Thank you to everyone for helping with the Kindergarten Bake Sale. It was a huge success thanks to you all! We are excited to use the money we raised for our Mother's Day Tea, Donuts with Dads and other fun art projects in the Spring. Thank you so much for your support!
Math is starting to look at bit different in our classroom, which is great news. I have decided to run our math block more like our reading block (Daily 5) so that I can meet the needs of all my learners who are at different levels in math. Daily Math (based on Math Daily 3) is a framework for structuring math time so students develop deep conceptual understanding and mathematical proficiency.
How does it work? Students select from four choices, working independently toward personalized goals, while the teacher meets individual needs through whole-group and small-group instruction, as well as one-on-one conferring. Students select from these four choices:
On Fridays, we will be doing STEM activities during our math block. STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Math. This will allow students to problem solve by themselves, with a partner, and in small groups. Students have new take home folders (the Llewellyn ones were beginning to fall apart!). They also may have come home with their ear buds yesterday. I have a few sets of head phones for the class now, so some students preferred using those to the ear buds. Thanks!
Thank you so much for all the help with prep this week and last!
I have almost trained everyone how to use the iPads, so next week they will be up and going during Daily 5 and Math Work Stations. Students seem to be loving Reading Eggs and the other apps, which help them with sight words, building sentences, rhyming, etc. You can log on to Reading Eggs at home with the info I sent home last Friday. Let me know if you have any questions! In the next few weeks, I will be able to pull small groups during math (just like reading groups) and work with students on the skills that they need. I also will be starting STEM in the next few weeks as well (see previous post). Our new writing unit, Personal Narrative, helps students write stories about their lives and experiences. This unit will be taught three times throughout the school year. Each time we will build on previously taught skills and the students’ writing will become more developed.
During the first teaching of Personal Narrative students will:
This unit will begin an exploration into writing stories from their own experiences. Our amazing class reps have made the class list, which can be used to schedule play dates, birthday parties, etc. Please let me know if you have not received a copy of it and I can send it your way.
Our next parent led art lesson is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th from 12:15-1:15. The parent coordinator should have sent out an email asking for volunteers. Thank you for all of your help so far with prep. I have filled my parent help tub with an assortment of projects. Some projects need to be done at school (laminating and cutting paper), while others can be done at home (gluing, cutting, sharpening). I would love the extra support. Thank you! |
AuthorThis is my sixth year teaching Kindergarten at a wonderful school in SE Portland. Archives
April 2016
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