Molecules in Motion: Room 149

157 Days of Learning and Fun!

Friday marked our 157th day together in kindergarten. My second year in K almost completed. Hard to believe how fast time passes. How lucky I am to be able to watch such beautiful children develop into amazing learners.

Our ABC Countdown has begun with a new letter each day.  Tuesday is "G Day" for Game Day.  Bring your favorite game for us to play and enjoy.  Of course, after our work is complete!

You may have heard, none of the tadpole eggs survived.  Yes, it was sad, but when I read on the Internet that only one out of 10,000 eggs survives, I didn't feel so bad.  So off I went to Uncle Miltons and ordered older tadpoles that are destined to survive.  They arrived on Friday and I took them home. Immediately, Drew and I were off to Petco to buy a house for the new little ones. It's going to be sad when they have to leave on Tuesday.  We've become attached!

We celebrated Memorial Day by talking about the flag and reading Eve Bunting's The Wall. It's a touching story that most everyone can relate.  I've been reading it for 15 years; my kindergartners understand the same as my past fifth and sixth graders. Drew and I will to bike to Vietnam War Memorial on Monday.

Friday was a day of letting go.  We set free our caterpillars that had turned into five Painted Lady butterflies. We all made a wish as we watched them fly into the sky. One needed a little help by a loving Molecule! We also released lady bugs into the gardens of ASFS. At the end of the year we'll set free the ants and frogs near the pond, across the street.

The PALS testing is complete. Big smiles here... the growth was huge for everyone. (yes, my teaching friends were correct.. if you want to see instant growth, teach kindergarten!) Parents, please let me know if you have any questions.  These test results are not a secret, but they will not be on the report card.

Our time in the desert is filled with lots of fun. We're reading about desert plants and animals, chanting poems, sculpting cactus, and wondering if some information is a fact or a cactifract. After this week, we're off to the rainforest.

We are preparing for the Kindergarten Concert on June 16. We've teamed up with Ms. Kaye's awesome fifth graders to bring to life, Pinduli by Mem Fox. The concert will be filled with art, song, costumes...  lots of good times here.

Until the end of the year, I would like (LOVE) for each Molecules (and of course our wonderful parents) to sign the BLOG and tell us something about kindergarten.  What I like, Why I had fun, What I learned, My favorite time, How to be successful...  Please support your child in getting to the comment page.  (This could mean taking dictation... not a problem!) Like all comments they will be enjoyed by all of us.

The Blue Sea and DC

Our study of the ocean animals comes to an end tomorrow. We've looked at the differences of whales and fish, collected animal cards from the Internet, shared interesting facts, and water colored creative fish. Today, we finished our study with a trip to D.C. and a visit to the Ripley Center. The exhibit was Vicious Fishes.  While there were also enjoyed the Museum of African American History.  Lunch in the Rose Garden made for a perfect day!

During Modeled Writing we are exploring with different types of paper for our writing.  We are writing "How to" and "All About" books. Molecules are filled with information and they are sharing with everyone. I've learned how to plant, make crowns, do a somersault, and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

In Language Rotations we practice rhyming, handwriting, word families and vowel sounds.  We started out PALS assessments.  It's doesn't surprise me how well everyone is doing.  This is such a smart bunch... HUGE brains!

Mother's Day was last weekend and the Molecules created hand painted pots.  We planted colorful impatience and wrote poems.  We love our mothers so much! A few Molecules shared their poems to our 2nd grade reading buddies.

Five chrysalis are still hanging in the classroom. Haley noticed today that they some were rocking back and forth.  Will Painted Lady butterflies be waiting for us in the morning? That will make for a great day!

Thank you great parents for being with us today and sharing your time.  How lucky we are.

Have a great weekend!

Worms, Art, and Photos!

Last week the Molecules studied Earthworms at Investigation Station.  We kept a discovery log and recorded our observations.  Did the earthworm like the dark or light, a rough or smooth surface, the dry or wet? We learned about how worms move and why they are important to the Earth.

Nicholas' mom, Mrs. Savarese joined us for Art in the Classroom.  She shared the works of Mary Cassatt and the Molecules created art focusing on perspective. They were given objects such as sand, shells, feathers, and broken tiles to include on their beach side picture.

The perfect spring weather is calling us outdoors to extend our learning.  Whether it is for math (using sidewalk chalk to create number sentences or finding the line of symmetry), science (observing plants and animals in the courtyard), or social studies  (listening and discussing a story)... we're going to think of as many reasons to enjoy the spring, outdoors!

For the next three weeks, Molecules will be given the  DRA and PALS assessments. These important tools will give us data for next year's planning and also provide parents information on their child's strengths and areas of possible concern.

Our Animal unit take us from the woodlands to the ocean.  We're learning about insects, reptiles, mammals, birds and fish. We have five caterpillars in the classroom that are beginning to turn into chrysalis.  Soon they will turn into beautiful Painted Lady butterflies! After the Ocean we will head to the desert.

The photo gallery has been updated on the classroom website. Check out all the photos of the beautiful Molecules. Most of our photos are stored on Flickr.  It's easy to order prints (and so cheap!) for any photo... please let me know if you need instructions.

Current and past newsletters

Happy Mother's Day to our world's greatest moms.  The flowers that were given to you were planted with lots of love. The poems were written with lots of heart. Said the baby ant to his mother, "I love you as much as the biggest picnic!"

Thank you! Thank you! for all the wonderful notes and beautiful flowers that I received for Teacher Appreciation. It was such a special week. I am so rich!

Final wedding photos.

Have a great night.