In Writer’s Workshop, the class has started to learn about writing 3-page stories. Last week, Room #7 worked together to create a story about our trip to Smolak Farms! To begin our writing experience, we wrote a one-page story – We went to Smolak Farms! But, after a discussion about how authors use more than one page to tell their stories, the class and I decided it was time to stretch our stories over several pages. This was accomplished by the boys and girls verbally telling the story, with my guidance, and then stretching out their verbalizations over 3 pages.
Page One: We got on a bus and drove to Smolak Farms.
Page Two: Then, we went on a hay ride! We ate a snack in the barn and later had lunch!
Page Three: Next, we picked pumpkins, saw animals, and played on the structure! Finally, we took the bus home. It was so much fun!
I modeled touching each page as we verbally told the story so that the cherubs could gain practice first tactically, picturing it in their minds, and then actually writing the story. This is difficult work! I’m impressed with how many students are experimenting with this tricky skill! We will continue creating 3-page stories to increase their ability in storytelling – using details and breaking the story apart into a beginning, middle, and end! Try telling stories together at home for fun!
We’ve been listening to rhymes in our classroom. Your child may have mentioned the songs we’ve been singing and the poetry we’ve been reciting together. They’ve been enjoying rhymes and songs, which have helped the cherubs listen to the sounds of language, especially rhyming words. And, as they notice rhyming words, they begin to learn how words work, such as: Some words have end parts that sound alike – they rhyme. Hearing these sounds helps the children realize that words are made up of sounds and assists them in distinguishing individual sounds so they understand that letters and sounds are related.
We’re having fun with songs and poems, and the children can hear the rhymes. In fact, sometimes they can even predict what the rhyme will be. Eventually, they will hear individual sounds and will be able to connect them to letters.
In Reader’s Workshop, the boys and girls learned about a new center: Buddy Reading! As a group, we discussed the expected behaviors to use when participating at this center. We will begin this fun activity next week!
During Math this week, our stations focused on strengthening the kids’ one-to-one correspondence, counting to twelve (and higher as a challenge!), writing numerals, and identifying pattern blocks. There was a good mix of “oldies but goodies” as well as some new stations.
- Spin and Sort Pattern Blocks – Given a spinner with the following options: 3 sides, 4 sides, and 6 sides, the students sorted the shapes on their sorting mat. In this activity, everyone had to identify which shapes had that many sides. They also received continued practice naming the various shapes.
- One More Bingo – This Bingo-esque game required students to roll a die and then figure out what one more was than the number on their die. For example, if a student rolled a 6, one more is 7!
- Build a City – This partner activity had students building towers depending on the roll of the die. When their game was over, they had built a “city” of skyscraper towers! This week, the cherubs had an extra challenge. They connected all their towers, counted and decided which one had more cubes and which had less. They compared the 2 towers by laying them next to each other and comparing which one was more or less and by how many using their buddy line strategy!
- Fill the Cup – In this new partner game, the mathematicians picked a cup they wanted to work with: big or medium. Next, taking turns, each cherub rolled a die and filled the cup with that many cubes. The partners continued until one of the cups was filled up to the top! Next, each person connected his/her cubes to make two individual trains. Finally, after lining the trains up, side by side, the partners used buddy lines to determine which train was longer and by how much! Terrific job, boys and girls!
- Grab a Handful - Given a bag of cubes, the students grabbed a handful. They then counted how many they acquired and finally, wrote down the corresponding number! I put in more cubes this week so that the students received practice counting larger numbers!
- Shape Puzzles – Using various paper puzzle pieces, the children counted how many Unifex cubes could fit on each. They then “labeled” each shape with the corresponding number! Great job practicing your counting skills, Kindergarteners!
The kiddos loved the leaf print workshop that we are doing in the afternoons! The corresponding works of art are unique and lovely for fall!
On Friday afternoon, the boys and girls went on their first Big Backyard walk to look for signs of fall. They were awesome scientists and found so
much: red maple leaves, brown oak leaves, berries, evergreen trees, and even some special discoveries – turkeys!! It was an eventful and fun afternoon. Thank you very much to all the volunteers who were able to come in and lead the walk. It is SO appreciated :)!