Kindergarten Looks Like....

Socialization and Social Emotional Development are  vital components of  Kindergarten.  Children practice taking turns, being respectful to each other, and how to show empathy.   Many homeroom "Circle Times" are spent talking about our feelings, our likes and dislikes, and our past experiences.    Our skills, however, are modeled all through the day-while lining up, on the playground and during free choice time.  (Right) Kindergartners chit chat and share a pot of warm apple cider in china tea cups to take away the afternoon chill.

Sometimes Kindergarten Math looks like...

After much discussion, Kindergartners arranged themselves in a recognizable ABBABB pattern all on their own.  Previous lessons introduced the AB pattern using shape manipulatives.  

We  identified simple shapes-squares, circles, and triangles then quickly moved on to more complex shapes-spheres, cubes, and rectangular prisms.  

Another Math lesson involved using straws as the medium.   Kindergartners attempted making "symmetrical" figures.  The quest for symmetry was then all abuzz for the rest of the week. Ks excitedly mentioned finding symmetry in their drawings, classroom materials, simple origami activities, and even in their clothing!

This right/left mirror imaging  extended into nature when a Kindergartner pointed out  that our playground pine tree was symmetrical yet our "Yonder Tree" was not.  (The yonder tree was previously mentioned in a circle time song  that goes like this, "I had a rooster... my rooster pleased me... I feed my rooster under yonder tree...!:))

 Kindergartners used dominoes to work on some strategic problem solving in the round!  Each child was given two domino pieces and attempted to  match numbers with classmates and connect our pieces all the way around the table.   A lot of seat rearranging, suggesting, and giggles ensued as we repositioned ourselves for the task.  At the end, we boasted of using all but  two of the dominoes.  Critical thinking, visual discrimination, and lots of cooperation were vital components needed to complete the task.

Kindergartners tried our hand at assembling 3 dimensional objects, more specifically cubes (with the help of Dr. Georges dye cut machine) and  challenging cones.   After mastery, we became experts and assisted others with completing their shapes.

Language Arts

 Our Genre studies continued with Fables, Tall Tales, and Trickster Tales.  The month began with "Aesop's Fables" in particular.  We read how Aesop,  thought to be Greek slave,   often told these tales to get out of trouble and avoid tasks.   We discussed that the purpose of a fable was to teach a lesson  then read "The Angry Ant,"  "The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf,"  and  two versions of "The Ant and the Grasshopper."   We also supplemented our reading with a contemporary twist on the same tale-  The Wolf Who Cried Boy.   Kindergartners  discussed which version was preferred-  the traditional tales or the "gentler", more redeeming conclusions. 

 We also discovered  that "a "trickster" comes in many forms- a mischievous spider named Anansi, a family of hard working hares in Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens, and  a tiny girl, Clever Beatrice by Margaret Willey.   Although we read that "tales" have many names such as whoppers, gallyfloppers, and long bows,  the Kindergartners  concluded on their own that "tricking" is just the same as "lying!"

During quiet time, Journal Writing consisted of telling whether the grasshopper deserved to be without food  through the cold winter or was his fiddle playing enough of an exchange of goods and services.

Kindergartners also noticed that some of the letters in The True Story of the Big Bad Wolf by A. Wolf (a.k.a Jon Schieszka) were embellished with clues of the story plot.  We are now in the process of illustrating our own alphabet letters.   I brought in some of my very old college attempts at word illustration for motivation!



Social Studies

Kindergartners compared Aesop with  a story discussed the previous month about slaves who carried their basket-making abilities from Africa to South Carolina.   We handled  authentic "sweet grass" baskets at Circle Time and noticed the similarities in braiding patterns to the baskets  in a historical fiction picture book  titled,             A Circle Unbroken  by Margot Theis Raven.  The story told of how a family tradition of making baskets  out of the long grasses was carried across continents and passed down from one generation to another.  The craftsmanship on these containers was said to have been so well done, one could even carry water in them.    We also compared  the sweet grass basket patterning to our AB pattern activities in Math class.  Additionally, one child  made the connection that Aesop "The slave" and "the basket weaving slaves of Africa" were similar to Israelite slaves from her Hebrew teachings!

Karl Buddy Wednesday's involved in-depth buddy introductions, more "pool" dicussion, games of chase, and an original song! 

K Buddies added to our Genre Studies repertoire with hilarious  Appalachian folk tales!

Choice Time   Don't bother with the toy... just give them the box!!!

Umbrella Dances at A.M. Recess!!!

Our trip to Wild Swan Theatre did not disappoint!  Enthusiastic and interactive audience participation added to a delightful retelling of "Frog and Toad."  Kindergartners appeared delighted that the stories were by Arnold Lobel, the same author/ illustrator of some of our fable stories!!!  

Have A Great Week!!!!

P.S. Thank you Everyone for attending Parent/Teacher Conferences last week and for your comments and input. Kindergarten had 100% Family participation!!!