April Showers....☔️

 Hopefully the saying of April showers brings May flowers rings true next month because we have definitely had our fair share of showers this month!  It's hard to believe that we have only been back from break for a week...we've been a busy bunch in room 60!

We started the week with "vacation share."  I heard about different play dates, trips and family fun!  This week I introduced 2 new word wall words: said and of.  Both can be pretty tricky when read in isolation.  You may notice every week I am sending home our entire list of word wall words.  As the kids read them independently, they highlight the word.  If they are unable to read the word they circle it and then we read it together.  Please spend a couple of minutes with your child going over these words.  You will be impressed!  :) 

The next few weeks in writing we will be focusing on nonfiction.  I LOVE this writing unit as I get to introduce my big crate of nonfiction books to the kids! It is a diverse collection of books that captures the interest in every child in the class.  You will see pictures (below) of the kids sharing with their partner an "interesting page" they chose from their nonfiction book. I asked them to explain why they chose that page and what they noticed in the pictures.  As for the writing component, we are working on writing "just the facts."  Keeping opinions out of writing can be challenging in kindergarten!

In math we are focusing on composing and decomposing teen numbers.  They are working on double tens frames to compose the number with the understanding that a teen number is a base of 10 plus 1's.  We are using the number bonds to represent the different ways break down (decompose) the teen number. To watch the kids automatically understand the language and goal of these lessons is SO impressive!  

Finally, on Friday we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went on a "Spring Observation Walk!"  This was definitely the highlight of the week!  Kindergarteners see and appreciate all the little things that adults tend to take for granted.  Pictures do not capture the excitement these kids had when we looked at the buds on the trees popping, tulips in the front garden or the chickadees that were flitting around one of the big maple trees.  

Have a great week ahead and let's hope we'll get some outside recess this week!!