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Celebrate and Play
Celebrating Our True Stories
Before our February break, we finished a writing unit where we explored ways to make our writing better for readers. This included making our true stories better with pictures and word, learning to write sentences, and using all that we know about spelling. We came back from break, ready to practice our celebration books in a storyteller's voice.
Once we were finished practicing, we had a sharing circle where each person told the best part of their writing. We also reflected on what we had learned and how we can use it for the rest of kindergarten.
After our sharing circle, we also gather in small groups. Each writer shares their whole book and then takes questions or comments from their group.
Avid Readers
We are trying to become avid readers who find many ways to enjoy our reading. This could be in a comfortable spot during independent reading or with a partner during partner reading. We are using fun voices to read and emojis to mark favorite parts of stories.
Word Part Power
In phonics, we are using our pointer power to check our writing.
We are also using our pointer power to imagine where each word will go as we plan a sentence.
We are also focusing on word parts. This week, we used "at" and "in" to make new words by adding a letter to the beginning.
Making Our Place Value Mats Match
We are using place value mats to show numbers in different ways. We count and ring ten, use ten frames, and make the number with model magic. With lots of practice, we are getting quite good at explaining how to do each part of the mat and why they match. We are also able to fix a mat when the parts do not match.
Playing With Forces and Motion
We used makerspace materials and beebots to make contraptions that pull. This took lots of rethinking, teamwork, and perseverance.
We used other fun materials (a car, ruler, tape, string, a wooden cube, and a tongue depressor) to make a game that uses force. We shared our games at the end, explaining what and where the force was used.
Stay tuned next week as we continue with our how-to books...
