Kindergarteners started the year with some old favorites: David McKee's Elmer, Mo Willems' Hooray for Amanda and her Alligator!, Tim Wadham's Queen of France. Our first chapter book was Josh Schneider's Tales for Very Picky Eaters. (Ask your daughter about the growing oatmeal.) After each story we have a chance to find and read books about the same topic, or by authors whose names start with the same letter as our last names, or our first names.
We've practiced sending a greeting around the circle, making connections between stories, explaining what's going on in a story just by getting clues from the illustrations, and even inventing words for wordless stories. Kindergarten girls have shown great creativity and teamwork in composing two word stories at the end of class.
We are almost finished with James Marshall's George and Martha series. Ask your daughter about these collections of five short stories about two great friends.
Kindergarten girls will begin checking books out and taking them home after winter break. Each girl may check out one book at a time and keep it for up to four weeks. When she brings the old book back she'll be able to take a new one home. Stay tuned for details.
