Exploring Plants in Kindergarten by Kathryn Munford (Kinder teacher and team leader)

 

Kindergarten spent a week learning about plants!  We read many non-fiction books about how plants grow, and then were able to sequence the life cycle of a plant.  We also read  a lot of fiction and had fun with a silly story about a bear and hare planting gardens – ask your child about the story Tops and Bottoms!!  We explored the parts of plants using magnifying glasses to see the veins in the leaves and to find the seeds in the flowers. 

           

Each student planted seeds and we watched as they grew.  Mrs. Munford’s class planted sunflower seeds and by the time the students took them home, they were quite big!!

We also planted a class garden.  We are watching our bean plants grow very tall and are just beginning to see the sprouts of our carrots.

We have had a great time investigating, observing and taking care of our plants!!

 

 

 

 

Wolf in Nature

Start your week with this amazing picture sent to me by our Language Arts Instructional Coach, Mrs. Boiarsky. Absolutely PAWSOME! Spend some time this week cloud gazing with your child. It is a great way to develop creativity and relieve stress!

More STEAM Night

Technology included all elements of STEAM Learning. Students were able to explore with QR codes, Pic Collage, Kodable, Kahoot and much more! We also had circuit building, boat building and robotics!

Thanks again to our entire community for making this night a success.

STEAM Night

Family involvement and engagement are important to us. Last Thursday, our community came together for a night of learning. TWE Math/Science Instructional Coach, Laura Patrick worked in collaboration with our Math, Science and Technology Design Teams to create an awesome night.  It was fun to see families joining together in exploration using science,  technology, engineering, art and math.  Here are some pictures we would like to share and join in tomorrow for some more!

Second Grade Living Museum by Annie Bynum (2nd grade teacher)

If you were walking down the 2^nd grade hallway March 19^th or 20^th you may have seen Theodore Roosevelt, Stan Lee, Queen Elizabeth, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, and Neil Armstrong walking around. While we do not have the funds or resources, like a time machine, to bring the actual people to our school, our second graders were happy to fill in their place.

Over the last two weeks our second grade students selected a historical figure of their choice and researched to learn about their lives. Some students selected presidents like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and George W. Bush. Others selected sports figures like Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Gabby Douglas, and Lance Armstrong. From the 16^th century to today, each historical figure made their mark.

 

 

The students learned about various aspects of their historical figure’s life. They researched things like when and where they were born, what they were like as children, and what made them famous. They also learned when they died, what was going on in the world while they were alive, and what their family was like. Using their research, the students wrote speeches, illustrated portraits of their historical figure, and created timelines of events in their lives.

 

 

 The research culminated in a two day living museum where students dressed up as their historical figure, hung their portraits, and anxiously waited, still as a statue, for museum visitors to push their button. Parents, teachers, and other students walked through the museum, pushed the students’ buttons, and watched as the students came to life.

Parents and teachers enjoyed this blast from the past while kindergarten and first grade students learned about some historical figures for the first time. Our second annual Living Museum brought many memories our students will not soon forget.

 

No Place for Hate by Dana Ratliff (TWE Counselor)

 

The Wilson Wolfpack is working to create an environment where all cultures, races, and colors feel empowered, appreciated, and accepted. To help with this goal, a No Place for Hate committee was established to design activities where all students could showcase their individuality. During Day of Service, students were encouraged to design a “quilt square” representing their unique heritage. The No Place for Hate committee combined these squares to create quilts displayed throughout the building. Take a look if you find yourself in the TWE hallways.

 

 

 

“The No Place for Hate® initiative provides educators and students with the resources to ensure that anti-bias and diversity education are an integral part of the school curriculum.  No Place for Hate® also helps to create and sustain inclusive school environments where all students feel valued and have the opportunity to succeed by promoting respect for individual difference while challenging bigotry and prejudice.” (Excerpt from http://houston.adl.org/noplaceforhate/) 

Tellagami Blog by Francesca O (3rd grade student)

 What is a Tellagami? It is an animated way of telling a story you might write. Check it out.

https://tellagami.com/gami/ZQLVLC/

 

Our Third Grade Field Trip to the Museum – By Riley M. ( 3rd grade student)

            

When we got to school we loaded on to the buses.  The bus ride took a little while but finally we got there…to the Children’s Museum of Houston!              

First thing’s first! When we got there we got dots stickers to decide our teams.  We were the yellow dots. When we were all set, we went to the Eco Station.  We saw baby chicks, eggs, tadpoles, turtles and so much more!                                                                                                                                                            

Next we went to Invention Convention where we got to build with all sorts of stuff. We got to make our own rockets, aircrafts, people, and even boats!          We used giant air tunnels to test if our inventions would fly.

Then we went upstairs to Power Play to get our heart rates pumping. We jumped rope, followed the light, and played Fruit Ninja. It was a workout!

Last but not least, we went to Kidtropolis. We got KidsCards, pretend money, and got assigned fun jobs. I was a cashier at the grocery store.  I helped the customers at the checkout line and cashed the money for their groceries.  It was fun to have my own job.

Finally, we went to the park to eat lunch outside. Then we went back to school and everyone was exhausted.  Next thing I knew, it was time to go home for the day.  Time flies when you are having fun!

 

 

 

Third Grade Field Trip by Luke U. (3rd grade student)

 

Everyone was so excited for our field trip. It took some time to get there but it was worth it to go to the Houston’s Children’s Museum.  During our visit, we went to four galleries around the museum. My favorite was the Power Play Zone. It was the exhibit where we could get our heart rate up and get moving. It was awesome! If you were there you would think it was awesome too! I want to go visit again soon.      

Is My Child Ready? by Rhonda Henderson

              

 

 That is one of the most common questions parents consider when deciding if it is time for Kindergarten. It is time for Kindergarten registration (April 7) and our TWE Orientation for Incoming Kindergarten students (March 31- 6pm-7pm). Please spread the word in your neighborhoods.

 

It is important to remember that children develop at different times and at their own pace. While letter recognition and writing his/her name are important, it is more important that your child is socially, emotionally, and physically ready to tackle the demands of school. Please feel free to contact your child’s school if you have any questions.

 

In general, a child who is starting kindergarten should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

 

 

Personal and Social Readiness

 

·         Uses the bathroom independently

·         Dresses self and buttons/snaps shirts and pants and zips zipper

 

 

·         Knows own age and birthday

·         Separates from parents easily

·         Responds appropriately to adult authority

·         Pays attention for short periods of time to adult-directed tasks

·         Demonstrates self-control

·         Completes tasks willingly

·         Gets along well and shares with others

·         Takes turns when with playing with friends

·         Shows an interest in learning and coming to school

 

 

 

Fine and Gross Motor Readiness

·         Uses crayons, scissors and glue correctly

·         Traces basic shapes

·         Holds and writes appropriately with a pencil

·         Cuts straight lines

·         Can put on shoes and coat without help

·         Throws, catches and bounces a large ball

 

 

Communication Readiness

·         Speaks clearly and communicates needs

·         Uses phrases and sentences of five to six words

·         Can say his or her full name, address and phone number - including area code

·         Knows parents’ first and last names

·         Follows spoken directions and rules

·         Listens to a story without interrupting

 

 

 

Basic Cognitive Readiness

·         Identifies basic colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black

 

·         Shows an interest in books and learning to read

·         Recognizes the difference between letters and numbers

·         Identifies some alphabet letters

·         Recognizes some letter sounds

·         Understands positional words such as up, down, over, under, beside

·         Recognizes first and last name in print

·         Colors and “writes” (scribbles, tries to write letters and numbers)

·         Counts to 10

·         Shows an interest in numbers and counting

 

 

Kidstown Dentist Visits 1st Grade! by Jenny Heinold (1st grade team leader and teacher)

 

Kidstown Dentist visited 1st grade. 1st graders learned how to properly care for their teeth and gums. They learned how to brush teeth, how often to brush their teeth and how often they should visit the dentist. First graders also sorted food by how healthy it was for their teeth and they sorted drinks by how much sugar each contained. Each student left with a sticker, a goodie bag and a SMILE!

 

Mr. Frailey Comes to TWE by Dana Ratliff (TWE Counselor)

This year each homeroom is choosing one student exhibiting the Core Essential character trait of the month and honoring them with a Core Essential certificate and Chick Fil A coupon. In addition, that student is invited to hear a guest reader share a story pertaining to the character trait.

Today, Wilson Elementary had the privilege of hosting a very special Core Essential guest reader, Mr. Alton Frailey.  The superintendent came to honor the February recipients by reading the story Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. Students were captivated as Mr. Frailey  read aloud. It was fun to see the teacher in Mr. Frailey come out! We are honored and grateful that Mr. Frailey made time to visit and encourage our February Core Essentialists. Thank you Mr. Frailey!

Storytelling in Kindergarten by Kathryn Munford (teacher and team leader)

In kindergarten, we are learning how to retell stories, read with feeling and to become the characters of the stories we read.  Each day we dramatize – act out – a story, with the children as the actors.  We discuss how the characters feel and how the actors can demonstrate these feelings with facial expressions and the voice they use.  We discuss vocabulary from the story that will be part of the dramatization, and we identify and describe the settings.  Each day different students are chosen to act out the story and by the end of the week, we have quite a production! 

Once the stories have been dramatized, they go into our literacy stations; in big books, story baskets, or felt board, so that students can continue retelling the stories with partners. 

 

Students also create their own stories.  Each day one student dictates a story as the teacher writes.  Sometimes they tell true stories; sharing things that have happened to them, and sometimes they choose to create a fictional story; with super heroes or fairy princesses.  Students are guided through the writing process.  They are given assistance with dialogue, creating a good beginning, middle and end and adding feelings to their story.  When the story is complete, a list of characters is created.  The author chooses friends to be the actors and at the end of the day, the story is dramatized for the class. 

Story retelling leads to improvements in comprehension, making inferences and the understanding of story structure.  We see the benefits in our classroom every day!

For a list of great children’s books, visit

http://time.com/100-best-childrens-books/

 

 

Seuss-tastic! by Mrs. Abraham (Kinder teacher)

Kindergarten had a Seuss-tastic day on Monday, March 2nd celebrating Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss's birthday!  We spent the day relating all of our subject area learning to Dr. Seuss books. We started our morning, along with all of TWE and schools everywhere, with some DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time.  This is the 18th year that the National Education Association is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA’s Read Across America.

 

In Mrs. Abraham's class, we had 10 minutes of independent reading time and then 20 minutes of read aloud time to listen to various Dr. Seuss books! During the day, we did a lot of fun literacy activities that related to different Dr. Seuss books.  We read The Cat in the Hat and made Cat in the Hat hats with a list of rhyming words to wear.  Our word work focused on creating real vs. nonsense rhyming words.  We read Green Eggs and Ham and wrote a class book of silly sentences about eating foods in funny places like Sam-I-Am.  We read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and created addition stories with goldfish crackers. We learned about the life of Dr. Seuss as an author by watching a Brainpop Jr. video.  Did you know that Dr. Seuss’ real name was Theodore Seuss Geisel?  Lastly, we read Bartholomew and the Oobleck and used our 5 senses to make observations of Oobleck that we made as a class! It was a engaging day that made our love for Dr. Seuss and reading continue to grow!

 

 

 

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