The Wheels On The Bus

 

We listened to a book today called, Pete the Cat-The Wheels on the Bus. The class LOVED hearing this story and doing the motions that went along with each page as it was read out loud to them! When we were done hearing the story, we talked about how the book was different from the song "The Wheels On The Bus" that we all know from pre-school. They did a great job pointing out the differences along with some things that were the same too. Next we made a bus project to go along with it that was a "listen-and-do" activity. It is a project where I give them cut out pieces of construction paper and they listen to my step-by-step directions on how to put it together. I LOVE doing these projects with my kinders because it's fun to see how they all turn out with given the same directions. It is also fun to ask them questions as we make it to see their thought process. They all did AMAZING! They couldn't wait to bring them home today to show you. Here are some pictures of my kinder friends making their school buses today:

In math we are learning all about the numbers 8 and 9 understanding the quantity and how to show it on a ten frame. We are also learning the correct number formation on how to write the number from top to bottom. They are doing an excellent job in math and love showing me what they are learning where we get to the independent pratice time in our math workbooks.

In literacy, we have continuing to practice identifying nouns and proper nouns. We are also practicing identifying if those nouns are singular or plural. Yesterday, I introduced what an adjective is and we practiced identifying adjectives in sentences I provided the class. Then I took it a step further with giving them a sentence and they had to fill in an adjective that would make sense. They had so much fun learning about adjectives and I am amazed what they have learned! Way to go, K-1! It's been a busy week in K-1 and with each passing day, I am learning more and more about each kindergarten friend in my class! I LOVE seeing the excitement in their faces throughout our school days together and all the growth they are making already! It's so exciting! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Kindergarten Rock Stars!

Wow! What a week we have had in K-1 already and it's only been the first two days. We had reading MAP testing on Monday and math MAP testing on Tuesday. I am blown away with how wonderful they all did! They did such a great job navigating on the Ipad with my step-by-step directions to get to the testing site and did so well plugging in the testing codes to get to both tests! It was a "tricky" process for new kindergarteners to do and wow, they did great! I was SO PROUD of them!

In math, we are learning all about numbers 6-10. We are learning the value of each number by showing it with our fingers, showing it on a ten-frame, and by counting objects one-to-one to find it. They are also learning how to form the numbers correctly from top to bottom the right way. In preschool, my friends learned to write them from bottom up so I am working to change this habit. They are doing a great job learning how to write their numbers the right way and learning about these important numbers!

In HMH foundational lessons, we are learning how to write uppercase letters on the lines ensuring we are writing them from top to bottom. I am so proud of how well my kindergarten friends are using the lines the correct way and writing their letters slowly to make sure they write them correctly! YAY, K-1!

In HMH reading, we are continuing to learn about nouns and have taken it a step further to learn about proper nouns. They have learned the meaning of what a noun is, both singular and plural nouns and now proper nouns. They are doing a great job identifying these types of nouns in sentences I give them and also in telling me if they are singular or plural nouns. Wow, K-1! So impressive! While reading the stories this week that go with our program, we have also talked about how to hold a book the correct way and how to read a book properly. They laughed at me when I was being silly and tried to read a book upside down. They caught it right away and laughed. They were quick to point out to me that I was holding the book wrong and wouldn't be able to read the words that way. Next, we read the story and we talked about different types of punctuation, how many words were in sentences and how many letters were in specified words throughout the book. They did such a great job in each lesson and I am so proud of how much they are growing as readers! In grammar and vocabulary, we are continuing to work with words and learn the meanings of some "tricky" words! I am amazed with how many friends know the meanings of some of these tough words already! My kindergarten friends are learning so much and I am so proud of them! We have built a little family in my classroom where they are genuinely care about one another and just enjoy each minute with eachother! I am one lucky teacher! Have a great night, everyone!

We are Hungry for Learning!

In class today, I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. As I read the story, my kinder friends did a great job chiming in on the repetitive parts of the story and helping to tell me what day of the week came next. They LOVED hearing the story and participating as I read it out loud to them! To go along with the cute story, we made a caterpillar project. The caterpillar that I asked them to make had a read head like the hungry caterpillar in the story but I told them they could use any two colors to create the body as long as it was glued together in an AB pattern. They chose the two colors they wanted and took three of each one to create the body of their caterpillar. To create the caterpillar, they had to turn each square of construction paper into a circle. I showed them when they want to turn a square into a circle, they just need to cut a little piece off the four corners and round each one out. Then they will have a circle. To finish their caterpillars, I showed them how to follow my step-by-step directions by making a face and adding antennaes and legs to it too. It was fun seeing what two colors they all picked and walking around the classroom to see all the hard work they were putting in to create their caterpillars! I was so impressed with how wonderful they all did on this activity! Especially how well they followed my step-by-step directions! I hung them in the hall for all of Olive to admire!

Middle of the Week Fun

Today in math, we are continuing to learn about numbers 0-5. The lesson today really focused on counting numbers in order starting with 0 and counting up to 5 and also counting backwards from 5 to 0. They did a wonderful job with the lesson and did great filling out what they learned in their math workbooks. I know these numbers are easy for my kinders but our math program took these lessons a step further to challenge their thinking and to ensure they were counting the objets one to one when doing the math problems. I found in math this week that writing the numbers in the correct formation from top to bottom were very hard. So I took some time today with my kindergarten friends to help them practice writing the numbers on whiteboard with a dry erase marker. As we wrote the numbers, we said the little rhymes that went with them to help them remember how to make the numbers.

In our HMH writing, we are continuing to learn about lines and how to place upper case letters on the lines the correct way. I have shared with them that during our writing time, I want to ensure they are writing carefully and slowly so that their letters are placed on the line the right way. They did an excellent job this week! Today was fun because we practiced make different kinds of lines on the lines such as circular shapes, curved lines and rainbow shaped lines. They are learning how to place their letters on the lines the right way and working hard to write them from top to bottom. I keep reminding my friends that "Practice makes better!" With more and more practice, everything will get easier. They just need to try their BEST! We also did a color by letter in our HMH workbooks that helped them practice identifying the uppercase letters we learned about too. They did great coloring the letters the right color with the color key and making sure they were coloring each piece fully with no peek-a-boo spots! Way to go, K-1!

In reading, we have been continuing to practice identifying the characters and setting of the read-alouds I read them. We are also having fun learning about the author and illustrator of each book too. As I read the stories, I have taken time to talk about some important concepts such as noticing how the pictures on the page of the book match the words. We are learning how letters make up words and words make up sentences. On some of the pages, I have stopped to ask them how many words are in a sentence or how many letters are in a specific word. They have been learning so much as readers and I am amazed with how quickly they have learned everything I have taught them. This week,we have continued to learn about nouns (a person, place or thing) and continued to practice identifying if we can find singular or plural nouns in a sentence. Today I asked them to give me examples of each kind and they did GREAT! They have mastered this concept and I am amazed! Who would've thought your kindergartener would be learning all about singular and plural nouns on the 9th day of kindegarten! WOW!

We have been busy owls and I am so amazed with how much they are learning! The best part has been that a few of my friends have come up to me and hugged me telling me how much they love having me for a teacher and hwo much they love kindergarten! It melted my heart! I LOVE seeing all the smiles, giggles and fun they are all having each day! Yay, K-1!