October 2016 Highlights: Mrs. Auerbach’s Kindergarten

Photos: Fire Prevention Week and Fall Leaf Collection

MATH: This month we focused on counting accurately with one on one correspondence,

sequencing numbers (including using the vocabulary “before” and “after”) and using the number line as a tool. We also worked on ordering by size, length and height. Some activities we enjoyed were comparing Papa-sized, Mama-sized, and Baby-sized items-both real (from Mrs. A.’s kitchen) and in pictures, unrolling toilet paper to create and compare strands of different lengths, determining longest to shortest and lining up, arranging ourselves in order from tallest to shortest. Then we started a new unit of study that involves understanding that numbers are made of smaller numbers. We built towers and trains of blocks in two colors to represent this: 4 red and 1 green is 5 . It was fun to examine sets of kids and see how 3 kids with ponytails, and 2 kids without ponytails is 5 kids. This study continues as we learn strategies like counting on.

LANGUAGE ARTS: We have been fortunate to have Mrs. Weissman , a speech and language therapist, join our class once a week for additional phonemic awareness lessons. She has been teaching us listening games that help us identify the first and last sounds we hear, as well as working on rhyme. In phonics, we have moved from identifying the letters of the alphabet to focusing on the sounds that the letters make. There is a song for each Alpha Friend that is sprinkled with words that begin with the target sound and we listen to find them. We create “letter tickets” as we generate

pictures of words that begin with the target sound. Our sight word ( Word Wall) list is ever growing. So far we have: I, like, the, and, a , see, my (also known as the tie-

of- my ), and -ing as an ending (the “king-of –ing”).These word wall words are used

regularly during Kid Writing. So even as we work on stretching out words to hear the sounds and record the letters that represent those sounds, we also aim to spell those words by copying them from the word wall and eventually memorizing them. The children are moving into writing their own sentences from start to finish. This includes putting “meatball” spaces between words and “dots on the spot” for an ending mark. WOW! A BIG SHOUT OUT to all the volunteers who participated in this process!!!

In Shared Reading this month, our big book focus skills were story structure ( characters-WHO , setting –WHERE, and storyline –WHAT HAPPENED) and the function of graphic features. When you read stories with your child, you can help build comprehension by asking who, when, what questions! During Guided Reading, the children continued working in small groups with little books. They have been learning to use picture clues as well as first letter clues to figure out new words and pointing to each word as they read (to make sure they are attending to the words and not making up extra ones). I applaud you for listening to your child read the TAKE HOME copies of these little books! It is really reinforcing the skills we address in class.

SCIENCE: We have continued to make observations of the Fall season, in person and through videos and books.

OTHER: Fire Prevention Week was celebrated with a visit from Oakmont Fire Company including a lesson about fire safety as well as a chance to spray the fire hose and see the truck and other gear up close. On Columbus Day, we learned about who he was, how he traveled, what he did and did NOT discover. As it was Autism Awareness Month, we recognized how we are each different and special AND yet can fit together. The puzzle pieces with our special drawings are in the hallway. A school photo was taken inside a giant puzzle piece! Spirit Week was a hoot. And having the Haverford High School cheer leading squad come for a PeP Rally was a scream! A BIG THANK YOU to all the parent volunteers who made the Halloween parties so delicious, and so entertaining!

REPORTING LIVE… MRS. AUERBACH