Literacy and Mathematics Games

DreamBox (click on the word to learn more about this Online Math Learning)

Your child can access Dreambox in the St.Rita Student Portal at http://rit.ocsb.ca or on this blog under the tab Link. The username is Maklin- K. The children who demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between numbers 1 to 10 and their quantity had the opportunity to explore activities on DreamBox in class. Each child chose a password so if he or she can`t remember their password write us a note in your child`s agenda and we`ll give it to you. 

Some activities might prove to be too difficult for children who are still learning to recognize numbers 1 to 10 and their quantities as it requires to subitize groups of objects (recognizing a group of objects without having to count).

Raz-Kids (click on the word to learn more about this digital library)

Raz-Kids is a reading program that offers interactive leveled eBooks. You can access Raz-Kids by going in the Student Portal at http://rit.ocsb.ca or on this blog under the tab Link. The username is dmaklin.

Here are a few suggestions to help your child become a successful reader:

• Have your child listen to the story before he/she reads it. Encourage him/her to look at the pictures.
•  Encourage your child to point to the words using a pointer, such as a pencil, using the face with the eraser to avoid scratching your computer screen. This will bring the focus on the words instead of the pictures.
• Give your child a chance to auto-correct him/herself. Provide him/her with the initial sound of the word if needed.
• Have your child do a retell of the story. After your child has read the story, have him/her tell you what the story was about. Ask him/her to tell you the supporting details.

Playdough

We are looking for parent volunteers to make playdough for our class. Please type your name in the table accessible by clicking this link Playdough.

Here is a simple recipe for playdough.

Colored Playdough

Materials

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• Food coloring
• Saucepan
• 1 cup flour

Directions

1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
2. Remove from heat and add flour.
3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
4. Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.

http://www.familyeducation.com/fun/playdough/6-homemade-playdough-recipes

Newsletter Sept.-Oct. 2016

Mme Maklin and Mrs. Burkhardt

Kindergarten Newsletter

 

Hello Parents! Here is our first Newsletter of the school year. It will give information about what the children have been learning the last couple months. This year, we will be working with the new format of the kindergarten program that will reflect the four main components of the new kindergarten report card: Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well-Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours, Problem Solving and Innovation. The expectations are the same as in the old program with just a few additions (more or less 3). If you want to learn more about The Kindergarten Program go under Links on our blog and you can press on the document to view it.

The philosophy of the play based program is the try to find the children’s interests and to have the children demonstrate The Kindergarten Program expectation in what interests them. For example, some of our girls like to choreograph dances. We try to teach them the elements of dance so they can apply them in the choreography, and meet the expectations of The Kindergarten Program. One student was interested in making mud. We brought in different type of soil to help him and his friends discover what soil makes the best mud. Every day for the month of September, our JK boys would build ramps with the race tracks. We got them to extend their problem solving skills by building tunnel ramps. We also extended their learning by making them discover between several materials which one allows their toy cars to roll the farthest. Our dramatic center also got changed following the children’s interest. It was transformed into a Spy Headquarters, a Mission Centre for our rocket, and a Spooky Wagon Ride. We planned activities around those interests so the children could meet expectations from The Kindergarten Program. Some activities have to be teacher directed in order to help the children meet more specific expectations and to demonstrate that knowledge in their play. You can go to your child’s ePortfolio to learn more about what you child has been learning in class. We are updating it regularly so make sure to check it often. 

Click on the link below to learn about a few other activities we did with the children based on the overall expectations of The Kindergarten Program.  

Newsletter Sept.-Oct., 2016