Thursday, September 24, 2020

Handwriting

 We use the "Handwriting Without Tears" program for our handwriting curriculum. This is a wonderful program and a welcomed addition to our kindergarten curriculum. With this program we use many tools to learn to write the letters of the alphabet. Right now we are working on upper case letters using multiple tools and learning modalities.


First, we all build letters using big lines and little lines, big curves and little curves. These are smooth wooden pieces. We do this on a blue mat that has a smiley face in the upper left corner. This is how we know where to start our uppercase letters. 











Next, we do "wet, dry, try" with chalkboards:  
*  Each child has a small chalkboard with the letter already written on it by me.
*  Each child has a small yellow or blue square of sponge which is wet, a small blue square of felt that is the dry, and a piece of chalk.
*  All together use the WET sponge to erase the chalk letter saying the verbal path of that letter.
*  Then we use the DRY felt to dry the wet letter saying the verbal path of that letter.
*  Last use the piece of chalk to write the letter saying the verbal path of that letter.
WET, DRY, TRY and repeat!

The verbal path is the way in which the letter is written. 










Lastly, we go to our handwriting books and practice writing the letter (or number) with a pencil in our workbooks. 










Monday, September 21, 2020

We Are Bucket Fillers!

 We have been learning a lot about how to be a respectful member of our classroom. We have been reading a lot of stories around this topic. We began the year with the book "Have You Filled A Bucket Today?" written by Carol McCloud. With this story we learned that everyone has an imaginary bucket that holds their good feelings. When we are kind and thoughtful, we can help to fill that person's bucket. If we are not kind, we are bucket dippers, and that does not make others feel good. Our goal is to fill everyone's bucket and in doing so, we also fill our own! This song has been a favorite for the class.



We've also read these titles: 

             

Friday, September 18, 2020

Cohort B- Day 3

 Today we have been very busy settling into our new routines. While I have far fewer pictures then what is typical, just know we've been busy! (12,046 steps at 2:05!) Pictured below are the kids coloring their characters for the Three Little Pigs and later in the day we practiced retelling the stories. Today your children will be bringing these things home to also practice retelling the story with you! Enjoy!!!













Duck, Duck, Goose...at recess- Socially Distanced



March Photos