Mrs. Huikko's Kindergarten Blog

Mrs. Huikko's Kindergarten Blog http://mhuikko.posterous.com Delano Elementary School ~ Room 2 posterous.com Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:10:18 -0700 Last Day of Kindergarten http://mhuikko.posterous.com/last-day-of-kindergarten http://mhuikko.posterous.com/last-day-of-kindergarten

The last day of kindergarten is a happy and sad day wrapped all into one! We are all so happy that we have successfully completed our first year in school and are heading to first grade. We are also sad to see our friend leave that we have spent the past year learning and playing together. Mr. Lahr stopped by to hand out perfect attendance and outstanding attendance awards! We spent our last day together playing, packing up all our belongings, going to media and computer, and finished our day reading the story, Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten by Joseph Slate. All the students left with a penny and a kiss (chocolate): a penny for success to come and a kiss that they'll be missed.

This truly was a memorable year! I enjoyed teaching each and every student in both the AM and PM kindergarten classes. I made 44 wonderful new friends this year. Each one of them will be remembered as they move on to first grade. I thank all the parents for supporting your child at home. I wish them all the best of luck next year in first grade!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:01:09 -0700 Good-bye to our Buddies http://mhuikko.posterous.com/good-bye-to-our-buddies http://mhuikko.posterous.com/good-bye-to-our-buddies

We met for a short time on the BIG playground with our 4th grade buddies. The kindergartners were so excited to play on the playground that they will get to play on next year. We wish our buddies the best of luck as they move to the middle school!

Kindergartners also brought their animal collages home today. We read the story Oodles of Animals by Lois Ehlert and the students created their own animal picture.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:19:14 -0700 Enjoying the Weather with our 1/2 Day Kindergarten Friends http://mhuikko.posterous.com/enjoying-the-weather-with-our-12-day-kinderga http://mhuikko.posterous.com/enjoying-the-weather-with-our-12-day-kinderga

We spent some time outside today with Mrs. Wokasch's class. We played with chalk, paintbrushes and water, jump ropes, monster feet, bubbles, and of course, the playground. Despite the heat and moving many of our activities to the shade we had a good day! We cooled off with a popsicle for snack!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:26:02 -0700 Almost First Graders http://mhuikko.posterous.com/almost-first-graders http://mhuikko.posterous.com/almost-first-graders

Today we practiced being first graders. Since the real first graders were on a field trip to the Children's Theater, we were able to go to a first grade room and explore. We spent part of our day in Mrs. Ludwig's first grade classroom looking at the similarities and differences between kindergarten and first grade. They enjoyed taking a peek into a first graders desk and looking at all the contents. We read a few first grade stories and wrote a list of all the things we found in a first grade classroom.

After coming back to our classroom, the AM class was introduced to Function Machines. They will become very familiar with Function Machines in first grade math. The PM class had a special guest visitor, Betsy Elsen (Grace's oldest sister) who came to talk a little bit about her cancer and treatment she is receiving. She showed us a picture she took with Grace and the poster we sent her earlier in the year. Below is a picture of Betsy and the class. Our best wishes to Betsy for a healthy summer ahead!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:01:55 -0700 Meet Our New Friends - the Chicks http://mhuikko.posterous.com/meet-our-new-friends-the-chicks http://mhuikko.posterous.com/meet-our-new-friends-the-chicks

On Thursday, students had the opportunity to pet and hold our new baby chicks. We looked at the egg tooth at the tip of their beak as well as the tiny feathers starting to grow on their wings. Today, we say goodbye to our chick friends as they will leave after school to go live on Mrs. Workman's farm.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:18:15 -0700 Bunny Ears http://mhuikko.posterous.com/bunny-ears http://mhuikko.posterous.com/bunny-ears

Please check out the Elementary School Blog for a wonderful video of the kindergartners performing their Bunny Ears songs during music class. Scroll down on the elementary blog until you see our class listed. There is a separate video for AM and PM.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:53:15 -0700 7 Baby Chicks http://mhuikko.posterous.com/7-baby-chicks http://mhuikko.posterous.com/7-baby-chicks

I walked in this morning to see 4 more baby chicks that hatched over night waiting for me in the incubator. That gives us a total of 7 cute, fluffy, baby chicks! We just observed them from their warm box today. Tomorrow we'll get the chance to pet and observe the chicks some more, so look for more chick photos tomorrow!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Tue, 31 May 2011 18:31:50 -0700 Baby Chicks Have Arrived! http://mhuikko.posterous.com/baby-chicks-have-arrived http://mhuikko.posterous.com/baby-chicks-have-arrived

This morning I walked into the classroom to be greeted by a "Peep, Peep, Peep". Our first chick hatched early this morning. Later in the morning at about 10:30, the AM kindergartners we able to witness our second chick hatching. After much excitement watching little pecks and cracks the school day ended with only two chicks being hatched. After school at about 4:30 I welcomed our third baby chick. Who knows what tonight and tomorrow will bring! It will definitely be an exciting few days in kindergarten!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Fri, 27 May 2011 13:29:56 -0700 Public Librarian Promotes Reading Program http://mhuikko.posterous.com/public-librarian-promotes-reading-program http://mhuikko.posterous.com/public-librarian-promotes-reading-program

The Delano Public Librarian came to DES today to tell students about the Summer Reading Program and all the activities that will be occurring over the summer at the Public Library in Delano. A green (AM) or yellow (PM) paper should be coming home with your child that lists all of these events. This is a wonderful program that is free of cost, so please take advantage and visit the Public Library over the summer!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Thu, 26 May 2011 20:05:02 -0700 PM Kindergartens Visit the Children's Museum & Como Zoo http://mhuikko.posterous.com/pm-kindergartens-visit-the-childrens-museum-c http://mhuikko.posterous.com/pm-kindergartens-visit-the-childrens-museum-c

We couldn't have asked for a better day to visit the Children's Museum and Como Zoo. Even the animals at the zoo seemed happy to see the sunshine! Some of the favorites at the Children's Museum were the Lego Castle Adventure, Earth World, the work zone, and face painting. The kindergartners were encouraged to do their own face painting! At the zoo we saw some very active orangutans and polar bears, and some very sleepy gorillas, lions, and tiger. There was a baby orangutan and tamarin too! Thank you to all our moms and dads who joined us for this wonderful field trip!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Wed, 25 May 2011 19:37:14 -0700 AM Kindergarten Heads to the Children's Museum & Como Zoo http://mhuikko.posterous.com/am-kindergarten-heads-to-the-childrens-museum http://mhuikko.posterous.com/am-kindergarten-heads-to-the-childrens-museum

It was a great day for an all-day field trip to the Children's Museum and Como Zoo. For once, we didn't have sleet, snow or rain falling from the sky! At the Children's Museum, kindergartners explored different types of work, water, bubbles, the Lego Castle Adventure, the anthill, and the outdoor roof top. At the zoo, we saw monkeys, orangutans (including a baby), tamarins (including a baby on the back), gorillas, giraffes, ostriches, lions, tigers, snow leopards, reindeer, zebras, polor bears, seals and sea lions. Thank you to all our moms and dads who joined us on this great day!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Tue, 24 May 2011 13:52:51 -0700 Assessing Day http://mhuikko.posterous.com/assessing-day http://mhuikko.posterous.com/assessing-day

I spent the morning and afternoon working with students one on one in the hallway assessing the various skills we have been working on in kindergarten. It is always a joy to see how much they have grown over the course of the school year. Thank you to all the parents who supported their child at home! The kindergartners are so proud of their accomplishments whether it be reading a book, knowing the letters, or counting to 100!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Fri, 20 May 2011 15:24:48 -0700 Bugs, Bugs, and MORE Bugs! http://mhuikko.posterous.com/bugs-bugs-and-more-bugs http://mhuikko.posterous.com/bugs-bugs-and-more-bugs

Today was all about bugs. We read the story, Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming. Then we did four bug stations: painting plaster beetles, illustrating a poem titled "Bugs", observed real bugs (isopods - pill bugs and sow bugs), and read a story or two about bugs.

The exciting thing that we all got to observe today was teeny tiny baby isopods that were born while observing the bugs. They looked like grains of salt, but under the document camera - tiny white bugs. My camera worked long enough to take a few pictures of the morning class and then died before I could upload. Attached are a couple of photos from the document camera of the bugs.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Thu, 19 May 2011 20:33:30 -0700 AM Portraits http://mhuikko.posterous.com/am-portraits http://mhuikko.posterous.com/am-portraits

Take a look at the great work by the AM Kindergarten artists!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Wed, 18 May 2011 12:57:27 -0700 PM Self-Portraits http://mhuikko.posterous.com/pm-self-portraits http://mhuikko.posterous.com/pm-self-portraits

For the past two days students have been working on drawing their self-portraits. With this project, we focused on movement, especially that which can be shown in our elbows and knees. Students used template pieces to move around their piece of paper. When they were happy with the position of their pieces we laid another piece on top to trace. They then transformed their traced person into themselves. Take a look below to see how well they did.

Look for pictures of the AM portraits tomorrow!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Thu, 12 May 2011 19:14:07 -0700 Fun in the Rain at Camp Ihduhapi http://mhuikko.posterous.com/fun-in-the-rain-at-camp-ihduhapi http://mhuikko.posterous.com/fun-in-the-rain-at-camp-ihduhapi

Despite the rain, students had a fabulous time at Camp Ihduhapi. Kindergartners received a glimpse of a day at camp by participating in group games, a scavenger hunt through the woods, archery, and camp songs.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Tue, 10 May 2011 13:39:39 -0700 Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash http://mhuikko.posterous.com/mrs-mcnosh-hangs-up-her-wash http://mhuikko.posterous.com/mrs-mcnosh-hangs-up-her-wash

Today we read the story Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash. We talked about all the silly things that Mrs. McNosh hung up on her clothesline. Students then drew pictures of three silly things that they could hang on a clothesline. Each student took home their bag book today along with their clothesline of silly things.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Fri, 06 May 2011 12:52:31 -0700 Reading All-Stars http://mhuikko.posterous.com/reading-all-stars http://mhuikko.posterous.com/reading-all-stars

Week one of NWEA MAP testing is complete and I am SO proud of how hard the students worked on their tests. Scores of the tests will be averaged and reports will be sent home to the families by the end of the year. All students have made some nice progress since the beginning of the school year.

Our PM class had some sad news today as we learned our friend, Valentino, was moving. We will miss him very much and wish him the best of luck in his new school.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Thu, 05 May 2011 12:56:21 -0700 Rainy Day = Alternate Plans http://mhuikko.posterous.com/rainy-day-alternate-plans http://mhuikko.posterous.com/rainy-day-alternate-plans

Well, the day certainly didn't turn out as what was forecasted. Hopefully Thursday, May 12th (our scheduled rain make-up date) will prove to be a wonderfully sunny May day! We can only hope.

Despite our rained-out field trip, we spent the day learning about seed and plants. Rain is one of the things that a seed needs to grow. We sequenced a story about the process of a seed growing into a plant, made seed necklaces (that are hanging in our windows hoping to grow), colored a picture of a pot of flowers, and graphed types of flowers.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko Tue, 03 May 2011 13:48:44 -0700 Georgia O'Keefe Paintings http://mhuikko.posterous.com/georgia-okeefe-paintings http://mhuikko.posterous.com/georgia-okeefe-paintings

On Monday, students learned about the artist, Georgia O'Keefe. She loved to paint flowers in a special way. She painted each flower really big so that the edge of the flower went off the paper and the entire paper was filled with one beautiful flower.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1390412/all_about_lc3.gif http://posterous.com/users/4SIW09HV6cQp Meredith Huikko mhuikko Meredith Huikko