Happy Holidays!

Social Studies

Happy Holidays from Kindergarten!  The kids are so excited this time of year.   It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about different celebrations, customs and to respect others and their beliefs.   So we have been “traveling” around the world and learning about different holidays that are celebrated in various countries. 

One way we learned about Hanukkah was assembling menorah puzzles and playing with dreidels.  We also spent time learning about Los Posadas by reading books and making pinatas.  For Christmas we made a reindeer and candy canes.

 

This week we also read more versions of the Gingerbread Man.  We are fabulous at making connections between the stories!  Ask your kindergartner about…

·        Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers

·        Bad Boys Get Cookie

·        Gingerbread Friends

·        The Musubi Man

·        The Gingerbread Super Hero

·        The Gingerbread Man Goes to School

 

 

 

Writing Workshop

Since reading and writing go hand in hand… we have been continuing to write pattern books just like the ones we have been reading during Reading Workshop.   We have been focusing on “stretching out” (sounding out) our words when we write.  We call it Kid Writing.  I am encouraging the kids to record the sounds they hear.   
 

Reading Workshop

      We continue to work on the comprehension skill of Making Predictions.  Making predictions activates students' prior knowledge about the text.  By making predictions about the text before, during, and after reading, students use what they already know—as well as what they suppose might happen—to make connections to the text.

      To help your kindergartner make predictions use the following language…

“By looking at the cover I am guessing or predicting the story will be about…”

"Hmmm… my prediction that the story would be about ____ was right, but I did not think that ____ would happen. I'll make a new prediction that _____ will happen based on what we read." 

 

Math

In math we continue to focus on those tricky teen numbers and tally marks.  Tally marks help us count efficiently.  Tally marks are also a helpful tool for organizing and showing information.

YIKES! The cold weather is here!   When it is time to go home, we have 24 kindergartners that have to get ready.  It is very important the kids can dress and undress themselves in their winter apparel (putting on boots, gloves, snow pants, zipping coats, etc.).  Please practice these skills at home and don’t forget to label everything.  We have a poster in our room that shows the best and quickest way to get dressed.  It works great here in the classroom.  I attached a copy again so you can reinforce it at home. Thanks so much! 

 

Thank you for all the donations for our gingerbread houses.   It is greatly appreciated!  We had a blast making our houses with our 3^rd grade buddies from Ms. Mulligan’s class.

I WISH YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE WINTER BREAK!  BE PROUD OF YOUR CHILD’S ACCOMPLIISMENTS, THEY ARE WORKING HARD IN KINDERGARTEN!

 

 

 

Step Inside the Gingerbread Man

Wow! Is it really almost December?!  I can’t believe our kids have been in kindergarten for three months!  We had an eventful week as we learned the story of the gingerbread man.  We read MANY different versions of the classic story.  One of our favorite versions was The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett.  Another favorite was The Stinky Cheesemen by Jon Scieska – it was hilarious!  We even enjoyed listening to and singing a version from one of our favorite singers - Jack Hartmann.  We also had fun retelling a version of the story with our story telling props! 

Last, we “Stepped Inside” the Gingerbread Man and gave our viewpoint of what we thought the Gingerbread Man was thinking.

Ask your child what version was their favorite…

·        Gingerbread Girl

·        Gingerbread Boy

·        Gingerbread Man

·        Gingerbread Cowboy

·        Gingerbread Pirates 

·        Stop That Pickle

We didn’t stop the fun there…
We painted our own gingerbread men and made tear-art candles.

Writing Workshop

We are currently working on our fourth unit called, Pattern Books.   Students are invited to write multiple pattern books just like the ones they have been reading.  Since reading and writing go hand in hand, this unit will help make this connection very visible to students.

While this unit uses patterns to help students write, the focus of this unit is on meaning. Students learn that pattern books are not just books with repeating words but rather they are books with repeating words that communicate meaning; and that even the smallest books can hold big meaning.

Reading Workshop

We have been working on our comprehension skills. We have been comparing, contrasting and making connections between the different versions of the gingerbread stories.  We spent time talking about story elements, such as, the characters, setting, and plots.  We are using our “thinking words:”    “I notice…I wonder…This reminds me of…”

Math

In math we continue to work with gingerbread 10 frames.  We played Ten and Teen Frame Flash.  Young children need to see quantities when they work with numbers.  When children have mental images for numbers, they have more flexible strategies to apply to computation.

What is Center Time?  Center time is a flurry of activity during which an incredible amount of learning takes place!  It is the time of day that most kindergartners eagerly look forward to (besides recess!). When the children explore centers, it allows them to get hands-on learning experiences.  They are actively engaged in the learning process as they are thinking and doing!  Up to this point in the year, I have been available to the children during center time.   Beginning in December, I will be using Center Time to give your child individual or small group instruction while the other children are independently working.  I am confident the children know our classroom rules and routines.  This should be a smooth transition for most.  Please check in with your child next week and ask if they are being responsible for their work during Center time.  I appreciate your support!