Here are some things we did this week in K-S.
Ask your child to tell you more about them!
Week of 3/18/24:
- spring class party
- March Madness: Tournament of Books
- Fundations
- learned digraphs: wh, ch, sh, th, ck
- new trick words: we, he, she
- read nonsense words
- Reading Workshop
- added snap word rings to reading routine
- readers reread to figure out new words
- readers reread to learn more about characters
- readers reread to make their voices match the characters' feelings
- Math
- introduced 10 frame
- connect equations to different combinations that make 10
- find the missing number needed to make 10
- Centers
- photos of buildings and playgrounds to inspire building in blocks
- drew and painted silly scapes (skyscrapers with faces)
- turned dramatic play into a design center and construction site
- added graph paper and drafting tools to drawing and writing center
- Iggy Peck, Architect
- Homes Around the World
- The Three Little Pigs (James Marshall)
- Bridges Are to Cross
- The Night Worker
- Ana and Abuela, The Artists
Week of 3/11/24:
- Discovery Museum - forces and motion
- switched to the other side of the gym for P.E.
- Fundations
- new trick word: was
- continued tapping and blending to read
- continued tapping and segmenting to write
- Reading Workshop
- readers have reread power
- readers reread to smooth out their reading
- readers reread and pay attention to punctuation
- readers reread to turn words into snap words
- Math
- story problems with more than one solution
- solve story problems with two unknown addends
- sometimes different questions have the same answer
- addition and subtraction story problems
- Centers
- cup challenge
- switched out materials in sand table
- Silly Scapes - skyscraper drawing and painting
- Ramadan
- Rosie Revere, Engineer
- The Three Little Pigs (Paul Galdone)
- Houses and Homes
- If I Built a Car
Week of 3/4/24:
- met with buddies
- first grade assembly
- made Cat in the Hat hats for Dr. Suess's birthday
- Fundations
- learned trick words: as, has
- Reading Workshop
- readers have think power
- readers have fix-it power
- readers use powers together
- Math
- look for more than one way to break a number apart
- find all the ways to break a number apart
- find different combinations to make a number
- Tam and Nat
- Ada Twist, Scientist
- The Book With No Pictures
- The Day the Crayons Quit
- Radiant Child
Week of 2/26/24:
- started gymnastics unit in P.E. (will go until April break)
- "published" Writing Workshop books and put them in our library to share with classmates
- Fundations
- learned trick words: is, his
- Reading Workshop
- started new unit "Super Powers"
- learned that readers have super powers
- pointer power
- slider power
- snap word power
- readers decide which power(s) they will use
- readers look through words from beginning to end
- Math
- finished up unit 4 (addition and subtraction)
- started unit 5 (composing and decomposing numbers)
- decompose a number into two parts
- compose and decompose a number in more than one way
- Centers
- introduced technology center
- introduced small legos
- The Bad Seed
- The Story of Ruby Bridges
- I Am Every Good Thing
- Mae Among the Stars
- Fancy Party Gowns
Week of 2/12/24:
- celebrated friendship day and made posters
- spirit week themed days
- Fundations
- learned trick words: and, to, are
- started writing short phrases
- Writing Workshop
- choose books to "publish"
- fancied up published pieces (added covers and "about the author" pages)
- emptied out writing folders
- Math
- matched expressions to pictures
- found the value of expressions
- Centers
- decorated friendship posters
- made cards for Valentine's day
- Teammates
- Today I Will Fly
- Hidden Figures
- finished Mercy Watson Goes for a Drive
- started Mercy Watson Fights Crime
Week of 2/5/24:
- Second Step - how to manage frustration
- celebrated 100th day of school
- Fundations
- learned trick words: the, a
- continued tapping and blending to read
- continued tapping and segmenting to write
- Writing Workshop
- writers leave spaces between their words to make writing easy to read
- writers write more than one sentence on a page
- writers think about how their books will end
- Math
- played Race to 100
- represented story problems with drawings
- listened to what's happening in a math story to know whether to add or subtract
- represented math story problems using expressions
- Centers
- 100th day activities
- started making hearts for friendship day
- dragon puppet craft for Lunar New Year
- Scaredy Squirrel
- Peter's Chair
- My Lucky Day
- Pete the Cat and his Groovy Buttons
- Lunar New Year
Week of 1/29/24:
- Fundations
- reviewed tapping and blending to read words
- learned to tap and segment to write words
- Writing Workshop
- writers can use snap words to write sentences in a pattern
- writers notice how sentences look
- Math
- represented story problems with objects
- solved story problems
- drew pictures to show story problems
- Centers
- started making over and under dioramas
- started putting together science notebooks
- Is a Camel a Mammal?
- Sleep, Bear!
- Stellaluna
Week of 1/22/24:
- shared writing workshop stories with 4th grade buddies
- Amber the corn snake arrived
- The Mitten presentation from the Science Center
- met Noodle the hedgehog
- learned about carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores
- looked at animal bones and guessed what they ate
- Fundations
- uppercase letters X, Y, Z
- played BOOM
- Writing Workshop
- writers talk and share about their writing
- writers write books about things they love
- Math
- told and acted out math stories
- used objects to represent things in math stories
- made up endings to math stories
- Centers
- mixed colors and painted paper to match our skin color
- January self portraits out of painted paper
- observed Amber
- Under the Snow
- The Colors of Us
- George Shrinks
- Mouse Shapes
- Owl Moon
Week of 1/15/24:
- Mystery Readers begin
- Fundations
- uppercase letters U, V, W
- Writing Workshop
- writers write more by adding sentences
- Math
- introduced vocabulary: add, addition, combine, all together, plus
- counted two groups of images
- began adding together two groups of objects
- Centers
- added texture to painted paper
- design your own fish
- Martin's Big Words
- Squirrel's Busy Year
- A Bed For the Winter
- The Snowy Day
Week of 1/8/24:
- Fundations:
- uppercase letters N, O, P, Q, R, S, T
- Writing Workshop
- writers make decisions about how pages will look
- writers add longer labels by using snap words like the, a, and my
- Math
- observed shapes in art
- started new unit on addition and subtraction
- counted two groups of objects separately and together
- counted two groups of images separately and combined them together
- discussed strategy of "counting on" when combining numbers
- Centers
- snow table
- model magic animals for dioramas
- The Mitten mini book
- The Mitten paper bag retell
- Over and Under the Snow
- Frederick
- Bear Snores On
- A Color of His Own
- Happy Birthday MLK
Week of 1/2/24:
- started reading Mercy Watson to the Rescue
- Fundations
- uppercase letters H, I, J, K, L, M
- Writing Workshop
- starting writing Show and Tell books about places
- made time for drawing AND writing
- Math
- put together pattern blocks to make larger shapes or different shapes
- identified shapes that were the same, even if size or orientation was different
- figured out more than one way to make a shape using pattern blocks
- describes locations of shapes using positional words (above, below, beside, next to)
- Centers
- crayon resist watercolor aquariums
- snail observations
- labeled parts of a fish
- Snail - Snaily - Snails
- The Mitten
- Over and Under the Pond
- Snowflake Bentley
Week of 12/18/23:
- 4th grade insect fair
- room choice Friday afternoon
- all school assembly
- Second Step: people can have different feelings about the same event/activity
- Fundations:
- uppercase letters: E, F, G, H
- review lowercase letters
- Writing Workshop
- finished up show and tell pieces
- shared with 4th grade buddies
- Math
- shapes are everywhere
- shape matching
- trapezoid, hexagon, pentagon
- Centers
- Leo Lionni inspired textured drawings
- magna tiles
- fish observations
- Owen and Mzee
- Are You a Snail?
- Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type
- Fish is Fish
- Big Chickens
Week of 12/11/23:
- Winter concert for band and orchestra
- PJ day and class party
- Fundations
- learned about tapping and blending
- uppercase letters A, B, C, D
- Writing Workshop
- writers spell bravely
- partners can help you add more to your writing
- Math
- identify, describe, and sort circles, triangles, and rectangles
- discussed lengths of sides in shapes
- introduced geoboard app
- created shapes on geoboards
- drew shapes
- Reading
- introduced table of contents in nonfiction books
- learned to listen for and learn new vocabulary in nonfiction books
- Centers
- made worms out of clay
- painted clay worms
- created worm museum
- made paper snails
- began fish observations
- Weather
- Chickens Aren't the Only Ones
- Rainbow Fish
- The Biggest House in the World
- An Extraordinary Egg
Week of 12/4/23:
- Fundations
- lowercase z and qu
- learned that q always has a buddy
- finished learning all the lowercase letters
- Writing Workshop
- began Show and Tell unit
- writers show and tell with pictures and words
- writers draw part by part, then label the parts
- writers make a setting for their object - where does it live? how is it used? what does it do?
- Math
- started new unit on 2D shapes
- what we know about shapes
- matching shapes
- describing and comparing shapes
- sorting shapes
- Centers
- got two fish and one snail for our aquarium and named them
- fish names: Shiny and Disaster Warning
- snail name: The Lorax
- did worm experiments - do they like the wet side or dry side of a tray?
- mades clay worms for our worm museum
- switched out the water table for a sand table
- Ish
- Observing an Aquarium
- Interrupting Chicken
- Swimmy
- Worm and Snail: Together Again
Weeks of 11/20 and 11/27/23:
- made turkey hats
- met with 4th grade buddies to make thankful turkeys
- Fundations
- lowercase x and y
- Writing Workshop
- writers revise to make every page special
- writers add covers to their books
- Math
- put numbers in order
- one more, one less
- compare quantity in images
- represent quantity with numbers
- compare numbers
- Centers
- started Unit 2: Animals and Theiir Needs
- explored and observed earthworms
- turned dramatic play into a "school"
- I Walk With Vanessa
- A Chair for my Mother
- Spoon
- Chopsticks
- Wonderful Worms
- We Dig Worms
- Diary of a Worm
Week of 11/13/23:
- learned about Diwali and made a diya
- Fundations
- lowercase v and w
- Writing Workshop
- writers revise their books by adding more
- Reading Workshop
- readers add a pinch of their own thinking when talking about books
- Math
- connecting quantities and numbers
- matching groups of objects and images to numbers
- counting out a given number
- drawing a group of images for a given number
- writing numbers to represent quantity
- Centers
- kindness quilt squares
- It Looked LIke Spilt Milk paintings
- investigated melting ice
- put together science "notebooks" for unit 1
- introduce the Games center
- floor puzzles
- The Kindness Quilt
- It Looked Like Spilt Milk
- Earthworms
- We Don't Eat Our Classmates
- Diwali
Week of 11/6/23:
- understanding other people's feelings (empathy)
- Fundations
- lowercase l, h, k
- Writing Workshop
- book makers make every page different
- Math
- identifying groups with more, fewer, or the same
- describing different groups using "more", "fewer", or "the same"
- drawing groups of images that have more, fewer, or the same
- Centers
- changing liquids into solids
- sponge painting fall trees
- dot painting of names
- changing dramatic play from a kitchen to a school
- Tom
- What Do You Do With A Problem?
- No Roses for Harry
- Dragons Love Tacos
Week of 10/30/23:
- Pajama day
- introduced to Lexia on iPads
- introduced to Epic! on iPads
- coded with BeeBots
- Fundations
- lowercase p and j
- Writing Workshop
- writers write books
- writers make their pages go together
- Reading Workshop
- readers notice and learn new ideas and new words
- Math
- discussed more, fewer, less, the same
- created groups of objects using more, less, the same
- counted images in different arrangements
- compared images, are there enough?
- Centers
- liquids race with new liquids
- made buildings for community mural
- coffee filter fall leaves
- Help!
- Strega Nona's Magic Lessons
- Matthew and Tilly
- The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
- Saturday
Week of 10/23/23:
- Fundations
- lowercase e and r
- Writing Workshop
- practicing letters helps writers with writing
- writers look at what other writers do and try it themselves
- Reading Workshop
- readers share "wow" pages with their reading partner
- readers share "wow" pages with their reading partner
- Math
- represent collections by drawing
- fingers are a math tool
- rearranging objects in a collection does not change the total
- talked about more, less, fewer
- how do you know which has more?
- Centers
- sponge painted "the road" for our community mural
- October self portraits
- liquids race
- made our own Fundations cards
- planted bulbs and predicted what they would look like in the spring
- Big Al and Shrimpy
- How Rocket Learned to Read
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
- Who is a Scientist?
- Solid or Liquid?
Week of 10/16/23:
- signs of fall scavenger hunt with 4th grade buddies
- visit from Officer Rocket
- assembly presented by 5th grade about kindness
- Fundations
- lowercase d and s (also "magic c" letters)
- Writing Workshop
- writers use the letters they know to represent the sounds they hear
- writers use a name chart to help them with sounds and letters
- Reading Workshop
- readers read by themselves and with a partner
- Math
- keep track of what's already been counted
- explain how you counted
- use tools like a five frame, a mat, or a container to keep track
- Centers
- community interviews: Ms. Beckman, Mrs. Sullivan, and Officer Joe
- science: same amount of water in different containers
- mix your own color with paints
- name collage art
- Chrysanthemum
- The Name Jar
- Big Al
- Harry the Dirty Dog
Week of 10/9/23:
- shared reading of Today is Monday
- Fundations
- lowercase a and g (both are also "magic c" letters)
- real words and nonsense words
- Writing Workshop
- writers write pictures and words
- kindergarten spelling
- Reading Workshop
- readers reread
- Math
- are there enough?
- how can we get enough?
- how many do we have?
- Centers
- community interviews: Dr. Gutekanst, Mrs. Bourn, Mrs. Nash
- science: observing water
- color shading with white paint
- color mixing with paints
- drawing tablecloths of food
- Bippity Bop Barbershop
- Full, Full, Full of Love
- Strega Nona Meets Her Match
- Little Blue and Little Yellow
Week of 10/2/23:
- 4th grade buddies
- armed intruder assembly and drill
- Fundations
- lowercase c and o (start with a "magic c")
- played Fundations BINGO
- Writing Workshop
- writers are in charge of their own writing
- writing partners can be like best friends
- Reading Workshop
- readers read different kinds of books, stories and learn about the world (nonfiction) books
- readers read from left to right, top to bottom
- received independent reading spots around the room
- Math
- recognized and identified how many without counting (subitizing) - up to 4
- matched groups of objects that had the same number
- recognized and represented groups of objects without counting
- Solve the Room
- Centers
- new materials at the water table
- school scavenger hunt
- community interviews: Senora Erikson, Mrs. Tennyson, Mr. Everhart, Mrs. McAllister, Ms. Earley, and Mrs. Hubbard
- science: sorting objects by properties
- Abuela
- Packs: Strength in Numbers
- Caps for Sale
- Properties
- Anno's Counting Book
Week of 9/25/23:
- Fundations
- lowercase letters: t, b, f, m, n, i, u
- learned about vowels
- played "what says?"
- learning the difference between letter name and letter sound
- sounded out some 3 letter words
- every sentence starts with an uppercase letter
- Writing Workshop
- wrtiers think it, say, it, then write it
- writers think about the size of their shapes when drawing
- Reading Workshop
- readers notice words in the world around them
- Reading
- readers make a movie in their minds
- readers understand how characters think and feel by clues the author leaves
- Math
- build to match with connecting cubes
- build to match with pattern blocks
- notice groups of objects
- act it out math stories
- Centers
- art easel
- wooden blocks
- science: sorting objects in the classroom
- community interview: Mr. Vallatini
- Fur, Feathers, Fin - All of Us Are Kin
- Mouse Paint
- Max and the Tag-Along Moon
- Abiyoyo
- A Big Mooncake for Little Star
Week of 9/18/23:
- ST Math
- iPad cart in classroom
- all school assembly
- first early release day
- instant stickers
- Eagle Cards
- Reading
- shared reading of Mrs. Wishy Washy
- readers reread books and have conversations about them
- Writing
- writers choose just right colors
- writers choose shapes and lines to make their pictures
- Math
- introduce five frames and two color counters
- introduce geoblocks and build to match a picture
- gallery walk
- Solve the Room
- number formation instruction and practice 1-9
- Centers
- water table
- Vox books
- sensory path exploration
- Round Trip
- Make Way for Ducklings
- The Art Lesson
- The Baby Sister
- The Magicial Yet
- Mrs. Wishy Washy
Week of 9/11/23:
- Picture Day
- We had music with Mr. Vallatini
- discussed and explored math tools
- Centers
- blocks
- watercolors
- dot paints
- play doh
- legos
- dramatic play
- library and listening
- Fundations
- lowercase t, b, f
- introduced magnetic letter boards
- Writing
- writers think it, say it, and draw/write it
- writers use and take care of their tools
- Reading
- started Let's Gather, interactive read aloud with The Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Strega Nona
- The Day You Begin
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes
- Pete the Cat, Rockin in My School Shoes
- Officer Buckle and Gloria
Week of 9/4/23:
- We had Spanish with Senora Erickson
- We had Art with Mrs. McAllister
- We met Ms. Beckman and she read to us
- We met Mrs. Sullivan and she read to us
- We met Ms. Early and she read to us
- We had indoor recess
- We explored watercolors
- We learned about centers and tried it out
- We talked about our "glows" and "grows" during closing circle
- In Math
- we explored dominos
- we explored unifix cubes
- we explored cuisinaire rods
- we explored pattern blocks
- In Fundations
- we learned the names of the handwriting lines
- we learned the difference between letter names and letter sounds
- we practice writing lowercase t
- we used Fundations whiteboards
- The King of Kindergarten
- The Pigeon HAS To Go To School
- How to Apologize
- The Dot
- Only One You
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Week of 8/31/23:
- We learned about the Eliot School Values
- We learned the recess and playground rules
- We practiced a fire drill
- We had P.E. with Mr. Everhart
- We had Library with Mrs. Mullin
- We had Technology with Mrs. Tennyson
- We had lunch in the cafeteria
- We learned some word games with hand motions
- First Day Jitters
- A Letter from your Teacher on the First Day of School
- Our Class is a Family
- Mae's First Day