Poetry

What is Poetry?

As part of our Genre study, we have been learning about poetry.  We have read a variety of different types of poems.  We can identify rhyme and repetition within a poem and have even written some poetry of our own.  We also talked about rhythm in a poem.  We enjoyed reading a poem about ice skating that was turned into a song with an interesting rhythm.  We also read a poem that was turned into a book.  It has an interesting rhythm of its own.

These winter poems have repetition.

These Valentine poems have rhyme.

Ask your child to sing you this song and listen to the rhythm of  the poem.

After reading this poem turned into a book, the children identified the rhythm of rowing in a boat.  Click on the link below if you are interested in learning more about this book.

The Owl and the Pussycat

Common Core Standards 
RLK.5  Recognize common types of texts (eg. storybooks, poems)
MA3A With prompting and support, writes or dictates poems with rhyme and repetition.

Valentine's Day

We enjoyed a very happy Valentine's Day in our classroom.  The children enjoyed reading all the cards from their classmates.  Many thanks to Mrs. Mendoca and Mrs. Dikan for sending in cookies and fruit to add to our celebration.  Thank you to families for helping your children with their cards at home.  They were so excited to deliver and receive their Valentines!

Indoor Recess

When it's too cold, windy, or wet to go outside the question is . . .

What do we do during indoor recess?

Jack taught us a marble game.

We play in the block area.

We play with playdoh.

We play in the dramatic play area.

We finish work we have missed.

Indoor recess choices are similar to the activities children are involved in during our end of day center time..  During indoor recess, the children choose where they would like to play.  During center time, the children rotate through activities with their assigned partners.  Everyone gets a chance to do all of the activities over a 1 - 2 week period (depending on snow days!)  
Other activities include writing and drawing, computer, games at the rug, and Legos to name a few.

Why is it important to have choice times and center times?

It is important for the children to have practice interacting with their peers in more social situations.  On our Kindergarten report card there is a section on personal and social development.  These are a few of the key areas that children can have the opportunity to show growth and development during choice times and center times.

*Respects school rules

*Exhibits self control

*Interacts appropriately with peers

*Displays self-confidence

*Uses independent time constructively

*Transitions effectively between activities

*Cares for classroom materials

The Mitten

We have been enjoying folktales in our classroom.  We read several versions of The Gingerbread Man, The Mitten, and The Little Red Hen, to name a few.

What is a folktale?

We had fun comparing the different versions and talking about how they were the same and different.  Folktales also give us many opportunities to practice retelling, an important part of developing comprehension skills in reading.

Venn Diagram comparing two different versions of  The Mitten.

The children worked cooperatively to retell the story of The Mitten by Jan Brett.

They also put the story in order and practiced retelling on their own.

The children then made up their own version of The Mitten .  They thought of three different animals to put in their mitten.  They drew pictures and labeled them on the back and glued them onto popsicle sticks.

 

The children enjoyed retelling their folktales!

 

To enjoy a reading of The Mitten click here.

The Mitten