New Friend

Last week, we welcomed a new student named Paige to our classroom. We are happy to have another friend in kindergarten! That brings our class up to 23 kids: 11 girls and 12 boys. 

Math Stations
We started math stations last week. Small group reading and math stations help students practice skills that have been previously taught while also encouraging cooperation (students are learning to share materials) and time management (get work done in an efficient manner), 

Count and represent numbers

Continue AB patterns

Recognizing and drawing shapes

Writing and counting numbers

Reading
The class is learning how all of the pages in a book fit together (similar to pieces in a puzzle). A book can't be complete without all of the pages. We read the book Pumpkin, Pumpkin and talked about what the book was mostly about. The book's main idea was about growing pumpkins. Then I gave partners a detail from the book and discussed that details are a part of the book.  Details from the book included: the boy plants pumpkin seeds, sprouts grow from the seeds, flowers grow from the sprout, and the pumpkin grows bigger. Partners had to work together to figure out what their detail sentence said and then we worked as a class to figure out which detail goes first, second, third, etc. It was amazing to see them try to figure out what the sentence said and to use the reading strategies that have been taught to them so far (use pictures to help, pop the first letter sound, point to the words).

Our completed story!

Another skill we are learning is reading together with a buddy. If they can read the words, then they read the words aloud. If the words are too difficult, then they work on reading the story using the pictures and tell it in their own words.  

Jared and Gavan

Riley and Max

Jack and Beckett

Xavier and Elle

Liz and Cali

Taylor and Kennedy

Campbell and Lauren

Paige, Leo, and Kate

Cameron and Henry

Audrey and Mia

Andres and Dylan

I will be starting Lending Library later this month. This is where your child will be responsible for a reading folder that will have books at their appropriate reading level. They will bring it back and forth between home and school every day (similar to our take-home folder). The books they read each night will be recorded using a reading log and you'll be able to note if the books were too hard, too easy, or just right for your child. They will be able to switch out new books every day, as long as they bring their reading folders and books back to school. 

Extras
Here are a few fun candids from music.

I started Birthday Month lunch. This is where I eat lunch with kids during their appropriate birthday month. Here are the kiddos who have birthdays in October. 

I have some very exciting news to share: I recently booked a 16 day trip to Europe next summer! I am going through a travel group company called Contiki so it'll be myself and 30+ other people who are 18-35 years old. It's always been a big dream of mine to go off and explore Europe so when I saw this opportunity, I had to take it! I will be going to England, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy. 

On another sharing note, I am headed to Lambeau field this Sunday to watch my Packers take on the Detroit Lions. I am crossing my fingers that their losing streak will end and they will crush the Lions! We shall see... 

Hope everyone is well. I am looking forward to seeing you all at conferences. It'll be valuable time spent talking about how your child is doing academically and socially.