We are thankful!

Last week was a short week but we packed a lot in, including learning about families, an all-school assembly, and reading books about thankfulness like Bear Says Thanks. We talked a lot about gratitude, and wrote books based on Todd Parr's I Am Thankful. The books turned out great, and it was fun to see what the kids were thankful for. Here are pictures from a few different books:

Also, I want to say how thankful I am to have such a wonderful class of kindergarteners! They are kind, sweet, funny, and generous, and it's so much fun to learn alongside them. A copy of this poem should have gone home in your child's Friday folder last week. If you didn't get one, let me know!

Math workshop

I haven't mentioned math yet this year but we have math workshop every day! Each day we start with a warm up (called Number Corner) to get our brains thinking about numbers, patterns or shapes. Then we have a mini lesson as a whole group on the carpet. Mini lessons involve practicing a numeracy concept, counting, addition and subtraction, learning a math game, or exploring any number of math skills. Then we move onto "math tubs" where the kids can choose from six different rotating math options, that include partner games, building materials, and number writing practice. Below are some pictures of what we've done so far this year!

Lots of math games and building with math manipulatives...

Practicing number writing and decomposing numbers...

Incorporating math skills such as addition and ways to make 10 into other subjects...

Exploring math concepts at our explore tables (and practicing fine motor skills)...

How many seeds in our pumpkin?

Last week was all things pumpkin! We've been reading and talking about what happens in the fall, and one thing that happens near us is that pumpkins get harvested, and start to appear all around the neighborhood! So for the past week or two, we've been writing, tracing, and drawing pumpkins, as well as counting with candy pumpkins. We also did a math project where we estimated and then counted how many seeds were in our pumpkin! The kids loved and hated pulling the guts out of the pumpkin as you can see from the expressions on their faces :)

School forest field trip & fall party

Last Wednesday was a big day! We had our first field trip, to the school forest, on a beautiful fall day. We also had our fall party where we played fall bingo, did an "exploding pumpkins" science experiment, made scarecrows, and had delicious treats. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered, came on the field trip, or sent in treats! It was a very fun day. (I only went with one group around the forest, so that's why there are fewer pictures of half the class - but I love how the whole class picture turned out against the barn!)