Shapes, Shapes, and More Shapes

The students have been using a variety of materials to explore the structure and properties of shapes.  They have also been learning how they can take apart (decompose) or put them together (combine) to form other shapes.  Today they did a fantastic job of taking basic shapes and combining them into more complex shapes. Please enjoy just a few of their shape creations!

Spotlight on learning for September 23-30

Reading/Language Arts:   This week we will be using several Ezra Jack Keats books to talk about learning new vocabulary. 

Letters and Sounds: Uu, Nn

Writing: We have been talking about spacing in words and sentences.  Words have spaghetti noodle shapes between each letter (only enough room for a spaghetti noodle (-:) and sentences have meatball spaces between words.

Sight Words: but, not, us, on, up, down

Math: We will continue learning to identify and compare the following 2-D and 3-D shapes:  circle, triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, hexagon, pentagon, trapezoid, cube, sphere, cone, and cylinder.  We will also be combining shapes to make other shapes and decomposing shapes into basic shapes.

Important Information and things to review:

Review sight words each night

Send a small snack for snack time (no juice)

 

Important Dates:

Curriculum Night September 27th, 6:00-7:30

Super Student work!

Cute caterpillars for the letter C.

A is for apple.

In remembrance of 9/11.

Pink and purple polka-dot pigs.  Don't you love how the students cut them out! :)

More classroom pics...red and black inspired!

  I was so inspired by the red and black classroom at dandelionsdragonflies.blogspot.com that I had to get to work to add some more red and black to my room.

Pinterest inspired "Sharp" "Not Sharp" pencil cups....in red and black.

Ladybug books with red and black ribboned bookends.

New red and black cover for my data notebook.

Student math data notebooks and red baskets with new black ribbon.

This is my sanity saver with a new cover.

I made over my standards board in red and black.

Sweet treats with sweet red and black ribbon.

New red and black signs

Learning center boxes...wish I could have found red handles.

Spotlight on Learning for the week of September 19-23

Reading/Language Arts:   We will continue learning that sentences are made of separate words and that we need to know the difference between letters, words, and sentences.  We will continue tracking text from left to right.  We are beginning to understand that capital letters are always at the beginning of sentences and punctuation marks at the end. This week will will also learn the how print and pictures can inform, entertain, and persuade.
We have begun guided reading with the students who are ready to read.

Here is a little song I made up to help with letter, word, sentence

(Sung to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?")
Letters, words, sentences
Letters, words, sentences

One letter is just a letter (hold your fingers close together)
One letter is just a letter

Letters together make words (hold your fingers a little farther apart)
Letters together make words

Words together make sentences (hold your finger wide apart)
Words together make sentences

Letters and Sounds: Rr, Ll

Rhyming and non rhyming words: We are learning that rhyming words have the same middle and ending sounds. (Ex: bat-cat, house-mouse, can-man)

Writing:  We will continue learning to draw pictures, add details, and make our picture match what we say.  This week we will begin working on writing words to describe our drawing, writing from left to right, and using spacing between words. 

Sight Words: like, likes, and, are

Math: For the next two weeks, will learn all about shapes.  We will be learning to identify and compare the following 2-D and 3-D shapes:  circle, triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, hexagon, pentagon, trapezoid, cube, sphere, cone, and cylinder.  We will look for them in the environment, compare the number of sides and angles, how they move, how they can be combined to make other shapes, and if they are flat or solid.  We will also learn that four sided shapes are called quadrilaterals.

Important Information and things to review:

Check information and behavior calendar each night and initial

Try to complete at least three homework activities each week

Review the numerals 0-30

Review all the Letters and sounds we have learned so far: Bb, Aa, Tt, Pp, Ss, Mm, Oo, Cc

Review sight words each night

Send a small snack for snack time

Wear athletic shoes to school.  Your child may change shoes after PE.

Review classroom rules and expected behavior

 

Important Dates:

Curriculum Night September 27th, 6:00-7:30

Snack Day!

I love my school!  What a great Friday afternoon surprise!

Spotlight on learning for the week of September 12-16

Reading/Language Arts: We are learning to track text from left to right and top to bottom and make predictions from pictures and titles.  We are learning that sentences are made of separate words and that we need to know the difference between letters, words, and sentences.  We are also beginning to understand that capital letters are always at the beginning of sentences and punctuation marks at the end. 

Letters and Sounds: Oo, Cc

Rhyming and non rhyming words: We are learning that rhyming words have the same middle and ending sounds.

Science: We will learning about our 5 senses

Writing:  We are learning to draw pictures, add details, and make our picture match what we say.

Sight Words: can, he, she, we, be

Math: Subtraction using number stories.

Important Information and things to review:

Check information and behavior calendar each night and initial

Try to complete at least three homework activities each week

Recognizing the numerals 0-30

Addition using number stories

Letters and sounds

Review sight words each night

Send a small snack for snack time

Wear athletic shoes to school.  Your child may change shoes after PE.

Review classroom rules and expected behavior

 

Important Dates:

Progress Reports go home September 12

Curriculum Night September 27th, 6:00-7:30 

Ok so.........I haven't been great at updating for the past couple of weeks but I do have a good excuse.  My mom was sick and in the hospital for 8 days and I got so behind at school that I am still trying to catch up! 

Anyway.....the kinderbugs in room 5 are doing great!!  They are so excited about learning and that makes me excited too!  We are learning all about how to recognize and use letters and sounds, how to add details to our writing (drawing), and how numbers and books work.  We have also learned what it means to be a good citizen, all about the jobs people do, and why we need rules.  

Next we will learn about the five senses, shapes, patterns and positions, and more about how to use books.  We will also be concentrating on learning about rhyming.

Here are a couple of rhymes and songs we have been or will be working on:

5 Red Apples
Five red apples
Hanging on a tree (Hold up five fingers)
The juiciest apples you ever did see!
Along came the wind (Fingers ripple through the air)
And gave an angry frown (Make a frown)
And one little apple came tumbling down.
(One finger falls)
Repeat with:
Four red apples...
Three red apples...
Two red apples...
One red apple...

Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys swinging in the tree (hold up 5 fingers and sway back and forth)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, (make silly, teasing faces)
"You can't catch me, You can't catch me" (in a singsong, teasing tone)
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as call be (quiet voice and slither hands like a crocodile swimming motion)
And SNAPPED that monkey right out of the tree! (say loudly and clap hands on "snapped")
Repeat with:
Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey... 

Hands on Shoulders
Hands on shoulders, hands on knees,
Hands behind you if you please.
Touch your shoulders, now your nose,
Now your chin and now your toes.
Hands up high in the air,
Down at your sides and touch your hair.
Hands up high as before,
Now clap your hands--one, two, three, four.

Five Little Leaves
Five little leaves in the autumn breeze, tumbled and rumbled through the trees.
The first little leaf said "I am red - I shall rest in a flower bed"
The second little leaf, the orange one, said "Turn me over, I'm on my head."
The third little leaf said "I am yellow - I'm a happy go lucky fellow."
The fourth little leaf said "I am still green - I am part of the summer scene"
The fifth little leaf said "I am gold - I'm a sign it's getting COLD!"