This Week in JK

Center Time

 We are getting so good at completing these activities without help.

 Staying on task at the reading center is also getting easier.

 

Our Favorite Books This Week

Recess

We found the perfect spot for a giant wood chip nest on the playground. This, of course, led to us playing little birdies. 

Music Class

This Week in JK

Pumpkin Day

So the secret is out! The Pumpkin Lady is Mrs. Krause's sister. She visited us this week and shared a wealth of knowledge about growing pumpkins and had some very unique hybrids for us to investigate. She helped us paint pumpkins and do pumpkin related activities as well. Here are some pictures from that day. 

*Note, the Pumpkin Lady is the one in normal attire. ;)

 

  

We loved her so much and couldn't help but give her a group hug before she left us!

Pumpkin Activities

Classroom Jobs

We started classroom jobs this week. Different students will be responsible for helping manage different portions of our day. Here, a student is our greeter for the day. His job is to greet each student with a "Good afternoon!" and take their folders before we begin class. I'm sure you'll be hearing about classroom jobs soon at home as students learn more about them.

Joyful Fall

Mystery Reader

This Week in JK

Art
We used fall colors to finger paint on Thursday. When the paint had dried by Friday, we cut our paintings into small pieces to make the mosaic leaves.

Autumn Scavenger Hunt

We went to the city park on Friday to search for various autumn items on our list. We needed to find leaves of many colors, winged seeds, bark, etc. It was fun to get out on an adventure. 

One of our students carefully captured a butterfly. We are releasing it in this picture.

Mrs. Donley is showing the students what winged seeds look like.

Our principal, Mr. Schwan, joined in on the fun!

This huge catalpa leaf came to our classroom all the way from Milbank. Thank you Mr. Krause for bringing it for us to see. 

Books
Our favorite books this week were about leaves and pumpkins. We also focused on the popular fable, The Lion and the Mouse. 

The Lion and the Mouse
We have enjoyed learning this story this week. Here, students are working on making puppets to help retell the story to their friends. Hopefully they had the chance to retell to you at home.

Mystery Reader

We were so excited to welcome another mystery reader into our classroom. Fridays are so special.

Soctober

We are enjoying the month of "Socktober." Thanks to all who were able to donate socks so far this month. Our "Socks Box" if filling up fast, and I know those in need will be appreciating your kindness. 

This Week in JK

This picture makes me so incredibly happy! This is a quick snapshot of center time. One student plays a letter Dd game with our foster grandpa, one student works on letter recognition on the iPad with our foster grandma, another student works with Mrs. Lewandowski to make up missed work, while yet another meets with me for a quick art lesson. All other students are busy at their centers. The students rotate and nearly everyone is seen for some one-on-one time during that half hour.

Our reading center featured books about dinosaurs this week. The goal of the reading center is to stick to the task of browsing through books and talking to our friends about what we find. This can be a difficult task as first, but with practice it becomes easier and easier.

In math this week, we compared the quantity 1 to 2. Student matched the numeral to the quantity during math class. We also practiced writing the numbers.

Our student of the week shares his poster he made with his family at home. Each week, a new student will be selected (in no particular order).

Another picture that makes me so happy is this one.  As students finish up their snacks and we listen to our ABC songs, some have asked to dance until everyone is finished with snack. This has become our new routine and brings quite a bit of joy! Thanks Mrs. Donley for snapping the picture.

Art

We used watered down paint in spray bottles to spray over these trees to make a background scene for our dinosaur pictures.

D is for Doctor
Our dramatic play center turned into a doctor's office complete with waiting room, doctor tools, and clipboard to write notes. 

"Hanging" out at recess.

Thank you to our latest Mystery Reader!