Happy Learning

I am very VERY excited to say that the class started something new and big this week: SMALL GROUP STATIONS! This is where I put students into small groups and they work at their tables on reading or math related skills. Also during this time, I meet with students for guided reading. We are really diving deep in academics now and I couldn't be more pumped! It's going to be so fun to see my students evolve as learners.

Not only do small group stations help students with their academics, but it also helps them learn time management (getting their work done in the time allotted; if they don't finish, they make it up at the end of the day), responsibility, and following directions (fully complete the station work correctly).

READING STATIONS

Writing color words

Spinning a letter and tracing it

Stamping letters

Reading and writing the sight word SEE

Listening for beginning letter sounds in a word

MATH STATIONS

Roll the shape dice and trace the shape

Seeing shapes in everyday things

Measuring with connecting cubes

Graphing data

Counting and writing numbers

 

Using pictures to represent numbers

We got to use bingo dotters to show numbers!

OTHER CLASSROOM NEWS

We've been working very hard on using our reading strategies: 1) Point to each word 2) Use pictures to help and 3) Pop the first letter sound. Red reading strategy skill cards were sent home earlier this week as well as paper books with our sight words. Your child should be able to read these books on their own (some may need guidance on unknown words). These books are perfect to practice those 3 reading strategies! Keep them in a special spot at home. Your child will continue to receive these paper books with the more sight words we learn.

We learned a few more letters this week.

We only have X, Y, and Z left for next week!

In math, we reviewed shapes and number writing. We sorted shapes by color, size, and shape.

SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS
We've been talking every day about how we can be safe, responsible, and respectful in ALL areas and times of school. We got our class photo taken for learning all of our school expectations. Our class photo is hanging up on our school Community Pond outside by the cafeteria. 

I have matrices that I put up on the Smartboard that we review daily

I make sure the language is consistent and simple for kindergarteners

Photos of our class following through on our expectations serve as great visuals to refer to!

Our first Toadally Terrific ticket got drawn for all of kindergarten and Bailey was picked from our class! Way to go Bailey!!!!!!

PAJAMA DRESS UP DAY

I loved seeing the boys and girls' pajamas yesterday! We made a class graph to see what exactly was on our pajamas.

In reading, we have class celebrations to celebrate all of the wonderful things we are learning and doing as readers. Our first celebration was yesterday and we celebrated by getting to eat suckers during our reading time! The kids loved it. 

That's all for our short week--we sure did a lot for only 3 days!!!!! I hope the kids enjoy their nice long break. Make sure to read books (whether they are reading themselves or you are reading to them) and do math homework. :)