Hello Kindergarten Families!
We hope you are doing well. Thank you for your responses on our Google Forms questionnaire. One suggestion we had was the need for reading resources at home. We have created a list of some really great resources below. Please don't forget that Kindergarten students are not expected to read yet however, we do encourage that they are being read to and asked questions about the book daily.
We are also introducing drop-in read aloud times (Monday and Wednesday) with our wonderful Education Assistant, Ms. Lizzy! Check your child's Google Classroom for more information on this.
1) Calgary Public Library- Online Resources
Scroll down to “Library At Home” and click on “Learn More”
If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for one (FREE) on the left side
Next click on Digital Library Resources” (right side)
Scroll further down to “Explore by Audience” and click on “Kids”
Here you have MANY choices, including Bookflix, Tumblebooks, TumbleMath, National Geographic Kids, etc.
https://calgarylibrary.ca/
2) Tumblebooks:
Listen and read along to animated storybooks for young children.
(click bottom left "Access Tumblebooks")
https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/digital-library/tumblebook-library/
3) BookFlix:
An online resource that pairs interactive, fictional video stories with related nonfiction ebooks.
Click Bookflix on the right side, next to the green lock.
http://www.learnalberta.ca/Search.aspx?search=bookflix&grade&subject&lang=en
4) Storyline Online:
Streams videos that feature actors reading children's books. Closed captions available.
https://www.storylineonline.net/
5) EPIC!:
Listen and read along to a repository of picture and chapter books. Requires free, online account creation. Free for 30 days.
https://www.getepic.com/
6) National Geographic Young Explorer:
Listen and read along to online issues of magazines. https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/moreissues.html
We hope that you will take advantage of these wonderful resources!
The Kindergarten Team
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Monday, April 6, 2020
Math Games: Dice and Deck of Cards!
We have been playing many math games in Kindergarten. We are also suggesting parents continue playing math games at home as well, which we will be providing instructions for going forward. Many math games require a deck of cards and dice to play. If you do not have them at home, here are some ways you can try at home to play the game:
1) Make your own! Use the link below to print and create your own dice at home.
1) You may print and cut your own cards here: https://www.printableboardgames.net/preview/Playing_Card_Deck
Dice are used in many different math games to randomly get number 1-6 or higher when working with two or more dice.
Here are some alternatives to using dice:
1) Make your own! Use the link below to print and create your own dice at home.
2) Alternatively, you can make your own spinner from numbers 1-6, or higher! Instead of rolling a die, spin the spinner to get different numbers. Here are step-by-step instructions that you may use at home. https://livingmontessorinow.com/how-to-make-a-paperclip-game-spinner-that-spins-easily/
3) Write numbers 1-6 on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat or a bowl. Pick one number each time instead of rolling dice!
A deck of cards are also used quite often to play math games.
Here are some alternatives:
1) You may print and cut your own cards here: https://www.printableboardgames.net/preview/Playing_Card_Deck
click "Download in PDF format (free!)"
2) Create your own "cards" by using blank paper cut one size and writing numbers 1-9, and J, Q, and K 4 times (or twice)
Finally, contact your child's teacher via email to ask them if you can pick up a deck of cards or some dice (or both) from the school.
Thank you!
More Resources!
Hello Kindergarten Families!
Please find below some more engaging resources you may choose to use at home with your child.
Tumblebooks:
Listen and read along to animated storybooks for young children. (click bottom left "Access Tumblebooks")
https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/digital-library/tumblebook-library/
BookFlix:
An online resource that pairs interactive, fictional video stories with related nonfiction ebooks. Click Bookflix on the right side, next to the green lock.
http://www.learnalberta.ca/Search.aspx?search=bookflix&grade&subject&lang=en
Storyline Online:
Streams videos that feature actors reading children's books. Closed captions available.
https://www.storylineonline.net/
EPIC!: Listen and read along to a repository of picture and chapter books. Requires free, online account creation. Free for 30 days.
https://www.getepic.com/
National Geographic Young Explorer: Listen and read along to online issues of magazines.
https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/moreissues.html
Please find below some more engaging resources you may choose to use at home with your child.
Tumblebooks:
Listen and read along to animated storybooks for young children. (click bottom left "Access Tumblebooks")
https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/digital-library/tumblebook-library/
BookFlix:
An online resource that pairs interactive, fictional video stories with related nonfiction ebooks. Click Bookflix on the right side, next to the green lock.
http://www.learnalberta.ca/Search.aspx?search=bookflix&grade&subject&lang=en
Storyline Online:
Streams videos that feature actors reading children's books. Closed captions available.
https://www.storylineonline.net/
EPIC!: Listen and read along to a repository of picture and chapter books. Requires free, online account creation. Free for 30 days.
https://www.getepic.com/
National Geographic Young Explorer: Listen and read along to online issues of magazines.
https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/moreissues.html
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Journal Writing
Journaling has been an important part of Kindergarten this year. Since journal drawing and writing will be one of our suggested tasks, we have created some helpful strategies for parents as each child is a different writer in Kindergarten. There is no expectation for Kindergarten students to be sounding out or writing words. In Kindergarten we encourage students to scribe words. Those that are independently sounding out, are encouraged to write down some letter sounds. We are all writers in Kindergarten! Here are the steps for journal writing in Kindergarten for each child: This is the poster we use in our classroom.
1. Have your child draw a picture first, a printed journal template found in the Google Classroom Drive Folder or a blank piece of paper.
2. Students are first encouraged to draw a detailed picture in pencil and then colour it using crayons or pencil crayons.
3. Next, students write about their drawing. Please see below four different ways kindergarten students 'write'.
Swirl Combo and Letters:
This encourages students still learning their letters and letter sounds to practice writing random what letters they know. Students may use swirls for any letters or letter sounds they are unsure about. At this stage their letters may not connect to the picture they have drawn, and that is okay in Kindergarten. Encourage them to do their best and tell them that they CAN write!
Example: I like to eat chocolate. --> XTDKDBEOINS
Sound Writing:
Some students may be beginning to sound words out. Some may need your support in sounding them out while they write down what letters they hear and some students may independently sound out some sounds in words. They may start writing the first letter of things in their picture. For example, if they have drawn a picture of playing ball outside their house, they may write the letters H and B on their page for “House” and “Ball”.
Example: House --> H Ball --> B Cat--> K or C
Some students may also be able to write a string of letters to begin making a sentence. Even if they just print the first and last sound of each word that is okay. They may even write a letter that sounds like a word (example: "M" for the word "am"). Encourage them to leave a space between their letters. For example, they may print: “I M P B H” which means “I am playing ball at my house”.
Example: My cat likes to sleep. ------> M K L S P
Your child may also be writing simple words to make their simple sentences: "I AM P BL AT MI HS" which means "I am playing ball at my house". Remember, always ask them to tell you about their picture and what their words mean and that they may make words by writing them like they sound rather than how they are spelled in English.
Book Writing:
If our child is independently sounding out and phonetically writing multiple words in a sentence, encourage them to use a finger space, a capital at the start of their sentence and a period at the end Remember that they will take time to progress from one step to the next step, so take it slow. Writing sentences is NOT a Kindergarten expectation.
Example: I like to go for walks and eat ice cream. --> I lik to go for waks and eat is crem.
This should be engaging for students, not stressful or frustrating. Encourage them lots and have your child write about what interests them so that our students develop a love for writing! Happy Writing!
1. Have your child draw a picture first, a printed journal template found in the Google Classroom Drive Folder or a blank piece of paper.
2. Students are first encouraged to draw a detailed picture in pencil and then colour it using crayons or pencil crayons.
3. Next, students write about their drawing. Please see below four different ways kindergarten students 'write'.
Swirl Combo and Letters:
This encourages students still learning their letters and letter sounds to practice writing random what letters they know. Students may use swirls for any letters or letter sounds they are unsure about. At this stage their letters may not connect to the picture they have drawn, and that is okay in Kindergarten. Encourage them to do their best and tell them that they CAN write!
Example: I like to eat chocolate. --> XTDKDBEOINS
Sound Writing:
Some students may be beginning to sound words out. Some may need your support in sounding them out while they write down what letters they hear and some students may independently sound out some sounds in words. They may start writing the first letter of things in their picture. For example, if they have drawn a picture of playing ball outside their house, they may write the letters H and B on their page for “House” and “Ball”.
Example: House --> H Ball --> B Cat--> K or C
Some students may also be able to write a string of letters to begin making a sentence. Even if they just print the first and last sound of each word that is okay. They may even write a letter that sounds like a word (example: "M" for the word "am"). Encourage them to leave a space between their letters. For example, they may print: “I M P B H” which means “I am playing ball at my house”.
Example: My cat likes to sleep. ------> M K L S P
Your child may also be writing simple words to make their simple sentences: "I AM P BL AT MI HS" which means "I am playing ball at my house". Remember, always ask them to tell you about their picture and what their words mean and that they may make words by writing them like they sound rather than how they are spelled in English.
Book Writing:
If our child is independently sounding out and phonetically writing multiple words in a sentence, encourage them to use a finger space, a capital at the start of their sentence and a period at the end Remember that they will take time to progress from one step to the next step, so take it slow. Writing sentences is NOT a Kindergarten expectation.
Example: I like to go for walks and eat ice cream. --> I lik to go for waks and eat is crem.
This should be engaging for students, not stressful or frustrating. Encourage them lots and have your child write about what interests them so that our students develop a love for writing! Happy Writing!
Google Classroom
Hello Kindergarten Families,
Thank you for your positivity during these challenging times. Our goal the next few weeks is to continue working with your child and you as well in a new way. Please remember that each family needs to choose what works best for them. Most importantly, we want to all our students are healthy and happy.
By now, you all should have received your log-in information for Google Classroom. We will be posting a suggested schedule every Monday for the week. We will also add more detailed plans about our suggested literacy and math lessons daily.
Once again, what we post on Google Classroom is a suggestion that you may choose to do with your child at home. Therefore, it is flexible and can be changed according to your child's needs.
Thank You!
Thank you for your positivity during these challenging times. Our goal the next few weeks is to continue working with your child and you as well in a new way. Please remember that each family needs to choose what works best for them. Most importantly, we want to all our students are healthy and happy.
By now, you all should have received your log-in information for Google Classroom. We will be posting a suggested schedule every Monday for the week. We will also add more detailed plans about our suggested literacy and math lessons daily.
Once again, what we post on Google Classroom is a suggestion that you may choose to do with your child at home. Therefore, it is flexible and can be changed according to your child's needs.
Thank You!
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
We Miss You!
Dear PHS Kindergarten Students,
We just want to let you know that we miss you and are thinking about you all the time the past few days. We miss seeing your smiling faces and hearing your wonderful stories every day. We hope you stay healthy and safe and wish you an amazing and relaxing spring break.
Love,
Ms. Khan, Ms, Bereta & Mrs. Fitzpatrick
Families, in addition to reading with your child daily, please see the link below or click here or some resources and ideas.
https://cbe.ab.ca/programs/curriculum/learning-at-home/Pages/k-6.aspx
We just want to let you know that we miss you and are thinking about you all the time the past few days. We miss seeing your smiling faces and hearing your wonderful stories every day. We hope you stay healthy and safe and wish you an amazing and relaxing spring break.
Love,
Ms. Khan, Ms, Bereta & Mrs. Fitzpatrick
Families, in addition to reading with your child daily, please see the link below or click here or some resources and ideas.
https://cbe.ab.ca/programs/curriculum/learning-at-home/Pages/k-6.aspx
Friday, March 13, 2020
Felting Animal Puppets
Both Red groups worked closely with Tracey Kuffner on Monday and the green groups worked with her on Tuesday. During this amazing experience, students worked with wool from Ms. Kuffner's farm to create hand puppets of our animals we have been researching. This includes owls, mice, foxes, bears, moles, and snowshoe hares. We learned different techniques to put the wool together and then worked together to roll our puppets on a mat. After rolling them out, we rubbed our wool fabrics together and smashed them on the table to really allow the wool to blend together. Ms. Kuffner then cut out our puppets and we were surprised with the beautiful end results of our animals the next day.
While one color group was making their puppets, the rest of the students were working on their four squares drawing that we do monthly to show our progress when writing our name, drawing a self-portrait, and drawing two other drawings. We are excited to see how much progress we have been making since September.
We found another mitten outlined by tape on our bigger carpet and we all tried to see if we could fit in it together. We were successful in doing this so we tried to see if our new puppets would fit. As we read the story, each of our puppets slowly were added on to our mitten. We also used our puppets to teach each other about our animals. We look forward to using them more and more in the future!
We also played different math games with partners.
We have also started painting a silhouette of our animals in our visual journals using paint and sponges.
Finally, another highlight of this week was that we continued to work in our animal books/ posters. We focussed more specifically on interesting facts. We learned that an interesting fact is something new that we learn that makes us say, "Woah! That is interesting!" Students used Pebble Go, books, and photographs to discover interesting facts about their animals. Did you know that bears can climb trees? Did you know that owls have silent flight, which means that they make no sound when flying so they are able to sneak up on mice when hunting?
While one color group was making their puppets, the rest of the students were working on their four squares drawing that we do monthly to show our progress when writing our name, drawing a self-portrait, and drawing two other drawings. We are excited to see how much progress we have been making since September.
We found another mitten outlined by tape on our bigger carpet and we all tried to see if we could fit in it together. We were successful in doing this so we tried to see if our new puppets would fit. As we read the story, each of our puppets slowly were added on to our mitten. We also used our puppets to teach each other about our animals. We look forward to using them more and more in the future!
We also played different math games with partners.
We have also started painting a silhouette of our animals in our visual journals using paint and sponges.
Finally, another highlight of this week was that we continued to work in our animal books/ posters. We focussed more specifically on interesting facts. We learned that an interesting fact is something new that we learn that makes us say, "Woah! That is interesting!" Students used Pebble Go, books, and photographs to discover interesting facts about their animals. Did you know that bears can climb trees? Did you know that owls have silent flight, which means that they make no sound when flying so they are able to sneak up on mice when hunting?
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