MLK and Penguins

This week in math we continued to practice 5 groups in numbers to 10, teen numbers and writing to 20.  We played a hot cocoa "missing number" game with teen numbers.  Take a look at some of the pictures.

We also began to practice two skills that will be tested for the next progress report.  Students need to count back from 20 and recognize a trapezoid and hexagon.  We are practicing these everyday during our calendar.  Please help your child practice at home too!
In language arts and writing, we read about Martin Luther King, Jr. and discussed his dream.  We made a cute craft and wrote a sentence describing his dream.

 

We began to learn about penguins.  Before we read any non-fiction books we made a list of things we already "know" about penguins.  We came up with a few questions for "what" we wanted to learn.  The next day we filled in the last column of what we have "learned" so far.  Take a look at our K-W-L chart. 

K	W	L
·waddle ·swim 25 mph ·eat fish ·slide on their tummy ·huddle to stay warm ·lay eggs ·black and white	·How do they take care of eggs? ·waterproof?	·dive very deep ·enemies-shark, killer whale, sea lion, seal ·yellow crest (hair) ·leap out of the water 6 ft. ·different sizes ·blubber keeps them warm ·are birds with feathers ·cannot fly

We also made a penguin craft.  They are hanging in our kindergarten hallway!

 

We watched a short YouTube video to help us answer our question about "How penguins care for their young?"  Check it out!

 

 Last but not least....we learned about a new strategy when partner reading.  We call this "Read to Someone".  When reading with a partner, it is important to:  1) sit EEKK (elbow to elbow, knee to knee), 2) the listener should be following along while the reader reads, 3) both partners should be respectful.  We also learned how to help a friend if they get stuck on a word.  We should ask them if they want help (tell them the word) or time (igure it out on their own). We practiced "Read to Someone" while reading a sight word book with two ew star words-little and big.  Take a look!

 

Brr, it's winter!

This week we practiced the following skills in math.  We reviewed partners of numbers 4, 5, 6.  We practiced making 5 groups. with numbers to 10.  We practiced teen numbers by playing a game.  These came home in a baggie.  Practice at home.

In reading we completed a literature study with the story, The Mitten.  We read two different versions, one by Jan Brett and one by Alvin Tresselt.  We talked about the story elements-setting, characters, beginning, middle, and end.  We also compared the two using a Venn diagram.  We made a text-to-text connection after the story, One Snowy Night.  We practiced rhyming.  Take a look at our finished work.

We've been busy practicing our social skills in CHOICE time.  Take a look at some photos of us building, in the "birthday center", and art.

Students took the NWEA MAP tests this week in reading and math.  We will discuss more about the progress at conferences on February 5th or 7th.