L is for Elephant!
Yes I know L isn't really for elephant, but I wanted to share with you a mistake one the students made today because it made so much sense...
For our new letter Ee this week I put a large plastic elephant in our feely bag. The children passed the bag around the circle and I watched their eyes light up as they recognized the shape (they are not allowed to peek or tell their friends). Confident that this lesson was going to go well, I asked the children what letter we would be learning this week. The hands quickly shot up in the air as the children were so eager to share what they knew. The child I chose said confidently and clearly "L". L - aphant!
Now that is the problem with the English language. You learn the sounds that go with the letters and then there are so many exceptions to learn as well. Take the letter E - elephant, egg, and exit - all different sounds. Learning the letters and becoming an emergent reader is BIG WORK. Praise often as your child tries to make sense of a language that doesn't always follow the rules! Now I wonder what I should have put in that feely bag...
For our new letter Ee this week I put a large plastic elephant in our feely bag. The children passed the bag around the circle and I watched their eyes light up as they recognized the shape (they are not allowed to peek or tell their friends). Confident that this lesson was going to go well, I asked the children what letter we would be learning this week. The hands quickly shot up in the air as the children were so eager to share what they knew. The child I chose said confidently and clearly "L". L - aphant!
Now that is the problem with the English language. You learn the sounds that go with the letters and then there are so many exceptions to learn as well. Take the letter E - elephant, egg, and exit - all different sounds. Learning the letters and becoming an emergent reader is BIG WORK. Praise often as your child tries to make sense of a language that doesn't always follow the rules! Now I wonder what I should have put in that feely bag...
This week in kindergarten we are:
- learning about the letter Ee and Eddy Elephant
- making handprint elephants
- learning about the number 4
- counting to 80
- drumming with Mrs. Boyer
- working on our emergent writing in our journals
- practicing rhyming (we need to get better at this)
- watching our crystals grow
- beginning HOME READING
- talking about Groundhog Day
- beginning our February calendar
Thank you to all the parent drivers who came and helped out during our field trip to the hospital. The visit went longer than expected and parking was a hassle. The students had a good time and learned a lot. All their comments that afternoon were positive. We appreciate you!
- making handprint elephants
- learning about the number 4
- counting to 80
- drumming with Mrs. Boyer
- working on our emergent writing in our journals
- practicing rhyming (we need to get better at this)
- watching our crystals grow
- beginning HOME READING
- talking about Groundhog Day
- beginning our February calendar
Thank you to all the parent drivers who came and helped out during our field trip to the hospital. The visit went longer than expected and parking was a hassle. The students had a good time and learned a lot. All their comments that afternoon were positive. We appreciate you!