All Things Kindergarten! - Crash Course (FLEX)

This course touches on a wide range of popular topics that are covered in Kindergarten. This a great course for preschool students who will soon be entering Kindergarten or for current Kindergarten students who may need extra practice. If you are looking for help on specific subject areas, please check out some of my other courses which touch on content-specific areas at the Kindergarten level. I will be pulling from each of those classes to build this larger "crash course". 

Each day will begin with a "morning meeting" type post allowing students to be exposed to what a typical morning in Kindergarten will be like which includes the date, checking the weather, and counting the number of days spent in class. 

Week #1 - will cover ABC basics including letter and letter sound recognition. Students will be introduced to beginning sounds, vowel sounds, and capitol vs. lower case letters using a unique system that has the most success at comprehension. With the use of teaching videos by myself, other fun videos, crafts, games, activities, books, and interactive Google slides. Students will be asked to participate in discussion questions and review activities using Nearpod and Kahoot.

Book List:
 "The Monster Alphabet "
"Alphabet Rescue
"I am an Apple
"Elemenopee"
"ABC Train"
"Jungle ABC"
"ABCs at the Haunted House"
The Alphabet (series) By: Bela Davis
Letter Book Series By: Meg Greve Illustrated by: Marc Mones
Alphabet Fun (series) By: Nick Rebman
The Sound of..... (series) By: Alice K. Flanagan
Letter Sounds By: Kim Mitzo Thompson, Karen Mitzo Hilderbrand Illustrated by: Iesha Wright
Discover the Alphabet (series) By: Xist Publishing

Videos:
Go With YoYo: Move Like Each Letter of the Alphabet

Week #2 - will look at nonsense words. This is an unfamiliar topic to many families. Nonsense words teach students how to sound out words to be successful readers. During this week we will review how to use letter sound recognition to read nonsense words. I will expose the students to the nonsense word assessment that they will see in the classroom. We will spend a few days practicing different nonsense words lists. Each day will see a new, fun theme such as the beach, flowers, and hearts. 

Week #3 & #4 - will address syllables and rhyming words which 2 very important themes in Kindergarten. Both of these areas are assessed in Kindergarten but often overlooked. Students will be taught with the use of teaching videos by myself, other fun videos, crafts, games, activities, books, and interactive Google slides. Students will be asked to participate in discussion questions and review activities using Nearpod and Kahoot. 

- In the syllable portion of the week, students will learn how to clap out syllables in order to categorize a word as a 1, 2, 3, or 4 syllable word. Students will be introduced to syllables through the use of interactive videos that will encourage classroom discussion. Alli the syllable-eating Alligator will make a guest appearance to help students practice "chomping" on the syllables like Alli does. Students will learn all about Alli the syllable-eating alligator and how she helps us learn syllables in fun animations. 

Book List (Syllables):
The Boy With the Sweet-Treat Touch By: Laura North Illustrated by: Neil Chapman
A Trip To the Top of the Volcano with Mouse (TOON Level 1) By: Frank Viva  Illustrated by: Frank Viva
The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear By: David Bruins Illustrated by: Hilary Leung

- When discussion rhyming words, students will learn about rhymes and work on successfully recognizing and sorting rhyming words! They will be introduced to the Funny Bunny as the rhyming mascot! Fun animations and activities will incorporate Funny Bunny into the lesson. 

Book List (rhyming):
The Bug on the Rug By: Marv Alinas Illustrated by: Kathleen Petelinsek
The Best Log in the Bog By: Marv Alinas  Illustrated by: 
My Big Wig By: Marv Alinas  Illustrated by: Kathleen Petelinsek
Ben's Hen By: Marv Alinas  Illustrated by: Kathleen Petelinsek
Ned, Ted, and the Red Shed By: Marv Alinas Illustrated by: Kathleen Petelinsek
Fun in the Sun By: Marv Alinas  Illustrated by: Kathleen Petelinsek

Week #5 - we will take a break from academics to attack another important aspect of Kindergarten: social emotional learning. We will spend the week talking about self-regulation techniques. This week's lesson will identify and name several emotions along with outlining several techniques for dealing with their feelings through the use of fun videos and practice. Learning how to cope with emotions is a big part of your Kindergartners first schooling experience and often times a big challenge for them that inhibits their academic achievement. I will demonstrate unique crafts and fun games to help students understand their emotions in a fun and safe environment. 

- Here are some helpful videos I have found. Some we will be using in class, others may be a good resource for parents and students to use at home!

https://youtu.be/bRkILioT_NA (go noodle - bring it down breathing technique)
https://youtu.be/O29e4rRMrV4 (go noodle -rainbow breaths technique)
https://youtu.be/1ZP-TMr984s (go noodle - turn off stressful energy technique)
https://youtu.be/bYlRFIzl4WA (go noodle -find peace technique- short video)
https://youtu.be/IVZuyjS7Iv4 (go noodle -let things go technique -short video)
https://youtu.be/KhfkYzUwYFk (go noodle - “cant stop this feeling” Trolls move it video - exercise technique)

Book List:
Nina in That Makes Me Mad! (TOON Level 2) By: Steven Kroll
Illustrated by: Hilary Knight
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Excited By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Embarrassed By: Kirsty Holmes
Hoggy Went-A-Courtin' By: Ethan Long
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Mad By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Lonely By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Jealous By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Happy By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Afraid By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Sad By: Kirsty Holmes
Posie the Pika By: Paige Braddock Illustrated by: Blythe Russo
Stop, breathe, think - kids meditation
Story Bots - "emotions" story based video - long video
Hunter & Eve- "keep calm" story based video

Videos:
Do Animals Feel Emoitons?
Smile and Learn: Empathy
Smile and Learn: Emotions
Kids Vocabulary: Feelings

Week #6-  will focus on math. We will touch on counting, and basic addition and subtraction concepts. Students will be guided to use manipulative to understand adding and subtracting properties. They will practice different ways to make numbers  up to 10. We will also work on number recognition and counting. By the end of Kindergarten, students are expected to be able to count to 100. We will practice this skill, and other skills, through the use of games, class activities, and interactive google slides. Students will be led through crafts and games that will help them understand Kindergarten-level math concepts.

Book List:
Counting on Fall By: Lizann Flatt  Illustrated by: Ashley Barron
The Monster Who Did My Math By: Danny Schnitzlein Illustrated by: Bill Mayer
Addition By: Paul C. Challen
Math Words and Symbols By: Lynn Peppas
Falling Leaves 1,2,3: An Autumn Counting Book By: Tracey E. Dils
Monster Needs One More By: Natalie Marshall
Albert Adds Up! (Mouse Math) By: Eleanor May Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon
Bird Math Bird Bath By: Harriet Ziefert  Illustrated by: Blue Cat Studio
Albert Is Not Scared (Mouse Math) By: Eleanor May  Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon
A Beach For Albert (Mouse Math) By: Eleanor May Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon
Mouse Math: Super Zero By: Lori Haskins Houran Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon
Albert The Muffin-Maker (Mouse Math) By: Eleanor May Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon
A Mousy Mess (Mouse Math) By: Laura Driscoll Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon

Videos:
Counting 1 to 20
Mini Math Movies: Counting!
Mini Math Movies: Adding and Subtracting
Subtraction with Regrouping
Number Sentences

Week #7 - will explore fun science concepts. This is an exciting way to end our course while also still encouraging the students to grow academically. In Kindergarten, science is about exploring the possibilities. It allows students to explore real word concepts that may be complex or outside of their normal exposure. It allows them to begin learning how to explore and question things. The goal of this week is to help foster their curiosity and love for learning. We will experiment with a variety of different candies to determine how they change and grow in different liquids. We will test different objects to see if they sink or float (such as coins, legos, marbles, rocks, and other household items). 

Book List:
My Science Tools By: Julie K. Lundgren
Does it Sink or Float? By: Susan Hughes
Tools By: Xist Publishing
What a Scientist Sees By: Dona Herweck Rice Illustrated by: Timothy Bradley
Prove It! By: Shirley Duke
I Use Science Tools By: Kelli Hicks