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| Disguise a Turkey |
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| Catch a dream |
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| Think about all that we have now |
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| Read a good book and thank about what we can learn. |
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Thanksgiving Week
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Week 11
Native American tales have given us the opportunity to read and reread stories with multiple lessons. We've read several trickster tales and tales of triumph. Last week, we made a shift toward thanksgiving stories that can also teach lessons. Our focus story was, Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's by Eileen Spinelle. This is the story of a family's Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong. Each character makes a mistake and contributes to a big problem, no traditional dinner. Luckily, Grandmother Tappleton reminds everyone of the true spirit of the holiday. We focused on two new story elements this week, problem and solution.
After being extremely impressed by how many students were able: to retell the Tappleton's Tale , sequence pictures, and identify both problem and solution, I decided to read another Thanksgiving story, Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende and Harry Devlin . This story also contains life lessons. The very literal, be kind to others and never take what doesn't belong to you. In addition, we had a brief discussion about the saying, "never judge a book by it's cover." That idea is very difficult for literal minds but several kids were able to make the connection and discuss character traits.
Phonological Awareness: Listening for initial sounds, onset and rhyme review.
Phonics: Identifying, sound, and writing t,b,f,n,m,o,g,u,i,a,c,e,r,p & j.
Comprehension: Story elements and author's message
Writing: Composing a complete sentence, counting words in sentences and ending with punctuation. (A period)
Songs: Counting by 10's, Pow Wow Song, & Thanksgiving Dinner. (Children will be able to take their poetry notebooks home to read over break. Please return the notebook on Monday)
Math: We finished a very difficult unit on comparing the numbers through ten. We are going to spend the next few days reviewing and working together to solve problems. The children still had difficulty understanding the difference between fewer and more.
After being extremely impressed by how many students were able: to retell the Tappleton's Tale , sequence pictures, and identify both problem and solution, I decided to read another Thanksgiving story, Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende and Harry Devlin . This story also contains life lessons. The very literal, be kind to others and never take what doesn't belong to you. In addition, we had a brief discussion about the saying, "never judge a book by it's cover." That idea is very difficult for literal minds but several kids were able to make the connection and discuss character traits.
Phonological Awareness: Listening for initial sounds, onset and rhyme review.
Phonics: Identifying, sound, and writing t,b,f,n,m,o,g,u,i,a,c,e,r,p & j.
Comprehension: Story elements and author's message
Writing: Composing a complete sentence, counting words in sentences and ending with punctuation. (A period)
Songs: Counting by 10's, Pow Wow Song, & Thanksgiving Dinner. (Children will be able to take their poetry notebooks home to read over break. Please return the notebook on Monday)
Math: We finished a very difficult unit on comparing the numbers through ten. We are going to spend the next few days reviewing and working together to solve problems. The children still had difficulty understanding the difference between fewer and more.
Reminders:
Early release on Wednesday, November 25th.
No school Thursday and Friday, November 26, & 27th.
Book orders for the holiday will be placed by December 3rd to ensure delivery.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Week 10
November is going quickly.
Although it was a short week, we were able to accomplish a lot. We learned about the Native American tradition of story telling. Respecting others, respecting the earth and learning from mistakes are only a few of the wonderful lessons taught through Native tales. The students used puppets to retell last week's story, Turtle and Beaver Race by Joseph Burchac. It is clear that the students are becoming more confident sequencing the events in a story. They are also learning to identifying main characters by name and importance. We read a new Native tale, How Chipmonk Got His Stripes, also by Joseph Burchac. Our focus was character traits, this helped us identify the lessons in the story. We also learned two story elements, identifying characters and setting. The children practiced describing the setting, (time and place) illustrating the setting and building the setting with play dough.
Click on the link below to listen to our new Pow Wow song by Jack Hartman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnGtg8CblWs
In Phonics: We added letters r and e to our list of letters we should be able to recognize, write and make a sound association with. We definately need a little more time to practice writing and recognizing our new letters, please be patient when you work at home.
Although it was a short week, we were able to accomplish a lot. We learned about the Native American tradition of story telling. Respecting others, respecting the earth and learning from mistakes are only a few of the wonderful lessons taught through Native tales. The students used puppets to retell last week's story, Turtle and Beaver Race by Joseph Burchac. It is clear that the students are becoming more confident sequencing the events in a story. They are also learning to identifying main characters by name and importance. We read a new Native tale, How Chipmonk Got His Stripes, also by Joseph Burchac. Our focus was character traits, this helped us identify the lessons in the story. We also learned two story elements, identifying characters and setting. The children practiced describing the setting, (time and place) illustrating the setting and building the setting with play dough.
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| Building the setting of How Chipmunk Got His Stripes |
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| Using our new sight word board to help spell words |
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| Describing the parts of a story that help identify the setting |
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| Introducing Asiya |
We also want to welcome our new friend Asiya to class. The kids of room 177 did a wondeful job making her feel welcome. We reviewed some extremely important social skills; include others, make eye contact, use your friends name, use a kind voice and friendly face.
Click on the link below to listen to our new Pow Wow song by Jack Hartman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnGtg8CblWs
Phonological Awareness: We continued to isolate onset and rhyme.
Social Studies: Native American traditions, life then and now.
Science: Classifying Animals and Animal Adaptation.
Math:Comparing numbers to ten.
Using a number line to identify two more or two fewer.
Next week we will be sending a new scholastic book order form home. Many parents use this opportunity to purchase holiday gifts. If you would like to keep your purchase, paper or on-line, a secret please just send me an email. I will keep the books out of sight and we can plan for a private pick up.
Reminders:
Blue folders and clear book bags return daily
Green folders on Thursday
Library books Thursday
Yellow folders on Monday
Half day of school, Wednesday, November 25 th
No school Thursday and Friday, November 26 & 27 th, Thanksgiving
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Week 9
The talk in class continues to be focused on animals and the characteristics that help classify them. After observing animals during the zoo trip and a looking at several non fiction books and photographs, we are moving toward animal tales. This will help to make a nice transition into character traits.
The Story of Turtles Race with Beaver by Joseph Burchac is a Tale of a kind turtle who, after a long winter's sleep, finds a beaver has now changed his pond and claims it for himself. The turle offers to try to share the pond but beaver challenges him to a race. The turtle agrees to the race and cleaverly uses the beaver's tail to get him to the finish line. Turtle cheats, but wins the race. All of the animals in the woods are chearing for the turtle and he offers to once again share the pond with Beaver. Beaver is so embarrassed that he leaves the pond behind to find a new home. Beaver finds a great new home and is excited to share it with other animals.
This Tale like many others teach the reader a lesson. We will repeatedly ask...
What can we learn from a tale that can help us with "real life"? (or friendship)
We read the classic tale of Peter Rabbit and will also talk about the lessons we can learn from The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
Reading Comprehension:
Story Retelling in sequence including character names
Character traits
Understanding that Tales can teach lessons
Writing:
Students are completing their independent narrative. Surprisingly, or not, most of the class chose to write about Halloween. Stories of costumes and free candy overshadow those of the toothfairy and zoo field trips. Features of a good Kindergarten narrative are:
Includes a beginning, middle and end
Stays on topic
Illustrations match words.
Phonics: letter identification and writing for : t,b,f,n,m,c,o,a,g,d,s
Thank you for reading and rereading the letter poems at home. It has been difficult to reread them in class. We are so busy!!!
Phonological Awareness: We are still alliterating with sounds. Ask your child to sing Willaby Wallaby using the initial sounds for, d and s. We are going to begin isolationg the initial sound from simple rhymes.
Science: Explored the characteristics of reptiles and how they live in different environments.
Social Studies: Our student were introduced to Native American culture and stories. We will be reading about the Native tradition of giving thanks to mother earth. This will help to lauch a comparison of Thanksgiving then and now. Good luck disguising the turkey.
Math: Unit 4 Comparing Number to 10
We are comparing numbers to ten using the same vocabulary: fewer, less, greater, more and the same as. The students have been listening to math stories that involve comparative questioning. Ask your child about our Halloween candy graph. You can help by asking what comes before or after a specific number.
Guiding Questions:
Tell me the story of Turtle and Beaver?
Which character in _____ did you like best? Why?
Describe, (a character from a familiar story)?
How many more _____ then ______ do you have? How can you tell?
How can you tell an animal is a reptile?
What are some things around the house that start with...?
Reminders:
No school Tuesday, November 10th PD
No School Wednesday, Vereren's Day
Please return your families "Disguised Turkey" by Friday Novenver 13th.
The Story of Turtles Race with Beaver by Joseph Burchac is a Tale of a kind turtle who, after a long winter's sleep, finds a beaver has now changed his pond and claims it for himself. The turle offers to try to share the pond but beaver challenges him to a race. The turtle agrees to the race and cleaverly uses the beaver's tail to get him to the finish line. Turtle cheats, but wins the race. All of the animals in the woods are chearing for the turtle and he offers to once again share the pond with Beaver. Beaver is so embarrassed that he leaves the pond behind to find a new home. Beaver finds a great new home and is excited to share it with other animals.
This Tale like many others teach the reader a lesson. We will repeatedly ask...
What can we learn from a tale that can help us with "real life"? (or friendship)
We read the classic tale of Peter Rabbit and will also talk about the lessons we can learn from The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
Reading Comprehension:
Story Retelling in sequence including character names
Character traits
Understanding that Tales can teach lessons
Writing:
Students are completing their independent narrative. Surprisingly, or not, most of the class chose to write about Halloween. Stories of costumes and free candy overshadow those of the toothfairy and zoo field trips. Features of a good Kindergarten narrative are:
Includes a beginning, middle and end
Stays on topic
Illustrations match words.
Phonics: letter identification and writing for : t,b,f,n,m,c,o,a,g,d,s
Thank you for reading and rereading the letter poems at home. It has been difficult to reread them in class. We are so busy!!!
Phonological Awareness: We are still alliterating with sounds. Ask your child to sing Willaby Wallaby using the initial sounds for, d and s. We are going to begin isolationg the initial sound from simple rhymes.
Science: Explored the characteristics of reptiles and how they live in different environments.
Social Studies: Our student were introduced to Native American culture and stories. We will be reading about the Native tradition of giving thanks to mother earth. This will help to lauch a comparison of Thanksgiving then and now. Good luck disguising the turkey.
Math: Unit 4 Comparing Number to 10
We are comparing numbers to ten using the same vocabulary: fewer, less, greater, more and the same as. The students have been listening to math stories that involve comparative questioning. Ask your child about our Halloween candy graph. You can help by asking what comes before or after a specific number.
Guiding Questions:
Tell me the story of Turtle and Beaver?
Which character in _____ did you like best? Why?
Describe, (a character from a familiar story)?
How many more _____ then ______ do you have? How can you tell?
How can you tell an animal is a reptile?
What are some things around the house that start with...?
Reminders:
No school Tuesday, November 10th PD
No School Wednesday, Vereren's Day
Please return your families "Disguised Turkey" by Friday Novenver 13th.
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