Our First Two Days of Kindergarten

It has been a pleasure to be back at school with such a creative and caring group of kindergartners!  It is going to be a great year of learning and growing.  We are taking the time to learn about one another and how to take care of our classroom. The focus of the first two days of school was building the foundation for a cooperative and caring classroom community. 

The first block of our morning is always spent on a class meeting and our literacy block.  During the first two days of schools, we completed projects during our literacy block.  We enjoyed reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and making our own Chicka Chicka Boom Boom trees.  We watched a short Chicka Chicka Boom Boom video clip (see video on right).  Below, Sadie, Alice, Lucy and Henry show off their school buses made on the second day of school. 

Clara and Lia have fun while working on self-portraits.

Snack and recess are always a favorite part of our morning.  A great deal of time goes into teaching the routines of snack and recess.

Henry and Lucas R. enjoy snack together.

Lucas L. and Henry test out the soccer field on the first day of school.

Joe climbs on the playground structure.

Alice and Rose find some shade under a slide.

Ayler and Joshua get a push on the tire swing.

After recess and lunch, kindergartners head back to the classroom for some quiet time, usually lasting 30 minutes.  Most of this time is spent listening to a read-a-loud.  For most of September we will read different types of picture books.  As the year moves along, students enjoy listening to chapter books during quiet time.  The last ten minutes are spent reading quietly or on some days drawing.

Sadie and Madison enjoy a book during quiet time.

Lucy reads a book too!

An important part of our afternoon is participating in learning centers.  During our first two days of kindergarten we spent time exploring different areas of the classroom.  It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about each other, classroom routines and expectations.

Henry, Summit and Rose work together using pattern blocks.

Lia and Lucas L. work with unifix cubes.

Summit shows off his pattern block creations.

Samantha and Joe play with the tree house.

Charlie, Joshua, Summit and Lucas R. explore in the block center.

Alice and Madison cook up a creation in dramatic play.

Sadie, Ayler, Rose and Samantha create a game in the tree house.

Samantha sorts animals by size.

Charlie and Summit discover they know a lot about cars and trucks!

On a really hot afternoon students were introduced to TumbleBooks.  The TumbleBook Library is an online collection of animated, talking picture books that students love.  Harold Martin pays for a subscription to this website but you can use it at home too.  The link is on the right.  The username is: haroldmartin. The password is: hms.

Classroom Odds and Ends:

We are very lucky to have Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Bayly and Mrs. Odgen working in our classroom this year.   Mrs. Cowan spends the entire day in our classroom while Mrs. Bayly and Mrs. Ogden each help out for half of the day.

Our classroom is in need of a few supplies.  If anyone is interested in sending in Clorox wipes, tissues, spoons or snacks for students who forget theirs, it would be greatly appreciated. We could also use a new batch of play dough. Please see the recipe below.

Remember your home-to-school folders everyday!

If you have not returned the paperwork sent home on the first day of school, please do so ASAP. 

Last, but not least, I would like to thank everyone for their patience as we develop our classroom routine.  It takes time teaching four, five and six year olds all of the different parts of our day.  Soon they all will be very independent and know exactly the type of milk they drink and how they are getting home.  Until then, all of the notes and emails about where your child is headed after school are VERY helpful. 

I'm looking forward to a great year!

PLAY DOUGH RECIPE

2   cups     flour

1   cup       salt

4   tsp.       cream of tartar

2  Tbsp     cooking oil

2  cups     water

Food coloring

Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in medium size pot.  In a separate bowl, mix water, oil and food coloring.  Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and stir.  Cook over low to medium-low heat for 3-5 minutes.  Keep stirring until the mixture forms a solid ball.  Place on counter top and gently knead warm dough until cool to the touch.  Cool completely before storing in a plastic bag or covered container.  This recipe can easily be doubled so you can have play-dough at home too!