Happy December! I can’t hardly believe it’s Dec. already! We’ve got lots to do and learn in the next few weeks before break!
This week, we read lots of fun holiday stories, retold some of them, and worked on characters, setting, problem and solution. We added the letter Uu and the sight words is and of. We have been playing a game with our sight words and playing zap to practice. I will start testing kids next week. It’s super important that they’re practicing those at home. The more they know, the better readers they will be!
We read the Nutcracker and watched parts of the ballet. I always love it when the boys are mesmerized by it! 🙂 We also compared two gingerbread stories and made a glyph about them. One part of the glyph was trying gingerbread cake. I will share my secret recipe as long as you don’t rat me out to the kids (although they probably don’t care!) I used a Betty Crocker cake mix! I do add a special touch and sprinkle the top with powdered sugar! It’s a seasonal mix and I can usually find it at Price Chopper. The majority of the kids really liked it and were thrilled when we had enough leftover for snack time!
In math, we are still practicing our addition facts and I’m testing the kids on putting the numbers 0-20 in order and matching up the 10 frames. They’re doing a great job on addition and next week, we’ll have some fun with marshmallow math!
Buddy, our classroom elf showed up this week and each day, he’s doing something different. Every single day, they write about him in their Elf journal. I’m seeing some GREAT writing these days! We also made a chart about what “good elf behavior” looks like. I am now stressing being kind and have told the kids that we are going to start each day with the question, “What can I do to be kind today?” I’m trying to really point out those kind acts so hopefully everyone catches on! I did want to share that one day this week, Buddy brought paper chain links to make a chain to decorate the room. NO ONE knew what a paper chain was! Boy, did I feel old! We used to make them all the time as kids!! I showed them how. It’s good for fine motor control and they have to use white glue and count to 20 each time while holding a link shut (good counting practice too!)
Next week on Thursday, we are doing an Hour of Code. We ask that any kids that have Bentwood shirts wear them on that day. We will have some high school kids from Olathe South coming that day to help the kindergarteners. If any parents want to come and help too, you’re welcome to, just let me know.
I think that’s it for now. I hope you have a great weekend!
bentwoodkindergarten 