Week three!

This was our first week of school, and I think we are all feeling it!   Phew!!!   We had a very busy week.   It always amazes me how much there is to do at the beginning of the year, even before we really are digging deep into academics!  What I can say, is that we have been spending a lot of time getting to know each other and laying the foundation for a great year.   This is evident when you come into the classroom.   Students are playing together, working together, and helping each other.  Do we have our disagreements and arguments still...sure!   But overall, the is a tone of peace and well being in the classroom.

This week, students learned about the letters b and f.  We learned the letter name, keyword, and sound for each sound.   We did some sound sorting of items beginning with /b/ and /f/, and learned how to form the letters using our fundations handwriting lines.

In Math we have learned number formations up to 5 and have been working on counting and quantity identification.  Additionally, we are working on identifying alike and not alike, exactly alike vs. not exactly alike (similar), and we are sorting items into like groups using like characteristics (attributes).

This week students created their Hopes and Dreams (a goal) for Kindergarten.   We have been working up to this for a couple of weeks.   We began last week by identifying some thing we had to work hard to learn how to do (I can...).   To created their Hopes and Dreams (their goal), I asked them to think of something they can not do yet, but hope to learn how to do by the end of the year.  Some students created math goals, some have reading goals, and a few have personal goals such as tying shoes.   I will ask you to talk with your child about their goal, and check in with them about how they feel they are doing in achieving their goal throughout the year.  Additionally, think of ways you can support your child at home in achieving their goal.   As students reach their goals, I would like them to create a new goal to work toward.

All students have shared their Me Bags.   Thanks you for being patient with this process.   We only have time for a couple of students to share each day, so it takes longer to get through then I'd hope!

On Thursday, Sara Haskins, the Morrisville Town Clerk, visited all the kindergarten classes to talk to students about the process of voting.  It is a State law that all dogs in VT be registered in their town.  Each town in VT has a different dog tags.  The town clerk is responsible for ordering the tags each year.  The Morristown kindergarten students picked the tag that will be issued next year, by voting for the tag they wanted.   Sara brought a ballot box and a voting booth, and students had the opportunity to cast their secret vote for the tag that they liked most.   The choices were: A dog house, a flower, a badge.  The majority of students in our class voted for the dog house, so we predicted the dog house would be the winner.  On Friday, Sara came back to reveal the final winning tag (after all the classes voted).  We counted each ballot and in the end the vote came down to one deciding ballot (it was a near tie between the dog house and the badge).   In the end the badge won the vote by one vote.   We were very surprised!   It was really a good example of why every vote counts!   Sara treated the children to little dog pencils and dog bone shaped cookies (Scooby Snacks).

This week, I also wanted to start laying the foundation for outdoor learning.   We ventured outside for several learning opportunities (the weather was so nice!).  On Wednesday we went outdoors to practice using our senses to observe sounds, sights, smells, and touch (something we will do in ECO alot).    On Thursday, we did Yoga outside, and we walked beyond the playground with Miss Gales class to release our first Monarch Butterfly!   On Friday we took a nature walk to collect items to bring back to the class and we made nature collages (after reading Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert).

  

ECO  begins next Friday!  We will be going outdoors outdoor learning for about 90 minutes at 1:00. This will be a mini sessions and we will be going beyond the playground, but will NOT be going all the way into the forest to our campsite (outdoor classroom) until the next session on October 6th.   I believe I a, all set for a volunteer for next week, but I will be contacting parents who indicated they can volunteer to set up a schedule.   Students should wear sneakers (or other comfortable, protective footwear on Friday).  If it is raining, please send a raingear you have.