Making Words

Today the kids did an amazing job making words in Kindergarten! I can't help but keep my love for word games (Scrabble, Boggle, and Bananagrams) out of the curriculum. They were given a sheet with 7 letters to cut out and manipulate. It amazes me that they are spelling consonant-vowel-consonant words without hesitation. Most kids are even putting letters together to form words with long vowels. So proud!

Can you find a word using 5 or 6 letters?

Where Would You Fly?

Today we read a story about a pilot flying an airplane. It sparked a discussion about traveling to a far away place. Here are some of the places kids in our class want to go!

"Madagascar to see animals." -Reed

"Hawaii to hula dance." -Brianna

"Disney World to go on the Buzz Lightyear roller coaster." -Konrad

"Sea World to see the whale Shamu." -Zoe

"Florida to find an apartment." -Daniel



Where would you fly?

Traveling Poem

April is National Poetry Month and we will be hearing a new poem each day in Kindergarten. We're combining poetry with money for our traveling poem. When it comes to your house, read it with your child and then have them explain to you why $1 is more than 5 pennies. The poem is titled "Smart" by Shel Silverstein in Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Poem in Your Pocket

Ms. Panos brought in her class of 7th graders to help the kids write an Acrostic poem about themselves. Tomorrow we will participate in Poem in Your Pocket. Each child at Garvy will have written a poem to keep close (ours are in a pocket necklace). Throughout the day, we will take a minute to share our poems with a friend. Happy Poetry Month!

Kohl Children's Museum

If you haven't been to the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview, I suggest you take go and visit it ASAP. It is filled with hands on learning experiences and that is part of the reason I continue to take my kindergarten class back there year after year. Today the kids had over an hour to explore the museum in their small groups. Some of the favorite exhibits included; water works, Dominick's grocery store, and the Potbelly. At Garvy, there is very little (if any) time for dramatic play. It was so nice to watch them interact and pretend to go grocery shopping. While talking to Mrs. Beth, our science lesson coordinator, we discussed the real learning that takes place at the museum. Together we decided that it's when the students are discussing their observations and coming up with various rationale on their own.



She couldn't find everything on her shopping list, but she did get the pizza! I like her style.



This is a cool exhibit where the machine records what you say and then will repeat it back to you either fast or slow, it was good for some giggles.



Using her energy to raise the red ball. This is just one of the many fun tools in the water works.

We also had a science lesson all about energy, the kids made wind sculptures to bring home and to further observe the air. Mrs. Beth also complimented us for being one of the most creative and pleasant classes she's ever worked with at the museum. I'm very proud! More pictures to come from Mrs. Schoen soon!

St. Patrick's Day

I had the best 30th birthday imaginable, thank you to my students for sharing the day! It started with reading the Foot Book by Dr. Seuss and then giving each student a pair of tye dyed green socks. Making the socks was a new adventure and something that I would try again.



The best part of my day was having my mom come and spend the day at Garvy. It was her first time driving to Chicago (usually she takes the train), I was a proud daughter and happy that the Garmin worked so she can come visit again soon.



Here is Mrs. Bachman reading Ms. Bachman's favorite childhood story, Go Dog Go!

Oobleck in Room 301

Have you ever read the story, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, by Dr. Seuss? It's a great story about a king who orders a new weather from his royal magicians. What they develop is known as Oobleck which is green and sticky and EVERYWHERE. It wasn't what he had in mind, and I can see why after our messy experiment.



Oobleck is made from corn starch and water, very simple. It is such a strange mixture. Upon first look and feel it is a solild, but then as you pick it up it "magically" changes to a liquid. Check out the pictures below of the kids exploring this weird mixture!









Thank you Ms. Banna for the fun idea! Photo credits to Ms. Govig.

Love is...

On Valentine’s Day we asked the children in Kindergarten Room 301, “What does love mean to you?”

Love is…

You love yourself. They read me stories. I try to be nice to my brother. –Melissa

You draw them a heart. –Jason

To share with them. – Peter

You have a picnic together. –Josephine

Giving nice things. Mommy packs my lunch. –Mackenzie

Swimming with my sister and I splash her. –Amanda O.

Hugs from mom. –Sebastian

I listen to my mom. Sometimes mommy lets me sleep in her bed. –Salma

My mom gives me my favorite lunch. –Michael E.

I think loves means that you care a lot and because you give good stuff (love) to people. - Dehne

Love is about caring for each other. –Daniel

Love means you mom and dad and whole families love you. They give you kisses and hugs. – Julie

Love means kissing and hugging. –Amanda M.

When you ask for something you mom gives it to you. –Edward

You like people very very much and they love you. –Zoe

Giving away stuff like toys and playing tag. –Joey

Love is when my mom lights and we watch a movie together. –Adam

Love is being kind to people. When I give kisses to mom and dad. –Christine

Love is when I give hugs to mom and dad and when I clean my toys without being asked to.
–Michael S.

Going to the movies with my mom and dad. They’re nice. –Nicholas

Love means you like someone. –Sarah

Being kind and nice. –Vincent

Being happy, being cool. –Mark

Saying I love you. –Brianna

Hugging and playing with people you love. –Konrad

Being nice to people and helping people. –Julia

Sharing and being nice to people. –Reed

Giving kisses and helping others when they need help. –Robert

100th Day of School

Our 100th day of Kindergarten celebration will be on Friday, February 25. Last week a labeled baggie was sent home with your child's name. For the 100th day of school I'm asking your child to put 100 objects (ex: paper clips, pasta noodles, cotton balls, etc.) into the baggie and bring it to school. We're making a "100th Day of School Museum" and will use the baggies for the math lesson on February 25th. If you have completed an alternative project such as a poster or book, GREAT! Those will be displayed in the museum as well.

Bear Down!

We loved supporting our favorite football team, the Bears!





Here is a picture of the kids working together and playing Bingo. I'm so proud!

What did you learn at school today?

Today's science lesson was all about the human heart and lungs. Here's what the kids learned;

"When you sleep, your heart goes slow." -Dehne

"The heart has a beat." -Adam

"The heart pumps blood." -Reed

"When you get a lot of exercise, the heart beats faster." -Brianna

"You have to eat healthy foods." -Sebastain

Penguins

We had a great first week back to school from Winter Break. The theme was penguins and the students all had a great time learning about this arctic animal. During a science lesson, we experimented with feathers to keep their hands warmer when an ice cube was placed on top.



Penguin vocabulary words; brood patch, toboggan, and feathers. Here the kids are trying to hold a "penguin egg" on their feet, the way a father penguin cares for the egg while the mother searches for food.



The kids also measured their height to an actual penguin, some are the same size and others are taller than an Emperor Penguin. Thank you Ms. G for the pictures and ideas!

8th Grade Reading Buddies

Ms. Jeannie O'Connor brought her lovely group of 8th graders to Kindergarten this week. Some kiddos were a bit overwhelmed by the size and number of "big kids" in the room, but after the initial introductions they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Here are some pictures!

Holiday Party 2010

Our room was FILLED with holiday spirit this year! Santa Clause even came to leave Reindeer Food for the kids to sprinkle on the lawn. We had an amazing party hosted by the room moms; Laura Scully, Kelly Sanabria, and Judy Mendoza. Thank you so much for planning and putting everything together ladies.

All aboard The Polar Express.



Playing "Pin the Button Nose on Frosty."



Decorating ornaments with the kids picture and markers. They turned out so cute, guaranteed keepsakes!



Somehow I managed to tangle up the necklaces, oh boy.



I hope you enjoy the Winter Break with you family. Happy Holidays and I look forward to seeing you all again in 2011!

Garvy Addition

Ms. G and myself are going to be a part of history at John W. Garvy. Friday morning we went to the construction site and wrote our names on a beam that will be placed in the addition. The addition is going to be amazing, can't wait to see it complete!