Friday Learning Rotations

As mentioned at the Parent/Teacher night, we like Fridays to be a little bit different in our classroom. This is a great day to reflect on what we have learned in the week(s) prior, engage in some fun learning activities together, and break from the usual routine.  Here are some pictures of a typical Friday morning with language arts and math activities.  The children rotated through each of the activities in their groups.

Choosing Time

Each day after the children finish their work/learning centers, they have the opportunity to choose an activity in the classroom and play with their friends.  There is lots to do and plenty of opportunities to share, use language with each other, experiment with new ideas, teach each other, and the list goes on!  It is their favorite time of day, no doubt and when it works as well as it is with this group, it is mine as well :-)

Patterns

We started working with patterns this week. 

 Kindergarten is a manipulative-based, social learning environment so following some carpet activities as a whole group, I asked students to work with a partner, rotating through tiny tubbies full of materials to develop some patterns together.  Check it out!

Terry Fox

We participated in the Terry Fox Walk/Run with the rest of the school today.  

At their age we have minimal discussions about Terry but we did talk about the fact that Terry had cancer in his leg and had to have it removed.  We talked about him being a Canadian hero who, with only one leg, endeavored to walk all the way across Canada to help doctor's find a way to stop cancer.  They also heard that he was unable to finish his journey when the cancer spread throughout his body.

Thank you for your donations so far - children can continue to bring in donations up until Monday.

Scholastic

Scholastic magazines will come home with your child once per month.  If you choose to order books through the magazine, please fill out the order form and return to me with a cheque made out to Scholastic ASAP - alternatively, you could submit the order form to me and PAY ONLINE by credit card.  The order will arrive to the school and be sent home with your child.  Every time you order, scholastic deposits credits into my account which I use yearly to enrich the classroom.

Thanks!

Kindergarten Curriculum

Below is some basic information on the Kindergarten Curriculum that may be of interest.  Please email me with any questions.  I will try to keep you updated on current themes so that you can practice with your children at home if you choose.

Language Arts

Broken up into 3 strains

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking and Listening

Reading curriculum 

•  reading occurs from front to back, left to right and top to bottom
• common/sight word recognition
• understanding of terms like, "title," and "author."
• using pictures to aid understanding
• retelling
• sequencing story events
• making predictions and inferences
• distinguishing between letters and words
• Alphabet recognition

Writing curriculum

• letter formation
• phonetic/sound-based "invented spelling"
• writing of some common/sight words
• producing detailed drawings that tell a story

Speaking and Listening

• Rhyming
• Compound words (butterfly, snowman, etc.)
• Phonemes (letter sounds)
• Syllables
• Speaking clearly and audibly
• Speaking in more complex sentences
• Using descriptive words to talk about objects
• incorporating new/learned language into everyday speaking

Math

• Counting
• patterns
• sorting
• properties of 3D objects (round, pointy, square)
• recognizing common arrangements up to 5 (dice)
• Measurement
• Number awareness

Science

• use the 5 senses (see, hear, touch, feel, smell)
• make and record observations
• life cycles
• experimentation
• curiosity
• Changes that occur in nature (seasons)
• recycling
• properties of objects

Social Studies

• Governance of classroom, school, and self
• exploring the idea of community
• technology
• culture

Health and Career

• making choices
• becoming independent
• what it means to have jobs and responsibilities
• showing thoughtful, caring, kind behavior
• developing positive friendships/relationships
• safety and injury prevention
• inappropriate touching
• terminology for male and female body parts

PE

• Safety
• Movement
• Fair play
• using equipment
• understanding why we need physical activity and how food and water contribute to a healthy body

Art

• Using art supplies and materials safely and effectively
• experimenting with new techniques and materials
• participating in drama activities
• using appropriate audience etiquette
• showing appreciation and respect for the work of others
• participating in dance
• using movement to convey an idea or emotion
• creating 2D and 3D images

Plastic bags

The plastic ziplock bags that came home to you full of forms is meant to be returned filled with the supplies outlined in the "comfort kits" handout.  If you have returned it to me without those supplies inside, I will be sending the bag back home this week to be used for its intended purpose.

Thanks!

Meet the Teacher Night

Meet the Teacher Night is coming up this Thursday at 6:00.  Everything I would talk about on this night will be or is already on the blog.  Topics include class routines (on the blog) and curriculum information (will be on the blog this week and updated regularly as our focus changes).  

In Kindergarten, unlike other grades, we get to meet for intake interviews prior to this night.  Needless to say, I will not be taking attendance for Thursday's event ;-)

  

Updates

Students brought home folders today - these are to move between school and home each day (if there are handouts).  Their function is to organize and protect papers coming home or going to school.  Please check backpacks each day for them.  Students should bring them into the classroom each morning and place them into a basket by the door.

They also brought home an alphabet book today.  This can stay at home and can be coloured in if they choose.  The chants inside replicate those we say together in class.  This week we are studying 'A', next week, 'B', etc.

Forms are very slowly trickling in - I am eagerly awaiting the white, "personal information consent" forms from everyone so that I can start posting pictures on the blog.  It's a quick signature form and can be sent in apart from the rest if you don't have them all done yet.

Things we are working on this week include printing the letters, 'Aa', using the 'A' sound, making simple patterns, and sorting.

Apples

We would like to begin our study of letters and their sounds next week, as well as the concepts of patterning and sorting.  

It would be wonderful if everyone could send their child to school with an APPLE on Monday to help with this.  An array of sizes and colours would serve our purposes best.

Thank you! 

Birthdays!

For birthdays, it has become customary for children to bring in a treat to share with their classmates.  I would LOVE to start a new tradition in our classroom - one that promotes literacy as well as health and nutrition.

IF you wish to share anything with the class in celebration of your child's birthday, please consider a book in place of a treat.  I would be happy to read the book to the class on that special day, and create a library of "birthday" books for the children to enjoy all year long.

Looking forward to seeing your picks!

Mornings

The doors to the school open at 8:35 but class is not in session until 8:50.  There is no need for Kindergarten children to arrive earlier than the first bell, 8:45.  

If you arrive after the 8:50 bell, please stop at the office to sign your child in as late.  I begin attendance immediately at this bell and this quick stop ensures that the office staff can do their job of ensuring student safety as quickly and efficiently as possible.

It is a great idea for all children to have a water bottle at school.  Preferably one that requires some suction to release water (open bottles will be spilled).  They can bring this in with them first thing in the morning.

At the start of next week, please say goodbye to the children outside of the classroom so that they can come in without distraction and begin learning their morning routines.  We are taking it very slow this week as they gel with each other but next week we launch into the routines that will be a staple for the rest of the year.   

Thank you!

Handy things to send to school

Please send your child to school with a complete change of clothes inside of a labelled bag that can stay at school.  Accidents happen at this age, but so does rain and having these clothes handy is very helpful.

Please note that recess happens rain or shine so weather appropriate boots and jackets are very important each day.

Lastly, each child should have a backpack that is large enough to contain a picture book from the library as well as a letter-sized communication folder (this will be coming home shortly with information to follow).  It is challenging to protect the books and folder from the elements otherwise. 

Thank you!