Alphabet Countdown to Summer

 A look at our learning...

Fundations: as we continue working on our spelling words, I wanted to share a quick update. We have just three more weeks of introducing new spelling words, and then we will shift into reviewing all the words we’ve learned this year. During the final weeks of school, students will take an end-of-year spelling assessment that includes every word we’ve learned this school year. Students will be expected to spell each word correctly and also be able to read them when shown on flashcards.

This is an important skill as these words are considered foundational for moving forward—students are expected to have a strong understanding of them as they leave kindergarten and enter first grade. Continued practice at home, both reading and writing the words, will make a big difference in helping your child feel confident and prepared.

Shared Reading: this week we read the Big Books Lucy Did It! and Do You Play? Both stories featured our new spelling words, and while we enjoyed them both, Lucy Did It! was a class favorite! Ask your child to tell you about the mischievous cat and dog in the story—who they thought was causing all the trouble and who it actually turned out to be. We were all surprised! Talking about books at home is a great way to build comprehension and excitement for reading.

Next week's new spelling words:

was

for

Writing Workshop: after a week of research we began our informational writing booklets about penguins.  Students are writing a 5 page book, all on their own!  They designed their own cover, learned how to write an opening page, 3 pages of facts and an ending.  We will finish these up next week and I can't wait for you to see them!  

Math: in math this week, we continued working on identifying and describing the attributes of 3D shapes. Students are becoming more confident noticing features such as the number of faces, edges, and corners, and using that vocabulary to describe what they see.

We also spent time working with double ten frames to build number sense and strengthen counting strategies. In addition, we played a “mystery number” game on several days where students worked to figure out a number Ms. Brinkman was thinking of. They used clues and important math language like “greater than” and “less than” to narrow down their choices and make logical guesses.

We have also learned several new math games that reinforce all of these concepts, and students play them regularly throughout the week during math time and morning work time.

Alphabet Countdown to Summer: hard to believe, but we are on the final countdown to summer.  This week we created art on A day and chewed bubble gum and blew bubbles outside on B day. Here are a few photos, but even more photos and videos are posted in our class Facebook group. 

Next week students will need to bring a flashlight or lantern from home on Thursday for F is for Flashlight Day and one board game or card game on Friday For G is for Game Day.  Electronics not allowed. Please make sure their name or a your last name is marked on each item they bring to school. Students do not need to bring anything Monday-Wednesday, it will be provided at school. 

Lunch with the principal:  yay Kennedy!  She was chosen to have Lunch with the principal for the month of April.  On Monday she enjoyed lunch with Mrs. Isenogle and these other kindergarten friends! 

Miss Brinkman:  over the past two weeks, Miss Brinkman has been the full-time teacher in our classroom, and she has absolutely rocked it! I have popped in and out of the room here and there to observe, check on things, and make sure she doesn’t need anything, but for the most part it has truly been all her running the day-to-day learning and routines.

I do still come in during reading group time, since we both pull small groups, but outside of that she has taken full ownership of the classroom and has done such a wonderful job. The growth I have seen in her confidence, classroom presence, and instructional skills has been incredible, and I am very proud of her.  Not to mention, the students are thriving! 

We are also excited to announce that she has accepted a first grade teaching position for next school year back in her hometown of Springfield!

Over the next few weeks, we will begin a slow release process where she will gradually hand back a couple of subjects at a time until I am fully back in the lead role again. This is the same process we used when she first started, just in reverse. It helps both students and teachers adjust smoothly to the transition while keeping consistency and routine strong for the class. Her last day with us is May 7th and then she will graduate from Mizzou!  We have loved having her!    

More fun at school