Saturday, August 24, 2013

First Week of Readers' Workshop

Readers' Workshop has started!  Yes, READERS' Workshop!  While a few of our kindergartners do come into Kindergarten reading, you might wonder what the rest of the children are doing during Readers' Workshop.   Children begin to read by looking at books and pointing to pictures.  They love to look through a stack of books.  They talk about the pictures. 




With familiar stories, children begin to retell the story as they turn the pages.  At first they might just name pictures but as they mature they begin to retell the story the way they have heard it.  You will hear them use the loud, gruff voice of the big Billy Goat Gruff and the sweet soft voice of the wee little Billy Goat.  That is why we read the same stories to children over and over - so that they will remember the story and the language.  Soon they will be saying, "Once upon a time" and "They lived happily ever after."  Before you know it, they will be pointing out letters and words and will tell you that they can't "read" the words.  That's when you know they are ready for conventional reading!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Wild Things!

Each year, the teachers have a theme-related "wow" on their first day back, so last Monday teachers went on a scavenger hunt at the Jacksonville Zoo.  Then the students have their own "wow" on their first day back, so today we were treated to a Sensory Safari exhibit to go with our theme of  Taking a Walk on the Wild Side.  It was a "don't leave the school" field trip! Sensory Safari uses donated and borrowed animal mounts, skins, skulls and horns to provide a display of small and large animals.  Take a look at our amazing tour!












Sunday, August 18, 2013

Getting Rooms Ready - WILD-style!

We have been working all week, in between meetings, to get kindergarten rooms ready for the first day of school, and the rooms have never looked better!  We are taking a walk on the WILD side this year!  Thought you might enjoy some of the highlights of our rooms.

Outside the rooms, in the hallways
 First day picture op!

 

 
 
 
 
 Bulletin Boards

  This is our creed this year!
 

Explorers made themselves as explorers during Orientation!

Vocabulary display
 New alphabet, safari-themed
Table identifiers
 

Book of the Month and Genre Book Baskets
Behavior chart (flip card style)
Birthday display (ready for photos)
 
 Themed windows

 
 Just fun decorations!


Hallway tables outside classrooms decorated

 



Even the bathrooms are decorated!
Treats
 
 
Cubbies ready for backpacks

Word Wall
Ready for Common Core Standards

Ready for student work in the hallway

Clever ways to hide cords!
 
 
Everything laid out and ready to go!