Acting Out

I hear, I forget
I see, I remember
I do, I understand
-Chinese Proverb

Students work together to enact the life-cycle of a plant. Starting as each and every part of a seed, (seedcoat seen above) then they grow to encompass the web of life.

"Super Science" is off to a great start.

Shock and Awe

When Mrs. Kurkinen lost her camera charger she began using her laptop to document kindergarten happenings. These children were working well pair-reading... They lost that ability when the screen showed proof of their performance.

Oreo

Oreo is adjusting well to the routines of Kindergarten. We have as well, using our time to finish our work... and then visit the pig. Only once has the pig escaped following a perfect kindergarten performance of Stop Look and Listen, a clapping game used to gain student attention. Once the class earns another, she'll find her way to the carpet once again.

Oreo can earn points at home as well. Simply RSVP to the invitation on BigTent and Oreo can be yours for the weekend! (click Fridays on our calendar)

Recording Literacy

Literacy training begins with recording actual events. Students write or draw autobiographical tales during Writer's Workshop. Mrs. Kurkinen models the thought process by writing about what she did after school, or how she felt about the fire drill on Wednesday.


Students receive a specific amount of drawing time to get their ideas on paper, then must spend the remainder of Writing Workshop putting letter sounds on the page. In the month of September students may write one of four ways; scribble writing (where no discernible letters are present), lettering (where a stream of known letters are written), Kid Writing (where sounds phonetically make sense and create words) or adult writing. In October, scribble writing will no longer be a necessary choice. By the end of kindergarten all students are expected to write five sentences in Kid Writing with many sight words spelled correctly. Punctuation and vowels included.


By the look on Isaac's face, it will be a breeze.

Constructing Learning

Room Thirty-One learns how to learn by using hands-on manipulatives. Each day, children are given a new math tool to explore before we begin to use them academically. This enables students to investigate the properties of our materials before being instructed to use them in a particular manner.

Teachers love it when children choose to use math manipulatives during their "choice learning". Once or twice a week students receive a brief moment of free time. More often then not, they choose to further past investigations.



While building with pattern blocks, students get the chance to walk about the room and view the work of their peers. This allows them to use the blocks in new ways and learn how to compliment their friends.


Symmetry and patterning occur naturally when children explore these tools.



And if at all possible, wheels will be added.

Our Firsts

Our first week of school has brought many firsts. Kindergartners have quite a lot of responsibilities in Room Thirty-One. Before school begins they must take their lunches, home folders, and coats out without any aid. Once they sign in by turning their picture, they are ready to flip a chair and begin their handwriting practice.


Moms and dads crowed in our classroom to help us begin our day. After five days of practice, kindergarteners get they day started by putting away their personal belongings, flipping a chair and getting to work on their handwriting without any direction.



Kindergarten learns how to be safe on the playground after meeting all of thier peers.



Andrew takes the lesson to heart and checks out hopscotch.

New friends are made by 9:15am.

Its Been a Wild Ride!

Crazy Head day in Room Thirty-One. We were all impressed with Emma hair, which was actually titled: "The Rat's Nest" and consisted of four or more rats, their furniture, some clothing and a placard denoting the work of arts title. However, we decided Graces braids were equally fascinating.