Artistic Numerals

     Last week we made artistic numerals to display in our classrooms.  Our students are so proud to display their work!  Their efforts both provide a great classroom number sequence and help the students to learn their numerals and counting sequence.  Find templates for free at our tpt store:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Artistic-Numerals-423945 

     First children choose a numeral to make their own.  We get in a sequence line holding our number in front and then see who is one greater than our number and one fewer.  Then, children paint their number inside the lines.  This year I had 1 through 5 use one color, 5-10 use another, 10-15 use another, 15 - 20 use another, and 20+ use another.  I thought it might help them see the groups of 5.  Then, we let them dry. They can try to sequence them again.  

     The next day we looked at an art print like this one, "No. 5".  We simply ask children what they notice about the painting.  They notice the numeral 5 with 3 different sizes, the letters, the colors, and the type of lines they see.  Then, we offer their numeral to use as a piece of art similar to this one.  This year I provided markers, glitter glue, and stickers for the art work.  I asked them to try and follow around the numeral with a dark color to help the numeral show up well.

 

     After they dry again, we had a "gallery stroll".  I placed the numerals on their tables before they came in to class.  Then, I played some instrumental music.  When the music plays, the students walk around looking quietly at the art on the tables.  When the music stops, they stop.  I choose a student and ask a question.  This time I just asked what they noticed.  Then, we continue strolling and stopping to comment until we have enough.  

     Finally, we hung them up in order for all to see:)

     Happy teaching!

Yours truly,
Molly 

Learning that letters are made of lines and curves, kindergarten students find SO MANY ways to write their names....out of colored tape, watercolor resist, letter magnets and even paper strips! They are also making name books to save.  In these books they've traced their names with glitter glue, written it with rainbow colors, sticker dots, and q-tips dipped in paint.  We've found these are a fun keepsake to send home at Back to School Night or at parent/teacher conferences.  

This group of kindergartners can already recognize the numerals through ten. Here, students get a number card and then silently line themselves up in order. The rest of us watch to see how they do. Thumbs up for this group of ten! We are ready to add 11-20!

Alphabet Museum

     Our kindergarten classes have been in session for 10 days! Here are some pictures of the alphabet art & activities we are collecting for our Alphabet Museum Display. Look at these beautiful examples!

Apple Printing

Bubble Wrap Prints & cut b's

C collage (find C's from group of
several letters) and a cut out camera

dots on D's

Handprint Elephants from
eisforexplore.blogspot.com

Flags painted on blue paper with red
and white paint.  Card stock folded in half
and stapled to flag makes the pole.

Glitter G's & g's

E's with lines and curves

h horse idea from
missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com
I somehow didn't save any that
had the h going the right way!
Oh, the life of kindergarten!

Insect i

  








































    A big academic focus for kindergarten students is learning alphabet letters and the sounds they stand for.  Our school district uses Harcourt Trophies curriculum for reading.  We feel that the pacing for learning alphabet letters is too slow as it is paced throughout the year.  We like to focus on the whole alphabet at the beginning of the year, then compact the Trophies curriculum for the balance of the year and focus on writing formation of the letters, and using the sounds for emerging reading. We also utilize the Zoo-Phonics letter sounds program.  This program combines an animal character and a motion along with the sound associated with the letter.  The animals are very motivating and the movements really help young learners learn and remember letter sounds. We also have the Waterford Early Learning Program on computer for children.  We use the Nursery Rhyme songs and books as we introduce letters to make a connection to our hands on learning to their computer time.

     Our strategy is to look at a letter-a-day for the first 26 days of school.  We go through them in order.  Each day we compare the upper and lowercase letters, meet an animal character that helps us with the sound, listen to books and songs associated with the letter, and try one or more letter activities with the daily letter, and even eat snack associated with the letter.  The culmination of our alphabet learning is an Alphabet Museum.  We save items made by children during the letter learning.  Then, we hang them in the hall or display in a foyer at our school.  Parents are invited, other grades often use the display for learning, and our kindergarten students are thrilled at their amazing display of learning!  Check out our complete Alphabet Museum idea collection at our Tpt Store:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Alphabet-Museum-Activities-for-each-letter-459615

Yours Truly,   Molly

Beginning

     K is for kindergarten!  What a magical place to be!!!  This is my 26th year of teaching young children and my first year to begin blogging.  We are going to begin our 3rd week of school and I've just been too busy - and tired - to begin documenting this journey until now.  I'll see how this works and try to post about learning the alphabet tomorrow!

Thanks,  Molly