More Nursery Rhymes and Phonemic Awareness

 Nursery rhymes continue to bring smiles to our kindergarten students. We have been taking familiar rhymes to the next level with songs, dances, and art projects. What can be more fun that one "Jack Be Nimble?..."

...How about a wall full of Jack Be Nimble.  This is a great way to reinforce rhyming words and build phonemic awareness.

Decomposing the Duval Math Way

 Kindergarten students spent Math time decomposing the number 3 today with materials, drawings and expressions. One activity was for students to draw three flowers using two colors. Then they had to show the number card that represented how many red or yellow flowers they drew. In this picture, this student is showing the number card of the total number of flowers she drew.

Then students were invited to add the expression/equation that matched their drawing.

Reading in Reader's Workshop

Today students practiced reading privately (with their partners) back to back. Each partner set has time to "read" his/her own books before meeting and reading them together. Children may look closely at pictures, discuss favorite parts, or retell their "star" books. These are books they have heard many times and have no trouble picture reading the stories. They may include "Three Billy Goats Gruff, Caps for Sale, and Where the Wild Things Are. When private reading is over, they just turn, sit side by side, and share a book for partner reading time. This is fast turning into a favorite part of the day.

Humpty Dumpty - Phonemic Awareness with Nursery Rhymes

Rhyming words (phonemic awareness) is an essential ingredient in learning to read. One way we practice rhyming is working on one nursery rhyme a week. Humpty Dumpty is a class favorite. We read the rhyme daily (shared reading), dance to the song (movement), and then draw a picture for a nursery rhyme book. This a a great way for the children to have their own special copy of their books and read them to each other.

Writer's Workshop - The Beginning Lessons

Writer's Workshop is picking up speed in our Kindergarten room. Students are writing teaching books. This paper is teaching how to have a birthday party. Children are learning how to add details to their pictures and labeling beginning sounds to their pictures. It's all the little lessons behind these lessons that make our writers independent learners. They now know where to get their markers, paper, sharpened pencils and how to file their work in their folders when they are finished. All of these little "tuck in" lessons are what makes Writer's Workshop a time when students know what to do, what is expected and how to carry on confidently.

Environmental Print

 All last week the children thought we were crazy collecting their empty snack packs. Today was the big reveal. While lining the items on the ledge, they were asked, "Who can read these?"  Much to their amazement, they all could read them: "Oreo Mini," "Capri Sun,"  "Lunchables" and "Pirate's Booty."  Children come to school knowing much more than they realize. The reading lesson focused on approximations of what they think certain signs say around them, for instance  (Main Office, Dining Room, and Bathroom." Students were also shown the logos w/words for Burger King, McDonnel's, and Target. The children were very excited to discover that they can "read"!

Using sentence strips to teach some common sight words along with environmental print.

Our Kindergarten Class - SMILE

We took a few minutes on the second day of school for a group photo. The tee shirts were given to us compliments of our fabulous PTA. Children are encouraged to wear them on Fridays and field trip days. The Kindergarten Class of 2015-2016 welcomes you to follow our adventures on this blog and join in on the fun under the Big Top!

Class Promise - Classroom Rules

In Kindergarten, it is very important to establish rituals and routines that help the class run smoothly. Our class promise is something that the children helped us come up with and gives us rules to follow during school time. After the rules were decided, they each drew a picture of themselves and we glued them around the promise. It is a daily reminder of our classroom expectations.

First Day Excitement - a Dog Circus Act

 Every year Principal Phillips loves to WOW the students upon their return to school. We never know what it will be, so we are as excited as the children to see what the surprise is. This year, we were entertained by a Circus Dog act. These dogs were amazing. They climbed stairs, did dances, and jumped through hoops. The children were mesmerized by their performances.

Doing a high wire act is nothing for this puppy. What a great way to have the first day of school. I guess Kindergarten isn't so scary after all!!

Welcoming our Youngest Learners

The door to the classroom will be welcoming our newest learners on Monday. We are very excited to meet and greet each child to "The Mall-ard's Magical Kindergarten" experience as we are all Under the Big Top at the Greatest School on Earth!!

Of course we will be having more fun "than a barrel of monkeys" while learning all we can!! Can't wait to see all of you this Monday!!

Last days of 1st Grade

Dads and Dogs

We celebrated our dads with a BBQ of hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Dads turned the jump rope while waiting for the hot dogs.

Final Awards Day - Candy celebrations made the day extra special. Students also walked the red carpet to receive their awards...so much fun!!

Last day - Shaving cream tables!!!

      Happy Summer -  from The Mall-ards

Reunion with Our Fifth Graders

We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to "loop" with our class which means we have our students for two years (Kindergarten and First Grade).  When they go 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, we see them occasionally - maybe in the Dining Room, in the halls or office. Some children come to visit when they pass by our room and test us to see if we remember them. Then all of a sudden, they are big 5th graders.  We reunite with them when they are our patrols and watch our Kindergarten and 1st grade students in the morning before school starts and in the afternoon during dismissal.  For the first time ever, we decided to have a reunion with our 2009-2011 class. Besides being a very special and memorable class, there were still so many of our students still at our school.

They are not 5 years old anymore. It was such a pleasure to host these kids and relive those beginning years at Chets Creek. We saved pictures of them and some of their writing. They watched a video and laughed at how little they were. It was a real treat hearing their conversations about where they remember sitting and how the chairs are so small.  Our little Mall-ards are flying off to middle school and hopefully will return to see us again.

December -- 2010 -- Mall-ards

The Wonderful World of Writing - Our Celebration

 

Today was our Writing Celebration for our Series Writing Unit (Lucy Calkins). Students were so excited to show off all of their hard work. This was a realistic fiction unit of study that drew on their knowledge of Small Moment Narrative Writing. Children used a writing rubric to ensure that their writing included all that was taught: great beginnings, character development, problem/solution, and of course, a great ending. They visited different tables and read their classmates stories. Afterwards, we debriefed and celebrated with Goldfish and Skittles. It is very important to recognize all of their efforts in the genre and celebrate it for the great work that it is.

Engine 30 Came to Visit

Today we had a visit from the Jacksonville Fire /Rescue Team including Firefighter Robert and his friends.  Students had a wonderful time hearing all about fire safety, seeing the truck up close, and getting to spray the fire hose.  One of the firemen put on the heavy duty gear in the 95 degree heat and explained different scenarios to the children about how not to be scared of a firefighter dressed up that way. Thanks Piper's dad (Robert) for showing us your truck and teaching us about fire safety.

 Yes - it was very hot today but you wouldn't know it from these firefighters who did all they could to show kids what they may look like if there is a fire...and not to be afraid and hide.

Lots of questions about what is on the truck - the hammers, ladders and first aid equipment - just a few of the hundreds of items that they carry.

 Each child had a chance to shoot the fire hose and knock down an orange cone.

It was such a great learning experience for the children.  Thanks so much!!!

Meet the Author - Last Days of Series Writing

We are putting the finishing touches on our realistic fiction writing series this week. Our students were introduced to the "Meet the Author" section that is listed on most book jackets. They did such a great job on this writing, we decided to have a class share and have all the children tell everyone about their family, hobbies and interests.  Students shared their "About the Author" page with a real picture of themselves to add the authentic look to their books.

 Students were overjoyed when they were given a sheet of paper with their picture on it.  This added surprise helped to fuel a productive day in Writer's Workshop.

Sharing their writing is a one the children's favorite things to do. They have come so far these last two years...on to 2nd grade very soon.

Skills Block Activities

 Using a wooden block with "ir, er, ur, ar" on it, students were invited to roll the dice and find a word with that "r-controlled" combination. They found the word, placed their chip on the word, and then wrote it on their clipboard. This kind of "hands-on" practice helped to review and reinforce these tricky words and always proves to make Skills Block a little more fun!!

Math Reflex Honors and Writer of the Week

We like to celebrate our top mathematicians and writers every couple of weeks. The children look forward to getting their work up on the board to be shared with the class. Most recently we had "C" who made the most gains Math Reflex and "A" who wrote the cutest story about using a blanket to clean up a picture (using Kevin Henkes as a mentor.)  They also get to sit on special chairs during mini lessons for all of their hard work.  What a fun way to get recognized and to keep Writing and Math so special. 

Puppets Close Up - Speaking and Listening

One of the Speaking and Listening Standards for first grade states, "Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion). Using puppets was a wonderful way to meet this standard and have lots of fun at the same time.

 Lilly and Mr. Slinger from "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse."

We love Kevin Henkes and his wonderful characters!!

Puppets for Retelling - Kevin Henkes Stories

 

Students were invited to create their own puppets to go with their favorite Kevin Henkes books for homework. For the past few days, children presented their retellings to the class and enlisted friends to help them with their parts. 

 


Now they know the books inside out and upside down. What a great way to make each book come to life.

Kevin Henkes Celebration Day - 2015

 

A favorite day for our First Graders is our traditional Kevin Henkes Celebration Day. Students were invited to dress up as their favorite mouse character and enjoy a morning of centers. They made movie star glasses, artistic ties, and has some tasty cheesy snacks. This was surely a memorable day for our young Kevin Henkes fans.