Just a bit about January

Here is a a look into what we've been up to in January!

In kindergarten we are working hard on writing our letters and understanding the sounds that the letters make.  When it is writing time we first sit as a whole group and work together to write a sentence.  Some help write letters or even some words! 

When we write we focus on...

- Starting our sentences with an uppercase letter

- Using lowercase letters throughout our sentences

- Putting spaces between words

- Adding a punctuation mark at the end of the sentence

- Making sure the picture has a lot of details and careful coloring

In addition to our whole class writing time and our literacy groups, we play literacy games.  We have played Memory and Shoots and Ladders with lowercase letters, Bingo with letter sounds, and Go Fish with consonant-vowel-consonant words.  Games can be the best way to learn sometimes!

When we have snack we get to chat with friends who sit at our table.  We have been practicing good snack time etiquette by chatting with quiet voices, staying in our seats, and cleaning up after ourselves.  We are having way less milk spills than we used to have at the beginning of the year! :-)

This month we have had some of our recesses inside because of rain and freezing temperatures.  We don't always like to be cooped up inside but we try to make the most of it!  We love to paint and color but a lot of us choose to build as well.  We use our creative ideas to make towers, automobiles, and even robot helmets.

During our science time we have been learning about winter.  At first we focused on weather, learning about the water cycle and what the temperature needs to be for water to freeze.  When we were learning about snowflakes, students made several different versions.  We even cut snowflakes for decorations.  We know that each snowflake is unique.  

Recently we have been talking about what animals do in the winter.  Hibernation, migration, and adaptation, oh my!

In STEAM this month students have been crafting and creating a carrying device that Jack can bring up the Giant's beanstalk!  After several sessions of planning and constructing, students got to test their creations with an actual egg!

We are lucky enough to have the ski program at our school.  Some students in KW have participated and are having such fun.  While the skiers are away, the rest of the students stay at school to play and explore.  It is a great way to end the week!

Students continue to earn "alphabits" for expected behaviors in the classroom.  We have had several more celebrations but I believe that everyone can agree that pajama day is one of our favorites!