I read the class a book today called, Pete the Cat-The Wheels on the Bus. The class LOVED reading this story and doing the motions that went along with each page as I read it out loud to them! When I was done reading it, 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:

After we made our school bus, we went outside for a well-deserved "brain break" to play on the playground. They had so much fun!

When we came back in, we learned how to write the number 3 through our wet-dry-try method in our "Handwriting Without Tears" program. They did a great job learning how to make the number 3 the correct way and writing it themselves in their handwriting workbooks!

For the last part of our day, we learned the letter "Ee" in Jolly Phonics. We learned that the letter e makes the short e sound like in the words: elephant and egg. We listened to the song and the story and found things on the screen that began with the letter e or had the letter e sound within the word. I was amazed how quickly they found things that had the learned letter sound. Next, they did the letter "Ee" practice page in their Jolly Phonics workbooks. They did great tracing the letter "e" and finding things on the back that had the short e sound in them. For homework tonight, I asked them to find 4 things that begin or have the "Ee" sound in it. Remember the letter "Ee" sound makes the short e sound not the long e sound. I am looking forward to seeing all the things they find to add to their soundbooks tomorrow. It was another busy day in kindergarten and they are ALL doing wonderful!

With today being the first day in September, we made our September calendars. At the beginning of each month, we will make a monthly calendar that will display all the fun things or events that will be happening in our classroom or at Olive. Both classes had so much fun making their September calendars and I was so proud of how well they all followed my step-by-step directions in making it on their own. When we made our calendars, the first thing we did was to trace the month and the year at the top followed by tracing the numbers for all 30 days of September. Next I showed them how to color in the school house picture where they needed to use a color key to color specific numbers on the page specified colors. Then they cut it out, glued it on top of their calendar and added detail to finish it. They were so proud of how their calendars turned out and it was fun to see the fun they were having in making it at their table spots. Here are some pictures of my kindergarten friends making their calendars:

In Jolly Phonics, we had a review day today. Yesterday we finished learning the first set of 6 sounds so today was a "review day" to practice what we learned. We watched a Jolly Phonics movie for review and we did a sound sort with the letters s, a, t, i, p, and n. For the sort, my kindergarten friends needed to cut out some pictures and glue them under the letter sound they began with. To help them with this activity, I told them to cut out a picture one at a time, say the name of the object slowly breaking it up into sounds and listen to the sound it began with. Then glue it into it's correct spot on their sort. They ALL did a fabulous job and I was so impressed with the confidence they all had in completing it on their own. Only a few friends raised their hand for help. It was truly amazing! Here are some pictures of my friends working on their sort:

In handwriting, we learned how to write the number 2 with the correct number formation. This number is a very "tricky" one to write and we spent a lot of time practicing it today. To write this number, we learned that it begins at the starting corner at the top where you then make a big curve to the bottom corner and make a little line coming straight out from it. I told them with more and more practice, they will get better in making it on their own. 

With all this hard work today, we had a longer outside recess for a well-deserved "brain break." Both classes had so much fun playing on the playground together and it's so fun to see all the cute friendships that are forming amongst the classes. It was a fun day in kindergarten today! Have a great night, everyone!

Today we learned a "new" Jolly Phonics letter sound for the letter "Nn" The motion for the letter sound is to pretend you are an airplane and spread your wings out as if you are flying saying "Nnnnnnnn.........". Both classes did a great job learning the sound and motion for the letter "Nn" and I was so impressed with how many words they could think of that began with this newly learned letter. Way to go, K-3! After the Jolly Phonics lesson, they practiced what they learned completing the "Nn" page in their packets. I am amazed with each newly learned letter, how quickly they are able to circle objects on the back of their pages that begin with the sound we learned for the day. I LOVE the excitement in their faces when they make the connection between the learned sound and finding things on their own. They always call me me over waving their papers because they can't wait to show me what they found. It's so cute! Tonight for homework, they need to find four things that begin with the letter "Nn" and put them in their sound book. I will be excited to see what they all find when I look through their sound books tomorrow.

In math, we learned all about the number 3 and we did a few hands on activities to learn more about this number and what it means. After the lesson, we did a few pages in our math workbooks where they had the opportunity to show me what they learned from the lesson. Way to go, K-1 and K-3!

In class today, we also began our "new" Handwriting Without Tears" program. We are going to learn how to write the numbers 0-9 first and then we will follow with upper and lowercase letters. This handwriting program is a hands-on  multi-sensory learning program that allows your child to learn how to write their numbers and letters in the correct formation along with building great line usage knowledge. It's a wonderful handwriting program that helps each kindergartener build early writing habits. The afternoon class was able to do this lesson with me since we didn't have library today. The morning class did so we didn't have time for the handwriting lesson today. They will be doing it tomorrow with me in class. 

                                         

                                           

In the morning class, we had a "practice" fire drill today. The kids did AMAZING! I was so proud of how quickly they listened to me when the alarms started to go off.  They got in line quickly and quietly and we headed outside to our safe spot to wait until Ms. Davis and Mrs. Pemberton said it was OK to head back inside. They were wonderful during the whole drill! Way to go, K-1! 

It was such a fun day today! I love seeing all the adorable friendships that are forming in the classroom and the little kindergarten family we are building. My classroom is filled with smiles, giggles and alot of excited energy each and every day! The learning that is taking place is so fun to see and I am so honored I get to be such a big part of it! It's going to be a great year!