We are readers! 😁

We started a new adventure in reading workshop this week...our class discovered we are all readers! We talked about how readers don't just see the world, they read the world. Readers read the world all around them by doing two things: looking and thinking.



We went on a walk around the school and spent time looking and thinking about all the letters and words we saw. It was so fun to watch their confidence and excitement really shine through. They were amazed that they were able to read signs, pictures, labels, posters and more all around them. Dr. Cicotte even joined us as we read the halls since he was impressed as he walked by us and heard all the reading we were doing.



We also spent time reading all around our classroom with partners. We talked about how we could continue reading the world around us on our way home from school (reading our neighborhood sign, reading a stop sign, reading a McDonald's, Target, or Schnucks sign), and all the things we can read in our homes - things that aren't even books! Make sure to spend some time reading (looking & thinking) the world around you with your child and celebrate even their approximations of words as true reading.

















We can read "learn about the world" books!

We Are All Alike, We Are All Different

This week, we read two books to learn about ourselves and our classmates:


After we read, We Are All Alike We Are All Different, by the Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergarteners (the kids thought this was amazing!), our class talked about ways we are all alike as kindergarten kids and ways we are all different. The kids had so many great ideas!

We also talked about how we all look different and we all have different skin colors. The book, The Colors of Us, by Karen Katz, compares different skin tones to foods and discusses how we are all a shade of brown that is just the right shade for us. The book has wonderful imagery, and the kids loved it. They were very interested in comparing their skin tones and describing what their own shades looked like.



Mr. Ryan, one of our counselors, came to talk to our class this week and explain his job at school. The kids loved meeting him and his Mr. Potato Head.



One of the highlights of our week was getting to meet our third grade buddies! Throughout the year, we will meet with our third grade buddies at least once a month, if not more. The kids LOVE having a big kid buddy! The third graders interviewed their new kindergarten buddy to learn more about them, and the kindergarteners also got a chance to ask their third grader some questions about him/her. Make sure to ask your child about his/her buddy!

Learning About Ourselves & Each Other

We have been busy learning all about ourselves and our classmates in kindergarten. During Morning Meeting each day, we take time to greet each other and share about ourselves, while also learning about each other. We love doing "Pair Shares", which you can see below. We were brainstorming classroom jobs (to begin later next week).



We also have been taking time to reflect on ourselves. We created self-portraits and talked about our similarities and differences. Each child chose his/her own materials for the project, and their work was self-directed. They are all very proud of their masterpieces!