KA Classroom Update
Introduction
Greetings from the KA classroom! It has been a busy few weeks in our classroom community, and we are so excited to share what we have done! KA has begun the new year with starting a new Learner Profile. This month we are focusing on being Reflective. Our students have been discussing what it means to be a reflective person in our community and have been sharing their own personal experiences of times that they themselves were reflective. The month of January also saw the entire school holding our 3rd Town Hall Meeting. In Town Hall our students joined the rest of the school to sing songs, ask questions, and learn about the life and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This month we have also started the tradition of KA Show and Tell. Every week two students will be picked on Monday to bring in an item on Friday to share with the class. An email including Show and Tell guidelines will be sent home this weekend, detailing what kind of things we are looking for.
Math
KA has been hard at work in math. We have begun the study of our measurement units, and our Kindergarteners have been having fun taking part in several hands-on experiments. They started the unit by learning the concept of length, as well as the terms “shorter than” and “taller than”. Our KA students spent several days measuring and comparing objects around the classroom. Their next step was to begin a discussion about the concept of weight. They have learned that weight is is used to describe how heavy an item is. They have begun using the terms “heavier than” and “lighter than” when comparing two objects. The students have also been using scales to measure objects around the classroom.
Inquiry
It’s been a fun few weeks in Inquiry. Our Kindergartners have been discussing the differences between Wants and Needs. They have figured out that a need is something we must have to live, while a want is something that, while we may desire it, is not a necessity. This brought us to the topic of Goods and Services as a way to fulfill our wants and needs. They have discussed the difference between a good and a service, the kids even played a game of “Service Charades”, acting out different professions for the classroom. This lead to a discussion of where we could see different services provided in our community, as well as where we commonly go to buy goods. That is when the kids came up with the idea of turning our classroom into a grocery store, which we will be doing shortly. They have created their own “KA money” and will be providing services in the classroom to acquire the dollars. This money will be able to be spent on goods available in the KA Grocery Store. We are so excited for this new project!
ELA
Armory
KA has officially started our trips to the armory! Due to the change in the weather, until the Spring we will no longer be going to Fort Greene Park. Instead we will be going to the YMCA Armory for the kids to play and exercise. These last two weeks at the Armory have seen the kids participating in whole group games, as well as relay races, and free play. We will be attending the Armory most Fridays from here until Spring. We will be looking for parent volunteers for chaperones and there will be a Sign-Up Genius form coming out if you would like to be involved. Recess will still be taking place daily when the weather permits.
Music
Hello, kindergarten families!
The kindergarteners kicked off 2017 by starting to learn a lovely folk song that features some cold weather -- “Fox Went Out On a Chilly Night.” Then, after reviewing musical concepts from the fall, kindergarteners started learning songs and doing activities to prepare them for a major kindergarten musical concept: steady beat! We marched to “The Noble Duke Of York,” tapped heads to “Hickety Tickety Bumble Bee,” danced to “Shoo Fly,” and played a steady beat on instruments while singing “This Old Man.”
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email at jkramer@brooklynprospect.org.
Thanks!
Jacob Kramer¡KA EN ESPAÑOL!
KA keeps moving hacia delante en Español. In this new term we introduce directions, derecha (right), izquierda (left), delante (forward), and atrás (backwards). KA is getting ready to move in Spanish! We play blindfold games, jump the rope, follow the leader and pin the tail to the donkey. So Fun! We are getting ready to explore the world using maps and the cardinal points- norte, sur, este y oeste. It’s going to be an exciting new semester. We are practicing non-stop our new songs: Direcciones y Los puntos cardinales. Check out the video and lyrics and keep practicing at home.
Ps.
Last year, at the end of December we had so much fun with the parranda (the Puerto Rican version of parranda). We made maracas with spoons, cups and rice, and then went around the school to sing and surprise with a latin touch. Check out our pictures and videos!
Gracias,
Maestra Rosado and Maestra Nivia