Reader’s Workshop, Writer’s Workshop, Exploring with shapes, Free Choice collaborations and celebrating the 100th Day of school!
We have started Reader’s workshop! We decorated our book bags and the Kindergarteners chose 5 books from baskets that they can read on their own and 5 other books of their choice. Prek4 and Prek3 wanted to join in and pick out books as well! Each student has their own spot in the classroom to read and look through books quietly and take turns reading with a partner or teacher.
Writer’s Workshop:The kindergarteners have begun writing stories in booklets. For this unit, they select and write about a real-life event. Each mini-lesson focuses on a specific goal for the day. Some of the goals we have been working on include: planning our sentences, ensuring our writing is readable, organizing our stories with a beginning, middle, and end using a planning sheet, staying on topic, drawing pictures that correspond to our words, using drawings to show action, and expressing emotion through our illustrations and writing. They have been doing a fantastic job of working more independently on their writing and planning.
Math: The class continues learning and exploring with shapes. This past week they had fun making shapes on geoboards.
Free Choice: The class continues to thrive and enjoy their free choice time. The Kindergarten and Pre-K 4 students have recently shown a keen interest in creating ramps and roads for their Hot Wheels cars. They are collaborating and experimenting together. Although they sometimes feel disappointed with their results, their determination and perseverance shine through when they successfully figure things out!
The Pre-K 3 children enjoy playing in the dramatic play area, engaging in activities with baby dolls, “cooking” together, and setting up an “ice cream shop.” Recently, they’ve also been role-playing a “post office,” where they write letters
and pretend to post them. In addition, they love painting and exploring in the sensory table. Throughout the day, especially during choice time, the children are learning to work together, solve problems, and express themselves. Collaborating in pairs or small groups helps them develop communication skills by listening to one another.
100th Day of School! The class had a blast celebrating 100 days of school! Each student created a collage using 10 craft sticks (80 in total, plus an additional 20). We also made 100 small cookies and arranged them to form the number 100. To top it off, one of our students dressed up as a 100-year-old person and crafted his own costume out of paper, inspiring other students to do the same.