Week 15: Run, run as fast as you can . . .

December 16 - 19

At the beginning of the week, we read the story about The Gingergread Man. We re-read the story many times and practiced re-telling the story in order using puppets with images of the characters. Students coloured and cut a gingerbread man and pieces of candy to decorate a large paper gingerbread house.

Wednesday was Grinch Day! Many students wore green and we had a day of fun filled green activities. We used green play dough where some students chose to create patterns, we made a green collage, practiced finding and printing the letter Gg and many more activities. Thank you to the students who brought green snacks to share.

1. Using hole punchers to strengthen our hand we punched out all the letter Gg.

  

2. Students sorted a number of green items.

3. Green collage

Happy Holidays! See you in 2020!

Week 14: Numbers! Numbers! Numbers!

December 9-13

-Thank you to those students who sent in a photo of their pattern they made at home. Keep practicing your pattern making and look for patterns in our world. Here is an example of a pattern sent in:

-This week we worked on drawing pictures to match a number from 1 - 10. Students drew a number of different shapes, animals, letters and numbers to represent a number.

-In kindergarten, we practice counting up to 10 and down to 0 from any number. In the next week, I will check in the each student to see if they can do this.

Next Week:

* Tuesday, December 17th is Ugly Sweater Day and Thursday, December 19th is Pajama Day!

* Monday and Tuesday:  Gingerbread Man story and retelling

* Wednesday is Grinch Day in kindergarten. Students can wear green, we will build with green playdough and make a green collage together. We will talk about how the Dr. Seuss character's heart grew when he did kind things for others. If you want, you can send a green snack for your child or to share with the class.

Week 13: I know all about letter E!

December 2-6

Students were introduced to the word vowel. We completed a Highlight a Letter focusing on the vowel Ee. Students are asked to find and colour all the Es and then trace and print. We talked about how there are many ways to make the letter E and that students should choose the way that works best for their brain.

On Wednesday, students focused on the number 6. We reviewed many different ways to show the number 6. Students then identified all the ways to make 6 that they could find on the Number 6 Hunt page.

During buddies, students played a game using ten frame cards. Each player turns over a card. The player with the ten frame card that shows the highest number, gets to keep the card. We used words like: more/less and greater/fewer.

If your child is using technology at home, please check out these great learning websites:

pbskids.org

starfall.com

abcya.com

funbrain.com

Next week:

-recording patterns in different ways

-check in to see if students can see a dot set on a dice and know how many

-students will choose a number to represent in many ways

-AM group attends on Friday, December 13th

Week 12: It feels like winter!

November 25-29

On Monday, students created a name plate for our alphabet wall using thin markers to make colour patterns.

On Wednesday, students created a winter scene drawing for our grade 4 buddies. We used a white crayon on a blue background. We brainstormed things we see in the winter and then created our winter drawings.

Dice games are a great way to learn to subitize (seeing the set a knowing how many). This week we played a game where we rolled a die and found the corresponding number to also practice identifying the number 1-6. Please check out this video to see some examples of subitizing:

Next week:
- I will ask students to think about how they are unique
- Focus on letter Ee (sound/printing)
- #6 (How many ways can we show number 6?)

Reminders:
- Please be sure to return library books each week. Many students have 2 books overdue
- Dress for the weather. We do go outside on some days and we need to make sure everyone is dressed warmly
- Please leave all toys at home
- If your child makes a pattern at home, please take a photo and email it to me at clharich@cbe.ab.ca

Week 11: Sharing what we have learned

November 18 - 22

This week kindergarten has worked diligently to complete some of their work tasks to share with families during parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22. Please be sure to take time to have your child share their work with you during conferences. There is a book fair set up in the Learning Commons on Thursday and Friday.

We continued to work on patterning this week. We made patterns with colours, counters, our voices and our bodies. Last week I challenged families to create a pattern at home and bring it to school to share. One student used coloured bingo markers to create a pattern and then wrote the corresponding letters to identify their pattern.

On Wednesday, students were able to dress as their favourite book character. I chose to dress up as the cat in the hat. I love how Dr. Seuss uses rhyming and silly words in his stories that make his books so fun and engaging for students. Some students chose to dress as the very hungry caterpillar, Fancy Nancy, and a ninja to name a few.

Next week:
- Name art created by a pattern
- Representing numbers in different ways
- The season of Fall sequencing
- Library AM Thursday & PM Tuesday

Week 10: It's all about the Alphabet

November 12-15

This week students worked on discovering what words start with the first letter of their name.  We looked in books and used alphabet flash cards to choose and copy words. This work is part of our alphabet inquiry focus. Play a game with your child to see how many words you can come up with together that start with the first letter of their name.

On Wednesday during buddies, the grade 4s interviewed the kindergarten students and recorded their answers. Then the grade 4s helped the kindergarten buddies to ask and record questions for their buddy. It was wonderful to see the grade 4s show support and leadership towards the kindergarten students. Some grade 4s had the kindergarten student trace their words or made dots for them to help in recording the answers.

We have introduced the concept of pattern. We can use our bodies to make patterns (clap,snap,clap,snap . . .) We can create patterns from household items (fork,spoon,fork,spoon . . .)

We can use words (hello,goodbye,hello,goodbye . . .) Have some fun with your child and make some patterns together. If you or your child write down the pattern, have them bring it to school to share.

Reminders:
-No kindergarten on Thurs., November 21 and Friday, November 22 as we have parent teacher conferences. Please be sure to book a conference time. Your child should attend the conference with you if possible. This is a celebration of their learning.
- Wednesday, November 20th is dress as your favourite book character

Week 9: We Remember

November 4 - 8

We continued with our bat inquiry this week. We studied how bats look and coloured a template using the colours that we see bats are in nature. Students enjoyed hearing the story of Stellaluna. After reading the story we talked about the differences and similarities between birds and bats. We will have a centre with story props for students to retell the story using new vocabulary that we have learned.

 

As a class, we talked about the reasons why we wear a poppy and what Remembrance Day is all about. Each student made a poppy to place on a wreath. 

We read I Am Peace by Todd Parr and connected Remembrance Day to the idea of being peaceful.

On Friday, we created a collage of our favorite colour using different types of materials exploring different shades.

Next week:
- What begins with my letter?
- November self portrait
- What do I know about bats?

Week 8: Bats! Creatures of the Night!

October 28th - 31st

Bat inquiry:
This week we browsed both fiction and non-fiction books about bats. We then asked students:
What do you know about bats? What do you want to know about bats? Students answered the question what do bats eat? by looking at images in books. 

 . 

During buddy time with the grade fours, we sketched pumpkin shapes and then added eyes, a nose and mouth using basic shapes.

During exploration time students are invited to work on activities using playdough. Rolling, squishing, pounding and flattening playdough works the small muscles in the students' hands. This strengthening helps build endurance for printing and other fine motor activities. At home, you may want to play using playdough with your child. You can challenge them to make the letters of their name.

Next week:

- Letter inquiry 

- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

- Remembrance Day (We will create a poppy wreath and talk about the importance remembering)

- Buddy time: Read the book I am Peace by Susan Verde

- Math Night at Ranchlands November 7  at 6:00-7:30

- Friday, November 8 AM students attend

Week 7: Retelling stories we know

October 21-25

This week students heard me read Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. Throughout the week we continued to review the sequence of the story, used pictures and a flannel board to retell the story. Oral story telling is an important literacy skill that builds fluency and vocabulary.

Students showed perseverance through colouring and cutting out the letter that their name begins with to place on our own Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree. This work is part of our Alphabet inquiry and our unit on "I Am Unique."

We were visited by Ms. Watkins our Indigenous Education Learning Leader. She read a story called The Sharing Circle. Ask your child about the story and about how they felt about taking turns in our own sharing circle and how we could use this idea to solve problems.

Next week:

- Bat inquiry 

- Dice math game

- Orange/black day Oct. 31st

- No school on Friday, November 1st (Professional Development Day)

Week 6: Can I sort?

October 15-18

This week students were demonstrating if they can sort. Students sorted by colour, size or by grouping the same item together.

 

Students love the story Chicka Chicka Boom Boom so much that we have decided to create our own tree. Each student will decorate the beginning letter of their name to put up on the palm tree. Students can then practice naming the letters while looking at the tree.

We have introduced a new Exploration centre. Students use one of four fish that are different sizes and weave coloured ribbon through. This type of activity gives students an opportunity to work on their fine motor skills. 

Thank you for bringing in apples for apple sauce. We were able to make a large pot. The students loved how it smelled while it was cooking.

Next week:

- Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. pictures by Eric Carle

- Dice games to practice printing numbers to 6

- Cutting circular lines

Week: 5 Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

Oct. 7-11

We read the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. Students now have the opportunity to practice retelling the story using felt palm trees and velcro letters.

  

At Ranchlands School, we refer to The Pillars of Care to help guide our conversations around how to be a respectful student. Below is an image that can be used to have your child explain what the pillars mean to them.



We had our first visit to our school library this week. Students are able to choose one book to take home to read with their family. When you are done with the book, please have your child bring it back to school before the next library visit. The AM class visits the library on Thursdays. The PM class visits the library on Tuesdays.

All Kindergartens have a grade 4 buddy. We will meet with our buddies on Wednesdays. We will read books, draw pictures and play co-operatives games together.

Next week:
- Decorate the letter that begins our name to put up on our own coconut tree
- Copying letters and other print (Write around the Room)
- Buddies on Wednesday
- Library visits (AM Thursday/PM Tuesday)
- Friday we will make apple sauce. We will send a notice on Wednesday asking for students to bring in a baggie of cut up apple if families are able

Week 4: Every Story Has A Star!

September 30 - October 4

This week we met with our story teller, Jeff Stockton, to talk about how stories always have:
- A star
- A place
- ! Something exciting

We created a mosaic leaf. Students tore pieces of orange paper and glued them inside the leaf outline. Tearing paper is a way to strengthen hands.

Students have now learned all of the different zones from the Zones Of Regulation. We read a story about a girl who was in the red zone. Ask your child what they remember from the story. Students also shared about a time that they were very angry.

Next week:

- Cutting straight lines and curved lines

- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

- Friday, October 10th NO SCHOOL

Week 3: It's a New Season!

September 23-27

This week we began talking about Fall/Autumn. Students shared about the changes they are seeing outside. We noticed that the leaves are changing colours and falling off of branches. During Exploration Time, some students chose to use loose parts to create an image of Fall/Autumn.

On Monday, we had another visit from Jeff Stockton who is a storyteller working with our school. He is helping us realize that we all have great ideas that come from our imagination. We can then take those great ideas and create stories.

We continued learning about sorting. Students worked in groups to sort our math counters.

I introduced The Zones Of Regulation. This is a program used to help students recognize how they are feeling and be able to name the feeling. We specifically talked about the Green Zone. When we are in the Green Zone, we might feel happy, calm, focused and ready to learn. Students drew a picture in their visual journals about what makes them happy.

We talked about how to be safe during a fire drill. It is important to stop what you are doing when you hear the fire alarm, line up and follow the teacher outside without talking.

Next week:
- Introduction to Red Zone (Angry/Mad)
- Story telling with Jeff Stockton on Tuesday and Thursday
- Evening with our story teller Jeff Stockton 6:00-7:30 pm for students and their families
- Friday, October 4 AM class attends 9:10-1:20

Week 2: Meet Mat Man!

September 16-19

This week we learned a song about Mat Man and together we were able to build him using shapes.
As we sang the song, each student was able to add a piece of Mat Man until he was complete with all his body parts.

We also opened a house centre as a choice for students to visit during Exploration Time. This centre was so popular, we had to have a list and a 5 minute timer to help us take turns.

Students were introduced to the word sorting. Each student was given a coloured counter and as we went around the circle, students placed their coloured counter on a coloured paper. We discussed how we sorted the counters by colour.

Next week:

- On Monday we will have a presentation by some grade six students about the Student Code of Conduct and our storyteller will visit 

- Continue to talk about different ways to sort

- Introduction to the Green Zone as we begin to learn about The Zones of Regulation (more info. to come on this program)

We have just completed our first full week of kindergarten!

September 9-13

This week in kindergarten was all about routines. Students learned how to be a kindergarten student who takes care of their things, helps others in the classroom and who listens and learns.

This week:

We read the story The Pigeon Has To Go To School by Mo Willems. The students enjoyed listening to the story and sharing if they felt similar to how the Pigeon felt when they had to go to school.


We also read a story called Sharing Time by ElizabethVerdick. We discussed how we feel good when we share and when others share with us. Students then drew a picture of things in our classroom that they could share.   

Great news! We have a classroom pet. It is a betta fish who the students have proudly named Fishy Bubbles.

Next week:
- Parent/Teacher conferences all day on Thursday and Friday. There are no regular kindergarten classes on these days. Please book you conference times
- Students will complete an art project based on the story In the Tall, tall Grass by Denise Fleming