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Welcome to our
Classroom Doorway!

Here you'll find songs, photos, and other fun stuff as the year goes on. (Go to our private classroom page for in-class updates, co-op schedules, and more.)

We'll start with a letter from Mrs. Humel and Mrs. Flint.

A Letter from Mrs. Humel and Mrs. Flint

 

Dear Parents

All classes in the elementary schools in Derry Cooperative School District use a reading program called Four-Blocks™ Literacy Model developed by Patricia M. Cunningham and Dorothy P. Hall. There is no Four-Blocks for kindergarten because it is not developmentally appropriate for the 5-6 yr. old learner.

“A developmentally appropriate kindergarten is like a good home, where children can learn through playing, cooking, watching, listening, acting, reading or pretend reading, and writing or pretend writing. It is a place where they can explore their environment, ask questions and answer questions. It is a place where the teacher is like a parent—reading to the children and talking about the stories they read; writing for children and allowing them to write for different purposes; having time to explore their community on fieldtrips; and talking about those experiences together. It is a place where children clean up after themselves, learn more about familiar and unfamiliar topics (usually called themes), and learn more about what interests them most— themselves. Most importantly, it is a place where children learn that reading provides both enjoyment and information, and they develop the desire to learn to read and write." (Hall and Cunningham, 1997)

Knowing all this about kindergarteners, the authors, with the help of kindergarten teachers, devised a program that is developmentally appropriate for the young learner. This program is known as Building Blocks™.

The good news is the kindergarten classes at Nutfield have been using Building Blocks™ for the last several years. There are six blocks to the Building Blocks™ program.

"The six blocks are:

• Children learn that reading provides both enjoyment and information, and they develop a desire to learn to read.
• Students also learn many new concepts and add words and meaning to their speaking vocabularies.
• Children learn print concepts, including how to read from left to right, how to read a page from top to bottom, etc.
• Children develop phonemic awareness, including the concept of rhyme.
• Students learn to read and write some interesting-to-them words, such as“Pizza Hut”,”cat”, “bear.”
• Students learn some letter names and sounds usually connected to the interesting words they have learned.” The Teacher’s Guide to Building Blocks™ by Dorothy P. Hall and Elaine Williams

 Regardless of where your child will be attending first grade, this program provides the necessary pieces to the puzzle that we call literacy.

I am often asked by parents for suggestions for things they can do at home to help their child in this learning journey. This week I will send home a letter to parents from the Building Blocks™ authors which I think explains what we are doing in class along with good, practical suggestion to do at home. Click here if you would like to view and print a copy of this letter.

If you ever have questions about our curriculum, please do not hesitate to ask me. Each time you co-op, we will plan on discussing your child. If we are unable because of the schedule, you can always catch us after class, or we can set up an appointment that is more convenient.

Sincerely,

Irene and Carol

 

Songs

These are some songs we sing everyday in our class. Visiti the Nutfield Music Library to learn the songs we sing in our Music Classes with Mrs. Dionne.

Chicken Soup with Rice In September For awhile I will ride a crocodile Down the chicken soupy Nile. Paddle once Paddle twice Paddle chicken soup with rice.

The Alphabet Forward and Backwards (sung to the tune of the ABC song) A-B-C-D-E-F-G H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P Q-R-S-T-U-V W-X Y and Z. Now I know my ABC’s, next time sing them backwards with me! Z-Y-X-W-V-U-T S-R-Q-P-O-N M-L-K-J-I-H G-F-E D-C B and A. Now I’ve said my XYZ’s, bet that’s not what you expected!

Kindergarten Alphabet ABCDE Kindergarten is the place to be. FGHIJ We have fun, we learn and play. KLMNO All year long we’ll’ grow, grow, grow. PQRST Come to school and learn with me. UVWXYZ My teachers are proud of me!

Let's Be Friends Let’s be friends with one another (3 times) Let’s be friends today. You can smile at a friend… (Repeat 3x) Let’s be friends today. You can wave to a friend… (Repeat 3x) You can wink at a friend… (Repeat 3x) Let’s be friends today.

 

Photos