Because we are now in the month of October, we decided it was time to create our monthly self-portraits! The kids did a phenomenal job using the new medium, water-color resist. First, the kiddos used crayons to draw themselves. They paid special attention to all the details of their faces, making sure to use realistic colors. Then, they employed vivid water-color paints with which to wash their portraits. They were amazed to see that the water bubbled up and did not stick to the places where the crayon strokes were. As a result, our self-portrait wall is full of colorful renditions of your beautiful children!
On Thursday, the students learned about buddy lines. Buddy lines help the children when comparing the amount of different objects. For example, when looking at a graph, sometimes it’s difficult to tell which column has more in it. However, if one draws a line from one item to the next until one can no longer draw anymore, that person will be able to discern which has more or less, and how many more or less. To practice this skill, the students partnered up and worked with each other’s names. After lining up their names, they drew buddy lines from one letter to the other and then finally determined whose name had more letters and whose name had less. The cherubs had a blast during the activity and can’t wait to use buddy lines in their everyday lives!
Our Math stations over the next few weeks will focus on a variety of areas including counting, telling how many more, and sorting shapes! Read on to see what we did this week!
- Dump Truck Numbers – Using a work mat with a large image of a dump truck with various numbers on it, the kiddos received practice with their 1:1 correspondence and counting skills, placing the correct amount on each mat.
- Roll a Tower – At this independent station, a cherub rolled a die, built a tower with enough cubes to match the number rolled, and then placed the tower on the game board in the corresponding column. The child kept rolling the die and building towers until an entire column was filled and a number had “won”! The boys and girls got so excited to see which number ended up winning!
- Dot Bingo – At this station, students rolled a die to determine what number to focus on. Next, they put a marker on a representation of that number (e.g., picture of fingers, the numeral, the dots, OR what it looks like on a ten frame)! In this manner, the cherubs were able to notice that one can represent numbers in a variety of ways! First one with five in a row won!
- Sorting Shapes - Using a variety of different-sized triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles, the boys and girls worked hard to sort them on their shape mats!
- Finger Count Fun - At this station, students
- Roll and Build – At this new station, the boys and girls chose a work board that they thought challenged them. There was a 1-6 board and a 6-12 board. The class and I discussed how if they decided to really challenge themselves and try the higher number board, it was important that they take two dice and learn how to “count on”. For example, if they rolled a 4 and a 5, say the number 5, then count “6, 7, 8, 9”. After they built the tower of 9, they would then put the tower on the corresponding number. This was a great station to practice counting, numeral recognition, and the newest skill “counting on”!
We are investigating the idea of sentences. In class, the children are learning that sentences are made up of words that, when put together, make sense to the reader. The children are also learning that we say one word for each word we see in writing. Knowing this will help them as they read sentences in books and write their own sentences. We have been practicing this concept in whole group, and the kiddos are beginning to get it! I am encouraging the boys and girls to really use their fingers to get practice with 1:1 correspondence; this definitely comes in handy with writing and reading!
As a Kindergartener, it is important to learn how to problem solve across many areas, including writing! In Room #7, the Kindergarten writers are learning that when writers have problems and don’t know what to do, they say, “I can solve this myself.” Then, writers come up with solutions to those problems and carry on, writing, writing, writing! That way, the writers don’t waste their precious time! Ask your child if he/she is the boss of his/her own writing!
We are building stamina in Room #7! This week, the boys and girls challenged themselves to get up to 6 minutes of independent Read to Self Time. They are eager to fill up our Stamina chart and are using their strategies to do so. They are diligently working to remember that during our Reader’s Workshop time, they read the whole time quietly (in the 3 different ways – read the pictures, read the words, or read the story); they stay in one spot, and they think! It’s difficult work and they are so proud when they are successful! Ask them to show you how they read in class! Let’s keep it up, Kindergarteners! Next week, the kiddos will be able to pick their own spots in the room where they want to read so they will have even more choices and, thus, will be more accountable for their reading!
Some Miscellaneous Notes:
*Fieldtrip to Smolak Farm: Wednesday October 19th.
*Please remember to send in Library books on Wednesday so that your child can pick out a new book! Thank you!
*Thank you all for the generous classroom donations! They are much appreciated.
Have a wonderful and restful long weekend, families!