Our reading brains are growing and we are enjoying the opportunities to learn about reading and writing. Enjoy a peek in to our Literacy times in Kindergarten.
Using Our Writing Portfolios
Our Writing Portfolios are divided into various sections 1) Seeds 2) Drafts 3) Finished 4) Student Dictionary. The Seed section is where our writing ideas start. Just like plants, stories start as small seeds. We listen to our brain and feel our seeds in our heart. We draw, brainstorm, and outline all of our seeds that come to mind. You never know which seed may grow into a beautiful story.
After we've created seeds, we pick from our seeds and grow some ideas further into stories and/ or poems. We use post-it notes to help with our writing. Ms. Michelle will write ideas down for us and it is our job to use our best Kindergarten writing (and finger spacing) to write on our drafts and final works. We use black pens on our final writing pieces to show they are ready to share with others.
Reading Buddies with The Wolves
Every Friday morning, we look forward to Reading Buddies. Our oldest friends meet us in the classroom where we (and them) have selected books to read and enjoy together. The Wolves do an excellent job of helping us learn to read by listening to our reading, helping us with letter sounds and sound out words and modeling fluent reading. We also look forward to Papa Craig's (Isaak and Dexter's grandpa) story time Tuesday afternoons. He picks out the best books and is another excellent fluency model. If you are interested reading to our class, please let me know. We'd love to have you.
Classroom Reading
Our days are FILLED with reading. We read during Center Time, in between activities, as a class, in small groups, with partners, and by ourselves. We use our Book Bags to hold the books we'd like to read during the day. We also use our Book Bags to hold our Guided Reading book we use once or twice a week during our small group reading time with Ms. Michelle and Ms. Chesley. We will soon begin working on building our independent reading stamina where we will work minute by minute to read without any distractions for a period of time.
Library Reading
We LOVE traveling to the library where we can pick out three books to take home. Kindergarteners look forward to this trip every month. In coming months, we will learn about finding "Just Right Readers". Kindergarteners will be able to check out a FOURTH library book that they can try and read all on their own or with a little bit of help from mom or dad or friends and family at home. Don't forget - October's library books are due Tuesday, October 17th. Our next ICPL field trip will take place on Wednesday, November 18th. I am looking for a parent to join us or meet us downtown to help out. Please let me know if you are interested. Also, don't forget to pack your child's library card on this day.
At Home Reading
A big thank you for your support in building your child's reading at home. I am thrilled to know that our students are surrounded by a Literacy rich environment. Our reading is growing leaps and bounds and a big thanks goes out to you - their very first teacher. A big thank you to you too for your support in reading programs such as Scholastic Books and Highlights magazines and puzzles. The supplies and resources we have received for our classroom are wonderful. Thanks to your recent participation in Highlights ordering we received fabulous letter and picture stencils to add our illustrating process and letter cards to help identify words and pictures through writing. Many thanks!!
