Monday, December 16, 2013

Place Value


We are continually working on place value in Kindergarten through counting the days of school each day.  We do this with straws. 
 Tomorrow in math, we will look at using cubes to decompose numbers.  Below a link full of great games that hit on this skill of place value!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Numbers 11-20

Teen Numbers!

The above video is a song we are learning in math to help us learn the "tricky teen" numbers!  In Topic 5 (EnVision Math), we will learn how to write, count, and read numbers 11-20.  See some helpful sites below to help your child work on these numbers:

Link to activities and printables

Games by standard- scroll down to the "Numbers and counting up to 20" on the left hand side

Monday, November 18, 2013

Check Out Pilgrim Life!

Want to know what it was like for the Pilgrims sailing to the new world?  Learn what it was like to live and work on a 17th-century sailing vessel, and relive part of this epic journey!  Click here


Friday, November 15, 2013

Turkeys in Disguise



The kids did such a great job on their turkeys in disguise! I doubt these turkeys would get eaten! 

 Students shared their turkeys and their writing piece to go along with it ("My turkey is ____________.")  They turned out great! Be sure to check them out in our hallway during the month of November. :) 

Thursday, November 7, 2013

LEAD21 Online/Reading Groups

We started leveled reading groups this week in LEAD21!  I absolutely love doing reading groups and the kids have been really excited about them already, too.  


How do reading groups work?
  • Students meet with me in small leveled groups of 3-4 students (on their reading level) to read books that are centered around our current unit and focus questions.  Groups last 10 minutes each.  Once we can accurately read our book (usually after 2 lessons), students place the book in their book box (below their backpack that they can access and read from at any time!) 
How can I see what books my child reads at school?
  • 2 ways!  The first is by logging on to www.wglead21.com.  Your child's page will show up (once you login) and he/she can read the books we've been doing, both whole group big concept books and small  group leveled texts.  
  • The other way is by our take home book system! This will start up shortly.  Books will be sent home for your child to read to you and then you return them when you're ready for another!  This is completely at your pace and what works for your schedule/your family.
What are other students doing while my child is in his/her reading group?
  • As mentioned in my newsletter, we have been learning our literacy stations.  Stations range from science to imagination station.  Students work with 1-2 other students independently at a station while I work with students in small groups.  
Is my child in the same group for the whole year?
  • Through my assessments and informal observations, I will move students as I see fit based on their reading level/need of support.  I have already moved students around and we've only been doing groups for 4 days! :) It is very flexible grouping.
Please let me know if you have any other questions! I strongly encourage you to log on to LEAD from home!  If you don't have your child's password and login, I'm always happy to resend it. Thank you! 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Beginning Sounds Games

We have been working on identifying beginning sounds of words, as well as matching a word with another with the same beginning sound.  This was a skill assessed on our LEAD21 Unit 2 Test.

Our class goal is for all students to know upper and lowercase letters by the end of December.  Once your child has mastered this skill, move onto sounds!

Great thing to work on at home:

  • "What does the word __________ begin with?"
  • "What other word starts with the same sound as ___________?" 
Games to reinforce this skill:




Monday, November 4, 2013

Unit 2: Around Me: Inquiry Project


Our unit 2 inquiry project consisted of the kids being broken up into 5 groups by the 5 senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching.  

Some students brought in pictures from home of them using one of their 5 senses.  These were added to the group collage, in addition to cut outs from magazines and/or drawings. 

Once collages were completed in small groups, students presented these to the class.  We worked on good presenting skills (facing the audience, loud and clear voice, etc.).  Then we added them all together to create a completed 5 senses collage.  They did great!!!

Now we are moving on unit 3, home and family.