helping the kindergarteners explore the difference between the two genres. This week we started the fairytale of The Little Red Hen. The kinders were able to distinguish easily between what was real and what was not real. The Kindergarteners each have a copy now of The Little Red Hen story and their nonfiction book All About Chickens in their book boxes to read during our read to self time. Our Shape Go Map teaches the Kindergarteners how to recognize the setting of a story, characters, telling the story and also discovering if there is a problem (none of the hens friends would help) and a solution (we decided it would be nice to share anyway with our friends) in the story. The Kindergarteners explored this map by practicing a retell with partners using a storyboard and character pieces. They will continue to practice this “Shape Go Map” comprehension more throughout the month.
Writer’s Workshop: We have started working on Informational writing this week. As informational writers we are creating writing pieces that teach someone about a topic. The Kindergarteners noticed that this kind of writing reminded them of How-To writing. While it is similar they are different types of writing because with informational writing we are giving information on a topic not teaching someone how to do something. We have started writing our first writing piece on the topic of Chickens. We have drawn and labeled a chicken picture, started our “can, have, are” chart. We will continue working on our informational writing next week. It has been very fun to use Non-fiction books on chickens and educational videos to learn more about chickens to help us with our writing.
Dr. Seuss Fun: Oh what fun was had when we explored the beloved author Dr. Seuss! We explored 10 Apples On Top, by building partners of 10. Also, exploring Oh The Places You’ll Go we made our own hot air ballon craft with where we would go. Then, exploring Bartholomew and the Oobleck we experimented with our own Oobleck to see if objects would sink or float. We had fun with our Green Eggs and Ham inspired snack. We will continue to celebrate Dr. Seuss this month, also knows as “Reading Month!”
Star Student: Our next round of star student activities will start next week. Be sure to be on the lookout for this information coming home soon for your Kindergartener over the next month.
Conferences: Our Spring Conferences will be held Monday, March 13 – Wednesday, March 15 from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Conference time reminders were sent home with your child. Please let me know if you will not be able to attend conferences or if you have a conflict so that we can reschedule. I can’t wait to share your Kindergartener’s progress with you!! They are AMAZING!!!
CALLING ALL MYSTERY READERS: If you would like to be a Mystery Reader this month, during “reading month” please email me at jstutz1@hpseagles.net to arrange a date and time. I would LOVE to schedule as many readers as we can this month.
Upcoming Dates:
- Monday, March 6…Music, Bring Take Home Book
- Tuesday, March 7…Art, Library, Bring Library Book
- Wednesday, March 8…Steam, Bring Take Home Book, Homework Due
- Thursday, March 9…Gym, Bring Take Home Book
- Friday, March 10…Music, Early Dismissal – 12:15
- Monday, March 13…Our class visits Book Fair to “Preview” books and make our wish list, PT Conferences 4-8 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 14…PT Conferences 4-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 15…PT Conferences 4-8 p.m.
- Thursday, March 16…Our class’ turn to buy books at the book fair if we chose.
- Friday, March 17…St. Patrick’s Day (wear green)
- Thursday, March 30…All K P.J. Day (wear your jammies or comfies)
- Friday, March 31 – Friday, April 7…NO SCHOOL – Spring Break
