Kindergarten First Day Jitters

Kindergartners seemed to have  a wonderful day full of excitement, questions , profound answers, and activity.  We began our morning as you may remember (seems so long ago)  on the playground with Joanna and our whole SK family.  We then ventured into our room to check out the provisions. :)  Many of the children found the quiet area (a decked out wade pool) to be their favorite spot and at one point even had about 7/10 children in it.  Others took turns throughout the day. I even took a turn while reading a book ( of her choosing) with Maia.  Olivia stated later, "I was the first to go in it!"  (Joanna was the first adult to try it by the way.)  First Day Jitters was the title of our first shared story during circle time.

Homeroom/Math consisted of attendance, a classroom tour, distribution of Science and Just for Fun journals, decorating journal boxes, and free choice time.  We also "signed in" all by ourselves (Mondays only.)   Our Math lesson included counting all of the Kindergartners, How many boys? How many girls? and How many teachers?  A.M. snack consisted of cookies with sprinkles and red grapes in celebration of Niccolo's 5th birthday.  We sang the Birthday song again( with cha-cha's I think) and washed it down with cups of water.  The whole school sang to him earlier during morning gathering time.  Niccolo also enthusiastically  served each of his new classmates a cookie as well as a few staff members.

Eleanor and Folurin assembled winding train tracks with covered bridges while Alexandre and Kai connected small mosaic pieces into almost a star pattern.  Mason discovered the "Moon Sand" and asked several times, "Val, what's this called again"  (Mom and Dad -birthday wish list?)      Lilith created a "Picasso Blue period-ish blue"  watercolor painting  while Ava drew a rainbow colored petal/leaf flower in her journal.

Kindergartners were greeted in French by Madame Imogen then practiced their salutations back to her.  She toted a basket of goodies   (various fruit, a panda, a giraffe, an elephant, an interchangeable Cinderella doll, and a rock to name a few)  that she quickly translated to English (mostly for my benefit.)  The children were like sponges as they parroted back vocabulary (with beautiful dialects I might add.)  Alexandre, Niccolo, and Eleanor had an advantage I think.  She also counted  to 3 using forks and Eleanor volunteered to count to 5.  Madame concluded the lesson with a story about a bear that carried a basket of similar items as hers.       

Olivia recorded her reflections about  "rokts" in her journal after Tracy (our amazing Art Teacher) read If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian and then read her own published workStone Crazy.

 During Art we also had the opportunity to observe smooth stones, arranged them in boxes, and paint them with brushes using water.  We also arranged the stones in boxes of black beans (amazing contrast) and used them for "a bridge" (Kai), "a scooper" (Folurin), and  as a great substitute for poultry (Ava caressed the egg-shaped rock and stated, "Isn't this smooooooth?)

  

Other "stone crazy" comments too "hard" to miss:

"I wish you would turn color (to the wishing rock.) -Niccolo

It became lighter!!!! (after she painted her rock with water) -Eleanor

"I have a chalk rock here for writing" -Folurin

"I buried the rock, see"  putting it under a pile of black beans - Olivia

"Some (rocks) have stripes, some have wishes! - Mason

"What do I  do here?"  (after approaching the art tables full of rocks, boxes and beans)-Alexandre

If you find a rock-

a rock that's not

a skipping rock, or a chalk rock, or a resting rock, 

or a wishing rock-

 that''s not a splashing rock, or a sifting rock, or a worry rock, or a hiding rock-

that's not even  a climbing rock, or a crossing rock, or a fossil rock, or a walking rock,but you like it anyway,

 because it reminds you of a place, or a feeling, or someone important-

 then you have found a memory rock, and sometimes those are the best rocks of all. 

                                                                -(from If You Find A Rock, by Peggy Christian)

 Dr.George asked each of the children about what kind of  animal they would like to be  (Maia said, " a giraffe on top of a dragon" and Lilith's favorite animal is a bird)  then led us through a lively discussion about rocks.  He proposed various situations that could affect  a rock ( water, heat, pressure, quakes)   and the children were all to happy to interject outcomes. When Dr. George concluded that rocks, under certain conditions, do not stay the same Mason stated firmly, "That is true!!!!

Dr.George then scored big cool points when he allowed the children to open up several packages of Lifesavers candies( not for consumption-points lost) then allowed the kids to press together jelly bellies to make "conglomerates".  We ventured out to the playground to crush the Lifesavers with (what else... a rock) then melted the the demolished pieces  in a pot to simulate molten rock.  Cool points doubled!!!! 

Kindergartners ate lunch with the 1st graders and were waited on hand and foot by teachers Elaine and Susan.  They heated entrees when requested, opened lids, and escorted children to  the bathrooms and playground as needed. 

On a different note, our school is in need of more Volunteers for the Lunch hour  (Kindergartners eat at 11:30 and have recess 12:00-12:30.  Duties are similar to tasks listed above minus the escorting  but also allows you as the Parent a time to eat lunch with your own child and meet your child's friends.  Please let me know if you are interested.  We appreciate your help. 

More quick reminders: 

• Please complete a "Child Web" (located on the desk) regarding info I can use to provide optimal individualized care 

• Sign up for Snack Duty (one whole week, 2x per day, several times during the year.)  FYI  the children stated that they enjoyed PM snack today- fresh tomatoes, red grapes, mini pitas and/or crackers.
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• Tomorrow's (Wednesday) Specials;  Gym (please send appropriate shoes and Music.
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• We are looking forward to hearing from all of the Kindergartners in the near future  

• Much more info including lots of pictures forthcoming.

Have a great evening! val

P.S  Here is the Daily Schedule. My apologies.  I thought I had already sent it.

7:30-8:30 Morning Care

8:30-8:45 School- wide A.M. Meeting

8:45- 9:00 Homeroom

9:00-9:45 Math

9:45-11 Homeroom 

11:00-11:30 French (M,T,Th)

11:30-12:30 Lunch/Recess

12:30-1:25 Music (M,W), Art (T,TH)

1:25-2:20 Science (T)

2:20-3:15 "Buddy Reading " w Mrs. Carpenter's Class(Th)

3:15 Homeroom, prep to go home/care

3:30 end of day, escort to Aftercare

Friday's open schedule to allow for classroom time,  field trips, walks etc.