Kolb EDUC 461 Fall 2014

Journal Entry for August 25, 2014

For this week, the kindergarten teachers did a unit of Getting Acquainted which works
on beginning letters in the alphabet, beginning numbers, and learning each others names. This
week was centered about a book called Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. We were going to read
the story every day and do activities based on the story. It was almost like a shared reading but
we were doing book extensions for it. Today we did the chicka chicka boom boom tree where the
students had to write their names on the tree. I did the trees and I had their names printed out and
I cut them up into slots. When I gave it to them, I mixed it up and they had to put it back
together. It was a test to see who knew how to spell their and who did not. Then we did a
predictable chart which was called My name is The objective of this predictable was not
only to remember their names but how to read a sentence and know that a sentence begins with a
capital letter and a period. I like predictable charts for kindergarten because you can pull students
into a small group and do a mini lesson or work on specific skills for specific students.
In Math, we introduced the tens frame to the students. The tens frame is used for
counting, adding, and subtracting. The students had to count how many dots in the ten frame and
also use their flashcards and hold up the number the tens frame represented. We actually then
used the unifex cubes and had the students represent the tens frame by creating the amount
themselves. I like the tens frame because it will get them used to the idea of counting how many
and using them for adding and subtracting. Later on, when we get to adding, I would love to
teach to add using dominos like I did in my 329 experience.
I am starting to take hold of everything and routine so I am working on my teacher
voice and my discipline with the students.