Despite the lack of blogging, we've had quite a busy week in Kindergarten! Here is a recap of some of our learning and fun-filled activities that we've done or will continue to work on this week.
We wrote thank you notes for adults in our school who have helped us throughout the year. We attached these notes to a gift bag full of gingerbread cookies that we made ourselves. Students then traveled around the school distributing the bags to our wonderful helpers.
Students have finished their first handwriting books for the year. We've been working on these slowly and spending time learning about how each letter is formed. We will continue to practice handwriting upon returning from winter break. We will be using a variety of tools to strenghthen our fine motor muscles. As students become more fluent in their writing, they tend to put aside their great handwriting skills they've learned. We'll continue to reinforce proper letter formation. ALL students will be expected to write in lower case letters throughout the new year.
In writing, we're working on building our stamina in writing words. As students spend more time on their writing and not just their illustrations, they have been thinking about how they can make their stories more interesting. INQUIRE with your child how they have done this in their stories this week.
During reading, your children are working on putting all their strategies together when reading their just right books. As each of them learn new strategies, they are working on remembering the ones taught prior. After break, students will be working in small guided reading groups with me. Students will be grouped by both strategy learning and text level. More about this in January...
We have all picked a "nature animal name." This 2nd identity will be used both in the classroom and while at E.C.O. Although we'll begin to learn about these particular animals this year, the meat of the learning will happen during their first grade year. Don't be surprised to hear your child calling their friend, "great horned owl!" Each student (and teacher) has their own name. INQUIRE with your child what their nature animal name is.
We will have a Kindergarten sing-along tomorrow in the big gym. Our new song is about a mole and a few other Vermont animals. Ask your child to sing it to you!
During choice time, students have been engaging in two dramatic play centers. While some children enjoy reenacting a doctors office or hospital, others are pretending to be the "teacher." It's quite amusing to hear yourself in the voice of a student! I've been enjoying listening to children read like a teacher, count like a teacher, remind students about C.A.R.E.S. and have a good time!
Again, sorry about the lack of blogging, but all of a sudden everything is catching up! I hope you all have a great holiday and enjoy the time with your families!
