NOVEMBER IN KINDERGARTEN

 

It’s already almost the middle of November and the kindergarten classes are working hard!  We’ve been continuing to have letters of the week with the phonics program- lowercase h, l, k, p, j, v, w, q, and z are the letters for this month.  We have also been practicing rhyming words and look for letters, words and sentences in our morning and afternoon messages.

          Making class books and individual mini books to take home for different letters of the week helps to show our progress and confidence in our alphabet recognition and writing skills.  Last week we started journals and everyone can write and draw whatever they wish during this creative writing time.  We also started to put words up on our “Word Wall.”  By the end of the month we will have six words- a, the, at, can, is, me.  These words will be our “brain words or sight words” and are high frequency words when reading and writing.  We will be able to look to the wall for help when we are stuck on a word with our spelling or reading.  The goal is to eventually have all the brain words (30) on the wall memorized and spelled correctly by the end of the school year.  Making flashcards and/or a memory game at home with the words would be beneficial and a nice reinforcement.

          During math time this month we are concentrating on numbers!  We have been practicing number recognition up to 20, writing the numbers 0-10, and numerical order.  Forming the numbers correctly is important and we worked on a number book, helping with where to start and in what direction each number is made.  Please practice at home the numbers 0-10.  Other math activities this month have been practicing number stories (word problems), graphing dice rolls, and playing a “Spin the Number” game, a “Teen” partner game, and “Monster Squeeze.” 

          Center time on Thursdays and Fridays has been a hit!  We have had parents in to help with math activities- playing “Number Bingo” and matching number words with numbers, using dominoes, and making a numeral song mini book.  Other parents have been in to help with computers, painting on the easel, using play dough, and making other letter of the week and theme related craft projects.  Thanks for all your help A.M. and P.M. Friday volunteers!

          Attached to this note are a few dates and reminders for upcoming events in November.  I look forward to parent-teacher conferences this week and next.  Please do not hesitate to bring up any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s kindergarten experience.  Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

                                                                   Mrs Barnes  J