A Brand New Year!

Hi kindergarten families of 2016-2017! The class and I successfully made it through our first FULL week of school together. While it's only been 7 days, they are catching on fast to all our different routines and procedures. Some of their responsibilities include the following...

In kindergarten, we are learning how to be independent. For example, when eating breakfast, lunch, and snack, your child is expected to open things by themselves. I am currently helping them get started with opening things (such as milk cartons, wrappers, water bottles), and then they finish it. As the weeks go on, they will be able to do it all on their own.

This week, we talked about our school expectation of being SAFE. The class and I discussed different ways we should be safe in the hallway, in the classroom, when we are eating, and at recess.

Here are friends being safe on the stairs. They are looking ahead, using the railing, and walking (not running). 

We have had many guided discoveries where I model how to use different materials properly and then the class tries. One of our first guided discoveries was with pattern blocks. We talked about how to use the pattern blocks safely, how to share with others, and what it looks like to clean up.

Later on in the week, we did a guided discovery with puzzles.

Everyone has had the chance to use the Smartboard for signing in to let me know they're at school and to play games. They use the magic wand pointer (sometimes kindergarten hands are too sticky or dirty for the Smartboard) and to touch it "just right" (not too hard, not too soft).

On Monday, I introduced our writing journals. The class is learning one letter a day, highlighting that letter in a poem, drawing a picture that begins with the corresponding letter, and writing the uppercase and lowercase forms.

We learned how to use markers (1 marker at a time) and share them with others at our tables.

The class is helping transform their classroom into their own. They colored name cards for our Word Wall.

We took birthday photos and finished our door decoration.

And the class has been able to have different sharing opportunities, including Celebrity of the Week (Marleigh was our first celeb this week), ABC letter bag, and Adventures with Pete the Cat.

Brayden is sharing photos from his weekend with Pete.

Next week, the class and I will be discussing what RESPONSIBILITY is and how to show it throughout the school day. We will continue to work on listening skills (whole body listening), being safe, and doing guided discoveries with more materials (scissors, markers, toys).