Learning Experiences

Today we ended our drive for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. We are looking forward to sharing all we collected with our new friends in Texas! If you didn’t send a donation and would like to you may still send something tomorrow. 

The kids helped move all the kindergarten donations to the stage to be organized and boxed.

I’m so proud of our little helpers!

Here is what we were up to this week.

Reading: It was a big week in reading- we began literacy stations as well as independent reading time with our book boxes. We have been working on following expectations for work time so the kids can work independently. We practiced the name, sound, and formation of n, and m this week and continued practicing t,b, and f. We are working hard on forming letters “the kindergarten way” and using an effective grip on our markers/crayons/pencils.

Writing: We worked on routines for writing time such as getting supplies, using our writing folders, and continuing to work even after we finish the story we are on. We also learned that writers write about things in their hearts they really care about.

Math: We touched on a variety of topics this week. We continued our work with counting and creating number collections to 7. We focused especially on the number 5 creating 5 with a variety of materials and also using a 5 frame.

Science/Social Studies: We had a visit from Mrs. Fitch to enjoy International Dot Day. We read The Dot which focuses on skills like trying when things are hard, being a problem solver, and looking a little closer to find beauty all around us. The kids got to make their own dots that Mrs. Fitch displayed in the library! We touched on a few other science and social studies topics like hurricanes and helping those effected by Hurricane Harvey.

Today we finally got to start literacy stations! The kids have been learning about each station that will help us become better readers and writers. Our stations include art, storytelling, finger play, puzzles, writing, magnets, tablets, names, words, class library, and buddy reading. Our stations and the activities within them with shift and change throughout the school year and become more challenging. After the kids can work independently in stations, I will begin teaching small group reading lessons so each child can work on the reading skills they need to progress as readers.

Today we went to our first station and practiced some of our work time expectations. 

Our expectations are:

1. Get started quickly.
2. Stay in your spot.
3. Work the whole time.
4. Let others work.
5. Use a quiet voice.
6. Problem solve or raise your hand.

Here are the children practicing getting started quickly and staying in our spots.

Mrs. Lynn (Our school nurse) got a jump on cold and flu season by visiting our class to teach us about germs, hand washing, and ways to avoid spreading germs!

We learned that germs are so tiny we cannot see them without a microscope. Some germs help us and some germs make us sick. We try to keep germs to ourself by coughing or sneezing in our elbow and washing our hands. We learned how to wash our hands and when to wash our hands.

We did a science experiment with some pretend germs that show up under a black light. The kids did their best hand washing to see if they were able to get the pretend germs off. We learned that washing our hands well will help wash away the real germs, even if we can’t see them.

Today we had our first counselor class today. We have two counselors, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Davidson. Mrs. Davidson will be teaching our counselor class. Our counselors also teach small groups of children and visit with children individually.