After reading Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, we created a list of rhyming words. The list was quite long, which was a good sign. We decided to write rhyming words of favorite places we could read.
Math is filled with hands-on and collaborative activities. All the keiki enjoyed the Shapely Jungle lesson where they formed animals from plane figure shapes, Scenes of Symmetry where colorful symmetrical shapes were cut to create a picture, and Shape It was an opportunity to use Play Dough to form solid shapes. Maybe you can practice with your child identifying objects that have symmetry in your home.
Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats is truly a classic. A new baby girl is now a part of Peter's family and his parents have painted his cradle and crib pink. He wants to keep his baby chair for himself, but discovers it is too small for him. Peter offers it to his dad so it can be painted pink.
The children created their own "How I've Grown" illustrations and sentences about themselves as a baby and something they could do now. Listen to their stories.
Counting money and telling time were covered this week in Math. There was much laughter and priceless smiles when they were engaged in activities such as Cup of Coins (counting money) and Our Human Clock. Please continue to connect these math concepts when you are with your keiki because Math is used in everyday life.
Jennie's Hat by Ezra Jack Keats is about a little girl named Jennie, whose favorite aunt was sending her a hat. Jennie was sure it would be beautiful with big colorful flowers.When the box arrives, the hat is very plain. However, she receives a surprise from some special bird friends who decorate it for her.
After listening to the fanciful story, the children had the opportunity to decorate a dream hat of their own. Everyone was so excited to show off their hats!!
The children continued to listen to other books written by Ezra Jack Keats including: Whistle forWillie, Apt. 3, Hi Cat, and Peter's Chair. They could compare themselves to the main characters and their problems as they face these challenges in their everyday life too.
Math topics covered this week through games include Addition and Subtraction, Place Value to 100, and Greater and Less Than. Reinforcing these Math concepts in real life situations can be entertaining and amusing.....so please continue the good job you've all been doing with your keiki!
Aloha from our K-1 Happy Talk blog. Over the course of the summer school session, we hope to open a virtual door to our classroom so you can stay informed on our learning experiences.
This week has been exciting as the keiki listened to different picture books by Ezra Jack Keats. They discussed the problem the main character faced and his/her solution. Then they compared the problems and solutions from the different stories. Some activities after the read alouds included writing and illustrating a place a newcomer to their community could visit, writing about a problem they had, and coloring a pair of goggles .
Math is mostly about hands-on games, such as: Link Patterns, Roll It, Tic Tac Toe, and Scrambled Eggs. The 3..2..1.. Triangle Flash cards were taken home this weekend. Please encourage them to practice their Math facts.....which takes time to memorize.....just like Rome wasn't built in a day.
Aloha Parents,
Mahalo nui loa for the many thoughtful gifts you shared with me at the end of this school year. The memory book is a delight to read and will be forever cherished. The cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company will be a part of my snacks for a long time and the generous gift card is greatly appreciated.
I would like to thank you for the trust you have placed in me as your child's teacher. My Kindergarten experience this year is what every educator I know hopes to encounter-cooperation between parents and teacher to ensure that their child has success at HMS.
I sincerely enjoyed the the school year with all the keiki and know that great things can be accomplished when parents and I work together for the best interest of the child.
Before you know it, your children will soon become First Graders!!It is hard to believe the year has flown by so quickly. I'd like to share some final thoughts before we turn the page.
Continue to encourage reading and writing throughout the summer. A few tips about this was offered in the hard copy newsletter sent home with their free writes and trimester samples.
Mahalo nui loa to all of you who supported K-1 throughout the year. We are especially grateful to Mrs. Nagamine, our Room Parent, who helped to develop a strong collaborative relationship between K-1 parents and the school staff at HMS.
Through her efforts, she contributed to the richness of the classroom and school experience for all of our keiki. She spent countless hours assisting with field trips and the HMS Fair game. She also provided effective support for me so that I had more time to focus on other aspects of teaching and learning. Her services were invaluable!!!!
Your time was greatly appreciated as you tuned in to our class blog. K-1 Happy Talk has become an significant part of enhancing your involvement with your child's learning experiences. You followed the journey as your child grew academically, socially, and mentally. May you have many more blogging experiences!
Here are some final thoughts on a Fantastic Kindergarten Year:
I give you back your children, the same children you confidently
entrusted to my care last summer.
I give them back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser,
more responsible, and more mature then they were then.
Although they would have attained their growth in spite of me,
it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch their personality
unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.
I give them back reluctantly, for having spent ten months together
in the narrow confines of a classroom,
we have grown close, have become a part of each other,
and we shall always retain a little of each other.
We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned,
and enriched our lives together this year.
I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give them back I must.
Take care of them, for they are precious.
Remember that I shall always be interested in your children and their destiny, wherever they go, whatever they do, whoever they become.
Their joys and sorrows I will always be happy to share.
Wishing everyone the best in the future.Have a safe and fun-filled summer.
Listen to the keiki reflecting on their experiences of the past school year. We should all be extremely proud of their growth in writing, reading, and especially their oral presentation from August until now.
