Monday, November 30

Monday, November 30

Letter Study: Uu
 Popcorn Word: are

Reader's Workshop: Comprehension Strategy: Story Elements (Setting, Characters, Problem, Solution) & Metacognitive Strategy: Summarize/Synthesize
We will use the following poster about the boy who has a red ball and is playing by himself. We will work on solving the problem as to how he can ask others to play.


DAILY 5 
Math: Counting Strategies
New Concept: Today you will be working with a different manipulative to demonstrate and support the counting strategies. Students need multiple opportunities to practice the same skills. We will be adding rigor by working with larger numbers. Providing a different manipulative will add novelty to the task and raise students’ engagement. Place a pile of manipulatives in front of you (roughly 15-20). I will place the manipulatives on the ten-frame in the same fashion as I did on day 2. 
Whole Group Explore: Today you will practice counting the manipulatives in your bag.  Remember our counting strategies as you count your buttons.    
Student Application: We will need to use the count and check strategy on our paper again today. We won’t be able to move the pictures, so we will want to check them off as we count them.  
DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY...
This morning, we are making three different holiday decorations to fill the kindergarten hallway. This is sure to heighten the holiday spirit! They will be making a Santa, Christmas Star, Paper Bulb Ornament, and Christmas Tree. 
Music Today

 ~We have a gift wrapping play center set up in our classroom now. The kids will have fun wrapping one of the following items to give to a friend: teddy bear, necklace, car, crayons, or a ball. This center helps the kids determine whether the gift should be wrapped in a small, medium, or large piece of paper. Other skills are: cutting, taping, and writing friends' names. To watch the recipients open a gift from a friend is priceless as both parties enjoy the anticipation. The gift is then returned to the wrapper for 're-gifting' to another friend. The fun keeps going on and on!
If you have any tape to spare, we could use some...Thanks!

~Please return the Club's Choice orders tomorrow if you didn't do so today. Thank you for helping our school! 
~The 'Soles for Souls' shoe collection was a huge success! Thank you, thank you!~The silly turkey made her visit last week... 

Our Classroom Wish List 

Cardstock: Primary colors
Double AA & AAA Batteries
Self-Adhesive Velcro

Wednesday, November 25

Wednesday, November 25

Turkey Day!

 Math: Turkey Tracks Number Order
Roll-A-Turkey Dice Activity
5 Little Turkeys story...Counting Backwards
Reading Workshop: Introduce Fluency Skills: Pausing-Full Stop
The kids will learn about the skill mentioned above through Humpty Dumpty.



SMART Room

DAILY 5
PhyEd Today
A great BIG turkey is scheduled to visit our classroom this afternoon. Rumor has it that this turkey looks A LOT like Mrs. Tongen! That turkey sure hopes she doesn't end up like this on Thanksgiving Day...


~We enjoyed the storybook reader yesterday...

~Club's Choice orders are due Monday, November 30. Again, thank you for helping our school!
~Be sure to check out this week's Maple Lake Messenger as there are helpful tips for preparing your Thanksgiving turkey as told by your child!~Take a look at our adorable Pilgrims...

~Thank you for sharing your most valued treasure with me everyday. May your time together with family and friends this holiday weekend be truly special.

Tuesday, November 24

    Tuesday, November 24

Letter Study: Tt
Popcorn Word: can

Reading Workshop: Using the Reader's Theater script Baby Animals we will be working on building fluency and retelling.

A storybook reader is scheduled for 9:30 to read A Snowman Named Just Bob.

DAILY 5

Handwriting: T

SMART Room

Math: Count and Check Using a Ten Frame
New Concept: Yesterday we worked on some strategies to help you keep track of your counting.  Today I want to show you another strategy. We can use a ten-frame.  Watch! Show students how you match one bear in each box. You will want to model filling the first row from left to right counting as you place each bear down. Show them how you might need one additional ten frame. Now that my ten-frame is filled in, I can count them. I still want to be sure that I count and touch each one of the bears. 
Whole Group Explore: Now you are going to practice using the ten frame strategy with your partner. One partner will put their hand in the bag and grab a handful of bears.  Then the other partner will grab a handful of bears. Together you will put them in a pile in front of you.
Student Application: We will need to use the count and check strategy on this paper again today.  We won’t be able to move the pictures, so we will want to check them off as we count them
Music Today
 The children are learning who the Pilgrims were and how they are related to the first Thanksgiving. To launch this lesson, they will hear the story
  The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Doughtery and then complete a Pilgrim picture by following step by step directions. 

 
~Last call for any shoes you can donate to Soles for Souls. We have had a great response so far!

Monday, November 23

Monday, November 23

Letter Focus: Tt
Popcorn Word: can
Reading Workshop: Introduce the Reader's Theater Script: Baby Animals
Build Concepts About Print

Writer's Workshop: Choosing a Writing Topic
To help launch this idea, we will hear The Best Story by Eileen Spinnelli. To have your child watch it again, go here

DAILY 5

Math: 
New Concept: Dump a pile of counting bears in front of you (roughly 78).  Now that we are counting items in larger numbers, we HAVE to get organized! I could count them like this (start counting, but make it look awkward) but it is hard to keep track of what I have already counted and what I still need to count. So let me show you a few strategies. We can do a touch and scoot method. Touch and move each bear. I have to be sure I only say one number for each bear I scoot. We can also put them in a line and touch one bear with our fingers. Touch and count each bear.  
Whole Group Explore: Now you are going to practice both of these strategies with your partner.  Ketchups will put their hand in the bag and grab a handful of bears.  Then mustards will grab a handful of bears.  Together you will put them in a pile in front of you and practice counting and scooting/counting and touching. 
Student Application: Sometimes we have to count things that we can not move- like pictures on a paper.  One of the strategies you can use is a count and check strategy.  Since we can’t move the pictures on the paper, we can add a check mark on the ones we have already counted.  Watch!  Model as you count and check each item.  
Complete the first few with your students, then have them finish the rest of the page on their own.
Zero the Hero is here today! Day 50 already!
 PhyEd Today

SMART Room

~We enjoyed celebrating with Trason on Friday...

~We are collecting shoes until Wednesday. A BIG thank you for those of you who have been able to donate!