Ms. Traynham's Kindergarten Blog

In February, I was able to take a conference on Children’s Engineering.  I was so thankful for the opportunity to immerse myself into a program in which I felt was a great way to teacher learners.  We have been creating and working together collaboratively ever since through design briefs related to our Standards of Learning.  Below are a few of our creations. Myself and the kids included have loved this method of teaching.  I cannot wait to see what else these creative minds innovate as Kindergarteners.

Leprechaun trap

Teamwork.

Last week we went to the zoo! We have been learning about nonliving and living creatures so this was a very valuable experience.  We have also been learning about what animals need to live.  We saw lions, tigers, penguins, and many new animals to us,  fed parakeets and giraffes, and had a wonderful picnic lunch.  Thank you to our chaperones who made this day a success.  It was a beautiful fun filled day!

Giraffes!

Giraffe Feeding!

Parakeet feeding. They landed on our birdseed filled sticks. We loved this!

We have been busy busy bees in our Kindergarten Classroom these past few months.  We have celebrated Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, 100 days of school, had a visit from the Leprechaun because we created leprechaun traps (he got away, that sneaky thing!), really reading as well as spelling and most lately we have been learning about Spring and all the season has to offer.  Enjoy a few pictures of our busy and wonderful learning!

100th Day of School!

Cherry Blossom Study and painting

Sight word time!

Children’s Engineering-Leprechaun Traps

                                                       Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Happy New Year to all my sweet Kindergarteners and their families!  We had a great first week getting back into our routine.  My how they grew over two weeks and how our learning is really beginning to take off!  I am looking forward to a great 2012 with room 31!  Here is to a healthy, happy year of learning, loving and growing.

Lots of love and cheers!

Ms. Traynham

We have been learning about all of the winter holidays, our five senses and the theme of winter.  Literature has been a constant fixture in our room and will continue be.  Listening, tracking, and finding out words are all very imperative to our early stages of reading.  Here are a few of the books we have been reading in case you may want to check them out over the Holiday break. Happy Holidays and happy reading!

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

We had an afternoon where we made a train out of chairs, turned out all of the lights and listened to the story.  At the end we received the bells.  Can you hear them?

Dream Snow by Eric Carle

Stella, Queen of Snow by Mary-Louise Gay

Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett

If you are ever searching for new titles or books to connect with our studies please let me know.  I would be happy to help! Encouraging their love for reading is extremely important to me.  These are a few of many.

We have four I-pads in our classroom and just LOVE them.  They help us work on our writing, remember our letters, practice words, count, as well as take pictures of items.  They have been such a beneficial resource to our learning.

Today, we went on a solid, liquid, and gas hunt around the school.  Our technology teacher, Mrs. Hues was a great help.  We took the pictures and then uploaded the photos to a drop box.  Here is what we found.  Solids, liquids, and gases are everywhere!

We found solid leaves with a tiny drop of rain on them which was the liquid.

Liquid.

A solid with gas/air inside.

Steam/gas from the tray washer.

Liquid.

What solids, liquids and gases can you find around your home? Read, set, and find! We sure did!

Our school collected cans for the Henrico County Christmas Mother this year.  This is always a huge success.  We talked a lot about giving and helping others in our room during this winter season and all year.

We really got in the spirit of giving and donated 137 canned goods!  WOW, Kindergarteners, way to go!  Congratulations to another Kindergarten class, Mrs. Fisher’s class who were the K-2 winners…yay Kindergarten!  Also, Mrs. Dingas’ third grade class won for grades 3-5.

Way to go room 31 and Maybeury Elementary.  We are really in the spirit of giving!

Things we are thankful for at school:

Mary-I like the school.

Ellie-I like the classroom.  The best part is, it is fun to be in.

Torrance-The toys make me happy.

Cami-I like our classroom.

Solli-I am thankful for school.  I like it.

Sam-Lunch is what I am thankful for.

Ramy-The classroom is what I am thankful for.

Engie-My teacher is what I am thankful for.

Tamya-I am thankful for my teacher.

Tristan-I love playing outside.  That is what I am thankful for.

London-I am thankful for the beanie baby animals that we play with.

Erica-The building is what I am thankful for.  We are warm and dry inside.

Zachary-I am thankful for the school and my teacher.

Sophia-I am thankful for my friends.  I also really like my teacher.

Nora-I am thankful for my friends.

Bella-Solli is what I am thankful for.

Ms. Traynham-My students are what I am thankful for.  I love how sweet they are and how hard they work.  This class and school is the best!

We are enjoying learning about Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for?

Above are a few ways we talked and learned about the month of October.  As you can see we learned a lot and had great fun along the way.  Thanks for sending in supplies, getting us ready for our parade, and volunteering.  You are the reason we can do all of these wonderful activities! We are now onto our November journey discovering all the month has to offer.  Look back for updates soon!

Love,

Miss Traynham’s class