We continue to investigate 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!
Math stations for the week:
- 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!
- Great Monster Race - This is an independent activity with a Halloween twist! Here, students had to roll dice and trace the number their dice had landed on. The students continued rolling and tracing until a particular spooky image won (e.g., a ghost, a haunted house, a witch, etc.)!
- Build a Staircase – A fan favorite! Working independently, the boys and girls of Room #7 took turns rolling a die. They then stacked cubes together to represent that number. Once they finished building their staircases (1-6), they rolled the die to disassemble them!! As a challenge, the boys and girls used number dice. In this manner, they practiced their number recognition.
- Number Puzzles – an oldie but a goodie! The kiddos concentrated on putting together a variety of puzzles. On the bottom of each puzzle were the numbers 1-10. This station had the students working both to recognize those numerals and put them in consecutive order! The pictures also helped them to check their sequencing!
- Pumpkin Seed Counting – Similar to last week’s mini ten frame book, students used star stickers to represent each number in their book. Then they received practice tracing each number!
- Sorting Colors – The children picked a tub containing differing amounts of colored squares. They sorted the squares by color, counted how many of each there were, then recorded their answers on their recording sheets.
In Science this week, the scientists investigated the idea of what is living and what is not living. Using their scientist eyes, we observed a green pumpkin and tried to determine if it was alive. They also were introduced to ladybug larvae! The boys and girls of Room #7 determined the insects were definitely living because they were moving all around. Moreover, they each wrote/draw one thing they know about ladybugs. Over the next 22 days, we will observe these creatures and learn more about their life cycle!
For the last two weeks, the Room #7 boys and girls have been chatting about what it means to be flexible! We coined a new term in our class, “going with the flow!” Have the cherubs show you the sign :)! With Mrs. Coker’s help, everyone discovered that they have a super flexible person within them all named, Superflex! In Superflex last week, an Unthinkable was introduced….Rock Brain! Dun, dun, dunnn! When Rock Brain invades a brain, one gets stuck and is unable to be flexible. Mrs. Coker taught the flexible cherubs some useful strategies to help defeat this sneaky Unthinkable. Ask your kiddos what they are! Check out the Social Skills Tab on the Website to find out more!
Enjoy the long weekend, everyone!