Tuesday Fun!

Today, we had a fun filled Tuesday. The kids were so excited that we were going to end our day with a visit to the library with Mrs. Brown for our first library lesson. Here's what we learned today:

In HMH structured literacy, we continued to learn all about lines reviewing from our lesson yesterday. We identified the top line, middle line, and baseline and talked about the importance of each one. Today we learned how to write the capital letters L, H, and I on our whiteboards with correct line placement. I ensured everyone was writing the letters from top to bottom NOT bottom to top. In kindergarten we always write our letters and numbers from top to bottom. After we practiced writing the letters on whiteboards, they went to their seats and we practiced writing the same ones in our HMH structured literacy workbook. THey did such a great job writing the letters on the lines with a pencil. Yay, K-1!

In our HMH reading, we continued learning about what an author and illustrator do and we studied the story we read yesterday a little further. I read them the story, Keisha Ann Can! again and we discussed who the main character in the story was and what the setting of the story was. They did such a great job identifying both and we did a page in our workbook documenting what they learned. We also learned all about what a noun is. They learned a noun is a person, place or thing. We watched a short video about what a noun is and we practiced identifying all different types of nouns. Then, they did a page in their HMH workbook where we had to color the things the page identifying what type of noun it was. Was the picture a person, place or thing? They did a great job learning all about nouns today and I will be taking the lesson a step further tomorrow to practice learning it a bit more.

In SEL (social-emotional learning), I did a lesson with the class about how words we say can be hurtful and when we talk, we need to ensure we are saying things that are kind and lift our friends up. We need to ensure our words are NOT hurtful and wrinkle their hearts. We listened to a story called The Wrinkled Heart that had a cute story about a boy who went to school and his classmates said some hurtful things to him. With each hurtful comment, his heart developed a wrinkle because the words made him sad. Then, someone said something kind and he noticed his wrinkles hegan to unwrinkle. The kind words made him feel good. We learned that kind words can make the wrinkles get better but some wrinkles stay with us forever so we need to be mindful of how we speak to others. We need to ensure we spread kindness to everyone! We made a heart out of paper and I let them decorate it however they wanted to. When they were done decorating it, we gathered on the rug. I told them that when I said something that was hurtful, they could wrikle their heart and when I said something kind, they could unwrinkle it. Many friends didn't like wrinkling their heart! They didn't like how the unkind comments made them feel. It was a good lesson to show how words can hurt and leave an impression on our hearts. Then we went to our seat and I gave them paper bandaids. They could glue one or two on their hearts. I told them that when someone says "I'm sorry!" it can heal their heart and make them feel better. Lastly, they signed a pledge that they would think before talking to ensure they were saying kind things to others to spread kindness. It was such a good lesson and one I know my friends will practice each day at Olive!

In math, we learned all about the numbers 3 and 4. The quantity, how to write the number the correct way from top to bottom, and different ways we can make 3 and 4. WHen they learned how to write the numbers, I taught them a rhyme for each one. For the number 3, the rhyme goes "Around a tree, around a tree, that's the way to make a 3." For the number 4, it goes "Down and over, down onece more, that's the way to make a 4." They found the rhymes very helpful to help them to remember how to form the numbers. 4 was a little tricky for them! They did great with math today and I impressed with how well they are following directions, completing their work nice and neatly, and participating in all of our lessons! Way to go, K-1! Don't forget we have picture day tomrrow first thing in the morning. Make sure your child brings their best smile!