Wednesday, March 26, 2014

March 24th-28th

Happy spring! We are ready for warmer weather, that's for sure!

Science: We did a science experiment about objects that float and sink. We talked about how objects made of different materials might produce different results. We also discovered why we need certain things to float like life jackets and boats. And why we need some things to sink like anchors and submarines. We tested several given objects like paper, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and beads. Then we got to test our own objects from outside and around the room!

Literacy:
We learned a new site word this week....me! Look for this word this week while reading. Do not forget to review all the site words each week! We finished up another week of writing informational books. When writing informational books, all you need to do is figure out something that you know a lot about and then...yep...write about it! You can share information about soccer, dance, school, running, painting etc. We will also started to touch on capitalization again. We are revisiting this idea because it is important and we did not really grasp it the fist time around. We will be learning "rules" about what to capitalize and start to notice this in our own writing.

Math:
We are still doing range cards once a week. Our math facts have really improved! We can do range cards with beans, unifix cubes or jewels. We are also still playing hundreds boards games and figuring out how to add and subtract on one. We are studying number patterns again this week and working with higher numbers. Next week we will move on!

Thematic Unit:
We have this week and next week to finish our author unit. This week we are studying Mem Fox. We learned she is from Australia. We will be making our own Australian flag and we will be taking a trip around the globe to see this new country. We also read her book "Where is the Green Sheep?" and made a handprint sheet using paint and cotton balls. We will also be making maps and a class "big book" that both relate to this unique author. We have enjoyed her interesting language and the way she tells stories through animals. Next week we will study Leo Leoni.

Important Dates!!

April 3rd: Davidson Walk-Sign up to help if you can! Sign up genius posted below.
April 10th: Spring Pictures-Smile big :)

Sign up genius for next week:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0C4FA5A82BA4FF2-march4

Hugs,
Mrs. Schultz

Thursday, March 20, 2014

March 17th-March 21st

Happy Thursday!

We are sad that we were not able to go to the Laurel's on Tuesday, but look forward to possibly going one last time in May. The leprechaun fiasco was so much fun and I hope that everyone enjoyed hearing stories of the mess he made in our classroom. :)

Literacy:
This week we really focused on the relationship that Q and U have. Q is always with U! We studied several words like queen, quilt, quack, quarter etc. to help us learn this letter combination. This helps our reading and writing when trying to read and spell Q words! The wedding was fantastic. We had a real ceremony to unit Q and U so we realize that they will never separate! We hope to have writer's workshop tomorrow and start our new unit on informational books. This should be fun!

Math:
We are studying the hundreds board again. This time we are playing lots of games, practicing writing those higher numbers and examining relationships between the numbers. We have found lots of patterns on the hundreds board and we look forward to continuing to work with numbers 1-100 next week as well.

Thematic Unit:
We are finishing up with Eric Carle this week. We will be making lots of artwork that resembles his form of art. We are using bright colors, layers of colors and using a variety of art mediums to create artwork that resembles his illustrations. We have read a number of his books and will continue to have those in our library for the rest of the year!

Sign up genius:
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Have a happy weekend!
Emily Schultz

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

March 10th-March 14th



Hi kindergarten parents!

Hope everyone has been enjoying this beautiful weather. Even though it rained today, we still loved the  warmer temperatures. We have been busy learning about Eric Carle, ten frames and long vowels!

Literacy:
We started working on long vowels this week. We refreshed our memory with short vowels and started moving right along. Today we made our own paper book that introduced long vowels. We were supposed to write other long vowel words on the book pages, but that was a little tough! Tomorrow we will revisit these long vowels by making a flip book similar to our short vowel one. We learned a new site word on Monday...and! We wanted to do that last week but needed to wait until this week. Please review the site words each week as it helps our reading and writing tremendously! You can use the flash cards and find these site words in books at home. Do not forget that your child is now receiving a book that they should read to you each week in addition to the book that you should be reading to your child. Our next writing unit will be on informational books. Look for these next week!

Math:
We are still plugging right along with range cards as we learn more about how to use ten frames. We are now working with two ten frames so that we are working with numbers 1-20. It is so important that we are able to quickly recognize the number represented on a ten frame and then record what numeral value it has. We are really practicing!

Science:
We will be doing our science lesson on Friday this week. We will be making predictions about which items can float and which will sink! After we make predictions, we will test out our guesses! If your child has any neat items he/she would like to test out, send them in!

Eric Carle:
So far we have read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Hello Red Fox and The Little Cloud. Yesterday we made finger puppet caterpillars to retell The Very Hungry Caterpillar and today we made cloud paintings (made out of shaving cream) that are drying and will be sent home tomorrow. Tomorrow we will read My Apron and we will be making a self portrait using coffee filters as our very own apron! We will continue to study Eric Carle next week. We just love his illustrations!

Saint Patrick's Day is next Monday and I am wondering if we will get a visit from the leprechaun! ;) I sure hope so!

We will be going to the Laurel's Nursing home again next Tuesday. If you would like to go, just sign up!

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0C4FA5A82BA4FF2-march2 

Hugs,
Mrs. Schultz

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

This Week!



Hello!

Literacy:

We are still working on short vowels. We are doing vowel sorts, a vowel flip book and lots of songs to help us learn about short vowels! We also had a free write session for writer's workshop this week. Everyone loved it! Real authors get to choose what to write about so we get to choose too! We have been reading lots of Dr. Seuss books and revisiting rhymes. We have been looking at CVC words in these books as well as short vowels.

Math:
We are still working on range cards! We have also started working with ten frames. Working with ten frames will allow us to think in base ten which really helps our number sense! We have played games with ten frames and got to "q-tip" paint with ten frames. We have also been reviewing 2d and 3d shapes.

Our next author is Eric Carle! We are looking forward to his illustrations and beautiful colors. We really enjoyed Dr. Seuss. We made a paper book with rhymes, made a hat and whiskers, made a cookie/life saver hat and made Thing 1 and 2 puppets to retell the story from their perspective! We will be making Oobleck on Friday. So fun!

Billy Jonas is a music artist that visit CSD each year. He was a blast! His CD has been playing in our classroom the past couple days so it was really neat to see him preform live. We learned that we can make music with everything. He was also really funny! Most of his instruments were made from recycled things. How cool!

Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Mrs. Schultz