Week 9 and Morton Arboretum Field Trip Highlights!

What a fun week!

On Thursday, we went on our first kindergarten Feld Trip to the Morton Arboretum.  At the arboretum, we took a nature walk exploring and discussing the parts of a tree, what trees need to survive, and we even made our own class tree.  Take a peek at our kindergarten scientists enjoying a day of fun and learning.  A very special thank you to our parent chaperones.  Our first field trip wouldn't have been a success without you!

During our Shared Reading, we focused on the poem, 5 Little Bats, to explore letters, sounds, rhyming words and print concepts.  We also introduced two new sight words this week.  Our new words are up and to.  Please practice identifying, reading, and writing our sight words with your child at home.

In Reader's Workshop, we continued our Super Powers unit.  This week we learned that each word gets one tap.  Take a peek at our kindergarten readers practicing pointer power.

Our Read Aloud of the week was Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. Our comprehension focus was identifying character, setting, and main event.  We also retold our story by sorting pictures by beginning, middle, and end.  Please ask your child to share with you three details from our story.

During Daily Five word work stations this week, we identified and matched letters in leaves, used play-dough and dry erase markers to trace upper and lowercase letters, reviewed letters and sounds using smelly markers, reviewed word wall words by sorting and coloring, and played Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  We also practiced labelling at the writing table.  Please ask your child what was their favorite Daily Five station this week!

This week during Writer's Workshop, we continued our narrative writing unit.  Our focus this week was drawing stories for readers.  We began the week by thinking of a story, planning it our page by page, and drawing detailed pictures that include a who, what, and where.  We are working very hard at using our alphabet chart and the sounds we hear to stretch out words.  With support we are combining words and making sure our sentences tell a story.

In Whole Group Math, we began the second module of our Eureka Math curriculum.  This week we introduced flat or 2D shapes.  We also played a dice addition game with our math tub partners.  We completed our third round Math Tubs.  During our third rotation, we practiced one-to-one correspondence, writing numerals, shape identification, subitizing, making shapes, dice addition, and playing Bump.  Please ask your child what was their favorite math tub this week. Take a peek at our kindergarten mathematicians!

On Friday, Mrs. Martz joined us for a mini-lesson on feelings.  We discussed how our bodies and faces show how we feel.  Take a peek at our kindergartners naming different types of feelings.

Upcoming Dates

• Irving Book Fair--October 22nd-25th
• Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences--October 23rd-25th--11AM DISMISSAL ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY!
• Halloween Parade and Party--October 31st--Please take a peek at the sign up from our Room Parents
• Institute Day--November 6th--No Student Attendance