Our Family Cutlure Window

Leo, Soren and Isabella have had the opportunity to share their family culture to the class. This presentation comes in many different forms. Children are asked to share about their home life in order to begin conversations about the similarities and differences within our community. Students love finding out that they have been to the same places, celebrate the different ways, or wonder at the possibility of responsibility. As Leo put it, "because we are old enough to pick up our own toys! (we have to clean our room)"


Soren and Leo brought in pictures and asked the class to really try and figure out the differences between them. The class worked hard to create a Venn Diagram of the twins similarities and differences. My favorite similarity between the Westrey twins was, "they both love!".



Isabella gave Mrs. Kurkinen the highest of compliments when she perfectly mimicked her teacher by saying, "I won't call on you unless you are sitting criss-cross with your hand quietly raised".

Math Harvests

We got such nice specimens at the patch, we had to get the specs!
Kindergarten came home today with the pumpkins they picked on out field trip to Oregon Heritage Farms. First, every scientist must observe their object. Then... the unifix cubes come out and the measuring begins. Ask for your kindergartner to tell you a little about their pumpkin!

Author's Chair

As students begin to write their ideas using words (AND LOWER CASE LETTERS) they are given the chance to stand on a chair and read the finished piece to the class. Some may have a whole page about the best part of kindergarten : ) and some may have a list of their favorite superheros. Regardless of the topic, it spares the rest of us on with new ways to refine our craft.

The End of the Apple, is Just the Beginning...

With the help of seven chaperones we made it safely to Oregon Heritage Farms.



The first stop was into the processing plant where apples are packaged for shipping.

We learned about all the bathes apples take to get ready for the stores.

We gasped when we heard that each and every apple "gets its picture taken" in order to sort it into the right box. Apparently, grocers require specification of size, color and density. The computer does its job while boys stop to watch.





We take one last look at the apples on their way into the plant... Then we are off to the pumpkin patch!




You must not take kindergarten too seriously.

Apples, Apples, Apples

To get ready for the apple orchard we made sure we new all there was to know about apples.

We estimated, counted, sorted, measured, weighed, peeled, cut, cooked and stirred our apples until...


Applesauce was made ad enjoyed by all. Even our reading buddies joined us for an apple party!

A New Face

Last week we met a new face. Quinn's Grandpa Bernie entered Room 31 a retired high school math teacher, and left a kindergarten favorite! Thanks to him we have a renewed passion for mathematics. We look forward to his help during Workstation time on Wednesdays! Thank you Bernie!

Working Through Workstations

Workstations are in full swing in Room 31! After five weeks of practice and a week with Mrs. Kurkinen distantly watching over, the kindergartners are now independently working through five stations a week while Mrs. K reads with small groups.

Math, Reading, Writing, Science and Art stations hold five hands-on activities for the students to complete. Games are used as a springboard for writing, problem-solving and cooperative learning.

Empowering students to choose which assignment to complete first motivates them to get started and ask for help from their peers when they get stuck. Interrupting reading groups is not an option. They must work together to figure out what problems they may face.

Each task requires several skills. Here, Justin and Quinn must build a farm structure out of Legos and use it as a setting in a story.

Our Big Buddies

Fridays are favorites for many reasons. Kindergarten Sign allows us to meet as a grade level to sing with our music teacher, Mrs. Wright. Friday Families gives us the precious free time we long for all week long. But nothing can compare to the one on one attention kindergartners receive from their third grad reading buddy. Throughout the year our students will pair up for guided instruction for special projects and one on one reading while our mentors.


Kindergarteners work together with their reading buddies to select a text where both can contribute. Look for us from 1:45 to the end of our school day on Fridays! maybe you can even meet your child's buddy!

Letting the Dust Settle

Once a day students are expected to day dream. For the duration of a musical work of art kindergartners have the chance to let their thoughts wonder. Some of our favorite themes have been "superhero music" (The sound track to Lord of the Rings) and "Space" (Gustov Holst; The Planets). Johanna asked what 'war' was when Mrs. K told the class the name of Gustov's first movement, every boy in the room lept from his seat to enact its meaning. "This song is a big battle", "No its even bigger than that, its a fight to the end!!!" We needed a little more Dream Time on that particual day.

Admittedly not a favorite, Dream Time will soon be overtaken by silent reading when our reading groups begin. Check BigTent for opportunities that will help us get there!

Walking About Trees

"The Tree Lady" helped us continue our life cycle learning and introduce our new unit of study, trees! Kindergarten roamed the Green Space looking at specimens of conifer and deciduous types.
We noticed that fall has already begun to "drop the leaves 'cause trees are going to sleep". We learned a new word as well 'dormant' is a vocabulary word to test on your kindergartner!


Following the leader we get closer and closer to the next tree type.

Students get the chance to listen,

then learn while checking the trees out for themselves. The kindergartners feel the difference between cedar and oak bark, with a little time left to investigate the non-native maples on our way back to the classroom.