Reading Goals

The third habit, "Beginning with the end in mind" is a helpful strategy in life. Whether it be for health, mental, academic, spiritual, professional or family reasons we all set goals. This can be enforced at an early age to build life skill strategies. We have been doing this in kindergarten, starting by setting daily behavior goals. Our most recent is to set weekly reading goals to encourage and motivate children to grow as readers! We are tracking if they are reading every night to reach their end goal (ex. Read 5 hours this week, read 6 books by Friday, learn ten new sight words and identify them in the books read each night,etc). I'm trusting their word when they tell me if they have or haven't worked towards their goal. They have been honest with me so far but to help keep them responsible please begin noting it on their hw slips that are already in their folders. The entire school is participating in setting specific reading goals and there will be some fun competition involved. 

Flat Stanley

We had the honor of having the world traveler, Flat Stanley visit our classroom. He was sent to Jaeden by a friend in California. Not sure of the tale of this little man? We enjoyed having Stanley to our classroom as part of his journey! Click here to find out more http://www.flatstanleybooks.com

Friends of Ten

This weeks math centers are focusing on adding and subtracting to ten. We listened to the song "Friends of Ten" to help reinforce number pairs that make ten. We are using break apart sticks to find the different combinations, we are using ten frames and our fingers to compose partners of ten. It's important that they are able to explain their thinking while working. For example, how do you know six and four make ten(or are partners of ten)? Acceptable response: " I know six and four make ten because I started with six dots in my ten frame and drew four more in to fill in the frame. Therefore I know that 6+4=10.

Grocery Store Scenarios

For math, we are using real life scenarios to act out addition and subtraction problems. Here the kids are playing grocery store race. They used play food as manipulative a to solve problems. They pick an equation card(+/-) and have to tell a problem to their partner to solve the equation. For example, 5+3 "you are going to buy 5 cans of soup and 3 vegetables. How many items do you have in your cart? When deciding if it's an addition or subtraction problem we have to listen closely to the clue/ hints given.

Tracked back

A happy crew for Saturday school! We did math centers, writing, and read with our third grade book buddies. This quarter we are focusing on "beginning  with the end in mind" by setting personal and academic goals. We had a discussion about how hard one of the characters(hare) in the book, "Tops and Bottoms" had to work hard to grow a garden. The kids made Hare and described characteristics to describe him and then set their own goals on what they are going to work hard at the last quarter of kindergarten.  

Happy Track out!!

I can't believe third quarter is over! It flew by, but then again having about 10 snow days, will do that!! As a reward for yet another great quarter with these lovies, we enjoyed lunch outside today. I will be at school all next week, don't hesitate to email me if you need anything. If they left anything at school you can come in and grab it. Don't forget to sign up for conferences, if you haven't already! Hope to see you all Tuesday, April 22nd. The sign up genius link is in a post below or you can access it through the other website. Enjoy your time with your kids. Send along pictures of anything fun you do, I'll miss seeing their faces:) 

Leading and reading

On Saturday we earned a popcorn party and reading with the 3rd graders. We will do this again for this coming Saturdays make up day, if any of the kids missed out! It was a great opportunity for the kids to synergize and look to the older kids as reading mentors. They asked good questions and showed comprehension through out the readings. The kindergarteners impressed the big kids with their reading, as well.