March 4, 2016

Hello Families.

Here is a glimpse into our week:

Readers' Workshop: This week we figured out the changing words in the pattern while reading our "just right" books. We also are beginning to use all of our super powers to read the pattern break in books. They children often require prompts to use the pictures, put the first sound in their mouth to get ready to read the word, or to read all the way through the word. I used Pizza and Picnic by Phyllis Root to teach these reading skills. We wrote a class book with pattern changes. It will be coming home in the next Fish of the Day rotation.

Writers' Workshop: We spent the first half of the week reading MANY "How To" books. We wrote a class book teaching others how to do a fire drill. The children brainstormed/ acted out things they could teach someone else and by Thursday, they were ready to write their own teaching book. We talked about some elements to use in this type of non-fiction writing. The children are numbering their pages and beginning to use the words first, next, then and last.

Math Workshop: We finished up Unit 5 in math and are in the process of completing the end-of-unit assessment. They will be sent home next week.  

Some Books We Read: I Love My New Toy, My New Friend is So Fun, We Are in a Book, There is a Bird on Your Head, I Am Going (all by Mo Willems) & The Luckiest Leprechaun by Justine Korman

Visual Arts:  We made shamrocks and rainbows this week. Our classroom is beginning to look spring-like...We just need Mother Nature to cooperate. :)

Up-coming Events:

• Word of the Week- go
• Handwriting- h & b
• Music Hall- 3/15
• Early Release-3/17
• Teacher Workshop Day (No School)-3/18

Think Spring!

Kristen

February 19, 2016

Happy February Vacation Fish Families!

I think these kiddos are ready to rest, relax and get healthy. I hope you all get a chance to do the same.

We have had a great Read Across America Week! Today we were able to hear Mr. Morgan, our superintendent, read Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. We were visited by Mrs. Fitzgerald, our reading specialist yesterday and our own Mrs. Shaw read us a Mrs. Wishy Washy story. The special dress up days make the week fly by. Thanks for your support with everything!

Readers' Workshop: The children are working on developing stronger reading powers. We spent some time studying the characteristics of more challenging books. The children are putting heir just right books in order from easiest to hardest and working up to the challenging books during our reading time. They are using patterns to read their books and also to help them predict what is going to come next. 

Writers' Workshop: This week we chose a piece to publish, wrapping up our personal narrative unit. The children learned how to use flaps to make their sentences even better. They are also beginning to attempt strong sentences to start their stories. (ie. We went to the beach. vs. One sunny day we went to the beach.) We will launch a new unit, How-To Books, after vacation. 

Math Workshop: The children did their first open response this week! I gave them a comparison number story and they had to "prove" their solution using pictures. Many of the children included the number equation as well! They represented teen numbers on double ten frames and are becoming more familiar with the equal symbol and addition symbol. 

Up-coming Events:

• Word of the Week-me
• Handwriting- r, n & m
• Music Hall- 3/15
• Early Release-3/17
• Teacher Workshop Day (No School)-3/18

Fondly,

Kristen

February 12, 2016

Greetings!

Here is a glimpse into our week in the fish class:

Readers' Workshop: This week we learned about quotation marks and practiced using character voices when re-reading a familiar book. The students are using their book talk power when in partnerships. They practiced introducing their books to their partner before reading it together. We are also working on retelling a story to help with developing comprehension skills. 

Writers' Workshop: We did a lot of work with writing partnerships this week. We are encouraging increased independence. The children used their new writing partners to help them hear even more sounds in words. Partners also told each other what to do to make a story even easier to read. (Adding details to pictures was a popular editing suggestion!)

Literacy Centers: This week we did some work with our sight/snap word up. The children created some class books and practiced writing k and y in their handwriting journals. 

Math Workshop: This week has been all about the number 100! The children counted (while exercising) to 100, stamped to 100, completed a 100 piece puzzle, and sang a 100 Day song. We played a roll and record math game where the children find, record and analyze sums of dice rolls (K.OA.2 solves number storied and problems involving addition and subtraction.) We found shapes in a picture of a playground as a review of the basic shapes and continue to work on teen numbers. This week we emphasized the concept of teens being "ten and some more ones."

YouTube video to practice counting to 100:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=estMnWVEjrk&noredirect=1

Visual Arts: It has been a week of hearts, glitter, glue and paint! Our halls and bulletin boards look amazing!

Some Stories We Read: I Love You, Good Night, Cat's Party, Secret Valentine, Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse!, Up, Up, Down, 100th Day Worries, There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow!

Donation Request: soft tissues 

Up- coming Events:

• Read Across America Week is next week! *Monday is wear crazy socks and show them off. *Tuesday- wear your favorite hat. *Wednesday-wear mismatched clothes. *Thursday- dress up as your favorite book character *Friday- bring a stuffed animal for Curl Up and Read day
• February Vacation- 2/22-2/26

• Word of the Week-we

• Phonics-king ed (silent e at end of cvc word)

• Handwriting-j & p

Happy Valentine's Weekend.

Kristen

January 29, 2016

Hello!

Here is a glimpse into our week in the fish class:

Readers' Workshop: Our focus this week was on ending punctuation. The children practiced reading the same sentence with a . ? and ! It was a lot of fun and I am already seeing the children applying this new skill to their reading. We have also been talking about how important it is for readers to think about what they are reading.

Writers' Workshop: The children celebrated the 'true stories' they've written so far by having a class museum where we walked around and read all of the great stories. We brainstormed a checklist we can use as writers to make our stories even stronger. So far, our list includes a beginning, an end, and pictures/word that tell who, where, & what.

Science: We are beginning a ramps and balls exploration in science. We began the unit with a science talk and will begin our investigations next week. The children will be recording their science drawings/findings in notebooks. (Up until now, our science recording has been done as a class.)

Visual Arts: We made Model Magic snowpeople this week and have begun decorating the hall with Valentine art projects.  

Some Stories We Read: Do You Want to Be My Friend, The Hat, A Hat For Minerva Louise, Ten on the Sled, The Rainbow Fish, Annie and the Wild Animals

Up- coming Events:

• Progress Reports sent home- 2/5
• Early Release- Wednesday, 2/10 (12:50 dismissal)
• February Vacation- 2/22-2/26

• Word of the Week-do

• Phonics- e

• Handwriting-k & y

Fondly,

Kristen

January 22, 2016

Hi Fish Families.

Day 100 of kindergarten is quickly approaching! (Tentatively projected for 2/8.)

As a community service project, we are asking each child to bring in 1 or 2 canned goods to reach a grand total of 100 as a  kindergarten grade level.  We plan to gather all of the children together to count the cans before donating them.

We are also thinking ahead to Valentines Day. The class list will be coming home on Monday. We have a new student starting next Thursday, so her name is included on this list.

Here is a glimpse into our week in the fish class:

Readers' Workshop: This week we practiced reading with smooth voices to help bring books to life. They are working on using the pattern in books to help them figure out new words. The children are consistently maintaining independent reading for 10 minutes each day. That is great reading endurance for this point in the school year!

Writers' Workshop: Your writer practiced saying a sentence in his or her mind, then writing it, word after word. We are reminding them to use uppercase letters at the beginning of a sentence, spaces between words, and ending punctuation.We are continuously re-reading our writing throughout our workshop time.

Math Workshop: We are almost done our mid-year assessment. The children have made tremendous growth as math thinkers. This week they showed different ways to make 8 using unifix cubes and recorded their thinking. They continue to skip count and tell daily addition or subtraction sentences. 

Visual Arts: The children created crayon resist heart valentines to send to our military via the Pease Greeters. We are also in the process of making melting snowmen.  

Some Stories We Read: Ira Sleeps Over, When Itchy Witchy Sneezes, North Country Night, Mmm, Cookies, One Winter's Night

Up- coming Events:

• Early Release- Wednesday, 2/10

• Word of the Week-can

• Phonics- x & y

• Handwriting-i, e, & l

Go Patriots!

Kristen

January 15, 2016

Hi Fish Families.

Here is a glimpse into our week in the fish class:

Readers' Workshop: I hope you enjoyed the first week of book bags. They will be coming home again Tuesday. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. The children were excited to tell me who they read to last week. Thanks for your support! This week we focused on putting the first sound in our mouths while using the picture to help us read. The children are learning to use all of their super powers, but most of all to NOT GIVE UP. We had a great discussion about all the times the children and/or family members had to persevere. Persistence is a very important reading skill!

Writers' Workshop: As our writers begin to hear and write more sounds in words, they can forget what they were saying in their increasingly longer sentences. This week we talked about using the pictures to help remember the story. 

Math Workshop: Playing math games, revisiting some favorite apps and assessing has kept us busy this week.

Literacy Centers: We are slowly learning correct lowercase letter formation. This week, our focus was on a and d. As these letters are introduced, we are beginning the transition to using them to write names conventionally.  We read another version of The Mitten this week. The children did an amazing job comparing and contrasting the two versions. We drew animals for our "mitten" bulletin board, outlining the pictures in Sharpie markers and writing all the sounds heard in the animal label. 

Visual Arts: We have been busy making snow children. They should be hanging in our hallway this week!

Song of the Week:  Macarena Math (focus on skip counting by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s)

Stories We Read: Bear Snores On, The Mitten, A Silly Snowy Day, The Story of Ruby Bridges, Martin's Big Words
Up- coming Events:

• No School- Monday, 1/18
• Early Release- Wednesday, 2/10

• Word of the Week-like

• Phonics- w & h

• Handwriting-g & u

Enjoy the long weekend,

Kristen

January 10, 2016

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

Hi Fish Families.

I hope you all had a wonderful December break. It was great to see the children and get back into our routine this week. I want to thank all of you for fostering independence with your children getting into their snow gear. I have been teaching young children for a long time and this class is amazing! They are all getting into their snow clothes with minimal help. It is such a nice treat. Thank you!!!
Here is a glimpse into our week in the fish class:

Readers' Workshop: Your readers are working on putting all of their strategies (super powers) together to read. They have been studying the pictures to make predictions before they read. They are working on those kindergarten sight words (words they read in a snap) and reading them in just right books. They are ready to celebrate their hard work at home. We will be sending home book bags each week for the children to read to you. These will be books we have worked on all week. They will be very familiar texts. When we re-read known books, we can practice fluency (reading in a storytellers voice). Please let me know if this isn't the case for your child.

Writers' Workshop: Our authors celebrated their list books by reading them to our second grade buddies just before vacation and we began our new unit this week. We are working on narratives again. We are writing true stories about something that we have done. In partnerships, the children are telling their stories and asking questions of each other to make the stories the best they can be. We are making sure our stories answer Who? Where? and What? Adding speech bubbles make stories even better. The phonics growth these kids have made since the start of school is amazing and evident in their writing! They should be proud of their hard work.

Math Workshop: This month we will be playing lots of math games to review and reinforce the concepts we have been working on. I will be doing mid- year assessments as well. This week we played addition bingo, Yatzee, Top It and we used Quicklooks on the iPads. The children are telling a daily addition or subtraction story that we are solving as part of our daily calendar time. 

Words Their Way: I assessed where the fish children are with their writing this week and restructured their grouping for word work. They were all ready for more challenging sorts. This week's sort should be coming home by the middle of next week.

Visual Arts: We made snowy trees and sparkling snowmen this week.

Stories We Read: The Mitten, A Bed For Winter,So Much!, The Snowy Day, The Book With No Pictures

Up- coming Events:

• No School- Monday, 1/18
• Early Release- Wednesday, 2/10

• Word of the Week-it

• Phonics- i

• Handwriting- a & d

Happy New Year,

Kristen

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015