Mrs. Blum's Kindergarten Class
Looking to the future!
Curriculum
All my lessons follow the Common Core State Standards.
Mathematics
In the beginning of the year we are looking to build a community of mathematicians. We begin with counting! We practice counting everything: students in school, students lining up, coloring sheets, pencils, counters, etc. We also practice counting throughout the day across curriculum with calendar during circle time and page numbers during reading, just to name a few. Practice counting daily with your child. Count cherrios, cars, lamp posts, magnets, etc.
In the middle of the year we focus on addition and subtraction. I encourage the idea that numbers are flexible. We practice putting numbers together to make new ones (addition) and take numbers apart to find what's left (subtraction). We do this through word problems, number bonds, and ten-frames. We practice solving problems using different strategies. These strategies include using their fingers, manipulatives, counting on, number lines, drawing pictures, and writing equations.
The end of the year focuses on teen numbers, geometry, and measurement. Students learn that teen numbers are made up of tens and ones. Students learn about 2D and 3D shapes. Students learn that different attributes can be described using math vocabulary such as long, short, big, small, heavy, light, etc. Students will learn these concepts through hands-on lessons, independent practice, and small groups.
English Language Arts
Reading:
In the beginning of the year our focus is creating a community of readers. We will practice independent "reading". Reading looks different in kindergarten from child to child. We begin "reading" by: looking at the pictures, looking at the words, and rereading familiar stories. Practice reading with your child daily.
In the middle of the year we focus on reading strategies and building reading stamina with emergent readers and leveled books. Each student reads at their ability level, while practicing reading strategies when they get to a "tricky" word. We do this through reading "super powers". Their superpowers include pointer power, partner power, and rereading power, picture power, sound power and persistence power!
The end of year we focus on characters, setting, events, and problems and solutions in stories. We do this through shared reading, read-alouds, and independent reading. Our focus is specifically on the characters in the stories. We analyze character's feelings, how characters change throughout stories, and personal connections to characters.
Writing:
We will begin by mastering the use of writing tools. We "write" with crayons, pencils, and markers. Every child progresses at their own speed. Beginning writing looks like scribbles, pictures, shapes that look like letters, abnormal letters, and letters. We will then put letters into words. I encourage students to write the sounds they hear in words. Then we will put words together to write sentences. We will focus on writing narrative stories.
In the middle of the year we focus on writing how-to stories. Students will write step-by-step directions on how-to do something they know a lot about. Together we wrote a how-to story about fire drills and how to make a snowman. I will encourage students to write stories about what they know how to do.
The end of the year we focus on opinion writing. Students learn that opinions are thoughts and feelings that are personal. Students will study mentor texts that focus on characters with different opinions and characters with different problems that solve their problems either through letter writing or persuasive writing. Students will write their own opinion pieces.