December 11, 2015

Dear Fish Families:

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

Readers' Workshop: We have continued our work with reading superpowers this week. The children are working on checking that the first letter of a word matches the letter of the word they are reading. They also learned about picture power (using the picture to help figure out a word). The last power we learned about this week was 'sight word power' where we see our kindergarten sight words in a book and read them in a snap. 

Writers' Workshop: The children are having lots of success with list books again this week! We began talking about fancier list books. I read many examples of list books with a twist (I like..... I like.... I like.... But I don't like.....) and modeled some books of my own. The children are beginning to stretch themselves as writers and attempt this type of book. We also learned about see saw list books which follow an ABAB type of pattern. (I go to the park. I play on the slide. I go to the pool. I swim. I go to gymnastics. I do the balance beam). 

Math Workshop: This week we practiced ten frame quick looks using the QuickImages app on the iPads. We began working with teen numbers. The children sequences numeral cards and played Monster Squeeze using "tricky teens" and built teen numbers using ten rods & extras. Ask your fish why we call them tricky teen numbers. We also built hexagons using other shapes (K.G.6 Compose shapes using other shapes). 
 

Visual Arts: The children are making gingerbread "cookie" using playdough and art supplies. Our classroom smells yummy! We also have been painting and decorating gingerbread kids and houses to go along with our gingerbread theme. 

Song of the Week: The Gingerbread Man by Jack Hartman


Stories We Read: Snowman, Eating Out, Gingerbread Friends, The Gingerbread Boy,
The Gingerbread Cowboy
Donation Requests: hand sanitizer, soft tissues, foam hand soap

Up- coming Events:

• Gingerbread decorating party- Tuesday, December 22nd at 2:00 *more info to follow
• Fish class wears pjs to school- 12/23
• December Break- 12/24-1/3

• Word of the Week-the

• Phonics- ch

Thanks,

Kristen

December 4, 2015

Hello Fish Families:

We read with our buddies this week! I put some pictures on FLICKR.

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

Readers' Workshop: Your readers have begun using SUPERPOWERS to read predictable books with strong picture support. The first superpower they learned to use is pointer power. Children tap under each word as they are reading. We spent a few days practicing this skill, especially words that have lots of letters in them or more than one syllable. Our readers aren't tricked by longer words! They still only tap once. 

Writers' Workshop: This week we began writing list books. The children are experiencing lots of success with this type of writing. Many of them are completing one or more books a writing block. Some of the list books written include;  I See..., I Like...., I Love..., I Play...

Math Workshop: During our math time we have been working with attribute blocks. We sorted blocks by many different attributes, describing and explaining the sorting rule. The children also matched the attribute blocks by feel. This made them focus in on the number of sides and corners, as well as the thickness when matching. Ask your fish if this activity was tricky for them. We revisited graphing by making a Favorite Color Graph. 

Visual Arts: The children made beautiful winter trees and snow people for our bulletin board. The loved using clear glitter as snow!

Stories We Read: Many versions of The Gingerbread Man, and The Gingerbread Baby

Up- coming Events:

• Gingerbread decorating party- Tuesday, December 22nd at 2:00 *more info to follow
• Fish class wears pjs to school- 12/23
• December Break- 12/24-1/3

• Word of the Week-am

• Phonics- sh

Have a great weekend.

Kristen