Past and Present

Today we looked at how families traveled, communicated, worked, and played together in the past as compared to the present.  Students enjoyed sorting items into groups based on whether they were used in the past or present. 

Recess

First week recess pics

Week 3

We had a fantastic week last week.  I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend.  This week we will continue learning all about the numbers 0-10.  We will be learning about the letters b, c, and f.  Our sight words are: be, me, see, & we.  We will continue learning about how illustrations help us as writers by investigating Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin.  We will also be looking at how to choose "good fit" books.  In social studies, we will be learning about families.  Remember school pictures are Wednesday morning.  

All About the Numbers 1-10

We will spend the next several weeks developing a deep understanding of the numbers 1-10.  In class, we are creating "all about the number" anchor charts to post around the room.  These anchor charts will remind students what each number looks like in various formats.  Students are also creating their own mini-anchor charts to put in their journals.  At the end of this unit, students should be able to show various ways to represent the numbers 1-10.  One way to extend the learning would be for your child to show you various ways to represent a number.  For instance, they may write the numeral 2, write the number word two, draw a picture of two objects, show two fingers, show two on a ten frame, draw two tally marks, or show two on a die or domino.  I am attaching our first two anchor charts for you to refer to as an example.  

We are focusing on the upper/lowercase letters a, t, m, & s and recognizing their sounds.  We are practicing blending these sounds together to build words.  We have also discussed three ways to read books: read the pictures, read the words, and retell the story.  We have read The Three Bears.   Can your child retell this story?  

Week 2

Wow!  What a great first week!  I am so proud of how hard each of the students worked last week.  We are truly enjoying getting to know each of them.  Looking ahead to week 2, we will be learning the words a, it, & my.  We will begin focusing on numbers one through five.  We will be exploring different ways to read books and building stamina as readers.  We will be reading books by Mo Willems as mentor texts for writing.  We will begin telling stories through drawing and using our words to express ourselves.  In social studies, we will be looking at what makes each of us unique.  We have many important documents we will be sending home in homework folders on Monday, so please remember to look for them.  We look forward to another fantastic week!

Setting sail soon!

     Thank you all for coming out to meet the teacher day!  We were so excited to meet you and your families.  We look forward to working with you this year.  Please feel free to contact us anytime you have questions or concerns.  We want to work closely with you to ensure your child's success! 
     Looking ahead, we will jump right into learning this week.  We will be learning our first three words: I, am, & can.  Please feel free to work ahead on sight words if your child is ready.  The list of words for the year is in your homework folder.  The most important thing is that students do not fall behind on these words throughout the year.  In phonics, we will be working with our names to identify letters and to help us learn the names of friends in our room.  We will also be looking at how pictures help us both as readers and writers.  In math, we will explore manipulatives and other elements of mathematics.  Finally, we will be looking at how to be a successful student by exploring class rules and expectations. 
     Our wonder of the week is "what does it mean to be a good friend?"  Please discuss this with your child so they can help us answer this question in class.  You could also type your child's response in the comment section of our blog so we can refer to it in class.
     As you can see we're off to a busy start!  We have many fun and exciting activities planned.   Be sure to ask your child about the books we read and the activities we do in class each day.  Also remember to check the newsletter for important information and upcoming events.  Students, remember to go to bed early and get plenty of rest!  We have a busy day ahead!  We look forward to seeing you in the morning!

Welcome to Kindergarten!

    Hi! My name is Mrs. Watson. I look forward to setting sail with you and our kindergarten crew very soon! This will be my twelfth year teaching. I have been teaching kindergarten at OES for ten years. Prior to teaching at OES, I taught 1st grade in Cherokee county for two years. I have a Master's degree in early childhood education from USC Upstate. I have been married to Mr. Watson for 17 years. We have two daughters, Becca is in  6th grade and Abigail is in 1st grade at OES. We have 2 dogs, named Sadie and Sam, and a rabbit named Thumper. You will hear lots of stories about my family and pets this year because I like to write about them when we write in our journals.
     We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Ward share our classroom with us. I have worked with her every year that I have been at OES. She is an excellent teaching partner! Mrs. Ward has been at OES for ten years. Prior to working at OES, she was a 4 year old kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Ward also has a Master's degree in early childhood education. Mrs. Ward has been married to Mr. Ward for 21 years! They have four children, two girls and two boys. Mrs. Ward's children have all graduated from OES. She has a dog named Charlie and a brand new puppy. You will also hear lots of stories about Mrs. Ward's family and pets this year.
     We look forward to sharing our classroom with you! We will have a great year together!  We have been busying planning lots of fun and exciting learning activities for you. Get ready to set sail with us on a 180 day journey!  See you soon!