Thursday, September 28, 2017

Fall cookout fun

Our fall cook out was a blast!  Thank you to everyone who joined us and especially those who invited friends to join their picnic!  









Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Building stamina

Students have been building stamina daily using their new emergent skills.  Readers love exploring different genres in the classroom: fiction, information, how-to, biographies, etc.









Readers readers readers



Readers practice each day reading the pictures, retelling the story and reading the words they know.  Encourage them to share these skills with you at home.  Model reading the pictures for your child too.  Look at the pictures, make a brief comment about what is happening and connect the events page to page.  It is fun to put yourself in their shoes and remember what it feels like to try new skills.  Retell a favorite story using the pictures from the book, use character names instead of pronouns, practice using story book language and make your voice sound like the characters in the book.    

Beat the heat

Friday students enjoyed "Franklin Goes to School" with popcorn.  These little bodies were exhausted from a full week of learning and the heat.  


Partner reading

Reading, writing and listening are part of our daily learning.  Students are practicing building stamina in each area to build independence for literacy centers which will allow students differentiated instruction and independent work (meeting each child where they are at).

What does partner reading look like?

  • Eyes on the book
  • Sitting K-K-E-E (knee, knee, elbow, elbow)
  • Taking turns see-saw style
  • Reading the whole time
  • Book talk only (my favorite part is.... this reminds me of...)









Friday, September 15, 2017

More name fun

Students engage in a variety of activities each day to build fine motor skills and work on mastering the skill of writing their names with a capital letter for the first letter and the remaining letters, lower case.  From tearing paper and gluing pieces to their names to tracing their names, writing their names, making them with magnetic letters and even making the letters with Wiki sticks.  











Fifth grade learning partners

Once a week our class partners with Mrs. Swan's fifth grade as learning partners.  This week the students read books together and shared their favorite parts with their buddy.  Building these relationships throughout the year benefit both the 5th graders, allowing them leadership opportunities and the kindergarteners often become more confident and at home at Westwoods due to these relationships.  













Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Students made their own coconut trees after we spent time reading the words in Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and retelling the story to our friends.  Next, the students will add the letters from their names to their trees.







Library visit

Thursday's visit to the library with Mrs. Maniaci was a hit!  The students loved hearing the story, checking out books and reading to their friends.  

Here are some ways to enhance your child's school library experience:

  • Make a plan with them of where the book can live for the week
  • Have your child read you the pictures in the book or predict about what you could learn if it is informational text
  • Read the words to them sometime throughout the week
  • Make connections to the book, what it reminds you of and why
  • Share your favorite part and why (book talk is the best)
  • Enjoy this amazing experience every opportunity, they are miraculous to be part of
  • Refrain from correcting your child when they make mistakes