CLASS OF 2030
FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN
8.21.17
THIS WEEK (9/4-7/17) IN OUR CLASSROOM WE . . .
Learned about goal setting through discussions about things we have been doing well (plus) and things we can get better at (delta), worked on literacy skills by learning to play Zoophoics Go Fish, completing our very first Writer's Workshop process, and of course practicing doing what good readers do, read good fit books!
GOTTA GO TO MEXICO!
Mrs. Cron is a speech pathologist at Stoney Creek. She also raises monarch caterpillars. She brought a caterpillar to our class for us to feed and observe the metamorphosis process. She also brought a butterfly that had been tagged and was ready to release. We released it on Thursday, August 31. It flew away quickly. Ask your child where butterflies fly off to. Did you know they fly 50-100 miles a day?!
ENJOYING SNACK OUTDOORS
We go outside as much as possible to get fresh air and enjoy the sunshine!
CENTERS
Some of the tasks students work on during Centers include fine motor skills, literacy skills, and social skills. When their work is completed, they go to the Book Nook to do what good readers do, read!
PLAY WORKSHOP
A favorite part of the day!
A SOLAR ECLIPSE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
We watched the NASA live feed in our classroom, and used "official" solar eclipse glasses to view the historic event.
CLASS OF 2029
FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
9.6.16
CHECK BACK IN JUNE, JULY & AUGUST TO SEE WAYS
MRS. HUTCHINGS IS SHARPENING THE SAW IN THE SUMMER TIME!
TAKE TIME TO NOTICE . . .
On this day at recess, we looked up into the sky to notice the clouds and there it was,
a perfect heart cloud floating in the bright blue sky!
FIELD DAY
June 6, 2017
Plunger Relays with Mrs. Hutchings
HIP HIP HOORAY!
Every day starting with Earth Week our class recycled styrofoam lunch trays. The Leader of the Day brought them back to the classroom after lunch in our tray recycle box, and washed them during Play Workshop. Each morning we counted trays from the day before, and added to our tray tally tracker. A total of 283 trays were recycled and kept out of landfills! These trays were brought to a Green Team where Mrs. Hutchings' son used to attend school. A company called DART will come to pick them up then recycle them into new products. Great work kindergartners!
SO MUCH KINDNESS!
The generosity shown by the families in my class this year was incredible! From class supplies, to volunteering time, and the big donations to Buddy Builder Days and the Fun Run --thank you for filling so many buckets this year! Our class won the largest donation to the Fun Run earning a Fun Friday popsicle treat outside! Such an awesome way to end our school year together!
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE WITH OUR WRITTEN WORDS
We wrote to many people who made a difference in our lives this year. One of those people was Angela Samfilippo Gorder who made a significant contribution to Mrs. Hutchings' Keva Planks project on Donor's Choose. The students loved using Keva Planks, so we wrote to Angela to express our gratitude and described why we loved the Keva Planks. The power of words . . .
FINAL PROJECT IN ART CLASS . . .
Creating things together throughout the year has taught us many important lessons.
PORTRAITS OF MRS. HUTCHINGS, AND GRATITUDE . . .
These will stay in my heart forever!
GIVE KIDS SOME PAPER, TELL THEM THEY CAN CREATE WHATEVER THEY CAN IMAGINE . . .
MORE REALLY GOOD BOOKS WE READ THE LAST DAYS OF SCHOOL . . .
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE,
MRS. M, HELPING IN OUR CLASS!
To celebrate her and a year of growing in kindergarten, we enjoyed a shaving cream center on the last day of Centers for the year. Later that same day, rs. M gave each student bubbles to play with at recess.
EXERCISING OUR BRAINS AND BODIES
For the past nine months, we exercised our bodies and brains with yoga, Go Noodle breaks, and extra recess. Keep moving and making muscles stronger all summer long!
SOME FAVORITE THINGS FROM THE PAST FEW WEEKS:
Student ideas for celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.
Writer's Workshop: Something you learned in kindergarten . . . "Just be a leader."
An illustration made for Mrs. Hutchings' 26th wedding anniversary.
WHEN I GROW UP
We completed the writing activity, When I Grow Up. (I shared with the class that I wanted to be a professional figure skater, like Dorothy Hamil). We then completed a thinking map showing all of the different things the class wants to be. So much fun!
This is one of my favorite writing activities of the year.
STUDENTS TEACHING AND LEARNING TOGETHER
Djoura is our cadet from CPHS. She has been coming to our classroom since February to learn about the teaching profession. Here she is teaching a lesson on ten frames and teen numbers. We are thankful for the time she spent in our classroom and for the many ways she helped us. On her last day in our classroom, we asked her questions about things like graduation, college, and how old she was when she learned to read. We drew portraits of her and gifted her with a jar filled with gratitude. We wish her all the best as she moves on to college!
SO MUCH AWESOME SCIENCE!
Our worm bin and "worm food" lovingly bought to school because the student "loves worms"!
Student's sunflower seedlings grown from seeds. Ask your child about the life cycle of a seed. They are experts!
And . . . a baby bunny that lived in the Kinder Garden for a week or so. The bunnies have hopped away, so the seedlings can safely be transplanted now.
THE LEADER IN ME
Staff member Diane Harmon recently painted this Leader In Me tree. The next time you are at Stoney Creek, be sure to check it out.
MOMENTS FROM OUR WEEK!
SYNERGIZING
At the end of Writer's Workshop, the students found a partner to share their writing piece with to get feedback (compliments, questions, or suggestions).
Working together is better! Habit #6, Synergizing, in action.
BOOKS WE READ THIS WEEK
Reading to your children brings me such joy! Watching their faces while the story unfolds, making real-life connections, and seeing them experience emotions conveyed by the author are moments I will always treasure. We look forward to the title (booK) the Leader of the Day chooses for us each day! My hope is that your child will continue to read and appreciate books throughout the summer, and for the rest of their life. Books can bring so much joy, teach important lessons, and spark wonder! Read! Read! Read!
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL . . .
On Pajama Day (our third Buddy Builder Day) our class donated $36.28! Awesome!
On Bring Your Child to Work Day, two of Mrs. Hutchings kids came to school to help with centers and others "teacher jobs" throughout the day.
MEIJER GARDENS FIELD TRIP
A glorious, sunny spring day! We observed monarch caterpillars, lots of butterflies, butterfly feeding stations, sculptures, spring flowers and trees in bloom, played in the Children's Garden, and ended with the tradition of a class photo by the Davinci Horse.
VISIT FROM BEYOND CLASSICAL STRINGED QUARTERT OF THE GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY
EARTH DAY!
CELEBRATING OUR BEAUTIFUL EARTH AND
LEARNING ABOUT LITTLE THINGS WE ALL CAN DO TO PROTECT IT!
CENTERS REMAIN A FAVORITE METHOD OF
EXPLORATION AND LEARNING IN OUR DAY!
WATCHDOG DADS!
Thank you to Darvin Johnson for being a Watchdog Dad and making a difference!
We appreciate the time you give to the teachers and students at Stoney Creek!
KINDNESS!
Mrs. Hutchings awesome neighbors (last name Will, which is a popcorn word!) gifted the complete set of books from the Emily Arrow Volume 2 CD (check out Emily Arrow if you are not familiar with this music teacher turned entertainer) for our class to enjoy! We wrote thank you's to them for their kindness. Pictured are the grateful and kind Will kids.
LAST DAY OF MARCH IS READING MONTH!
We paired a Buddy Builder Day with the final day of March is Reading Month by wearing a t-shirt we could read. We then made t-shirt art by first reading the words on a shirt, writing the words, and adding art to make it fancy.
On this same day, we also enjoyed a special bonus of hearing a story read by Mrs. M's son.
Even though March is Reading Month is over, be sure to continue reading, every day!
LEADER'S OF THE PACK MEETING
March Habit: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Congratulations to the kindergartners who were recognized for being awesome at Habit #5!
JOHN BALL ZOO FIELD TRIP
A gorgeous sunny day! We began our research projects on an animal that lives at the zoo. Students investigated habitats, appearance, diet, and a WOW fact. Continuing to think like a scientist, they thought of a question, something they want to know more about. Report packets will be sent home soon for students to complete and present after Spring Break (our research reports provide excellent opportunities to read!).
Thank you to the grown-ups who chaperoned this trip!
KEVA PLANKS IN OUR CLASSROOM!
I learned about Keva Planks after attending two science conferences in the Fall. Keva Planks are rectangular shaped wooden blocks that nurture creativity, thinking, engineering, construction, and more. Inspired, I created a Donor's Choose project which received full funding and the planks were delivered. I challenged the students to think about a plan and consider using teamwork during design. We stopped a few times to reflect on what we noticed: sharing and teamwork were noticed the most. To continue the reflection, the class wrote about their experience.
More learning through Keva Planks to come . . .
DRESS LIKE A TEACHER DAY!
Top Row Left to Right: The likeness of Mr. Molnar and Mrs. Hutchings
Bottom Row Left to Right: Mr. Rykse and Mrs. Colby
WATCH DOG DADS!
Thank you to Rick Dawdy for being a Watchdog Dad and making a difference!
We appreciate the time you give to the teachers and students at Stoney Creek!
DROP EVERYTHING AND READ!
We read every day in our classroom.
I am so proud of how my students are growing as readers!
Celebrate the gift of reading and the joy of books with your child every day!
MARCH IS READING MONTH FUN!
BUDDY BUILDER DAY
Wear Your Teacher's Favorite Color
We set a goal: Each student wear purple and bring in 50 cents to raise funds for a Buddy Bench for the Stoney Creek playground. We soared past the goal thanks to the kindness of our families! The total our class collected on Buddy Builder Day was $92.29. We turned counting the dollars and cents into a very exciting math lesson. (Great news -- students continued to bring in donations after the event!) We had a discussion about why a Buddy Bench is important, then wrote about our ideas. Stay tuned for the next Buddy Builder Day and for updates on where Stoney Creek is with getting a bench funded!
LEADER'S OF THE PACK MEETING
February Habit: Think Win-Win
Congratulations to the kindergartners who were recognized for being awesome at Habit #4!
ONE WARM WINTER FEBRUARY DAY . . .
FANTASTIC BOOKS WE READ THIS WEEK:
Ask your child to tell you what their favorite story was from this week, and why. Another comprehension question you can ask is: "What was the story mostly about?"
"There are two gifts we should give our children: One is roots, the other is wings."
These roots are from the small tree on the Stoney Creek playground.
GROWING AS READERS, WRITERS, MATHEMATICIANS, SCIENTISTS, THINKERS, AND LEADERS DURING CENTERS!
WE ARE 100 DAYS SMARTER
To celebrate the 100th day of school, we had a "switcheroo" day where each class rotated through all kindergarten classrooms for a short 100th day activity. So much fun! In Hutchings class, we read the book Kindness is Cooler Mrs. Ruler which is about doing 100 acts of kindness. We brainstormed our own list of 10 things we can do to show kindness, then we wrote to Mr. Molnar and thanked him for teaching us about technology.
Mr. E from the YMCA
Once a week (for three weeks) Mr. E comes to our classroom to talk to us
about the importance of moving, and shows us exercises we can do in 15 minutes or less
to move our bodies and stay healthy.
Mr. E was back on February 15 for another awesome movement break!
GROWING AS MATHEMATICIANS
Subitizing during Math Workstations (while wearing matching outfits) and making cubes from flat shapes during Play Workshop . . . math is everywhere!
FOSTERING LITERACY
Readers are Leaders!
Every day in our classroom, we read, we think about what we already know about a topic before we read a book, we make predictions, we sound out words, and we read some more. Literacy Coach Mrs. Merkel taught us tips for building our reading stamina.
THE BEST PET . . .
After reading, They All Saw a Cat, we had a class vote on the best pet, then wrote about our favorite pet and why is it a favorite.
MAKING WORDS WITH SNACKS!
Awesome Moments: When students are motivated to build literacy skills on their own.
LEADERS OF THE PACK MEETING
For the month of January, we had discussions about Habit #3: Put First Things First. Congratulations to the students who were recognized for being a great example of this habit.
LEARNING ABOUT THE CHINESE NEW YEAR AND MAKING CONNECTIONS
MATH & MEASUREMENT
On this day, thinking partners investigated things in our classroom, compared (measured) two objects, then determined which one was longer than the other. They love hands-on learning!
If I Were President . . .
Following the inauguration, we wrote about things we would do if we were President.
The students had fantastic ideas:
If there was a problem, fix it.
Give donuts to everyone.
Fly around and see what's going on with the people.
Have a dance party with donuts and pizza.
Go to Africa and see cheetahs.
WORD FAMILIES
We have been working on words that rhyme. Rhyming words have the same end sound (rime), with a different beginning (onset). During this activity, the students thought of a word that rhymed with -at, then wrote it on the whiteboard.
WORKING TOGETHER
Together is Better!
During table time, on their own initative, students used unifix cubes to create lines and corners (angles).
During Play Workshop, students built a "Minecraft world" using Legos.
They were all proud of what they constructed, together.
BOOKS! BOOKS! SO MANY GREAT BOOKS TO READ, ENJOY, AND LEARN FROM!
Rosie Revere Engineer is about a girl who likes to collect things, then engineer inventions.
Beautiful Hands is about the many kind and helpful things we can do with our hands.
The Black Book of Colors is written from the perspective of a person who cannot see, but uses their other senses to "see". We learned the word sighted.
LOLIPOPS CONCERT
All of the RK and Kindergarten classrooms traveled to the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center to see Peter & the Wolf performed by the Grand Rapids Ballet with music by the Grand Rapids Symphony. Amazing performance enjoyed by all!
PENGUIN INVESTIGATIONS
Our penguin study has begun! One fact we learned is that they are oviparous animals (babies hatch from eggs). We practiced our illustrator skills as we learned to draw penguins. We created a thinking map of things we know about penguins, then wrote about a fact we know during Writer's Workshop. Next we will consider what we want to know as we continue to read both non-fiction and fiction books about this interesting, flightless bird.
BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS
What an adventure it was reading these books about books, and a fantastic way to inspire young writers to think of themselves as authors and illustrators!
MATHEMATICAL THINKING DURING TABLE TIME
WINTER WONDERLAND
A large amount of snow has fallen in Michigan and we have 2, maybe 3 more full months to go! We will continue to enjoy outdoor play as often as possible. Thank you for helping your child practice getting their winter gear on and off independently, and efficiently, which helps our class get outside on time to enjoy a long recess. Remember to label all winter gear and send in an extra pair of mittens to help keep hands warm for all recesses. Happy 2017!
GROW A SNOWMAN
In conjuction with our measurement unit, we are tracking the growth of a snowman in a jar. The leader of the day fills a bin with snow. We measure the snowman using unifix cubes, then add the snow to the jar. We predict how long it will take for the snow to melt, and how many cubes we think the snowman will grow. We document our observaations in our Science Journals (write an entry). When the experiment started, the snowman was 2 cubes tall. Six days later, the snowman was 3 cubes tall. Mrs. Hutchings worked in the classroom over the break and discovered that the snowman had grown almost one cube taller just five days later. (What is one more than 3?)
We also dsicovered that the snow is not as clean as we once thought!!
T'WAS THE DAY BEFORE THE HOLIDAY BREAK . . .
so we watched IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE and enjoyed popcorn wearing our pajamas!
GINGERBREAD PARTY
Thank you to our families for the party supplies and suprise bag items! We appreciate your kindness!
LEADERS OF THE PACK DECEMBER MEETING
12.20.16
The kindergarten classes gathered in the meadow for their second Leaders of the Pack meeting.
We sang There's a Leader in Me song, learned motions to go with the words, and talked about the second habit:
Begin with the end in mind. Students who exemplified habit #2 were recognized.
AWESOME MOMENT
A student in our class became a big brother the day before our Gingerbread Party. To share the news with the class, Mrs. Hutchings projected the photo onto the whiteboard. Mathematical thinking is evident in our classroom all throughout the day . . . during Table Time, this mathematician made a mesuring tool with unifix cubes to compare the height of the baby with the cubes. Critical thinking skills -- love it!
BUILDING LITERACY SKILLS DURING CENTERS
Working on words by visually discriminating sight words/color key coloring.
Exploring gingerbread story elements through Playdoh.
ON PAJAMA DAY, OUR GINGERBREAD VILLAGE HAD SOME SPECIAL VISITORS!
MATH IN EVERY DAY THINGS
We are studying measurement, learning concepts of longer than, shorter than, and taller than.
We made predictions on how many inches of snow accumulated on the playground picnic tables, then used a ruler to determine the answer: 10 inches. To decorate our classroom, we made trees by ordering paper strips from shortest to longest. We also explored objects in our classroom using a 5-stick to discover things that were taller than and shorter than the 5-stick. Our current experiment involves observing the growth of a snowman in a jar. We added snow to the top of the jar, then placed the snowman on the snow. When the experiment began, the snowman was 2 cubes tall. We know that snow/water makes the snowman grow. We wonder how tall the snowman will grow? We will continue to track the snowman's growth next week, and when we return back from the holiday break.
FIRST GRADERS (Mrs. Hutchings' former students) VISIT OUR CLASSROOM
AS GUEST READERS AND INSPIRE US TO READ MORE!
MORE GOOD READS ABOUT COURAGE, PERSISTENCE & GOALS . . .
STONEY CREEK ALL-SCHOOL SING-ALONG
On December 15, every student and staff memeber gathered in the cafeteria to sing holiday songs together.
Thank you Mrs. Hite for making this wonderful community-building event happen!
NEEDS & WANTS
In conjuction with the social studies curriculum, we had discussions about the differences between needs and wants. We were able to make some correlations to the Bear Essentials distance learning program when we learned about a bear's four basic needs (shelter, water, food, and space). This is an ideal time of year to have these conversations. After reading the Scholastic Let's Find Out magazine, the students drew an illustration of something they wanted. I loved hearing their responses: water, Legos, a house, Barbie jeep, candy . . .
GOALS
Each day, we have discussions about goals: something we can do to be our best self that will support the learning process. The Leader of the Day helps us think of some helpful goals, then we decide as a class what our goal should be. We practice writing skills by writing the goal. On this day, the goal was to be proactive. The students wrote the words, then added an illustration of them being proactive.
Ask your child to sing the There's a Leader In Me song to you.
Write the Room
A regular center activity is called Write the Room. Using a clipboard, students walk around the room looking for vocabulary words, then write the word on their list paper, thinking about letter sounds in words as they write. Most often, the words are related to a subject/topic we are learning about. This past week, students made observations of words all around the room they could read, then wrote them down using special "lens-less" magic reading glasses to spy words. They are growing as readers and writers!
SNAPSHOTS OF CLASSROOM MOMENTS
Thinking and acting like a scientist: Making observations of the praying mantis egg sac,
then documenting findings in "My Science Journal".
Using Imaginative Play: Performing a finger puppet show about the Three B's (be responsible, be respectful, be ready).
Practicing math and engineering skills: Constructing 2D & 3D shapes from straws and pipe cleaners.
GINGERBREAD VILLAGE
To wrap up our 2D/3D shapes unit, we are constructing a gingerbread village in the hallway. Each team of students engaged in collaborative conversations about design and details, then used teamwork to construct their house complete with student photos in the windows. This is always a favorite activity! We have also been reading many different versions of the gingerbread stories to compare and contrast.
SNOW!
Our playground has turned into a winter wonderland creating opportunities to work together to make snowpeople made from spheres (a 3D shape!).
READING!
We read every day in our classroom. On this day, we read with our thinking partners and chose a comfy spot in the classroom. Here are some benefits of reading:
1. Kids who read often and widely get better at it. 2. Reading exercises our brains. 3. Reading improves concentration.
4. Reading teaches children about the world around them. 5. Reading improves a child’s vocabulary and leads to more highly-developed language skills.
6. Reading develops a child’s imagination. 7. Reading helps kids develop empathy. 8. Children who read do better at school.
9. Reading is a great form of entertainment. 10. Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind.
AWESOME BOOKS WE READ THIS WEEK:
ACTS OF KINDNESS
After reading the Gift of Nothing, we had a conversation about the most important things like being kind to each other, love, taking care of each other, helping, and filling each other's buckets. Then, the students thought of things they could do at school, that day, to share kindness (give hugs, hold hands, pick up garbage on the playground, make a new friend, ask someone if they would like to play were some of their answers). The students then made kindness hearts. On one side they drew an illustration of kindness, on the other side they wrote "Be Kind". The final task was to decide who they wanted to give their heart to. It was incredibly heart warming to watch them give their hearts to students on the playground and see the smiles it brought to the recipient's faces. The little things, they make a big difference!
TABLE TIME
Each morning at Table Time, the students use manipulatives as a way to transition into our day of learning. Playing with manipulatives also provides opportunities to explore math and engineering concepts. They construct many interesting things using their own ideas, knowledge, and imagination! Love it!
VOCABULARY
One of the academic goals in kindergarten is to build students' vocabularies. Vocabulary is enriched through the use of word walls, reading books, illustrating new words, direct instruction, and conversations. On this day, as we were leaving for the day, a student proclaims "Hey look their coats are exactly the same!" Application is awesome!
FRIENDSHIP FEAST
We gathered together to celebrate friendship, and all of the things we are thankful for.
LEADERS OF THE PACK MEETING
11.22.16
Every kindergarten student gathered in the meadow for our very first Leaders of the Pack meeting.
We sang The Leader in Me song, led by some of our first grade friends and recognized Proactive Leaders.
Here are the song lyrics:
We are the future leaders, that's what they say. But if we wait for the future, we'll be too late.
So we won't wait until tomorrow, our time is now. And with these seven habits, we'll show you how.
You gotta be proactive. Begin with the end in mind. Put first things first. Think win-win every time.
See first to understand, then to be understood. Synergize with your friends, cause it's always better when we work together.
Sharpen the saw. Be the best me so you can see there's a leader in me.
There's a leader in me. I can lead myself. I can lead my friends. I can do anything.
There's a leader in me. There's a leader in me. The seven habits help me see there's a leader in me.
There's a leader in me!
HAVING FUN WHILE BUILDING PHONEMIC AWARENESS
We had a snowball fight in the classroom (read the real word or nonsense word on the snowball),
and collaborated with a thinking partner while sorting words by first sound.
ANOTHER FAVORITE BOOK BY A FAVORITE AUTHOR
MATT WILHELM
In celebration of the all-school fundraiser success, the Stoney Creek students were treated to the awesome talents of award-winning BMX flatland rider and motivational speaker Matt Wilhelm. He shared really important messages of never giving up, treating others with kindness, standing up for yourself, and anti-bullying.
The assembly provided great inspiration for writing -- we wrote about what we enjoyed the most about Matt's performance. You can check Matt Wilhelm out at mattwilhelm.com.
STONEY CREEK STUDENTS SHINE AT THE C.P. EDUCATION FOUNDATION
ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISING FESTIVAL!
ENJOYING THE FINAL WARM FALL DAYS . . .
MRS. HUTCHINGS ATTENDS GVSU's
FALL SCIENCE UPDATE 2016 CONFERENCE
Science is awesome! Thank you to Comstock Park Public Schools for the opportunity to attend a STEM conference at the GVSU campus on November 16. Mrs. Hutchings attended sessions on creating a STEM program, how to teach students to think and act like scientists, and how to engage students in meaningful collaborative conversations. A highlight of the conference was attending Michigan Teacher of the Year Tracy Horodyski's session. (Remember her from when she visited our classroom in September?)
MATH WORKSHOP
2D and 3D Shapes
This activity involved coloring shapes based on a color code, then graphing the quantity of shapes. Encourage your child to notice 2D and 3D shapes in and around your home. They are everywhere!
ZOOPHONICS BINGO!
In celebration of Fun Friday, we played Zoophonics Bingo -- another method for helping students gain instant recall of letter sounds. We played five rounds and had a great time! Keep practicing at home to help us achieve our goal of all students know all 26 sounds by the time we arrive at Thanksgiving break.
FAMILY
We had a conversation about families/the people and pets in our families, and that we are thankful for those we love and who love us back. Next we created a house and added different colored squares to represent the people and pets (a glyph) who live with us in our homes. Last we practiced drawing all the details of our bodies and created some really awesome self portraits.
FALL IS AMAZING!
SHOW & SHARE
Show & Share is a favorite activity in the classroom! The students bring something from home that is special to them and helps us learn more about who they are. The sharer gives a describing clue and the class tries to guess what it is based on the clue. When the correct guess is made, the sharer calls on students to ask questions about the item. This process helps students build their critical thinking, listening, and speaking skills.
Thanks for helping your child choose an interesting item to share.
OFFICES
When assessments are completed in class, the students set up "offices" to work in.
This was the first math assessment of the year.
DENTAL HEALTH
Cherry Street Dental came to Stoney Creek to talk about sugar, the importance of brushing, and dental health. Ask your child to tell you how many times a day they should brush their teeth and how many minutes they should brush each time. The photo shows sugar content in soda and other foods. Reducing the amount of sugar your child consumes can be very beneficial! Cherry Street will be at Stoney Creek in January to do cleanings.
Paperwork will be sent home on Novmeber 11.
ANOTHER REALLY GREAT BOOK WE READ THIS WEEK: Take Away the A
A very crafty story by a French author. Each page introduces a new word where a letter is deleted to make a new word progressing through the entire alphabet. Great literacy skill builder and so much fun to read!!
LEARNING OUTDOORS
Whether the weather is chilly or sunny and warm,
we get outside as often as possible to connect with nature!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
HALLOWEEN SOIREE!
Awesome costumes! Awesome party! Awesome parents! Awesome kids!
Thanks for helping to make the first party of the year a blast!
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM
LIVE FROM SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE
10.26.16
Through the amazing power of technology, our class linked live with Ranger Josh all the way from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to learn about Bear Essentials -- bears needs shelter, food, water, and space to survive. Ranger Josh could see and hear our class, and we could see and hear him. Some students even had their questions answered by the Ranger. This program was piloted in our classroom as a result of Mrs. Hutchings' Teacher Ranger Teacher internship with Sleeping Bear Dunes this past summer. We learned a lot, and had so much fun!
NURTURE A LOVE FOR READING!
We read lots of great books every week! Books that teach important lessons about things like kindness, friendship, being a leader, feelings, tapping into our imaginations, and the importance of letters and words. In My Heart is one of Mrs. Hutchings favorites. I encourage parents to check it out from your local library and read it with your child.
Other great books we read this week: Absolutely One Thing, Letter Lunch, Ooko, and Apples and Robins.
PLAY WORKSHOP
is a favorite part of the day!
One of the areas where students can play is the magnet wall where at the end of the day, I discovered this message . . .
SCHWALIER'S COUNTRY BASKET FIELD TRIP
10.20.16
FALL FUN
Learning teamwork in a game of Duck Duck Goose. Enjoying apples during snack outside. Learning about blending sounds from Mrs. Merkel, Literacy Coach. Enjoying the beautiful fall days!
TAKING TIME TO NOTICE
Each day at recess, we take a moment to notice this beautiful tree on our playground. The leaves change just a little each day. This is the same kind of change that occurs in learners . . . a little change every day that seems unnoticeable on day to day basis, however changes documented over a long period of time are significant.
We will continue to photograph this same tree all throughout the year.
DURING MATH WORKSHOP, WE WORK ON . . .
Counting to 100, using clues such as "draw a shape that has three sides, draw a shape that has no sides", and noticing shapes and patterns in our surroundings.
AT CENTERS, WE WORK ON . . .
Literacy Skills
JUST FOR FUN . . .
One of Mrs. Hutchings favorite ArtPrize entries is Rock Around GR. Mrs. Hutchings and her daughter spied rocks around Grand Rapids on a beautiful Fall night and met the artist/author Aaron Zenz. In our classroom, we spend a considerable amount of time talking about authors (and illustrators), how they get ideas, how they add details to make stories really interesting, and that we all have ideas/stories to share! We also read lots of really great books in Kindergarten! Remember to read with your child every day.
USING TEAMWORK TO BUILD PHONICS SKILLS
NOTICING . . .
There are so many awesome things to notice in the nature that surrounds us. From living creatures on the ground, to colorful Fall leaves, and the interesting things that pop up after a rainy day - - take time to notice the natural world where you live with your child today.
SPIRIT WEEK
Green & Gold Day with a Pep Assembly!
Crazy Hair Day
Super Hero Day
Pajama Day
MICHIGAN TEACHER OF THE YEAR
VISITS MRS. HUTCHINGS CLASSROOM
Tracy Horodyski is a teacher in the Kenowa Hills School district. She was named Michigan Teacher of the Year last spring. Part of her duties as Teacher of the Year includes visiting classrooms around the state. We are so grateful she chose our classroom for her first visit. Mr. Rykse came to our room to introduce Mrs. Horodyski.
An interesting fact is that she was a four-year member of Mrs. Hutchings cheerleading team in the 90s. They have remained good friends ever since. We loved having her spend the morning in our room teaching the importance of being a good listener and how that skill helps us to be the best leader and learner we can be!
Be sure to ask your student to tell and show you what Eye Eye Knee Knee means.
TEACHER RANGER TEACHER
Mrs. Hutchings had an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience interning as a Teacher Ranger Teacher at Sleeping Bear Dunes this past summer. The School News Network came to our classroom to do an interview. You can read the article by clicking here.
THINGS WE LEARN AT SCHOOL . . .
THINGS WE DO AT CENTERS
Practice writing skills on vertical surfaces, develop letter identification skills,
practice writing strokes, build fine motor skills and phonemic awareness.
THE LEADER IN ME
Stoney Creek is a Leader In Me school. We use The 7 Habits of Happy Kids as a framework for building a community within our school, for being the best we can be, and for learning how to be a leader every day, in every way. During a Leader Lesson the first week of school, the students shared their ideas about what leaders are.
THE POWER OF PLAY
A favorite part of the day is Play Workshop!
In addition to being fun, through unstructured play children are presented with opportunities to build mental, physical, and social skills, practice sharing, explore, learn, and connect with others, and develop valuable problem-solving and self regulation skills.
MUSIC CLASS WITH MRS. HITE
READING IS IMPORTANT!
We read every day in our classroom.
Mrs. Hutchings reads to us. We read to ourselves, and we read to each other.
Read! Read! Read!
CLASS OF 2028
FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
9.8.15
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MRS. HUTCHINGS?!
Check back often for updates on my summer time adventures!
BEING AWESOME & LOVE
Enjoy the list of "Tips for Being Awesome" the students created during a class meeting!
This class has enriched my life in a multitude of awesome ways.
Countless mornings, the kids would greet me with notes showcasing their awesome writing and illustrating skills. Just one of the many reasons I love teaching kindergarten!
Thank you for sharing your child with me!
I am grateful!
WHEN I GROW UP . . .
In the final days of kindergarten, we had conversations about what we wanted to be when we grow up and no matter what we choose to be,
we should work really hard and be awesome at what we do.
You can do it!
426!
WE COLLECTED, WASHED, AND RECYCLED 426 STYROFOAM TRAYS!
Because it takes more than 1,000,000 years to decompose styrofoam, we began recycling styrofoam lunch trays during Earth Week. Each day, the students would put their trays in a recycle box, the CEO of the day would bring the box back to the classroom and with the help of a volunteer or two, the CEO would wash the trays. The next day before we went to lunch, the trays would be counted, then added to the very tall stack. On the last day of school, we made predictions as to how many trays we thought were in the stack, then we counted the trays. Four groups of 100, two groups of ten, plus six ones. 426! We had a conversation about little things we can do every day that make a difference, like reducing the amount of styrofoam that gets dumped into landfills simply by putting one tray a day in a recycle box. The kids have definitely been inspired to recycle this year! They have definitely made a difference!
Keep up the great work!
We delivered the stack of trays to the Green Team room at my son's school on June 10.
A company called DART comes once a month to pick up styrofoam and recycles them into plastic products.
Notice that the tray stack is taller than two of Mrs. Hutchings kids!
WRITER'S WORKSHOP
We spent lots of time learning the process of writing this year.
So many thoughts and ideas were shared.
So many small moment stories were written.
I love how the condition of the student's pencils at the end of the year tells a story!
Encourage your child to continue writing this summer!
PIZZA PARTY TO CELEBRATE
A BUCKET FILLED TO THE TOP!
THE KIDS' FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY . . . PLAY WORKSHOP!
BOWLING FIELD TRIP!
READ EVERY DAY OVER SUMMER VACATION!
The Snatchabook is one of my favorite books.
The big idea is the importance of having someone to read to you.
The Snatchabook is a critter who takes books because it has no one to read it,
and learns a valuable lesson in the end of the story.
Be sure to encourage your child to read every day this summer.
Read the easy reader books sent home each week. Log on to Raz Kids to read.
Visit the library to check out some really great books to read.
Write a story together to read!
Read, then read some more!
GROWING IN KINDERGARTEN
The Kinder Garden is beautiful! The seeds Mrs. Devries planted with the students on the Earth Day have grown into growing, green plants. After our sunflower seeds did not germinate the first time, we planted them a second time, with success! On Thursday, June 2, five students volunteered to donate their seedlings to be planted in the Kinder Garden. So we planted, then used the opportunity to do a Writer's Workshop garden-side, and the kids loved it!
During the last week of school, we will spend time each day by the garden writing and drawing.
HUTCHINGS HAPPENINGS
Just a few of the things we do in a week in Kindergarten . . .
Dance to Kidz Bop Go Noodle brain break.
Enjoy lunch together outside.
Hear stories about the wildlife by Mrs. Hutchings house.
Use our illustrator skills while listening to music.
Make awesome art in Mrs. Uecker Herman's art class.
Practice subitizing skills during math workstations.
PORTRAITS OF MRS. HUTCHINGS
One of my very favorite activities of the year is when the students draw portraits of me and spell my name by stretching out the sounds! Here are a few of their amazing portraits:
LIFE CYCLE OF A FROG
We learned about the life cycle of a frog which included daily observations
of tadpoles in the classroom! As of June 2, they were growing their back legs.
Here are some of the awesome drawings our class created this week!
FIRST GRADE VISIT!
On June 1, we visited the first grade wing at Stoney Creek. So exciting!!!
First we walked through all of the classrooms. Next we spent some time in Ms. Simmons' class for an ask-and-answer session. Last, the first graders read to us, then we read to them. Be sure to ask your child about the "All About First Grade" brochure they received!
EQUATIONS, NUMBER SENTENCES/ADDITION & SUBTRACTION
The students get daily practice with solving equations.
DECOMPOSING, RECYCLING & MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
We created a "paper garden" to show the symbiotic relationship that exists among living things. We collected a plethora of styrofoam plates and trays to recycle (and keep out of landfills). We learned about the lifecycle of the seed and what living things need.
Most importantly, we learned how we can make a difference!
CONSTRUCTING 2D & 3D SHAPES
USING PIPE CLEANERS AND STRAWS.
Enjoying the Spring sunshine!
I am so grateful to be my student's teacher!
WATCH DOG DADS!
Thank you to David Payne for being a Watchdog Dad and making a difference!
We appreciate the time you give to the teachers and students at Stoney Creek!
FUN RUN!
Thank you to the families who helped at the Fun Run
and also to those who donated to this important Stoney Creek fundraiser.
BUTTERFLY LIFE CYCLE INVESTIGATION
FIELD TRIP TO MEIJER GARDENS BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING
April 26, 2016
WORM FARM!
We have a worm farm in our classroom! It is a teaching tool for learning about decomposing organic matter (reducing, reusing, recycling), habitats, and developing an appreciation for one of earth's most important creatures! Each week, we feed them vegetables, check the bin moisture, and take a few worms out to observe growth. Some of the worms will be transferred to the Kinder Garden, and the "compost tea" they produce will be use to fertilize the soil for our sunflower seed experiment.
OTHER THINGS WE EXPERIENCED IN MARCH . . .
Being awesome together during Play Workshop!
Student-led Conferences!
Practicing counting by tens!
Using our creative expression skills while learning how to draw the Lorax!
MARCH IS READING MONTH
Beach Day Fridays!
T-shirts we made reading our shirts on Read a Shirt Day!
Mr. Rykse reading to all of Stoney Creek at the end-of-reading-month-celebration assembly.
The reward for meeting the school's reading goal: popsicle treats outside!
ANIMAL INVESTIGATING AT JOHN BALL ZOO!
GUEST READERS
Every March, we invite first and second graders to read to our class. We love listening to them read, asking questions about what it is like in first or second grade, and hearing advice about being awesome. We also enjoyed listening to grown-ups read too!
MARCH IS READING MONTH
Dr. Seuss Week!
D.E.A.R. in the classroom (drop everything and read)!
MICHIGAN WINTER MEMORIES
CELEBRATING THE 100th DAY OF SCHOOL!
We are 100 days smarter!
VALENTINES DAY SOIREE
(that is French for party!)
LEARNING ABOUT WELLNESS
FROM TY THE NUTRITION GUY FROM THE Y (ymca)
THINGS WE DO AT CENTERS . . .
Build words, read books, spell popcorn words, express emotions through Playdoh creations, set/achieve goals in our Leadership Notebooks, use iPads, choose a treasure box to play with...
MAKING OUR BRAINS STRONGER!
Comparing numbers that are greater than, less than, and equal.
Enjoying our "tundra-like" playground,
and experiencing the joy of being in kindergarten!
,
PENGUIN INVESTIGATION
We incorporated writing, math, and science all together to uncover what we knew about penguins, thought about what we wanted to know, then discussed what we learned!
Fun Fact: Penguins cannot use their wings to fly.
F I E L D T R I P
LOLLIPOPS CONCERT BY THE GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY
HANSEL & GRETEL STORY PERFORMED BY THE GRAND RAPIDS BALLET
FIRST WEEK BACK FROM BREAK . . .
Kindergartners listened to a presentation about dental health, the importance of avoiding foods with sugar, and that we should brush at least twice a day!
Enjoying the winter snow!
Mrs. Jurewicz's First Grade Class Visited to
Collaborate on a "How To" Writing Lesson.
We wrote thank yous back to them!
KINDERGARTNERS BEING AWESOME!
HOLIDAY PARTY 2015
AUTUMN DAYS IN KINDERGARTEN
HALLOWEEN PARTY DAY!
BAT STUDY, BAT FACTS
Bats are important to our ecosystem.
A Little Brown Bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitos a night.
Bats can fly. They are the only mammal with this ability.
Bats can use echolocation to locate (hear) bugs in the sky.
Bats have long finger bones that attach to their wings to help them fly.
A BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY
STUDY OF THE APPLE SEED LIFE CYCLE
We made a list of questions we had, read Ten Apples Up on Top, did apple math, zoomed in on a moment to write about from our Schwallier's Country Basket field trip, made applesauce with apples we picked, and learned a new vocabulary word, fruitle.
THIS WEEK IN OUR CLASSROOM . . .
We listened to the MSU fight song to celebrate their epic win and highlight college Mondays.
We went on a leaf walk, learned how leaves change color and some new vocabulary words:
photosynthesis, chlorophyll, and pigment
We learned a new math game called Top It. Some students wore fancy sunglasses after they had their vision checked .
JUST FOR FUN . . . SOME OF MRS. HUTCHINGS ARTPRIZE FAVORITES
COMSTOCK PARK HOMECOMING PARADE
FIRST FULL WEEK IN KINDERGARTEN SNAPSHOTS . . .
Play Workshop & Snack Time
OUR FIRST WRITER'S WORKSHOP
Using music and lines for creative expression.
CLASS OF 2027
FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
9.2.14
MRS. HUTCHINGS SUMMER ADVENTURES . . .
WOW! LOOK AT OUR KINDER GARDEN!
All of the rain has really helped the garden grow!
CONGRATULATIONS KINDERGARTNERS,
YOU DID IT!
An important message for the summer, and life . . .
WHEN WE GROW UP, WE WANT TO BE . . .
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL FUN!
We counted 295 sytrofoam trays! All of the kindergartners were taller than the tray stack!
The trays will be dropped off at Mrs. Hutchings' son's school for recycling.
Thank you kindergartners for reducing landfill waste and making this project successful!
Our class will continue to recycle trays next year too.
We started and ended the school year with a visit from Mrs. Cron and the Monarchs! She brought in teeny tiny baby caterpillars for us to look at under the document camera. She gave one to our class. We watched it grow a little every day. Mrs. Hutchings brought the very hungry caterpillar home. On June 9, it turned into a chrysalis. Now we practice patience again, and wait for it to emerge!
We visited Mrs. Kiander's First Grade Classroom!
We went bowling and had "the best day ever" at Field Day!
We ate smores and enjoyed lots of extra recess!
WE ARE BUCKET FILLERS!
We filled the bucket up to the top, so Mr. Hutchings stopped by to deliver pizzas for our pizza party. We also celebrated a summer birthday with cupcakes, lucky kids!
We visited the Kinder Garden one last time to see how much more the plants have grown! Amazing!
We took home all of the things that belong to us, including these beautiful cut-and-create creations we made during our last centers rotations!
A FAVORITE WRITING ACTIVITY . . .
Mrs. Hutchings portraits and sharing favorite memories!
Fun Friday Moments . . .
Officer Brown and Officer Keasler visited on May 19
to talk about the importance of following rules and Stranger Danger.
The Kinder Garden and our Sunflower Seedlings
Our kindergartner-created paper garden complete with pollinators, decomposers, things seeds need to complete their life cycle, plus a few extra fun projects.
EARTHWORMS!
Earthworms are vital to our environment.
They are ecosystem engineers, making burrows through which water and oxygen can enter the soil,
and carbon dioxide can exit the soil -- these processes improve soil structure.
Earthworms decompose and recycle organic matter thereby unlocking nutrients for plants.
We made worms from tissue paper and watched them wiggle by dropping water droplets on them! Fun!
STAGES OF THE BUTTERFLY LIFE CYCLE
POPCORN WORD EGG HUNT!
ENJOYING SPRING TIME!
FIELD TRIP TO FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS
da VINCI's HORSE (Gran Cavallo)
HAPPY EARTH WEEK!
POPCORN WORD OF THE WEEK
PICNIC LUNCH!
JOURNALING & ENJOYING SNACK ON A WARM SPRING DAY!
ARRR!
MARRRCH IS READING MONTH WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
STONEY CREEK STUDENTS MET THARRR READING GOAL.
THE REWARRRD, MR. RYKSE WALKED THE PLANK AND GOT SOAKING WET!
JUST FOR FUN! MSU IS IN THE FINAL FOUR . . . GO STATE!
PJ AND READ & FEED DAY
READ A T-SHIRT DAY
MARCH IS READING MONTH SPECIAL READERS!
JUST FOR FUN . . . LAKE MICHIGAN ICE CAVES!
MATH WORK STATIONS
VALENTINE'S SOIREE (that's French for party!)
HIP HIP HOORAY! IT'S THE 100th DAY!
FIRST GRADERS VISIT TO SHARE
THEIR SMALL MOMENTS WRITING PIECES
SLIDING LIKE PENGUINS
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD FIELD TRIP
HOLIDAY PARTY
GUITAR PROJECT WITH THE PRE-CALCULUS STUDENTS
FROM KENT INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL
GINGERBREAD!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
ENJOYING THE DECEMBER SUNSHINE
WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT NUTRITION
FROM MR. TY FROM THE YMCA
DECORATING TABLE CLOTHS FOR THE ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST
WRITER'S WORKSHOP SHARING TIME
FRIENDSHIP DAY!
11.25.14
USING 5 STAR SENTENCES TO WRITE ABOUT SMALL MOMENTS IN "SNOW-VEMBER"
SO EXCITING . . . SNOW ON THE PLAYGROUND!
11.13.14
VISIT FROM PAWS WITH A CAUSE
THE BAT MUSEUM
POPCORN WORD OF THE WEEK
Each day we do Daily 5 in our classroom:
Listen to a Story (then complete a book report)
Read to Self
Work on Words
Work on Writing
Read to Someone
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WEEK
November 3-7, 2014
Using teamwork to create shape designs. Writing about candy corn experiments.
Exercising our bodies/waking up our brains with Mr. E from the YMCA!
POPCORN WORD OF THE WEEK
11.3.14
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
OUR BAT STUDY
FROM APPLES TO APPLESAUCE
GROWING AS WRITERS
ROBINETTE'S FIELD TRIP!
10.8.14
HOMECOMING PEP ASSEMBLY
10.3.14
OCTOBER 1, 2014 = COUNT DAY
Hip hip hooray, everyone was in our class today!
We enjoyed Read-to-Self time with the gift of free books compliments of Stoney Creek!
JUST FOR FUN . . .
Mrs. Hutchings favorite art at ArtPrize!
WRITERS DOING WHAT GOOD WRITERS DO
DURING WRITER'S WORKSHOP . . . WRITING ABOUT SMALL MOMENTS!
THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY LIFE CYCLE
WELCOME LANDO!
THE CLASSROOM GUINEA PIG
9.15.14
FIRST FULL WEEK IN KINDERGARTEN.
WE KNOW HOW TO BE 5-STAR FRIENDS!
A VISIT FROM MRS. CRON AND THE MONARCHS!
9.5.14
*Click on photos to enlarge.
2013-14 SCHOOL YEAR . . .
Continue to scroll down to view the adventures of the 2013-14 Kindergartners!
ROBINETTE'S APPLE ORCHARD FIELD TRIP
Thank you to Angelique Doyle for the photos!
VISIT FROM OFFICER BROWN
THINKING MAPS
GINGERBREAD HOUSE TEAM EFFORT PROJECT
Thanks to Chris Webber for creating the photo collage!
During our 2D and 3D shape study, we learned this shape is called a trapezoidal prism! (Now that's expanding vocabulary!!)
RECORD SNOW YEAR!
MATH WORK STATIONS
VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY!
FEBRUARY 17, 2014 . . . THE 100th DAY OF SCHOOL
"We are 100 days smarter!"
EXPLORING WORD FAMILIES USING CIRCLE MAPS
TABLE TIME
Using Tangram Blocks to Build Spatial Reasoning and Problem Solving Skills
SPIRIT WEEK: Crazy/Mis-matched Socks Day!
SPIRIT WEEK: Hat Day!
It is also Breakfast Week, so we got moving and walked the halls!
SPIRIT WEEK: Pajama Day & Bring a Bear to School
SPIRIT WEEK: Wear Your Class T-Shirt Day!
NATIONAL BREAKFAST WEEK!
On Friday, March 7,
all of the Kindergartners had breakfast together!
CAMP-READ-A-LOT!
PENGUIN RESEARCH
We learned so many awesome facts about penguins! This winter, Mrs. Hutchings thought we might turn into penguins because our Michigan weather was similar to the arctic tundra, where many penguins live! Did you know that the Emperor Penguin is about as tall as a Kindergartner (that equals (=) 60 unifix cubes!)?! We are so excited to observe the penguins on our March 19 zoo field trip, and make real-life connections to what we learned in the non-fiction texts we read.
Below are photos of the super cool penguins our class created during centers, with a little help from Mrs. Webber!
FIELD TRIP TO JOHN BALL ZOO
GLOW PARTY!
HANDWRITING CELEBRATION DAY
WITH BAKER COLLEGE STUDENTS!
MARCH IS READING MONTH
MYSTERY READERS!
BUTTERFLY GARDENS FIELD TRIP
THINKING MAPS FOR MATH
END OF MARCH IS READING MONTH!
April 15, 2014
WZZM TV 13 films our class for the My Town Salute TV segment!
April 18 = Miss Katie's Last Day in our Classroom
Thank you Miss Katie for being an awesome helper!
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
To help make our environment look awesome, we picked up garbage around Stoney Creek! Awesome kindergartners!
BLANFORD NATURE CENTER FIELD TRIP
April 23, 2014
BLANFORD NATURE CENTER BUBBLE MAP
CUTEST PET CONTEST
This is my family's guinea pig, Gideon.
*Bring in change to vote for the cutest pet! Proceeds benefit Relay for Life.
This is my family's guinea pig, Gideon.
*Bring in change to vote for the cutest pet! Proceeds benefit Relay for Life.
WONDERFUL VISIT FROM MRS. UMSTEAD
Mrs. Umstead, my Kindergarten colleague from across the hall, was diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy in January. We have been sending her lots of love and positive thoughts for healing. She stopped in last week to say hello. The students showered her with love! Relay for Life activities have been happening all week long: Cutest Pet contest, buy beads, purchase a Stars & Moon footprint, Spirit Week, walk the track at the high school on Friday and Saturday. There are so many ways we can help and support those who are fighting or have fought a battle against cancer.
Lets work together to make a difference!
ZOO FIELD TRIP ANIMAL RESEARCH PROJECT
After our trip, we had conversations about animals we saw at the zoo, then researched their characteristics and habitats. We created habitats, drew animals, then sorted them into their respective habitats. We have amazing thinkers and artists in our classroom!
ASSEMBLY WITH AUTHOR AND PERFORMER KEVIN KAMMERAAD!
PRACTICING READ-TO-SELF SKILLS
OUR GIANT SYMMETRICAL BUTTERFLIES CREATED USING TEAMWORK!
LISTENING TO FIRST GRADERS READ!
They also shared advice on important things about first grade.
MEGAN FROM THE YMCA VISITED ON FRIDAYS
TO TEACH US ABOUT FOOD GROUPS AND NUTRITION
MATH WORK: Making Teen Number Chains
(a group of ten, plus some ones)
BOWLING FIELD TRIP
June 3, 2014
FIELD DAY!
June 4, 2014 (the last full day of school)
Discussion about our futures . . .
After reading How is Chocolate Made?, and Pete the Cat Goes to the Beach,
we had a discussion about jobs. Here is what my awesome kindergartners
told the class they want to be when they grow up:
SEE HOW WE GREW IN "KINDER-GARDEN"!
WHAT IS MRS. HUTCHINGS UP TO DURING THE SUMMER?
MORE FUN STUFF!