Tuesday
We began the day by reading lots of books this morning! Friends were very engaged and had lots of comments, questions and connections. We talked about our new classroom jobs for the week. Ask your Cardinal what was their classroom job this week?
After our morning meeting which included a moment of silence, singing songs, Inspector job, going over our schedule for the day job, Calendar work job, Hundred charts job, Sign in and Attendance job! We then headed off to Art class with Johanna. Today we began by talking to the friends at our table about the different shapes on the table. Friends worked four to a table and did a super job identifying the shapes. Johanna then demonstrates how to use the different size stencils and friends choose black or white paper, stencils and pastel crayons to create. Friends placed their paper on top of the stencil and then used the pastels to rub on their paper and magic appeared. Johanna then offered different leaves to take the place of the stencils. This was such a great fine motor task! Ask your Cardinals what colors they used and what they created?
On this rainy day, we took a walk through upper school on the way to see if the gym was free for us to run and play. Cris, one of our upper school biology teachers, invited us into her class room. We saw many interesting things all around the room. The Cardinals were most interested in seeing the different slugs crawling, the fish swimming around and the skeleton. Friends learn that fish need good PH water to swim in, notice slug move slow-like turtle, a skeleton has bones all over and the big kids chairs are too big!
Wednesday
Today the Cardinals joined the Catbirds class, the 3 Kindergarten and first grade classes in the music room for our Meeting for worship time. We all sat in silence, followed by Coryn, a first grade teacher, reading a book before we all settled into silence. Raji broke our silence by playing his guitar and we all sang, This little light of mine.
We went back to our classroom and had morning meeting followed by going back to the music room for our music class with Keisha. We began music class by making movements, dancing and singing, Dinosaur Stomp it.
Friends then echoed Keisha in singing Jambo (our hello song) which means hello in Swahili. We sang hello in languages such as Spanish (hola), French (Bon jour Mes amies) and Jambo (Swahili). While standing we sang, danced and did the movements to Turn Cinnamon Turn. Friends jumped, clapped, wiggled, bounced, hopped and ran in place as Keisha played her guitar. Keisha gave out eggs and after a few minutes of free play. Keisha played a drum and friends did the actions that were called out such as washing their toes, knees, tummy, shoulders, hair and then washing all over. their bodies.
Keisha told the Cardinals they did a great job in class. She then taught friends the Fantastic cheer! You put 4 fingers up and then put your hands together. You keep one hand in place by your chest while the other hand is pushed into the air.
We told the Cardinals that after music class. We will begin working on their self-portraits. What are self-portraits - Each month the Cardinals work in small groups and individually draw their own self-portraits. Friends look in mirrors to take a closer look at the details that make up their features such as hair, lips and eye color and how many ears they have. Friends learned where these details are located on their bodies and how to translate these important details on to paper. As the school year progresses, it is truly amazing to see how these drawings evolve from simple stick drawings to faces and bodies filled with color and details. Friends also gain insight as to the beauty of themselves and do not need to rely on a mirror.
Thursday
Spanish class with Alicia began with her greeting us at the door. We soon did our greetings in Spanish. Followed by Alicia reading the book My Color, My World (Mis colores, mi mundo) by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Alicia then went over some basis colors in Spanish such as red (rojo), green (verde), blue (azul), black (negro), yellow (amarillo), purple (morado), gray (gris), and brown (marron).
Alicia taught us a song about colors which has the same tune to the song Are You Sleeping. The Cardinals did Canima (Walk) where they walked around the classroom and then Alicia said para (stop). Alicia then called out a color in Spanish and English, and the Cardinals had to find that color in the classroom and say it in Spanish or try to. The Cardinals were amazing! Today it was Addy's turn to squeezed la vaca!
Here is how the song goes!
Red is rojo
Green is verde
Blue azul
Black negro
yellow is amarillo
purple morado
gray is gris
brown cafè
Back in the classroom we had snack time, followed by the Cardinals taking turns rotating through three stations such as fine motor skills - cutting with scissors. Friends followed straight and or zig zag lines on blue or yellow paper. The Cardinals also strengthen their fingers muscles by working with play dough. The third station was completing our first journal entry which was titled, "What do you like to do in warm weather?" While working on journals, friends drew a picture of what they like to do in warm weather, followed by some friends giving detailed dictation, while other friends worked with a teacher one on one to begin the process of kid writing. Friends said what they wanted to write about. A teacher stretched each word out and friends wrote the letters they heard. Great work Cardinals!!
Friday
Today, we celebrate Ekin's early birthday, he will turn 5 years old on Sunday! Ekin, thank you for bringing in cupcakes to share. We wish you an awesome birthday!!
Shaving cream fun!
The Cardinals returned their borrowed books to the library and listened to the book Don't Need Friends read by Michelle. Friends then picked and checked out a book to bring back to our classroom. Ask your Cardinal which book they choose?
Have a wonderful Weekend!!
