Apples Apples Apples

We completed our week of fun Apple themed activities. I think I spent more time compiling the activities into a TPT product (Appletini) than we spent on the activities in class. But we did learn lots. Apples were especially good for informational non-fiction writing.

Some highlights:

Everyone brought in an apple.

We made a graph with our apples. Then we transferred the data to our own graphs.

We used our 5 senses to examine and explore the apples. Yummy.

We made projects - simply by following written directions.

We wrote non-fiction books.

We played "Find the Worm."  Which we LOVED!

We even managed to play a math game that was fun AND hit the common core math standards HARD!

Find it all on TPT in my Appletini (not quite a month of Apple) Apple Activities (Appletini)

Partners

As soon as I type the word PARTNERS, I start singing that Hap Palmer song "Partners, partners, here's a little game with partners . . ."

Okay, I just googled Hap Palmer and it says he has been making songs for over 20 years.  Well, he needs to update his web page because I KNOW I was using his records (yes record albums) in 1978.

Anyway, back to PARTNERS. I love having the kindergarten students work in partners. Since many of my students need work on communication skills - a partnership is a fantastic way to encourage and practice communicating. Partnerships allow the students to try out different roles - leader, follower, writer, talker, . . . Partnerships also give the students an opportunity to be heard. Partnerships tend to take pride in their accomplishments. Believe it or not partnerships have more perseverance than a single child. Partnerships expand a child's point of view. Partnerships allow a child to be a teacher - the best way to really develop understanding.

Working together to find Sight Words he, she, be, we, and me.

I pair up students in a variety of ways.  We use many of the fun ideas (matching cards, letter to sound, . . .); sometimes I just call out a pair of names. Most often I let the kids pick a partner. I usually hand the child something (the paper, clipboard, whatever the partners need to work) and tell he/she to pick a partner. I have been know to strategically pass out work. Anyway, if a child is asked to be a partner THEY ACCEPT the invitation.  We practiced this at the beginning of the school year.  How someone would feel if they were rejected, how we are all teammates, on and on.  
A student says, "Will you be my partner?"  The classmate replies, "I'd be delighted." and off they go. Rarely any complaints.  We do it so much that they know they'll always have another partner.

Pairing up to build shapes.

Short Vowel Sounds /a/ /e/ /i/

We have learned the sounds for short vowels a, i and e.  We use Jolly Phonics - which I love - BUT the key words and songs for short e and i don't really work for the midwest. When we say INK the i sounds an awful lot like a long e.  So INKY is not a very good name for a mouse meant to remind us of the short i sound.  I renamed our mouse Itchy and he has a little friend named Itty Bitty.  Itchy still got ink spilled on him, but it made him itch. Here is the song we use:

We have a similar problem with short e.  The key word is EGG.  Well, when we say EGG the e sounds similar to the long a sound.  So we have a dog name Eddy that loves to eat eggs.  We can still use the Jolly Phonics action and story pictures BUT our key word is Eddy. Here is the song we use:

Short i and short e can be difficult to distinguish. And since we always like to spell our sounds - not just read them - we practice a lot. Last week we sorted pictures according to the vowel sounds we heard.

We pulled out a picture from a doggie basket.

Said the word.

Listened for the sound.

Dropped the picture on the board with the vowel.

Pressed the button so the doggie would bark and wag and our wonderful work.

PS  Just so you don't think I'm the worst photographer in the world,  I purposely choose photographs where the students have their eyes closed and are thus non-identifiable.

Day One Kindergarten Writing Workshop

We have been writing since school started. Together, on Sight Word Sheets, on pictures, etc. But today we began WRITING WORKSHOP! I let the kids know when I greeted them this morning that I was excited about our special NEW activity. I used Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hill as an introduction.  I didn't read the whole book at first - just up until Rocket thinks of an idea. This lead into our lesson really well. I showed the students the paper we would use today. I also showed them where we keep papers they can choose on their own later.  Here is the story I wrote with a little help from my friends. I also made little posters with the steps the students should follow to write their story. 1. Think of an idea. 2. Draw! 3. Write!  I am going to make permanent posters using photographs later this week (when my granddaughter is available to model:)

I was especially happy with the "sharing" after the writing.  Children volunteered to come up to the front and use our "microphone" to "read" their writing. Some kids had actual writing, some a word or 2 and some basically nothing.  

BUT they all told a story! 
Hip, hip, hurray!

Then my heart warmed as they shared with each other.

Yes, I'm a sap. But kindergarten writers are amazing!

Voice Levels

Our district is trying to develop some standardized behavior standards. I like teaching the procedures and having clear expectations for school situations: cafeteria, hallways, dismissal, etc.  I gave up rewards a few years ago when I discovered Discipline Without Stress (it will change the way you think:) Anyway, they started with some voice level guidelines. It really does help the students gauge their own behaviors. The posters we got are a little (a lot) wordy.  Too much for kindergartners for sure.

Here is a little chart I made for my class.  It has been a BIG help so far.  Who knew?

I ask them to show with their fingers what voice level they are using. So far so great.
Make your own: Voice Levels Poster

van Gogh and Mozart

The FDKers have been enjoying my newfound skill - uploading movies to my computer. We have been taking short brain breaks - they love the simple short Shake Break.

But I was surprised at the effect a movie of van Gogh paintings backed by Mozart's music had on the students. We had just finished using our new sound skills to spell words on our white boards. I told the students they could take a few minutes to write or draw whatever they wanted on the boards. I put on the van Gogh/Mozart movie. Silence. They drew quietly, stopping frequently to watch the paintings. They are so cultured:)

Here's a movie I really liked:

Directed Drawing - van Gogh Sunflowers

Directed Drawing participant

a completed pencil drawing

I outline in black Sharpie before students paint

Every time I teach a Directed Drawing lesson - I am amazed anew! The first attempt this school year was a vase of flowers a la van Gogh's Sunflowers. I had sunflowers in vases for the Open House, but they did not survive long enough to use as models. Too hot I guess.  There are prints of van Gogh's sunflower paintings hanging in our classroom as he is our featured artist this month. We read van Gogh and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt as well as some other van Gogh books. I introduce Directed Drawing with finger exercises, correct pencil grip, and a pillow of paper under our drawing paper. Step by step I describe the lines as I draw under the document camera. Students follow along, each drawing in their own unique style. AMAZING! We use water color on the drawings later at stations. MASTERPIECES!

Give Directed Drawing a try! Great for pencil grip, fine motor, listening skills, following direction and ART!