Friday, December 21, 2007

Happy Holidays!



On our last day together we shared what our plans for the winter break. This discussion lead to things we would miss about kindergarten. I am happy to say that everyone stated many social and academic reasons for missing school. The most popular reason included: workstations, friends, choice learning, PE, Calico, calendar and reading. Kindergarten has made huge strides on the road to a lifetime of learning and will continue to do so with al of your help. During the break I hope all our families have the opportunity to share quality time with those you love and rest up for the coming year.

Our Winter Farewell

Our last week together was devoted to Las Posadas, an Hispanic tradition celebrating the process of finding shelter on La Buena Noche. The nine day celebration brought Kindergarten to nine different classrooms at Ainsworth. We sang to all those that would listen but were, in the end, asked to leave eight of the nine classrooms, as is custom. When we finally found a place we were welcome, we had the tremendous pleasure of breaking the piƱata and giving thanks for the kindness of hospitality.

We closed our week with the Ainsworth tradition of building gingerbread houses we those we love. Many thanks to all the volunteers and donations that made the celebration possible.



Christmas in Kindergarten



At the end of our Christmas investigations, we were invited to bake gingerbread men with Ganeen, our school chef. While the dough was raising in the oven we headed back to class to map out how we would decorate our cookies. A price list was decided upon for the individual pieces needed for embellishment.

Having read through many different versions of "The Gingerbread Man" we were only a little shocked to find Ganeen crying in the kitchen when we went back to the cafeteria to pick up our cookies. She sadly retold the tragedy. When she opened the oven minutes before our arrival, our gingerbread men ran right out of the kitchen leaving her and Tyron trailing behind.

We searched high and low and found 'ginger droppings'(bits of broken candies) leading us outside where our third grade reading buddies were waiting to help us in our search. They lead us up to their classroom in the Annex.

Kindergartners had t let the third graders know they couldn't decorate their cookies for free. They had to pay for every swipe of frosting and each piece of candy. teams were made and coins were dispersed. The five and six-year-olds got a chrash course in multiplication from thier buddies when it was annouced that every Skittle and M&M were five cents a piece.

Mrs. Howard Comes to Visit



From December tenth to December thirteenth Mrs. Howard visited room thirty-one to read through Little House in the Big Woods, one in the Little House on the Prairie sequels. Emma's mom donated and prepped the materials for the snowflakes we made, connecting the activity to the first chapter of the text. We than got a chance to taste real maple syrup and maple candy, just as the characters had done. On the last day of our chapter book read aloud, Mrs. Howard invited a duet of fiddlers to come in and play some period music for our class.

Please join me in thanking the Howard family for giving us such a great reading experience!

Kwanzaa in Kindergarten



As we rushed through America's December holidays we learned about similarities and differences between Dawali, Hanukkah, Las Posadas and Christmas. One commonality we discovered was the use and importance of candle light. Here, Emma, Levi, Max Carina and Alexa built a Kwanzaa Kinara. A seven candle apparatus with three red, three green and one higher black candle. Kindergarten asked some very insightful questions about Kwanzaa: does Kwanzaa celebrate a miracle like Hanukkah, is the middle candle the Kwanzaa shamish? Can we celebrate Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hanukkah at the same time?

Sunday, December 9, 2007

LATKES, GET YOUR LATKES!!





On Friday, December 7, we had a very last minute Latke Festival! Kavin and I co-led the preparation of the traditional potato treat, I creaked the eggs and he wrote to words. Kindergarten feasted on latkes, dried fruit, doughnut holes and applesauce while Mr. and Mrs. Kurkinen led an art lesson on symmetry. Gratitude is due to all who came to help without warning for the festivities. Thank you Mrs. White, Mrs. Fitzloff, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Hummelt for being ready for anything!


Hanukkah Math




One of the main ways thematic can be incorporated in the classroom is through math activities. During Hanukkah all our math centers where focused on the traditional games and cuisine of the holiday. Menorah and latke counting cards were used to estimate, counting and add. Deirdel games where lead by the class "experts" who quickly understood some of the frustrations of teaching. "You just PLAY!" was reiterated many times by our five and six year olds.


Writing Offices



We were very excited this week when Mr. Kurkinen gave all of us Writing Offices. This trifold prompts isolate the writer, letting them focus while giving them pictorial cues for writing. Kindergartners can choose to use these offices or work without them. So far, everyone is working better and longer with this tool!