Learning to Read and WriteYes, they can read now. Having four months of experience in the classroom, student focus has shifted from learning how to behave, to learning how to be a learner. Students have been exposed to intense instruction on letters and sounds and they have been taught enough sight words to begin reading independently. Sight words are words students learn by sight, because they cannot be "sounded out."
The list below includes all of the sight words your child should be able to read by now. In addition, note the "word family" word list. A "word family" is a group of words that have the same ending sound. By using our Magnetic Letters app, students have practiced making and reading the word family words on the list below. Sight Words: I, can, we, the, like, a, see, go, to, have, is, play Word Familes: -am (Sam, Pam) -at (sat, mat, pat) -an (tan, man, pan, ran) -it (sit, pit, fit, hit) -in (win, tin, pin, fin) |
Footsteps 2 BrillianceYountville kindergarten is part of a pilot program for an app called Footsteps2Brilliance. Each student has an individual login, and password. The app allows for students to read books, create books, and play games that increase student vocabulary.
Vocabulary is a predictor of academic success, and the intention of this app is to strengthen student language usage. If you have an iPad or computer at home, your child can use Footsteps2Brilliance with his/her login and password. This year, Footsteps has increased our pilot program to include a large library of books incorporating social studies and science standards. We are priviledged to be the only school in Napa Unified in the pilot program. Details about Footsteps2Brilliance can be found at: http://www.footsteps2brilliance.org/ Why Art Makes Us SmartKindergarteners thrive on lots of hands on art projects, they love the mess, the unpredictable results when they use new mediums, and the creative outcome. Check out the link below for some research based reasons for supporting the arts in our school:
http://blueribbonnews.com/2012/05/does-art-make-you-smart/ |
The Padded Room ReturnsOur app library is growing. To support our reading, we have added lots of books to our iPads. Now students can be read to frequently, they can read to themselves, and they can record their own reading. In addition, they can independently practice vocabulary words through game based review activities. Students can also practice phonics and handwriting. Our current app list is below:
Bob Books (easy readers and phonics support) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bob-books-1-reading-magic/id403753501?mt=8 Doodlecast (creative story telling and voice recording for vocabulary development) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doodlecast-for-kids/id469487373?mt=8 Art Maker (digital storytelling) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/art-maker-by-abcs-play-school/id479763898?mt=8 I Like Books (books for independent reading with voice record feature) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-like-books-37-picture-books/id460795092?mt=8 Stella and Sam Library (interactive books to support science and social studies content) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stella-and-sam-story-pack/id441939700?mt=8 |