April Fun!

We are just loving this weather!  It makes reading and writing so much more enjoyable:)

Junior Achievement

Thank you so much Mr. Will for visiting our class and teaching concepts from the Junior Achievement curriculum.  The kiddos love learning about economics!

Exploring Attributes and Using Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking

Today we used the IPads to play an attribute game that challenge our critical and creative thinking.

Shape Project Using Kidspiration

Today we studied shapes in the computer lab and completed this technology activity using the program kidspiration.

Measurement Lab

Fun Math Books

In the past few weeks we have studied estimating, map skills, and probability. The kiddos love these three books by Loreen Leedy that address these skills.

Fun New Harry's Kindergarten Videos

Check out the new videos on Harry's Kindergarten for identifying long vowels, coin recognition, and coin values. We love it!







Checkout the rest of his videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/HarryKindergarten.

Graphing

Today we took a quick survey on favorite colors from other students and staff. We converted our tally marks into a graph on the smartboard. Green was the most popular!

Measurement

Today we did a measurement activity in the computer lab.

Estimation

This week we have worked on practicing estimating. We have read two exciting books and each day we practice estimating the number of things in a zip-loc bag. Yesterday we estimated a bunch of crayons, made our guesses on post-it notes, and then counted to see the real number (26). We then discussed which guesses were guess estimates. We also watched a clip from discovery education on how crayons are made and the large amount of crayons that are made each day.

Number Stories

Today in computer lab we practiced number stories using "Mighty Math Zoo Zillions".

B-I-N-G-O

Today we played Bingo and we had so much fun! Who ever thought this classic game would be such a thrill for kindergarteners?

Introducing EM Games

Today your child is bringing home information, login, and passwords to play EM games at home. Have fun!

Money Poems

We are working hard on our money poems and also making change each day to match the date- today we made 19 cents for the 19th day. Please continue to work with your children on coin values and making change over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Learning about Symmetry

Today we learned about symmetry in nature, architecture, and letters.

Click here to view our lesson.

Cute Educational Songs!

Many parents have asked me about the songs we sing in class and during calendar. About half of the songs are from Jack Hartmann. I just went on his website at http://www.jackhartmann.com and discovered he has a bunch of new cds that I didn't know about. Wow! Mr. Hartmann cds are so fun for young kids and teaches skills in a fun way.
The other educational songs are from Dr. Jean- more information is at http://www.drjean.org/
For writing time and snack time we also listen to the Curious George soundtrack arranged by Jack Johnson.

Hands-On, Interactive Learning

As our school year begins to come to an end, I would like to share this video of my class doing various math activities.  As many of you may already know, I never do worksheets in my classroom and instead prefer hands-on, interactive activities that help students become self-guided, independent, and responsible learners.  Worksheets will not help our students thrive in the 21st century.  After watching this video, I hope you can recognize the conversations as students collaborate and communicate with each other.  Students are also using problem solving skills and very creative thinking ("I'm measuring his head") to learn new ways of learning and exploring math objectives.  Each child also had a choice on what they would work on during this math time and also can switch activities at any time during the session.  Choice is a powerful way to provide students an opportunity to learn from their peers and from themselves. 

Math Night is Coming!

John B. Dey's math night will be on Monday, May 10th from 6-7pm.  Come have some math fun!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Measuring

Today we worked on measuring with standard (inches/feet) and nonstandard (our own feet) measurement tools.  First we had a measuring lesson in the computer lab where we learned how everyone's feet are different sizes, but a ruler is standard measuring.  Then we went back to the classroom and traced our own feet.  Using our own feet as a ruler, we measured various things in the classroom. 


For enrichment, try reading these books at home (all are available from our school library).

Math Objectives for Kindergarten

These are some of the concepts that parents can help reinforce at home for this quarter.

• counting by 5s
• counting by 10s
• counting by 2s
• counting to 100
• identifying 2 digit numbers (1-100)
• writing 2 digit numbers (1-100)
• identifying pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters
• identifying coin values (pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters)
• practice measuring different things using a ruler