Learning about Thanksgiving (and more)

Hi Families,

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

What an interesting day!
First we all brainstormed what we knew about why we have Thanksgiving and how this celebration began. Few children could tell about the pilgrims, the Mayflower, the colony, and the first Thanksgiving.
(We had talked and read about this last week but children have no connection with long ago and people they don't know).
Next, I briefly talked about the pilgrims, the Mayflower etc. We went to the world rug and looked at where the pilgrims lived before they sailed to America. Then we enjoyed watching a short cartoon movie called The Origins of Thanksgiving (10 mins), which featured Charlie Brown (as one of the pilgrims). The children LOVED it and learned a lot.

Later on in the morning we watched the second half of the movie (10 mins.), and then responded to the movie by drawing and writing about it.
Here are the links to the movie in case you would like to watch it again with your child.

part 1:http://youtu.be/yRobYUSZ4do
part 2:http://youtu.be/yeAtelXK9P4

Did you know that one of the main beams on the Mayflower cracked on the way to America? Find out more interesting facts watching the movie with your child and then discuss it together.

This afternoon Ms. Brittany's third grade crew joined us to share the tall tale stories they had created. Our children were delighted and enjoyed hearing the stories. Next, each kindergartner read some of the books from his/her book box to the third grade buddies.

We also made turkey decorations but were a little rushed for time.
Here is the link to the video which shows how to make the turkey (in case your child wants to finish the turkey or make another).
http://youtu.be/JBOMwSLT2Ko

I hope you enjoy the photos of the third grade buddies reading to our crew.
If the photo is black, click on the arrow (bottom, left) it should become a very short video.
Please email and let me know if you can see these pictures.
Thanks,
Kathy

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Hi Families,
We had a great time rock climbing last week. Your children were so excited to challenge themselves. Every day we saw children grow in self-confidence. They were so proud of their accomplishments!
We will climb again in the spring. Below are pictures of the rock climbing. Enjoy!

A number of families have booked their conference time by using SignupGenius. Please be sure to choose your time. The times shown are when I will be available for your child's conference.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Hi Families,
This week we will engage in the following learning experiences:

Math

• Continue to count by tens
• Do addition story problems
• Use a large number line for addition story problems (children walk on the number line)
• Play Top It  (a game which focuses on who has more
• Play Addition Top It
• Explore patterns using the pattern block template
• Create and discuss a graph: How many people in your family?

Writing
This week we will again focus on:

•  Reading the words we are writing (as we write) so that we don't leave out word
• Leaving a three finger space between each word
• Stretching the word we want to write to hear the sounds and then writing them down
• Using the word wall to copy special words (a few high frequency words that are used in writing)
• Adding to our writing
• Reading our writing to the crew (if we can read what we wrote)

We continue to say, act out, read lots of rhymes and some songs.

Reading

We are learning lots of phonics games, and reading from our book boxes every day. Children meet with me in small reading groups according to what they can do and what their next learning step will be. We continue to say, act out, read lots of rhymes and some songs.

Expedition

Every day we learn about more families in our crew.  Children really enjoy our Mystery Family activity. We are also talking and writing about what chores we do at home. This week we will brainstorm all the chores we have in our classroom and create a chore chart so that everyone has a crew chore.

This week writing is connected with our expedition content. We are discussing how we are crew at home. How we all have chores and help out. Every child wrote about what he does to help you at home. We will make this into a book soon.
If you can volunteer to come in and help type up pages for our crew chores book, please email me. This type of project is very time consuming but well worth the effort.


Climbing in the Gym
What an exciting week. We are climbing in the gym during the P.E. time. Last week a number of children were rather nervous about climbing. On Monday I watched a few children be very cautious about attempting to climb. Today every child felt more confident and it was so wonderful to see children decide to challenge themselves (this was initiated by the child by watching peers and independently wanting to do more). 
Enjoy the photos of our budding mountaineers!

Checking harnesses 

Engaged in climbing

Ms. Lisa supports children when they attempt the slack line

Sydney climbing up the wall

Phoebe makes it to the top of the wall

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Hi Families,
Today we graphed our favorite colors and talked about most and least. Most children liked green.
We did lots of reading, both alone, with a buddy, and we listened to If Anything Ever Goes Wrong at the Zoo. When we counted the characters in the story we realized that if we did reader's theater with this story everyone would have a part!

After solitude I started to read the first book in the Magic Tree House series. The children were very excited and really enjoyed listening.

The children have decorated cans (I collected over 25 during the summer and school) and each received a brand new box of markers to go in the cans. So exciting!!!

We now have lots of budding artists.

Henry is so proud of his art work!

Tessa loves bright colors!

Savanna's art is so detailed!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hi Families,
Today our Reader's Theater used the book, I Looked Through My Window. Now everyone has acted and all the children are eager to do more. As well as being lots of fun, this is a great way to introduce what characters are in a story. We look forward to many presentations.

VERY IMPORTANT EVENT - PLEASE PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW

On the evening of December 8, at 6 p.m. we will enjoy our Kindergarten Sharing Evening. The purpose of the evening is to share with you what we have been doing during our expedition time and also for you to see and celebrate all the progress your child has made at school this year. Family members are welcome.


COLD CHILDREN!
Every day we go outside multiple times. Physical activity outside is fun, a great time to socialize with friends, and wakes up our brains. We ALL go outside together. A number of children are coming to school with thin jackets or even no jacket. Please support your child in bringing warm clothing to school.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Hi Families,
Today we enjoyed another Reader's Theater. We read and identified the characters in a story called Gloves. This is a similar story to The Mitten, which we read yesterday. Children volunteered to be the characters and then we performed the Reader's Theater. Today the characters had speaking parts. The children LOVED this interactive reading activity!

Look at these wonderful notes to me which students wrote and attached to their name cards. They are so excited to share their writing with each other!

Reese said, "I want to share my book." This is an example of developmental spelling. She has so many sounds in the writing. You can see how vowels are more challenging and take longer for children to use correctly. This is great writing for this time in the year!

Logan said, "I want to share my writing."

It is so exciting to see that children see themselves as writers and are proud of what they do!

Thank goodness we don't expect children to spell all the words correctly at this age. We celebrate all the learning they do every day.

Adin keeps his message short and direct, "Read it."

Do you have markers and paper in your home ready for your budding writer? Keep these out where your child can easily reach for the paper and create. Children see themselves as successful writers when we encourage and praise their efforts. Let those words be approximations instead of "correct spelling." That will come in time.

This Week

Hi Families,
This week we will engage in the following learning experiences:
Math
explore weight
continue to count by tens
do addition story problems
create geometric shapes out of craft sticks
explore the differences between rectangles, squares, and triangles
use geoboards
practice number formation

Writing
Our crew LOVES to write!
This week we are focusing on:

•  reading the words we are writing (as we write) so that we don't leave out words
• leaving a three finger space between each word
• stretching the word we want to write to hear the sounds and then writing them down
• using the word wall to copy special words (a few high frequency words that are used in writing)
• adding to our writing
• reading our writing to the crew (if we can read what we wrote)

Reading

We are enjoying Reader's Theater. Right now we identify the characters in the story, children volunteer to be the characters, and as Ms. Kathy reads the story children act it out. As the year progresses children will start to be narrators for our Reader's Theater.

We are learning new sight words in reading and writing. 

went and was are our newest words

Children meet with me in small reading groups according to what they can do and what their next learning step will be.

We continue to say, act out, read lots of rhymes and some songs.

Expedition

We are learning about the families in our crew, discussing types of families, what families like to do etc. Children really enjoy our Mystery Family activity.

NEXT WEEK

Next week we are scheduled to climb in the gym.

Could you please email me and tell me what days you are volunteering?

I know you probably signed up on SignupGenius, but if you could email me also I would really appreciate it.

BOOK FAIR is next week.

It is always a chance to see and possibly purchase great children's books.

Please see the school website for more info.


Kathy