Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

On Tuesday in honor of MLK Day, we read the book, Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo. We focused on Dr. King's message of fairness, acceptance, and kindness. After reading, students paired up with each other to find one way they were the same and one way they were different. Each pair shared and some of the responses included: gender, age, skin color, hair color, eye color, toys, foods... It was quite impressive how they see each other's similarities and differences. In our classroom we talk a lot about being kind in our interactions with others - when others are kind to us we feel happy and when we are kind to others we feel good about ourselves. On Wednesday we celebrated the 90th day of school with a visit from Zero the Hero. We will celebrate our 100th day on Wednesday, February 5th! Our reading focus today was on looking at the pictures to help solve unknown words in a text. We read the big book, Here Are My Hands, and students had to guess what word I covered up by the pictures clues. It is a strategy Kindergarteners often rely on heavily in their beginning reading. For the last few weeks we have been listening to the soundtrack Frozen during snack time. The children really get into singing a few of the songs. I think they may be ready to go on tour very soon!

Greatest Tuesday Ever!

Yesterday was the greatest Tuesday ever. I have been working on a writing committee with a writing consultant since the beginning of the school year to help implement Writers' Workshop in Kindergarten (it is being implemented K-5 this year). Our writing consultant taught a lesson to our class yesterday while all of the other Kindergarten teachers watched. The students were engaged during the lesson and did a great job learning something new (every word has a vowel). The great day continued during Readers' Workshop where students independently read for 15 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of partner reading. I was amazed! Our reading focus is that Kindergarteners Read in 3 Ways - by the words, by memory, and by the pictures. Students are asked to read their books in that order. To look around the classroom and witness such independence was incredible. Our day ended with Math Workshop and a new card game we call High/Low (what we called War as kids). I am super-proud to be these kids' teacher.

weather

We finally got outside yesterday for a walk! Between the cold temperatures and the icy conditions, it has been a really long time since students were able to get outside for recess. Yesterday, the sidewalks were clear enough so that students could go on a long walk. Many enjoyed it (some were disappointed they couldn't play). Hopefully, we will get outside again today. Please be sure your child has proper outdoor clothes. How many days until Spring?

Math Workshop

Yesterday I introduced a new math routine to the students called Math Workshop. It follows a similar structure to Readers' and Writers' Workshops. Most days we will begin with a short lesson and math journal entry, followed by independent practice, and ending with a share. Students seemed to LOVE it today. Choices for independent practice today were a partner game, counting a collection, and skill work folder (students will be required to complete each skill area at least once during the week). During the independent practice time, Ms. Ringer, Mrs. Phillips and I were able to conference with students and assist them in their individual learning. I thought it was powerful and students reflected that they enjoyed being able to choose who and what to work on. More to come later.

Snow

Yesterday we read the book Snow by P.D. Eastman. He is one of my favorite authors. In the book, the character wants to save a little snow. Don't be surprised if your child asks to put snow in the freezer! Stay warm.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope the new year finds you well. We had a great first day back at school today and were so happy to see one another. The children shared stories of vacation and we welcomed a new student. Today was the 77th day of school - only 23 more until our 100th day celebration. It is hard to believe we are almost to the half way mark in the school year (day 87 will be half way). With the new calendar year and 2nd half of Kindergarten comes new learning. I told students today that after long breaks from school students come back smarter and able to do many things they couldn't before. Today we added the "short date" to our message. We talked about the month, day, and year and how that translates into numbers. We will practice this skill on the morning message for the rest of the school year as well as beginning to add the date to our seat work and papers.