Monthly Archives: January 2012

Penguins

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In reading we read Gracie’s Nose.  For handwriting it was lowercase “h”.   I have not had to curb the enthusiasm for writing the room.  Those who were behind the 5 required words are now doing 30-40 words.  I have set the limit to 20, and require them to start journaling.  Amazing how even at this age competition takes a hold of them!   In phonics today we worked on the Explode the Code work packet for lesson three.  Played Frank Sinatra for writing period.

I now have four computers in the classroom and I will be moving them away from Starfall to either Explode the Code On-Line or IXL in the morning as their choices.  We will continue to use the computer lab as a class a couple times a week.

We had PE today.  After PE, we read our Let’s Find Out magazines which featured penguins.  We watched an interactive video on penguins and extreme habitats. We then did a short penguin math worksheet and then went right into Envision Math lesson 6.5, which ended our day.

The class teetered back and forth with losing and gaining class stars, but eked out 3 stars for a treat at the very end.

Mr.  M

Welcome Rylie

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Today our class welcomed the newest addition to our kindergarten, Rylie Grayum!
Today in reading we read Go Animals Go.  In handwriting our letter of the day was lowercase “m”.  After handwriting we again wrote the room.  I brought the children down to the lab for Explode the Code, and almost everyone was able to sign on independently.

Miss Amy was not feeling well today so we did not have music.  Instead, I took the opportunity to do a snowman craft and we got started on our ugly dolls.  Yes, I said ugly dolls.  The children will be designing their own dolls to make, stuff, and sew up over the next week. There is an Ugly Doll book series that I will use to go along with our very unique creations.  Today was the design phase.  Then we have to transfer the template to felt, and cut out.  Next, we have to sew most of the dolls before we bring it to life with their own personalities.  Then stuff and close them up.  It is indeed a large undertaking for such young creative minds and hands.

In Envision math we did lesson 6.4.  Speaking of math, under separate email I sent home some homework and will continue that practice with a very short math worksheet from our lesson to practice at home.  They do not have to be returned to school, but I expect everyone to do them.

We finished our day by starting the cartoon movie Tarzan.

Mr.  M

 

Fruits of the Spirit

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I started the the unit Fruits of the Spirit today in our morning group.  While we say a short prayer each and every morning, I will introduce a little more spiritual time into our routine to talk about those things that make us good christians.

Today in reading we read Games We Play.  In handwriting it was lowercase “r”.  We both journaled today and wrote the room.  Our Scholastic Magazine was all about snow monkeys.  For science we finished the skin and will probably wrap up this unit next week.  In math we did Envision 6.3.
The children finished their day off with Spanish.

Mr.  M

Around our World in 80 Days

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Well it’s now been 80 full classroom days!

Today for reading we read Carlos and His Teacher. For handwriting it was lowercase “r”.  We journaled first today.  Kids choice and moved right into :writing the room”.  PE today with Mr. Ken.  I started again our mystery walker challenge. Ask them about it.

Math was lesson 6.2 in Envision. We finished our day with social studies and The Parade.  A journey into our heritage.  The kids have chosen their float themes and are working on their floats.

Mr. M

Happy Chinese New Years

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Welcome back to school after a surprising week off!  Everyone seems to have survived well.

We did a short celebration for Chinese New Years.  In keeping with tradition, we opened all the windows and the door to let the old year out, and then closed everything to begin the new year fresh.  It is the year of the dragon.  Another sign, in my opinion, that a DRAGON should be the school mascot.  Good omen I do believe.

Today we read Bananas Sometimes.  In handwriting it was lowercase “p”.  Children wrote the room again with some having time to journal.  Working in our phonic sound book we did “J” sounds.
Music was today but instead Miss Amy added Spanish to get back on track.  In math we did lesson 6.1.  We ended our day with good old fashioned choice of games or play.  No technology.

Mr.  M

Winter Has Come

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On this wintery day I hope this finds you warm or maybe more adventurous and out in the snow.

Here are a few links to the King County Library Kids’ area, and specifically to some great online reading tools.

Hope to see you back in school tomorrow.

King County Library Kids Link

Book Flix  Note: Need to sign in with your library card and pin

Tumblebooks

Both these sites can also be accessed through the Kids’ Page.

Mr.  M

 

Our Skin

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For reading we read Applesauce.  Having your child read to you at home this book that everyone read in class, is a good measurement of their comprehension/retention abilities.  Almost all of them everyday will read the entire book of the day to me one on one without any mistakes for a dollar.  They may need a sounding hint or two, but they should be able to read most, if not all,  to you in the evening.

The kids had movement class today.  We read and colored a mini-book on Dr. King, and at the end of the day talked about their dreams.

In science we talked about our skin.  What is it’s purpose?  What do other living things have to protect them, and keep their insides in? They partnered up and fingerprinted each other, and we talked about the uniqueness of our fingerprints.

NOTE: There is a take home sheet for their journal for you to finger print yourselves, and send back in.  If you don’t have a stamp pad there are instructions to use a pencil  to get a print.  Please return for next week’s science class.

Bentley returned Listening Dragon with a neat picture and story, and now Dragon is in the possession of Mia for I believe an exciting weekend we hope.  Take him out in the snow!  Not sure if he has ever seen snow before.   🙂

Mr.  M

Snowflakes

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Today we read Animals Can Move.  We finished our winter snowmen, and I taught the fine art of paper snowflake making.  For handwriting it was lowercase “j”.  In phonics it was Explode the Code workbook and instruction.  Finishing Lesson 2.  Hopefully tomorrow we will get back in the lab.  I skipped math today as I felt they needed a breather.

Today for social studies we talked about Dr. Martin Luther King and what he stood for and why we celebrate his birthday this coming Monday.   I asked them how they would feel if they could not go to a school of their choice, or drink out of a fountain, or sit anywhere they want to on a bus. What if people did not like how you dressed today.  Take a moment on Monday to remind them why America celebrates Dr. King’s birthday.

Mr.  M

Snowmen

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For reading we read Animal Sounds.  Listening Dragon went home with Bentley after Sedona read to us her entries for her time with Dragon.  In handwriting we did lowercase “y”.  Kids also did “write  the room”.  Each student has to continue the “read” until they find at least eve words.

In phonics we went to the computer lab and were successful signing in and working with Explode the Code.  As I indicated under a separate email, I need your help at home to work your child until they can sign on by themselves and be able to navigate the program.  It does not take long for them to get the hang of it, and it will really speed up the time I spend getting everyone up, running and understanding.  Then I can use valuable time to teach those that still have difficulty.

In science we finished talking about our hair.  Each student got up and told us the results of their survey of people’s at home hair.  All gee the length, style, and color, which we then used to create a table.  Tables are something that we will, and have been, examining in math.  I had the children predict the outcome before we charted it.  Based on the survey, the majority of family members at home have short, straight, brown hair.

In math we started Unit 6.  We will be counting to 30 in this unit and using ones much like we did with 10-20.  In addition they will be learning how to skip count to 100.  Also counting in groups of tens, looking for patterns, and estimating.  Keys things to work on with your child is that they can count to 30 by ones consistently, be able to count objects in order, and count objects in random order.  Many need to slow down when they count.

We finished our day with a start on a winter snowman activity.  Using torn pieces of paper we are creating a winter scene.  Most want to use scissors, but for this experience I am encouraging that we just tear paper in the pieces for our snowman collage.

Mr.  M

Library Day

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Today we read our first level two book in class, Animals Coverings.
For handwriting we did lowercase “k”, and “read the room”.
Some children also found time to journal.  For phonics we did Explode the Code lesson 2.  Reminder that ETC is available on-line for each child.
We visited Mrs. Huber at the library and returned books.  She is such a great storyteller!  She not only reads to us, but using finger puppets she can weave the most wonderful tales .
We ended the day with the end of unit assessment of Unit 5 in Envision Math.  Most did fine.  Others are coming to grasp with working with larger numbers and sequencing them.  We have talked about a few strategies for keeping count that I was happy to see many of them use.
Mr.  M