September Journal Posts

Here are some journal posts from the September Journal #1.  They have learned a lot so far.  They seem to understand how to use an uppercase letter at the beginning and having the other letters be lowercase.  They are good at remembering punctuation marks and copying down the date, but we are at that time where they don't have confidence to try to spell the words.  Some come to me with a blank journal and want me to help them sound out each word.  I send them back to try to think about it and do it.  Then I will help them after they try.  As the kindergartners begin to learn more letter sounds and practice breaking the words apart by sound, they'll be able to write easier.  We practice every day.

 

Bird ID

Each day before we go home from school, the kindergartners and I go through the bird identification cards.  I also incorporate birds into my lessons throughout the day while teaching them the alphabet, color words, first sounds, story time, math story problems and how to write.  

I teach the kindergartners to look for field marks like a fork-shaped tail, a crest on their head or a wing bar.  I teach them about birds' habitats, the way they search for food, their song and how in some species the male and female look different.  Through this process they are learning to look for details, learning about nature and how animals live as well as learning a lot of new vocabulary birds.  You can support your child by taking them for hikes or going for drives to look for birds.  In this world where many children spend so much time indoors, enjoying birds may be just the thing to encourage children to get outdoors more.

 

Butterflies Released!

We waited and waited for wings and we were so happy when each beautiful Painted Lady Butterfly finally emerges from its chrysalis.  Friday was the day to release them.  It was windy, but some of the butterflies held still long enough for the children to hold them.  There was a lot of excitement in the air!

 

Apples For All

One beautiful afternoon we went for a short walk near the school.  As always, I talked to the kindergartners about a lot of different things:  the life cycle of an apple, fall colors, migrating dragonflies, butterflies, how honeybees are good and important, why the creek is dry, why people shouldn't litter, etc.  I've taught them to identify a few trees too:  cedar, weeping willow and when I was pointing out the apple tree a lady said, "Each of you should pick an apple!"  The kids were so happy!

Kindergartners Try Out Binoculars

 

Yesterday I let the kindergartners try using binoculars.  We stood out on the playground and practiced looking at far away things.  I also taught them how to use and care for binoculars.  Binoculars are a great "tool" for children.  It brings nature in closer for them to see.  It causes them to be curious and improves observation skills. 

Mr. Salamander

 

On one of our silly. math videos there is a salamander and I asked the kids if they had ever seen one.  Some of them hadn't, so when we needed a break we walked over to my house.  I found the salamander that has been hanging around.  Their faces said it all.  I taught them about how salamanders are not lizards.  They are an amphibian related frogs.

Center Time

 

Each morning I teach the reading lesson and now part way through, I have the kindergartners do centers.  Three different activities are set out for the students to work on.  It looks a bit different this year, but I am able to make it work.  I have a reading center, writing center and skill center, which was a rhyme matching paper on this day.  Working at centers teaches responsibility and cooperation.  They really love this part of their morning.  

                     

Waiting for Wings

The caterpillars have been in their chrysalis for over a week now.

It won't be long until they emerge as Painted Lady Butterflies.

Until then we wait.  Hopefully it will happen while we are in school.

 

Kindergarten Art Work

These beautiful and unique fall trees that the kindergartners 

painted are so wonderful!  I smile every time I look at them.

Here are their self-portraits that they created during that first 

week of school.  They are so cute!

 

Save These Books Please

Every week your child will be coming home with a grade level reader that focuses on the words your child is learning to read.  I recommend that you save these booklets because sometimes its difficult to find books for their level and these will be perfect! 

  It is really important that your child continues to practice reading throughout the school year and especially during the summer.  Have your child read to their grandparents, aunts and uncles.  Have them play school with their stuffed animals and read to them or they could read to their pet. Practicing reading is so very important!  

 

Kindergarten Journals

 Kindergarten students write in a journal.  It is true!  They write in their journal every day.  At first the pages may have a basic drawing and you will see where they tried to write their thoughts using lines, circles or random letters of the alphabet.  Throughout the year the drawings become more advanced and your child will start to draw letters of that sound and then words using inventive spelling or by looking at the Word Wall in the classroom. In time they will be able to write on their own.  

Each child is at a different level and that is okay.  I try to get them to keep advancing at their own pace.  Each day I do a lesson teaching them how to write and how to use a "magic line", if they just can't figure out how to sound out a word.  I model the writing for them at the board to demonstrate how it is done.  We review our anchor chart on how to write a sentence.

I explain to the kids that their writing is called "kid writing" and mine is "grown-up writing".  We don't want them to think that their writing is wrong, but it just different.  The goal is to get each child to feel free to write and express themselves without the pressure of it being perfect.  I think that you will enjoy seeing what your child was thinking about at this young age.  Its very interesting to watch them progress throughout their kindergarten year.  

We also keep a class nature journal where together we write about what is happening around us in nature.  Encourage your child to write at home by providing them with paper, markers, colored pencils, and crayons.  You could even buy a "primary" journal notebook and together you could journal his/her life as a small child.  What a great keepsake that would be!

Journal writing teaches students:

• how to read from left to right 
• how to write a sentence 
• how to read 
• how to spell and sound out words 
• how to use correct punctuation 
• how the spoken word can be put into written words