Week in Review ~ April 30 - May 4 and EcoTarium Field Trip

Last week we started Unit 9 Week 2 in our reading series.  Our essential question was 'What do good citizens do?" Our vocabulary words were citizen, respect, necessary, hauled and tidy.  We read the stories Hen Hears Gossip, The Little Red Hen, and Team Up to Clean Up. We focused in on the long i sound in words and introduced the sight words has and play. In learning centers we sorted short i and long i words, practiced reading and writing sight words and wrote in our journals about how we can show respect.  We also wrote about what we can do to help the Planet Earth.

In Math we started Topic 9 which is reading, writing and counting to 20.  We will be focusing in on the teen numbers. 

On Friday we had such a fun trip to the EcoTarium. There was so much to see and do and our trip to the planetarium drew a lot of oohs and ahhhs as they looked at stars up in the sky with the help of Big Bird and Elmo.  Here are some pictures from the trip.

Enjoy the beautiful weather that this week as in store for us!

Week in Review ~ April 9 - 13

This week was a busy week! I"What do you see in the sky?" Our vocabulary words were surface, recognize, distance, space and challenge.  We reviewed the letters Uu, Gg, Ww, Xx, Vv, Jj, Qq, Yy and Zz. We have now focused in on every letter of the alphabet. When we return from vacation we will be working on long and short sound that vowels make. We also reviewed the sight words introduced so far.  Please continue to practice these at home.  Being able to fluently read sight words helps students become stronger readers.

In Math we worked on decomposing (breaking apart) the numbers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.  We found multiple ways to break the whole into two parts. 

With vacation next week, I have challenged all of the K2ers to complete one Books & Beyond sheet. If they return a completed sheet on the day they return from vacation, they will earn a prize.  I sent home a Books & Beyond sheet, as well as a Nonsense word sheet, with everyone today. 

Be sure to ask you K2er about the AMAZING assembly we went to this afternoon with the talented musicians from the Crocodile River Music group.  Thank you the the Fitchburg Art Museum for sponsoring this wonderful show to Johnny Appleseed. You can see some pictures and short videos on our class Instagram page from the assembly: theworldofK2

I hope everyone enjoys their April Vacation.  Once we get back on the 23rd we will be in the homestretch. It will surely fly by with all the fun activities that happen during the spring and early summer. 

Week(s) in Review ~ March 26 - 30 AND April 2 - 6

Sorry for not getting a post up last week. I wanted to include the Animal Habitat Projects and was waiting on a couple pictures so I figured I would put both weeks together this week.

 In ELA we started Unit 8 where the big idea is: Where can you go that is near and far? Last week our essential question was: What can help you go from here to there? We listened to the stories When Daddy's Truck Picks Me Up!, The King of the Winds, and From Here to There. Our vocabulary words were journey, transportation, vehicle, wide and fierce.  We focused in on the letters Qq and Jj and introduced the sight words here and me. We have started doing learning centers a little differently thanks to a wonderful new shelf I received through Donor's Choose.  Each day the K2ers have to choose between two activities that are called "Have-To's" that reiterate a concept we are working on.  After they finish their "have-to" they can choose an activity from their groups colored buckets.    The activities are more geared to what each child is ready to work on.  They get to choose from 6 different centers which makes them work better, I feel, because what they are working on for that day is their choice.  Here are some pictures of the K2ers working with the new learning center shelf.

This week our essential question was: What do you know about your country? We listened to the stories Ana Goes to Washington, D.C., The Best in the West, and See Our Country. Our vocabulary words were country, careful, travel, purpose and connect.  We focused in on Yy and Zz and introduced the sight words this and what.

In Math we started Topic 8 titled more addition and subtraction.  We worked on decomposing and representing numbers to 5, worked on related facts such as 4-1 = 3, 3 +1=4. We also started working on fluency within 5.  By the end of kindergarten we want students to be able to add and subtract, within 5, fluently.  Next week I will send home a photocopy of small flashcards with the fluency facts that students should practice at home.  

Last week we shared our Habitat Projects with Dr. O'Hearn-Curran and Mrs. King. They came and looked at all the projects.  They were very impressed and Mrs. Ouellette and I were as well. Here are pictures of all the projects...great job K2!!

We are in DESPERATE need of Clorox wipes to clean the tables and tissues. If you are able to donate either of those items, it would be greatly appreciated!!!

Have a great weekend!

Week in Review ~ March 12 - 16

Between last week's early release and snow day and this week's snow day and two-hour delay, we are lucky we have accomplished as much as we have. 

In ELA we are talking about the animal kingdom.  Last week we talked about how animals are alike and different.  This week our essential question was how do you take care of different kinds of pets?   Our vocabulary words were depend, responsibility, compare, train and social.  We listened to the stories The Birthday Pet, The Family Pet, and The Perfect Pet. We focused in on the letters Gg and Ww and introduced the sight words of and they. As a reminder, please practice the kindergarten sight words at home.  As I am sure you have noticed with the books sent home in the book bags, kindergarten sight words are everywhere.  If a child fluently knows the sight words introduced it will help them with their reading. If you need another set of sight words let me know.  There is also a complete list on the tab at the top of the blog titled "Kindergarten High Frequency Words."In learning centers we worked on sorting pictures by the initial sound of /g/ and /w/, practiced writing the letter Gg, wrote about why we are lucky, tapped out and wrote cvc words such as pig and wet, rainbow wrote our sight words, and practiced reading cvc words.  In reading groups we are busy reading stories.  I am always talking to the K2ers about how we want to sound like we are talking when we read and not like robots because that means we are becoming more fluent.  I am very proud of how well everyone is doing with sounding out and reading.  Keep up the great work of practicing at home with the book bags. 

 In Math we continued with Topic 7 on subtraction. The K2ers worked hard on writing, reading and solving subtraction equations.  We will be finishing up topic 7 next week.  We also worked on some addition and subtraction St. Patrick's Day themed math centers. 

Today we were  lucky enough to have some Irish Step Dancers in to perform for us. Some of the dancers were our very own Johnny Appleseed students. The K2ers were very entertained during the performance.  There was even a leprechaun sighting through out the hallways and classrooms!

Next Tuesday, K2 will be visiting the Scholastic Book Fair during their library special: 11:15 - 11:55.  Parents are welcome to come during that time to shop with their child. If you are unable to make it there is no need to worry because there are plenty of adults there, including Mrs. Ouellette and myself, to help them shop.  

Students came home this week with a notice about World Down Syndrome Day which is Wednesday, March 21st. Our Developmental classrooms at JA are inviting students to  wear as many socks as they can and the crazier or more mismatched the socks, the better!  This day is also near and dear to my heart because my ADORABLE 5 year old nephew/godson, Evan, has Down Syndrome. Here is Evan practicing for World Down Syndrome Day by rocking his crazy socks. Could he be any cuter?!?!?!?!

I hope everyone has a nice weekend and just 4 more days until Spring. Fingers and toes crossed that we are DONE with snowstorms!