Here We Go!

We are staying busy in KG-M and our days are filled with so many exciting things! We have begun our first Unit of Inquiry on the senses, which started with an exploration of a variety of objects requiring us to see, hear, taste, touch and smell. We then discussed the activity, recording verbs, nouns and adjectives identified as meaningful during our exploration. This was followed by a sorting activity in which we grouped similar photos and words.

We are learning that all of our five senses are controlled by our brain -- the boss of our body! We looked closely like scientists and examined two model brains. We are now learning which parts of the brain control our various senses. Today we even 'unlocked' our brains to make our thinking visible. 

We learned that just like an egg, our brain (the yolk) is surrounded by fluid that protects it and keeps it from hitting our skull (shell) unless jolted by a strong impact.

We have also been doing all sorts of things with our names. We read the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and then engaged in a counting activity in which we graphed our names by length.

Recess and snack are of course one of our favorite parts of the day!

Stay tuned for updates on more learning activities!

REMINDERS:

• Back-to-School Night: Wednesday, August 27, 7:00 - 8:00 pm (classroom presentation beginning at 7:30).  This night is for adults only.
• You will receive a copy of our class schedule at Back-to-School Night, however, if you would like one early please find a copy on the link titled "schedule" at the top of this page.
• Please discuss the difference between snack and lunch with your child if you regularly send both from home.

What a Great Beginning!

Our first day of kindergarten was packed with fun as we learned about one another and the school. One of our favorite activities involved reading The Gingerbread Man and frosting cookies. We were surprised to find, however, that our gingerbread men had run away when we were out of the room! We went on a hunt around the school and asked key people, including our single subject teachers, if they had seen our cookies pass by. They each pointed us in the right direction until we finally found our gingerbread men hiding in our 5th grade buddies' classroom. We were so happy to find them so that we could finally fill our rumbling tummies!

We also learned lots about how our classroom operates and the different procedures we will follow this year to create a room full of learning and discovery. In the midst of this we also met some important members of our community: our animal friends! They will help us in reading this year, and I'm sure you will hear lots about them. More information will be shared on Back to School Night next week.

Our day ended as most of our days this year will -- with choice centers. Through these centers we practice building social skills, inquiry, and fine motor development. Of course these were a hit as students were able to share and communicate as they built and manipulated different materials.

Reminders:

• Please return the yellow 'Student Information' sheet sent home Sunday if you haven't already done so.
• Please send in an extra set of clothes to be kept in the classroom in a bag labeled with your child's name.
• Ensure that your child's snack, water bottle, and lunch box are labeled. Please review the difference between snack and lunch if your child is bringing both from home.
• Back to School Night: Wednesday, August 27, 7:00 - 8:00 pm (classroom presentation beginning at 7:30).

Welcome to KG-M!

Welcome to kindergarten! This will be an exciting year filled with inquiry, discovery, laughter and fun. We will study many interesting Units of Inquiry, focusing on the five senses, creativity, plants, organization, materials and personal histories.

Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Kacey Molloy and this is my fourth year at AISD. Prior to moving to Dhaka I taught kindergarten in Montana and then served in the United States Peace Corps in Macedonia with my husband Conor. We have a 14 month-old son named Caelan whom I'm sure your children will hear lots about.

I would also like to introduce another important person. Her name is Shama Mustafa and she is our teaching assistant. She is a valuable part of our classroom and your children's education. I'm sure you will see her often, both in the school and in your children's stories.

This blog has been created as a resource for information on school/classroom events and as a way to stay updated on our learning environment. Please feel free to contact me throughout the year with any questions or concerns by emailing me at kmolloy@aisdhaka.org. I would also be more than happy to set up a meeting with you during non-learning hours. I am looking forward to seeing all parents at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, August 27.  

I love kindergarten and the incredible growth that seems to happen overnight. I can't wait to see what this year has in store. Thank you for sharing your children with me this year!


Regards,
Kacey Molloy

Kacey, Conor and Caelan Molloy

Ms. Shama