We’re Off and Running!

       Miss Still’s Kindergarten class has been very busy already! We began our orientation day and Family Picnic with a special guest….Our Principal, Mr. Zalacca read the delightful story, “The Night before Kindergarten” to all the kindergarten students. Each student received a copy of the story for his/her very own! Students also learned how to put all of their belongings away in the new kindergarten classroom by participating in a crayon scavenger hunt!

Our Kindergarten Routine

Getting Started

Once we have all arrived and put all our belongings away, we start our day on the ABC carpet. The day always begins with a prayer (Children’s Suscipe). Next we salute the flag, and complete our calendar/weather activities. Our “class helper” will pick his/her assistant to help deliver the classroom mail to the office, and we’re off and running for the day. We also take this opportunity to sing songs related to the topics or skills being taught.

Monthly Theme Exploration

           Along with our regular curriculum, we participate in a monthly “Theme Exploration” unit. Apples in all their glory is the focus of study for the month of September. We have a special “apple table” set up in the middle of the classroom as a reminder of our theme. Students will be graphing by apple color and taste, making apple pattern necklaces, practicing number recognition on a special “counting apple tree”, retracing the steps of Johnny Appleseed on a United States map, making applesauce with Mrs. Uttaro (teacher aide), and the best treat of all, having Mr. Zalacca come to the classroom dressed as Johnny Appleseed to read a story. Students conclude the apple unit with a visit to Kirby’s Farm. Most of our center activities are based on monthly themes.

          The month of October is no less busy for us. We will be getting a little “Batty” when the RMSC visits with a program titled “All About Bats”. As strange as it may seem the children are just fascinated with bats! We will have a “bats and pumpkin afternoon. Students will make a model of a bat, and they will also do some experiments with pumpkins. All students receive a “Bat Ruler” and travel around the room measuring various objects.

          We can’t forget about Fire Safety during the month of October. In addition to learning about fire safety and practicing fire drills at school, students will take a field trip to the firehouse to visit with Firefighter Pete and see the fire trucks up close. Students will even have their picture taken sitting on the fire truck.

          November is a very special month for kindergarten. We will be celebrating National Book Month throughout November. Our class will be visited by “Secret Readers” all month long. Mr. Zalacca will be the first reader to “kick-off” our celebration. He will be reading the hilarious story, “The Principal’s New Clothes”. What a great choice! A note will go home with students in mid-October to ask for volunteer “secret readers” who would be willing to come in for a few minutes and read a story to the class.

          Students will also be entertained by storyteller, Robin Benoit. Kindergarten students and their families are invited back to school in the evening for a “Bedtime Storytelling” with Mrs. Benoit, complete with milk and cookies! Students are invited to wear their pj’s and bring a stuffed animal to join in the fun. Students will also be given a book to take home with them that evening. Who wouldn’t be excited about that?

Language Arts

          Reading is a lifelong activity; it is the basis for most of what we do in our lives. Sparking an interest in reading early on will set the stage for a lifetime of enjoyment. So, let the journey begin! The kindergarten has adopted the Scott Foresman Series (2004 Edition) as its program. Each week we read a “Big Book” and complete accompanying activities including other “thematic books, poetry, individual readers, and songs. Using the “Big Book” as a spring board we extend the lesson by incorporating a writing activity, oral speaking skills, a reinforcement game, and an art activity.

          New this year as part of the Language Arts program we are taking part in the Accelerated Reader Program. Whereas the older students will read texts independently, the kindergarten will utilize this program as a listening activity using the weekly “Big Books”. Students will listen to the “Big Book” on tape as a small group classroom activity. At the close of the week, their fifth grade “Buddies” will assist them in taking the on-line comprehension “quiz” consisting of five questions. The students are excited about listening to the stories on their headphones and are equally excited to long on the computer for their on-line “quizzes”.

Special Classes

          The kindergartens are always excited when it’s time for a special class. Weekly the class participates in art, computers, music, physical education (twice each week), and library. Twice each month half the kindergarten class will have a scheduled enrichment class. Hands-on activities will be integrated into our language arts and math curriculum.

Snack

          After our busy start to the morning, it’s time for a snack. Once all the snacks are opened and milk passed out, we stop to say “Grace” before enjoying this treat. It will be back to work soon.

Phonics

          We incorporate phonics skills into the literacy program each day. Each student has a consumable phonics workbook to reinforce the skills being taught. Phonics instruction is direct, systematic, and sequences which allows young readers to build words and gain rapid access to meaning. The series begins by teaching the alphabetic principle. Lessons on initial consonant and short vowel phonograms follow. Long vowels and blends are introduced toward the end of the year. In addition to the workbook, each student has a “Sort Book” to cut and paste words according to beginning or ending sounds, blends, or word families.

Writing and Journal

          Kindergarten instruction in handwriting is designed to lead toward mastery of manuscript handwriting skills. Once students learn the formation of letters, they are ready to write words, phrases and sentences. Proper sentence structure (including parts of speech) is modeled for the students, and by November the class is ready to begin journal writing. Our journal entries are based on the Language Arts theme. I am always amazed to see the students using their emergent literacy skills to create their very own journal masterpiece.

Playground/Lunch/Rest

It’s time for a well deserved break from our morning routine. Before lunch we like to have at least 20 minutes of outside recess on the playground (weather permitting). On rainy or extremely cold days we stay inside and play in the classroom. Then it’s time for lunch. Once all lunches are out and prayers have been said, it’s time to eat in the room and socialize with our friends. To make sure that we are energized for the afternoon, we enjoy a quiet rest time. We still have a lot more fun learning activity in the afternoon.

Math

          On most days we begin our math lesson with songs and/or a story that introduces the skill being taught. Our text workbook reinforces each topic on a very basic level and provides “hands on” exercise for development and drill. Then it’s time to complete the corresponding workbook page. We also reinforce many of the skills with our monthly “Theme Exploration”. For example, in September the children will graph their favorite tasting apple, make a positional terms apple book, and sequence the events of Johnny

Appleseed!

Religion

          The emphasis of this early primary program is to provide students with the experience of belonging to a warm, caring community. Doctrine, as such, is not the focus. The student learns about God through shared activities and discussion. The program recognizes that students “learn by doing”. Included in the program are songs, prayers, take-home activities, and celebrations. The kindergarten also takes part in school Masses and prayer services.

Science and Social Studies

          Our units in science and social studies are taught throughout the year. Many of the topics for these subject areas are integrated in our monthly “Theme Exploration”. For example, in September: in science the children will learn how an apple tree grows along with the seasons of an apple tree. In social studies the children retrace the steps of Johnny Appleseed on the United States map and learn about the transportation at that period of time. During these lessons, we may read a related book, act out the event, create a project, do and experiment or have a class discussion,

Dismissal

          It is already time to go home! We conclude our day by discussing the day’s activities, taking a look forward to upcoming special events/classes, and packing up our bookbags. At 2:00, we say our closing prayer. We will start dismissal soon after prayer. It is no wonder the students are tired at the end of the day!