October is Disappearing!

Class Picture

Silly Class Picture 

Where is October going?  It is crazy to me how quickly time is flying by!  It is going to be 2014 before we know it.  I guess that happens when you are busy, busy, busy working and learning with some fabulous kindergarteners! 

In reading, we have spent the past couple of weeks discussing rhyming.  We read lots of nursery rhymes and poems in order to help identify these special types of words in text.  We even created our own version of Humpty Dumpty. 

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty didn’t have a great fall.

Instead, he climbed down and listened to some birds,

As he practice writing rhyming words.

Afterwards, the kids created their own Humpty Dumpty.  They had to come up with two words that rhyme and write those words on Humpty Dumpty’s hands. 

We also read, identified rhyming words and acted out the poem, Five Little Pumpkins.  The kids then illustrated the poem. 

We have also been exploring how illustrations aid in the comprehension of text.  We have learned the importance of conducting picture walks before ever beginning to read and have even created our own story using wordless picture books.  I encourage you to practice taking picture walks with your child at home as well. 

In writing, we have continued to practice going through the writing process: think, picture it, sketch it, write it and add details.  This week, the kids learned a huge secret about writing…writers write what they know.   They write about events in their lives, their feelings and even things they love.  We have continued to practice sounding out words as we write and adding details to our work.  Mrs. Camel and I have been quite impressed with all of their hard work in Writer’s Workshop.  We certainly have a talented group of writers! 

In math, we have been working on creating our own math addition stories and using the number line to act out and solve these problems. 

In science, we have been wrapping up our five senses unit, and we are going out with a bang!  First, we explored various types of pumpkins - different shapes, colors and sizes.  After using our senses to discuss the outside of pumpkins, we cut one open for comparison.  The kids were so cute and surprisingly hesitant to stick their hands inside the pumpkin. 

We also drew self-portraits but with a slight twist.  They had to first draw themselves with their eyes closed and again with their eyes open.  They quickly realized just how valuable our sense of sight is to us. 

Eye's Closed 

Eye's Open

To discuss our sense of smell, the kids painted a rainbow using Jell-o paint.  As they created their rainbow, they discussed with a partner what they thought each color smelled like. 

We also spent some time exploring touch.  We played Footsy Feel.  They took off their shoes and felt various things with their feet.  Needless to say, taking off their shoes in class was quite exciting for them!

Conferences began this week and will continue through the end of next week.  If you haven’t been able to sign up for a time yet, please do so at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A5AC28A31-kindergarten.   

As always, thank you all so much for all you do to support your child at home.

Educationally yours,

Ms. Bruner 

What a Great Week!

It was certainly another busy, busy week in our room! 

Letterland is in full swing!  We have almost finished meeting all of our Letterland characters, and I hope your children have been introducing them to you at home and practicing each friend’s secret sound.   

In writer’s workshop, we have been working on labeling our drawings and have begun to write sentences.  One thing I always like to share with parents is that Mrs. Camel and I do not spell words for your children.  We expect our students to segment words and write down the sounds they hear as best as they can.  This is a practice that I encourage you to use at home with your children, as well!     

Just a quick letter that I like to share with parents.  

Der Parints,

Az ur child brings home riting for the ferst tim, do not be serprizd at the speling.  The inglish langwij is confusing for studints.  Prematur insistints that studints uz standar or “correct” speling inhibits their dezir and ability to rit.  We will uz “temporary speling” in r wrk.  It iz a grat assessment to se wut yor child nos.

Az parints u can hlp ur child bi prazing awl their riting.  Let ur child red thair riting to u.  displa thair riting around ur hom.  No that as ur child becomz familyer with riting, he or she wil wake the tranzishun to standar speling. 

Thank u! 

   

In science, we have been studying our five senses.  This week, we spent a lot of time discussing our sense of hearing.  We went on a listening walk around campus.  The kids had to be completely silent as we walked around.  Afterwards, we discussed all we had heard on our walk.  Some heard our feet walking, crickets, birds, cars, and even dogs barking.  We also created our own music box.  The kids decorated a box and were each given two different sized rubber bands.  Before they were allowed to play their music box, they were asked to make a prediction about whether they thought the rubber bands were going to make the same sound or a different sound.  The kids had such fun with this activity. 

We also began exploring our sense of touch.  The kids worked together in groups and were given three mystery bags.  Using their sense of touch, they were asked to describe the contents of the mystery bag.

In math, we have continued to work on counting by ones and tens to 100, drawing scenes of numbers 1-10, and also one-to-one correspondence.  In the coming weeks, we will begin flexible grouping in math.  More information will be shared once this begins.  

Also, the kindergarten team sent home information regarding our very first field trip to the Farmer’s Market last week.  If you have not yet had a chance to return your paperwork and field trip money, please do so in the coming weeks.  Also, please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

Conferences will begin in a couple of weeks.  Please sign up via the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A5AC28A31-kindergarten.  If none of these times will work with your schedule, please e-mail me at sbruner@wcpss.net, so we can schedule another time.          

As always, thank you all so much for all you do to support your child and our classroom.  I hope you all had a restful weekend.  Mrs. Camel and I look forward to seeing all of our kindergarteners tomorrow!  

Educationally Yours, 

Ms. Bruner 

Time is Flying!

Well, we have certainly been busy the past couple of weeks.  It is so hard for me to believe that September is coming to a close.  Time is flying! 

We have officially kicked off Letterland, and the kids absolutely love it!  I hope they are telling you all about their Letterland friends at home.  We have also begun sight words.  Your student should be practicing their sight words at home each night.  Sight word practice is vital to a student's reading success because these words are used frequently in text and many of them cannot be easily decoded or illustrated.  Young children are encouraged to memorize them in order to allow them to concentrate more on less familiar words while reading as well as focus more on the comprehension of text.   So, please be practicing these words with your child each night at home! 

We are also wrapping up our All About Me unit in social studies.  This week, we learned about the abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky.  Using Kandinsky’s work as inspiration, the students created their own self-portraits on a paper plate while listening to music from the era.  We then used their self-portraits to create our very own Kandinsky tree.  The kids had an absolute blast, and their portraits are just adorable! 

This week, we also spent some time writing about ourselves.  The kids drew their image, and completed the sentence, “My favorite part of me is ________.”  Their responses are so cute – my fast legs, my hair, my smile, my sweet heart.  They all did a really great job with this activity, and I can’t wait for you to see their work when they bring it home. 

Yesterday, our P.E. teacher, Mrs. H, broke her finger, so she was not here today for the kids’ P.E. class.  We all hope Mrs. H feels better soon, so we made her some Get Well Soon cards!

We also began making our field trip T-shirts!  Again, we used Kandinsky as inspiration and continued with our circle theme.  The kids really enjoyed decorating their own T-shirts with sharpies.  Eventually, the T-shirts will be sprayed to create a tie dye effect.  Once we are completely finished, I know they will be absolutely precious.  I will definitely be sure to post pictures of the final product.  Thanks so much for sending these T-shirts in!   

At the end of the day, a former student of mine stopped by to say hello and meet my new class.  She just started learning how to play the flute, so the kids and I convinced her to share her new talent with us.  The kids loved hearing her play and were very eager to learn all about the flute!  It certainly seemed to be the highlight of their afternoon!

Also, I wanted to let everyone know that homework will officially begin at the beginning of October.  It will come home each week in your child’s green folder and be posted on my Web site, so please be on the look out for it in the coming weeks.  I will also be sending home information about conferences, which will begin at the end of October. 

As always, thank you all so much for all your support!  I hope everyone has a fabulous and restful weekend!  Mrs. Camel and I are looking forward to seeing all of our spectacular kindergarteners next week.  

Educationally Yours, 

Ms. Bruner 

First Week Under Our Belts!!

Whew!  What a week!  It was an exciting and fun-filled week, but it was busy, busy, busy in our classroom.  We spent this week learning all about our school and classroom expectations, and we also spent a lot of time working with our names.

We started the week by reading Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.  Chrysanthemum starts kindergarten thinking her name is absolutely perfect.  But after the first day of school, she begins to believe that her name is absolutely dreadful, especially when her classmates begin teasing her about her unique and special name.  We used this story to discuss the importance of using kind words or what we call “heart” words when speaking with friends.

We also used our names to create flowers.  Students wrote one letter of their name on a flower petal.  They then used the petals to create their flower and counted the letters in their name.  Afterwards, we created a class graph and discussed the meaning of more and less.    

In centers, we practiced writing our names in Play Doh and also did an art project with our names. 

Some of you may have heard your child talking about the Sid Shuffle.  This is what I call our “brain dance.”  In kindergarten, we stretch our brains so much that sometimes they just need a quick rest, and that is where the “brain dance” comes in.  The kids absolutely LOVE this dance!  

The September snack and specials calendar has been posted on my Web site at www.sarahbruner.weebly.com.  Please be sure to check it out at your convenience, and let me know if you have any questions.  I hope everyone enjoys a restful weekend, and I can’t wait to see all my fabulous kindergarteners on Monday!

Educationally Yours,
Ms. Bruner