Discovering Patterns in Reading and Writing

Today we are beginning new units of study in both our reading and writing workshops. We will first be discovering patterns in our reading books. Analyzing patterns in stories helps early readers to read effectively and with greater fluency. Today's reading example will be about the classroom. We will reread a story we shared early in the fall to see how the pattern in the first pages of the book helps us predict the rest of the story. The book goes something like this: "See the computer." "See the crayons." etc. We will also revisit a class favorite, "Brown Bear, Brown, What Do You See?" to talk about the story's pattern and discuss why this book is so popular. During December we will quickly transition to more complex story patterns. First, the sample books will be more like lists in book form. Later, we will explore pattern books that tell a story.

In writers' workshop we will begin creating our own pattern books using the formats we discovered in our reading. We will be writing about a number of non-fiction topics chosen from a long list of topics that the class brainstormed. Later, we will include stories that are fiction, too, as well as ones that ask questions.

In our study of pattern books we will emphasize reinforcing basic vocabulary both to read and spell, ( look, here, come, etc.) We will stress working neatly, using spaces between words, including periods and question marks at the end of sentences, staying on the chosen topic, and writing stories that are easy to read. Our lessons will include changing the characters, places, and settings to create patterns stories. We will introduce adding colors, numbers, and other descriptive words to our sentences to make our writing come alive. We will discover that many pattern books have a twist at the end to summarize book, such as "My Classroom." Sometimes the twist is also the same as the title.

With so much to learn about pattern books, December will find us very busy.

Service Learning: Our Community Involvement

After our informative visit to the homeless shelter on Fourth Street South last month, our kindergarten classes wanted to find a way to help make Thanksgiving enjoyable for the guests who would be eating at the shelter that day. The Salvation Army usually serves over 100 meals on the 24 tables in their dining room.

First we decided that each of our three classes would make eight paper turkeys with real feathers to serve as center pieces for the 24 tables. This will help add a festive atmosphere to the dining hall.

Then, we remembered those 58 cans of pumpkin that we were challenged to use for the shelter. Six cans has been baked into pumpkin crisp and delivered when our kindergartens toured the shelter, which left 52 cans. The children voted unanimously that we should make pumpkin pies to be delivered along with our turkey decorations in time to be served for the Thanksgiving meal. We calculated that we would need to make one pie for each of the 24 tables to ensure that each guest would have a piece. A special thanks to all our families who provided the necessary ingredients and assistance to help our students make so many pies.

Today began our assembly of pies. Recipes were doubled and tripled to be sure each classes participation would yield the amounts needed. We have frozen the pies for delivery and the Salvation Army Shelter kitchen will be baking them in their extra large ovens next week. We hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Investigating Solids and Liquids

Our science lessons and explorations are now focusing on a brand new unit for kindergarten, the study of solids and liquids. We began our investigations by observing and describing two solid objects, a blue plastic spoon and a steel ball. The children did a great job comparing the properties and recording an observation in their new science journals.

With the help of a partner and our science volunteers, children then sorted a tray of 20 objects, first by color and then by shape. Comparing items elicited a broad number of attribute classifications such as metal, lines, round, clear, bounce, and shine.

Today students will continue their observation of solids and record their findings on a Venn Diagram. This will provide a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the characteristics of the various items. Which items can roll, stack, or do both?

Our study of matter will continue with investigations of hardness, solids in water (float and sink) and testing solids for magnetism. Next, we will expand our exploration to discover how many other ways are we able to sort these 20 items. This section concludes with a fresh observation of two new items as an assessment of the lessons on the properties of solids.

The latter section of this unit will investigate how liquids flow, mix, drop and spill.