Our first week of Kindergarten!

In math this week, we discussed the difference between longer and shorter by comparing different lengths of paper.  After our exploration, the children were given a strip of paper and needed to find the other person in the room with the length that matched.  After comparing their paper to different lengths, the new pairs sat together and asked each other "getting to know you" questions. 

On Thursday, we used our different senses to count.  We first counted objects using our eyes.  Then we paired up and used our sense of touch to count.  One member of the pair had their eyes closed and their hand out. The other member then tapped into their hand.  Each kindergartener got to count each tap they felt to find the right number!

We then used our hearing to count.  We took turns closing our eyes while one of our friends dropped tiles into a cup.  We practiced counting in our heads each time we heard a noise.  We had so much fun guessing how many tiles our friends used!

On Friday, we were introduced to the number "0".  We began by singing "5 Little Monkeys," practicing putting down one finger each time a monkey fell off the bed.  We then talked about what it means to have "0" of something.

We also were introduced to the mini white boards and dry erase markers.  We practiced passing them out, how to erase, and how to use the markers.

At the end, we practiced making the number "0" using our new number poem.

"Start at the top, loop like an 'o'.  Look what you've made - the number zero!"

In writing this week, we began our Writer's Workshop.  In kindergarten, our stories begin with pictures.  We will then move on to using letter strings to represent words.  Here are some friends as they begin their journey of becoming authors!

We put all of our first stories on the "refrigerator door" in our classroom!  If you have time, please stop by and "read" their wonderful writing!