Our Hearts Are Filled With Happiness

Our school year began with having students look into their heart and map it out.  They saw themselves as writers!

Then later we joined Global Read Aloud and engaged in sharing our feelings connected with the book My Heart is Filled With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett

Check out what we had to say!

Heart Maps and What Fills Our Heart with Happiness!

Engaging Young Learners in Reading

How do we support young learners when they begin Kindergarten to enjoy reading and writing?  In my classroom there is a lot of modeling and practice.  Students dive right into getting their hands on books that first day of school.  They know that they are the ones that choose their books.

    

With the help of many mentor texts students explore the different ways to read books and to find that perfect reading spot  Having a friend to read to is always extra special too!

Today the students were shown how to use the Stop and Go Reading Mats as tools during Reader's Workshop.  Instruction begins with walking up the "Party Ladder" of reading and building the understanding of how we set ourselves up for reading.

A Glimpse at Our First Week

Check Out a Few Things
We Did This Week

We have been so busy this week in Kindergarten … making new friends, learning
and playing together, and sharing things about us.

Have you heard of “Jitter Juice”?  Ask your child as it is magic and its yummy!

During Writer’s Workshop the students have been looking into their hearts
to see what makes them happy.  They needed to really think about how they would
illustrate the topics that made them happy. Each day they added a little bit
more detail and then when finished they shared their heart map on Seesaw!

In Reader’s Workshop the students are practicing how to pick their own books to read.
They learned a new song “I Pick” and have begun to explore books with their
reading friends.  Also we have introduced the first strategy of reading called Eagle Eye.
This reminds students to use the pictures to help them understand what they
are reading. Their learning targets are:

I can do a picture walk and talk about what the pictures are.

I can point to the words and know words are separated by spaces.

I can practice reading the book.

Today they practice these strategies with their book "Favorite Food".  

Have a beautiful weekend!

Take a Look at Our Simple Machines!

How Do We Show What We Have Learned About Simple Machines?

The students chose their own supplies to design their simple machines. Check out their photos and hop over to their blog  Simple Machines Made by Us! 

to listen to what they had to say!

Forces of Motion Student Inquiry

What is a force of motion? 

To begin we need to build our knowledge of the different kinds of forces of motion and then take a close look at the many types of simple machines that make it easier for us to push or pull things.

Brainpop Jr

Students independently listened to reading using Pebble Go and an Epic collection.

           

Pebble Go and Epic

Then they chose books that they wanted to explore further.

Next the students broke into different small groups to begin to see how different simple machines work.

 

The next day we revisited what a force of motion is. 

Simple Machines from Reading A-Z

Then the students chose what kind of simple machine they would like to design. We gave them choices of supplies and let them make their own simple machine.

 

Looking forward to their presentations of their simple machine creations!