Fall is Here!

I hope that you enjoyed your long weekend. It certainly feels like autumn is officially upon us! Below is a peek at some of the things we are working on in our kindergarten classroom.

This week we will work on the letters Jj and Tt. We will have two more letter experts to help us with the sounds, sentences, and songs for these letters. Be sure to check your child's folder for this important job! We will also continue to work on our Daily Five literacy activities. So far we have worked on what 'Reading to Self' looks and sounds like in our classroom. The children have been doing a great job using their reading bins and reading quietly each day. We have been practicing 'Word Work' activities as well. During Word Work we use magnetic letters to build names and words that we find on charts in our classroom. We are also having fun using white boards and expo markers during this activity. This week we will add 'Listening to Stories' as another Daily Five literacy choice. We will listen to stories on tape as well as on the computer while following along. The children are really enjoying our time spent reading each day.

In addition to handwriting, we are also beginning to explore Writing Workshop. Much like reading, we are talking about what Writing Workshop looks and sounds like in our classroom. We are noticing that there are many different reasons for writing: writing lists, writing letters, writing cards, writing labels, writing stories, etc. Some writers use pictures, some writers use words, and some writers use a combination of the two. Please encourage your children's writing skills at home too!

During Math we have been working on creating number books. We are also using objects and hands on materials in our classroom to show numbers in different ways. Some of the children have also been joining materials together to practice adding and counting. A practice book will be sent home this week for additional practice. Work on this book at your own pace. You may send the book back when your child has completed it or you may keep it at home. This is optional, but some of the children may enjoy completing 'homework' :)

One last item...Throughout the month of October, we will be reading and learning about fall leaves, spiders, and pumpkins. I am hoping to have four volunteers come into our classroom on Friday, October 26th at 10:45 to help with pumpkin activities. If you are interested in bringing in a medium sized pumpkin to weigh, measure, and carve with a group of children, please contact me by email or by sending in a note. I only need four volunteers on October 26th, but all families will be invited into our classroom on Wednesday, October 31st at 2:30 for some fall fun!

Thank you.

Mrs. Eileen Browne :)