Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!

The students created Rudolph in Friday's Art Class and then we used the app Chatter Pix to create their videos! Check it out!

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!

Catch That Gingerbread Baby and Building Gingerbread Houses!

What an absolutely beautiful morning in our classroom! The day began with our Reader's Theater Catch That Gingerbread Baby (based on Jan's Brett's Book The Gingerbread Baby). Today we had our family members join in our shared reading. Next families worked together to build their own design of a gingerbread house. So thankful for my students and their families. May you all have a beautiful holiday season!

Lets Catch That Gingerbread Baby!

Santa Letters, Story Time, GoNoodle Break and Word Study

We were so fortunate to have a group of students from the FBLA/DECA organization come to our classroom this Friday morning. The members helped the students write letters to Santa and read stories to them. They also enjoyed GoNoodles Empower Tools Calming Break before interacting with the students during Word Study!

Why Am I Thankful?

As the students came back today from Thanksgiving Break their hearts and minds were filled with so much to share. Here is just a little bit!

"I’m thankful for my grandpa for letting me help him putting the things on the window", said Carsen.

I’m thankful for playing with my brother and mom said Riven.

I’m thankful for my friend Ryder for skating with me on my porch with my shoes said Drezdyn.

I’m thankful for going to all these happy places. We went to Madison and Oregon because I got to see my grandma, grandpa and Aunt Sue and Uncle Marty said Christopher.

I’m thankful for going to my grandpa’s house because he played with me said Adaline.

I’m thankful for mommy because she played hide and seek with me said Serenity.

I’m thankful for Robert, Evelyn and my sister playing hide and seek with me said Gemma.

I’m thankful for my grandma because she finished my scarf last night said Billie.

I’m thankful for my family because they played outside with me and we build snow kitties said Pyxiana.

I’m thankful for my cousin, Hunter, because he played Candyland with me said Lena.

I’m thankful for my grandpa because I got to see him at his house for Thanksgiving said Claire.

I’m thankful for my daddy because with built a snowman said Jackson.

I’m thankful for my friends, Gavin and Dawson, because we had a sleepover said Henry.

I’m thankful for going to church because I got to go with my family said Noah.

I’m thankful for dad because we played together outside in the snow said Draysyn.

I’m thankful for Aunt Joan because she brought my favorite friend over who I haven’t seen for a very long time said Skye.

I’m thankful for my Aunt Tressa because she helped me build my igloo said Lanier.

I’m thankful for grandma who helped me build an igloo said Audrina.

I’m thankful for going to grandma’s house because we got to make a snowman said Emmitt.

A Slice of our Kindergarten Life!

Welcome to our kindergarten classroom where you will find children who love sharing their ideas. The room is quiet and there is soft music playing as the students find somewhere in the room to visualize their thinking for writing today. Once they have their idea, the lights go on and upbeat music comes on. Students choose what to write about and where to write that feels comfortable to them. The room is no longer quiet as they begin with their illustration and then try their best to sound out words to write sentences.

Now I have the job of continuing to encourage and empower them to see themselves as readers and writers. We talk about the power of yet and build that mindset and self-esteem during our conferring.

Their excitement grows as they know the next step in the writing process is to use Seesaw to take a photo of their writing and express their thoughts and ideas about their writing. Their faces glow when they have published their writing digitally to share with all of you.

Kindergarten's Writer's Workshop The Power of Yet!

A Little Slice of Kindergarten!

So proud to announce that my kindergarten students published their first slice of life post today! They are growing every day into readers, writers, lifetime learners and compassionate citizens!

Take a look at their small narrative writings today

Our Small Narrative Slice of Life!

Vowel Bats and Working with Words!

Has your child been singing "Vowel Bat" this week?

We are having fun learning more about the vowels

a-e-i-o-u

This week we are also reviewing rhyming and letter names.

 

Also students are sorting words with short vowels and enjoying listening to stories.

 

Finally we are learning about the a very interesting mammal, the bat! 

Students are identifying text features and interacting with stories on PebbleGo. 

We had a special visitor today "Bat Man" otherwise known as Joel Knudtson. 

Ask your child what else they have learned about bats? 

Here is hoping you have a beautiful three day weekend! See you all on Monday :) 

All About Bats!

Today the students shared what they think they know about a bat and also came up with so many I wonders! Follow the QR code or Padlet link to read our prior knowledge and then read our 

I WONDER STATEMENTS!

What We Know About Bats by Mrs. Lieck's Kindergarten Students!

Our I Wonder Statements ....

I wonder how bats can fly places?

 I wonder what a baby bat is called?

 I wonder what a bat looks like?

 I wonder if bats have fangs?

 I wonder how a bat hangs upside down?

 I wonder if a bat has claws?

  I wonder how bats can get into small places?

 I wonder how a bat keeps warm when it is cold?

 I wonder how a bat has babies?

 I wonder how a bat feels? 

 I wonder how a bat lives? 

 I wonder why a bat is nocturnal? 

 I wonder how they can sleep?

 I wonder how a bat grows?

I wonder how they can screech or how they echo?

 I wonder how they land?

 I wonder how bats can see in the dark?

Happy Halloween 2016

These kindergartners had a busy and fun Halloween 2016!

Our day began with the story Nightsong by Ari Berk  

It is about a little bat who uses his good sense to go out an explore the world.  We will continue to learn about bats this week!

Next the students used pictures and words to help them read and retell the story

 I found this printable book at http://www.topteacher.com.au/ 

Then the students and I went into the computer lab where we continued our word study. You can find the educational sites in the reading section of my school district website. We Are Readers in Kindergarten After snack our day continued with with a  activity. It was so cool to see the different bats that they created using letters of the alphabet! Thanks Abby Mullins.

Our morning ended with an introduction to our next Chapter in Math. This chapter focuses on Counting and Cardinality. The essential question is "How Do We Show How Many?"

Our bashful bat activity built the understanding of how to use objects or illustrations to recognize numbers 1, 2 and 3.

After lunch we continued our math lesson with Halloween Ghost Math. The students needed to recognize numbers 3-12. 

Then it was time for a little Brain and Body Break!

As we finished our Brain and Body Break Mrs. Lindner, from our Pelican PAC, arrived at the door with our pizzas, breadsticks and juice boxes. We earned a pizza party from the STRUT for FUNd fundraiser. Prior to passing out the food the students had fun making their Candy Corn Floats! Our day ended with our HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE in the gym. A special thank you to Mrs. Zoncki for volunteering in the classroom this morning and then again this afternoon!

 

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween evening! 

See you all tomorrow!

Pumpkins!

What Do We Know About Pumpkins

and

What Do We Still Wonder?

Scan the QR code from above to see what the students shared from their prior knowledge or click on this link.

What Will Jeb the Scarecrow Do to Save His Pumpkin Patch?

Today we reread part of the story Jeb Scarecrow's Pumpkin Patch by Jana Dilon. I stopped and asked the students how is Jeb goingto scare the crows? They turned and talked with a partner and then shared their predictions.We will finish the story tomorrow to see how Jeb keeps his pumpkin patch safe! Follow the QR code below or the link to read what the students think!

Jeb Scarecrow's Pumpkin Patch

Look Around at All the Colorful Leaves!

                     

We're going on a leaf hunt.  We're going right away. 

Let's find colorful leaves.  It's a wonderful day!

Yesterday we read the story "We're Going on a Leaf Hunt". We asked and answered questions using question words: who, what and where to identify characters, setting and events. Today the students were intrigued by a "Leaf Man" and all of the places he goes. As we continued to collaborate about the two texts the students were able to build their reader's understanding by going on an actual leaf hunt. Tomorrow we will continue our adventures in becoming readers and writers!