Researching Zoo Animals

Yes, we are conducting research in kindergarten! Our kick-off to learning more about zoo animals was our fabulous trip to the Lowry Park Zoo. Next, the class explored a variety of information books about exotic animals that are located in the new Kindergarten Research Station at the center of the kindergarten common area. They recorded four or more animals that each student found interesting. This list is a possible resource for selecting the final animal that each student will research.

Once all the animals have been selected, we will find out what each child already knows about his or her chosen animal, and what we want to learn about each animal. Each child will answer the basic questions of what their animal usually eats, where it lives, what is its body covering, and how it moves. Using parents, teachers, and reference books as resources, the children are challenged to learn at least three other facts about their chosen animal.

Finally, each child will answer the question, "What can I teach others about my animal?" At school, each child will demonstrate their new found knowledge in a presentation format of their choosing. This week's Kindergarten News Calendar assigned each student to gather three additional facts other than those previously mentioned.

From a shared experience to research, and on to learning from each other, each child will present of project of their choice to share with their classmates. These will demonstrate the new information we have learned about our animals, and also our new appreciation of them.

Yes, kindergartners can be involved in research!

Creative Play

At first glance we see that the Grand Prix has come to room K-3. In reality the track built by Lucas, Fin, and Noah is a fine example of creative play. This team effort took planning, cooperation, and self-discipline.

While all this fun might be called "free choice" time it actually helps build a critical cognitive skill called executive function. Executive function has a number of elements, such as working memory and cognitive flexibility. But perhaps the most important is self-regulation — the ability for kids to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline. Executive function — and its self-regulation element — is important. In fact, good executive function is another predictor of success in school as well as a child's IQ.

Everyday Math Is Everywhere!

While our scheduled math lessons are first thing in the morning before our P.E. class at 9:15, math related concepts are frequently integrated through-out the school day, and beyond. Just look at the math related activities the class has been involved in today.

*Reading and rereading Monday's schedule, noting the times on the classroom clock
*Finding page 55 in our handwriting books so we can practice printing the letter "e"
*Counting and comparing answers on the "Question of the Day" graph
*Traveling in number order with a new line leader each week
*Using our time wisely when given two more minutes of snack or work time
*Recognizing where to sit in both Art and Music according to our classroom seating locations
*Writing with the sequence of time that spans morning, afternoon, and night
*Using the digital cameras to take pictures of things with shapes on campus
*Creating working partner pairs, which led to counting by twos, and recognizing we are an uneven group when one is absent
* A brief discussion of odd and even numbers, and what that means
*Looking at the clock for when the long hand lands on 6, it is 30 minutes after the hour...12:30...recess!
*Counting the seconds backwards from 15 as we watch for recess time to begin
*Counting by tens the marbles in our "Do the Right Thing" jar (341 marbles!)

Revising Our Small Moment Stories

For the past several weeks in writers' workshop the children have been learning how to make their good writing even better. We have talked about extending our stories, inserting words in the middle of sentences using carats, and using talk bubbles so our characters can speak. All of these revising techniques add more detail to our stories and make them more interesting. Each student used a purple felt-tipped pen to add their revisions to their stories. Using the purple pens was very motivating and the children eagerly looked for ways to add to their stories.

We have talked about what we need to do to complete a whole three page story, including the illustrations and the writing, in one writing session. Everyone agrees that concentration is the most important skill needed; but, it is also important to limit erasing and to focus on the story you are writing about. Most of the class is able to write a new story each day.

This Friday will be our celebration for the end of the revision unit. Each child will select their best story to "pretty up." We have invited Mrs. Cameron's second grade class to come down to share our celebration with us and to hear our stories. We will begin at 12:30. Parents are also invited to join us. Please let me know if you plan to attend. The children are very proud of their great stories and are eager to share them.

Celebrating Reading

What an exciting week this will be! The children loved dressing up as a favorite book character and sharing their book with the class. It was great fun to see all the other kindergarten classes and well as the rest of the lower school at Town Meeting this morning dresses up in costumes, too. What a terrific variety of favorite books were represented. Ms. Dias-LaRoy was Charlotte the spider from Charlotte's Web, Mrs. Smay came as Raggedy Ann, and Mrs. Minke was Miss Bindergarten.

Tomorrow we will meet Mr. Frank Remkiewicz , who illustrated all the popular "Froggy" books. We have 15 books from this series in our classroom library.

Wednesday is "Drop Everything and Read" Day. Starting at 8:15 until 8:50, we will join the rest of the lower school outdoors to read, read, read. Students are invited to bring towels to sit on while they enjoy reading in the fresh air. Parents are encouraged to join us to listen to the children read.

Thursday our class will join Mrs. Cameron's second grade class for Buddy Reading. We will also be joined by a few local community authors who will share with us their love of books.

Friday is of course the "Oldie Goldie Book Sale". Our class will be shopping from 12:50 - 1:10 pm. One or two dollars will be plenty to spend and we invite parents to join us for this special event.

Celebrating Reading

Families

Family and its many components is our topic for socials studies learning. We will be drawing and writing to answer "who" is in our family, "what" our family likes to do together, and "where" our family likes to go. Talking with your children and helping them think of the memories your family has created will surely make for wonderful writings and illustrations.
February ends with the beginning of Reading Week. On Monday the 28th, children are invited to dress as their favorite book character and share their books in class. Tuesday's highlight is visiting illustrator, Frank Remkiewicz, whose work includes The Froggy Books. We will drop everything and read on Wednesday. Bring a towel in case the lawn is damp. Thursday we'll be buddy reading and visits from community authors. Don't miss Friday's Oldie Goldie Book Sale. Clear off those shelves and bring in titles you and your family wish to donate.