Dear Families,
Thank you so much to everyone who was able to attend and visit our classroom! It was so much fun for me to see your students showing you around and telling you about their day here in kindergarten! We have been very busy this week! I will bullet out some highlights below:
* We wrapped up our learning about apples
* Began working in our writing folders
* Increased our stamina in Read to Self to 13 minutes
* Created our own story using a character from a story book
* Worked with our names
* Practiced a letter sequencing game
* Listened to several stories
* Played :)
* Had two guest teachers while Miss Bailey was away
* Practiced counting
* Matched objects that were the same based on how the items were used and their patterns
* Began learning about the letter M
Next week we will begin working on:
* A new component of our Daily 5 --> Work on Writing
* Further our work with launching our writing workshop
* Continue building stamina in Read to Self
* Introduce and begin learning strategies on our cafe menu
* Begin our social skills curriculum - Second Step
* Begin our learning around pumpkins
* Work with the letter S
* Begin learning about our sight words
* Continue working with same and different in math
* Working with Arrays and counting
* Learn about number paths
Reminders/Notice
- No school tomorrow 10/7 and Monday 10/10
- Stay tuned to hear about our upcoming fall festival!
- Thank you to parents who have donated apples!
- School wide evacuation 10/13
I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend!!!
Miss Bailey
Welcome to Our Classroom Webpage!
Thursday, October 6, 2016
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Classroom Information
.::Academic Structures::.
First and foremost, I believe that students learn best through play. My kindergarteners get at least 45 minutes/day of free play in the classroom. This does not include recess or U-Arts. In addition, I try my best to make learning fun, engaging and interactive. I also believe that students need to talk and share and communicate their ideas and thinking. Their voices matter!
Literacy
In kindergarten, your students will be participating in a literacy structure called the Daily 5. In this structure students gain access to many important skills such as:
* Independence
* Routines
* Choice over learning
* Stamina
* Engagement in hands on learning
* Reading, writing and working with words
Students will also participate in daily phonics lessons that support students learning around letters, sounds and making words. As the year progresses and foundational skills and routines have been established, students will participate in guided reading groups.
Math
In math, students will participate in hands on learning through the support of the Engage NY/Eureka curriculum. Students will begin with numbers 0-5 to build a foundation of structures and routines that will support their work with larger numbers and more complex concepts.
Writing
Students will take part in writing each and every day through the structure of the writing workshop. Writing is critical in early development. It allows students to express themselves, communicate ideas and thinking, and make connections with their learning throughout the other practices.
Science/Social Studies
Students will also learn about and explore several hands on engaging concepts in science and social studies based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards. These activities will include expansion of vocabulary and understanding, projects, field-trips and a lot of fun! Some topics include:
* Apples and Pumpkins
* Classroom Community
* Friendship and Kindness
* Community Helpers
* Maps
* Animals in Winter
* Seasons/Weather
* Force and Motion
* Earth Day
* Plants
.:: Classroom Management::.
Responsive Classroom
The St. Johnsbury School is working under a consistent structure called Responsive Classroom. Responsive Classroom supports natural/logical consequences (ie. something spills, you clean it up). We work to build trust and relationships with one another. We do not all need to be friends, but we do all need to be friendly and respectful. Responsive Classroom supports a proactive approach of understanding children and their development, making learning fun, taking body/mind breaks, movement, singing, dancing and putting children first. It believes in explicitly teaching skills and expectations so students understand what is expected of them and there are no surprises. This model can be described as a "go slow, to go fast". I have been using this structure for 4 years now and I believe that it supports the needs of students.
"Safe Space"
This year, I will be implementing a "safe space" in the classroom. This safe space will be a designated place in the classroom students can use for several purposes. Students may use it to calm down if they are having a strong emotion, or if they are having a hard time focusing. It is a proactive, sensory based space that supports students needs. It is not a punishment and will be accessible to all students. Stay tuned for more information later on this year!
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