Weekly Update…

2

Posted by jstutz1 | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on September 10, 2017

9/5 – 9/8

Popcorn Words:  This week we had two popcorn words ( sight words) pop into our classroom, red and a.  We learned the red song, found red objects in our classroom, and put these words up on our word wall.  We celebrated the color red by wearing red on Friday and making Clifford the big red dog.  We have our Clifford creations hanging in our classroom.

Math:  We are learning how to become math magicians in our classroom.   We explored some of our math tools that we will be using.  Like our math trays and toolbox with math tiles in them.  We practiced using these tools and found our math tiles 1-10.  We even made the numbers by placing the number of single tiles that go with a number.  For example, we put three single tiles next to the number 3.  The kindergarteners are learning how to write the numbers in their own number books.  This week we wrote the numbers 2, around and back on a railroad track 2, 2, 2.  Then we added one more to make the number 3, around a tree, around a tree that’s the way to make a three.  Also, we worked on drawing a “scene” of 2 and 3.  The students practiced writing the number, drawing the number of objects and filling in a 10 stick of the number we are working on.

Writer’s Workshop:  During writer’s workshop time in our classroom we are learning how writer’s work.  Starting with learning how to draw a story, tell a story and listen to a story.  We practiced being peanut butter (listener) and jelly (story teller) as our friends told stories. We are working on telling our stories to friends first then we will start to work on drawing and writing over the next few weeks.  We are off to a great start in writer’s workshop.

Reader’s Workshop:  Reader’s workshop is a time in our classroom where we learn about what reader’s do.  We started this week with learning about how to treat books.  All of us agreed that we want to be a book lover not a book bully!  We learned how to hold a book and turn the pages carefully.  We learned that we need to look at every page of our books so that we don’t miss a thing!  Next week we will begin trying to build our “stamina” in looking at and reading books quietly during reader’s workshop.

Purposeful Play:  This week we explored more “stations” together.  They explored building amazing creations with legos.  Played with sand, practiced lacing objects, played with play dough and built amazing train tracks and towns with cars and trucks.  They are doing a great job during this time of playing together.  We rotate to four different stations during this time in our day.  With each child getting a chance to explore each “station.”  Near the end of our purposeful play/free choice time the Kindergarteners get to explore on their own in the stations.

Cool Tools:  This week we learned more cool tools out of our toolbox that we can use.  Each day a paper came home to explain the different tools that we learned about.  We had the most fun exploring how we can “cool down” if we get angry.  We played a game where we passed an ice cube around to show us how we can “cool down.”  It is so rewarding to see the kindergarteners use some of these tools when they are playing and interacting with each other already.

Library:  On Wednesday we got to meet Mrs. Vandenberg our school media specialist (library teacher).  She taught us all about the library.  We even got to check out our first book!!  The kindergarteners will have library every Wednesday afternoon.  They may keep this book for a whole week!!  Sometimes students keep this book in their backpack everyday so that they don’t lose track of it.  Please enjoy the book this week and return it to school on Wednesday for library day!!

Class Rules:  This week we learned about our classroom rules.  We talked about why we have rules and how important it is to follow the rules in school.  Our class rules are 1. Keep our hands and feet to ourselves.  2. Raise our hand to talk. 3. Stay in our seats. 4. Be on task.  5.  Listen and follow directions.  6.  Be nice to others.  The Kindergarteners are off to a great start!

Rainbow Chart:  This week our classroom worked together to keep our class clip on green, ready to learn.  Green is the goal, where we want to be everyday!!   We only have three colors on our new rainbow chart this year.  Green (our goal), yellow below green (reset) and then the top of our chart is blue (good choices).  This year we are going to work hard as a class to make good choices.  If individuals need to be reminded then I will ask them to reset or move their clip to yellow if needed.  The goal is to get our students to “reset” and change their behavior quickly and return to their task they are being asked to do.  If a child needs more reminders or has a hard time with resetting then more one on one attention will be given to that child to help them make the right choice.  As a class if we get a compliment from another teacher or we are doing AMAZING listening then we will get to clip up to blue.  If we are on blue at the end of the day then as a class we will earn a “superstar.”  When we have earned our first 5 superstars then we will get to have a special day (P.J. day, fort day, extra recess day, etc.).   Please reinforce to your child the importance of being ready to learn everyday.  Green is the goal!!

Turtle Time:  Friday Charlotte brought in 2 baby snapping turtles that her Grandma caught.  It was so fun for us to get a chance to see these little guys.  The Kindergarteners LOVED being able to see them (we didn’t touch them).  Thanks so much to Charlotte’s Grandma JoAnne for sharing these finds with us.  

Star Student:  This next week we will be starting to celebrate star students.  Each child will be given a date that they get to be our star student.  These papers with dates will come home in your child’s daily blue homework folder.  Each week we celebrate 5 students.  The student shares their All About Me and Favorite Things paper.  We keep this paper and will be making a class book with it.  I also use this paper to explore writing ideas with each kindergartner during writing time.  Thank you for helping your child put together this page when it comes home!!

Upcoming Events:

  • Monday, September 11…STEAM
  • Tuesday, September 12…GYM
  • Wednesday, September 13…MUSIC, LIBRARY.  First homework paper coming home.
  • Thursday, September 14…ART
  • Friday, September 15…GYM.  Wear YELLOW.  Early Release Day – Dismissal at 12:15.

I hope you all enjoy this weekend!!  It has been such a joy to get to know your kindergartener better!!  I am so lucky to love what I do!!!  Thank you for sharing your child with me!!  Please be sure to contact me with any questions at jstutz1@hpseagles.net.

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Comments (2)

Yay! Gotta love writing and reading workshop. Madison thinks it’s so great to be partnered up as peanut butter and jelly. She also was thrilled to get to see the baby snap turtles. She had another fantastic week. As we were looking at the pictures together she said, “wow, I REALLY miss school right now”. So cute!

Love it! Can’t wait for another great week of K!!!

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