Welcome to ECS!

The first week of Kindergarten is done! We spent the week becoming used to rules and routines. We worked very hard.

Special Helper
Every day we have a special helper. The special helper assists me with the morning calendar by:
- telling me how to spell his/her name
- adding the day to our calendar
- telling us what day it is today, was yesterday and will be tomorrow
- adds a straw to our days in school pocket chart (When we reach 100 we have a party!) 
- counts the children: all of the children, then the boys and the girls. Then we add and subtract the numbers.

This routine is added to throughout the year as we learn more and progress. For example: patterns, reading the room and helping with the morning message. 

All About Me

Our theme for this week was "All About Me". We worked on completing a flip book all week. I found the book from Reagen Tunstall. We completed a page every day and will send home the completed book on Tuesday. 

We created self portraits using a variety of materials. They look awesome!

Math

We began sorting this week by looking at what makes things same and different. We looked at shoes and attribute blocks. We talked about colours, shapes, size and type as ways of sorting. Once the children understand how to sort we can begin learning about patterns. 

 No laces or velcro (slip on).

 Laces

 Velcro

 Velcro. Sparkles. White.

Black. Laces.

We practiced sorting buttons. The kids loved this activity and it will be a new centre. 

At home practice sorting a variety of materials: laundry by type or colour, snacks by shape, toys by type, etc. 

Writing

We started our journals this week. The children were asked to draw a picture showing their favourite part of Kindergarten. This activity was an introduction to our writing process. At this stage they are beginning with pictures but by the end of the year they will be writing as well.  As the year progresses the children will become more confident and learn how to sound out simple words. 

Animated Literacy:

We began our Animated Literacy program on Friday. It teaches letters and sounds (phonics) to the children as well as many language and reading concepts. Every sound has a character, gesture and song. 

On Friday, we learned about Polly Panda who likes to paint purple and pink P's on items. 

Please go over the handout that has been sent home with your child to review the sound and letter. They can colour the picture and then circle the special sound within the song at the bottom. Also, try to find the letter or sound all around you: in books, on signs, on clothes or toys. 

For more information on this program please visit http://www.animated-literacy.com/Animated_Literacy_Home.html

Handwriting Without Tears

We learned about Mat Man and practiced drawing people. We are focussing on correct pencil grip and encourage you to practice writing at home or completing fine motor activities. I have a variety of activities that you can do at home posted on pinterest  (follow the link on the side to see). Next week we will begin learning how to write letters. For information on the order that I will be teaching letters please go to their website: http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/why-it-works/teaching-order

Tying Shoes:
Many of the children are interested in learning how to tie their shoes. I created a fine motor centre and started teaching how to tie. I started by showing how to do the simple knot or the beginning step. Once they found that easy, we started practicing "bunny ears". Practice with your child at home if they are interested and ready. We will be working on this concept throughout the year.

Here is a video on how to do the "bunny ear method" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsFKxElIr_A


Don't Forget:

Send a healthy snack with your child. A list has been sent home or you can visit 100 Days of Real Food for some awesome ideas.

Each child needs to have indoor shoes, a backpack and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Feel free to contact me anytime with any questions or concerns. I can be reached at the school, by email or just drop in (I am usually around before school). 

The Last 26 Days of School

For the last 26 days of school we did an alphabet countdown which made every day special and fun.

A is for Adventure Day: 

We went on an adventure to Children's Festival. We had our faces painted and went to see a show. 

B is for Bubble Day:

We went to the park and played with bubbles.

C is for Crazy Hair Day:

The children came to school with crazy hair. 

D is for Dance Day:

We danced the day away.

E is for Exercise Day:

We took a walk to the park and completed some exercises. 

F is for Freeze Day:

We played freeze tag and had freezies.

G is for Game Day:

The children brought games and we had a fun morning playing them.

H is for Hat Day:

We wore our favourite hats to school.

I is for Ice Cream Day:

The children wrote down why they should get ice cream and then they ate a delicious ice cream treat.

J is for Joke Day:

The children brought in jokes to tell and we spent the morning laughing.

K is for Kindergarten Day:

We wrote down all of the things that we loved about Kindergarten.

L is for Letter Day:

We created a book for the students next year by each child writing down what they think the next class will like. 

 I found this idea on Pinterest and it led me to this page. I am excited to use this book at the start of Kindergarten next year. 

M is for Marshmallow Madness Day:

We built structures out of marshmallows and toothpicks.

N is for Number Day:

We had fun playing many number games.

O is for Outdoor Appreciation Day:

We went outside and completed an obstacle course.

P is for Paleontologist:

We were paleontologists and we dug dinosaur bones out of hardened clay and put them together like a puzzle. It was messy but so much fun! 

Q is for Q-tip Painting Day:

We painted pictures using q-tips.

R is for Rhinos, Hippos and Monkeys...oh my!

We discussed our favourite zoo animals.

S is for Sports Day:

We wore our favourite sports team jersey or shirt and played various sports (obstacle course, bowling and soccer). My mom and dad joined our class and we had our graduation that night. 

T is for Teddy Bear Day:

We brought our favourite teddy bears and wore our pajamas. We watched "Osmosis Jones" and discussed germs and how to be healthy.  

        

U is for Under the Sea Day:

We created an ocean scene. 

First we painted the ocean background. 
Once it dried we traced an ocean scene and coloured it with crayons or oil pastels. 

V is for Victory Day:

We completed various relay races, including: egg and spoon race, over/under ball pass, bean bag toss, running and potato sack. 

W is for Wacky Water Day:

We had a fun day with water. We had a water relay, played with water balloons and used spray bottles. It was a fun morning!

X is for X-Change Autographs Day:

We wrote our signatures on individual beach balls to take home and remember our friends.

I got this idea from Adventures of Room 129.

Y is for Your Choice Day:

We went on a treasure hunt and X marked the spot. Our treasure was gorgeous cupcakes made by a parent. 

Z is for Zip Up and Zoom Out of School Day:

We played some relay games and talked about what we are going to do this summer. I handed out report cards and last day of school photos. We laughed and cried and had a great last day of school! 

They had to fan tissue paper fish into the trap. 

 They had to blow a cup to the other side of the table. 

 They had vaseline on their noses and had to transfer as many cotton balls to the paper plates in 30 seconds. 

 They had to wiggle a cookie from their forehead to their mouth by just scrunching their face. 

I got the ideas for the relays from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits.

HAVE A FUN AND SAFE SUMMER!!