Farmyard Friends

Reading to our Diz puppet is a favorite thing to do once work is completed, and it helps build fluency with repeated readings.  Today, we were introduced to two new reading buddies.  The cow is named Spot for the big spot on it's back.  However, the donkey/horse/mule (we couldn't decide what it was for sure) had no name.  We brainstormed name ideas and then voted.  We decided on Plippy Rose or Plippy Rosey.  The students are excited to read with both puppets tomorrow.

Barnyards are going home!

We started a farm unit a few weeks ago.  We are learning all kinds of great stuff.  We have been brainstorming palindromes and making lists of onomatopoeias.  We have been discussing how farms produce products for us to use and specific names for farm animals and their babies.  Soon we will start our expert groups on some animals.  Please look for the barnyards with speech bubbles in their backpacks tomorrow.

Above are Bella's and Isaiah's masterpieces!  I love them!

 

Day 100 was a SUCCESS!

February 27th was the hundredth day of school and our class had an exciting day.  Heather Koester (aka Spencer's mom) came to be a guest teacher.  She had a great project where the students filled a jar with 100 marbles and discussed if 100 more would fit.  When 100 popcorn kernels filled the air space of the marbles, Heather introduced the concept of 100 grams of rice, sugar, and water.  The students were fascinated and I got to take pictures.  Thank you Heather for coming!!!

"The Jar" Ask your child what is in it.

Students were very curious about what would come next.

Heather doing her magic!

The day was not done there.  We made 100 day crowns, we took 100 steps to see where we would end up, we had a contest to see who could write their name the most times in 100 seconds, and we made 100 tally marks.  We sang counting to 100 day songs, and we counted our 100 items we brought in to share. 

 

 

Mrs. Nova also visited us and took our picture.  You will find us on the district webpage.  www.hsd.k12.or.us





Whales and Sharks Presentation

We finally finished our Whales and Sharks unit that we have been working on since we got back from winter vacation.  The final project was to work with a partner (something I have never done with Kindergarteners) to create an ocean mural with at least one sea creature we studied and a food source.  The mural had to include three labels, and then the team had to present three facts.  They drew their pictures, and added labels.  They traced their labels with permanent ink and colored them.  Then I brought the paint out to complete the ocean.  Most of the murals became blue pictures, but it was all about the process and not the product.  All the students enjoyed it and lots of oral language was being used!  It was fun to watch.  Today, the presentations were accurate and fabulous!

 

 

 

Wacky Wednesday's Fun Friday

On Wednesday, we had a special fun Friday where the students got to play our games for the last half an hour.  They did so well with report card testing and the end of the book ERI testing, we had to have fun.  Two students spent most of their time building me extra cubes that I use when we are practicing segmenting.  Sometimes, I misplace them.  With helpers like this, I will be able to successfully teach!

This year is the first year of Free Orchards's Dual Language program.  We have a class full of Kindergartners learning half time in Spanish and half time in English.  One of the goals in our dual classroom is to have half of the students be native Spanish speakers and half of the students be native English speakers.  This way all students have the opportunity to shine in a language.  All year the  classroom has had a steady population with no families moving in or out.  Recently, two native Spanish speaking students moved from our area leaving openings for two native Spanish speaking students in the Dual Language classroom.  Two of my students, Victor and Vanessa, will be filling those spots and joining the program starting tomorrow.  It is always sad for me to lose a student, in any kind of move.  I will miss them in "our room," but I know they will accomplish great things and we will see them at recess!

This is the list my students brainstormed when ask to describe their friend Vanessa.

Sharks are Fish

Last week, we started learning about fish characteristics and how they relate to sharks.  This week we will continue with sharks before moving to mammal characteristics in relation to whales.  We will finish by painting ocean murals and presenting them in cooperative groups.  

Above Spencer and Ji-su are displaying their "mermaid purses."  They loved making the egg cases which are laid by some types of sharks.  The poem that goes with them will be practiced tomorrow!