Mrs. Downing's Kindergarten Stars October 4, 2013

It has been a very busy few weeks in Kindergarten.  We have finished up with Senses and Nursery Rhymes and have bee practicing and learning Word Work Station during their Daily Five time while reading groups are being taught. I will be sending home an information sheet explaining what Daily Five is and how it helps the students grow as a reader and writer.

During our Five Senses Unit, the children explored each sense in a museum style set up.  During our Touch Museum the children got to "touch" each others exhibits and then sign their name on their exhibit sheet describing how it felt. During our Tasting Party each child got to taste each others "tasting exhibit" and then sign their name showing if they thought it was a "good" taste or "bad" taste. Our Smelling Museum was set-up the same way. They got to "smell" each others smelling exhibit and then sign their name under whether they thought it was a "good" and "bad" smell. Another exciting activity included trying something that was sweet, salty, sour, and bitter and then mapping the tongue.  The main objective was to learn to build science vocabulary and exploring with their senses.

Listening and learning nursery rhymes  helped the children practicing fluency, rhyming words, and sequencing. They completed a Nursery Rhyme book that will be kept in their independent book tub so they can reread nursery rhymes during Read to Self or Read to Someone during Daily Five. I hope you got to enjoy seeing all of their nursery rhyme activities that have been coming home.

We are well into the Animated Alphabet.  We introduce two new characters a week, learn their song, read their story, and build a new sentence during our read, write, and draw. Continue to add these character sheets and sentence sheets in your Kindergarten Star's Reading Treasure Box or Notebook.

Reading Groups begin Monday, October 7.  Your Kindergarten Star will participate in a small guided reading group where specific skills are being taught at their level.  You will be receiving information about reading groups.

We will begin our new unit on Trees in the next week.

Thanks for all of your help and support.

:-) Mrs. Downing