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September Β· Week 4 Β· A Practical Year in Kindergarten

Monday, September 22

Phonics M1 L15 Β· Math U1 L15 Β· Writing U1
πŸ”΄ Phonics: Letter b β€” /b/ sound Β· bat-big-bus-bed-bug Β· πŸ”΅ Math: Compare groups β€” which has more, fe ⚑ Snap: to
Independent teacher-created resource. Not affiliated with HMHβ„’, Pearson Envisionsβ„’, or any curriculum publisher. All scripts original.
Color Code
πŸ”΄ Only you β€” cannot be skipped🟒 Can happen simultaneously🟑 Get ahead β€” do on prep
Day at a Glance
πŸŒ…
Morning Work
Journal at seats
πŸ”΄
Phonics
M1 L15
πŸ”΅
Math
U1 L15
🟣
Writing
Unit 1
🟒
Read Aloud
After lunch Β· Every day
⚑
Snap Word
to
πŸ“‹ Prep Box
πŸ”΄ Before Students Arrive
  • Journal at seats ready at every seat
  • Sheep timer set and counting down
  • Phonics M1 L15 slides on smartboard
  • Letter cards and manipulatives ready
🟒 Another Adult Handles
  • Circulate during morning work
  • Prep math manipulatives
  • Restock supplies
🟑 On Prep Today
  • Log reading observations
  • Check unanswered parent messages
  • Preview Monday's lesson before you leave
πŸŒ…
Arrival Β· Monday Β· Journal at seats
9:20 Β· Work at seats Β· Sheep timer counting down
9:20–9:40
πŸšͺ
Stand at the door. Greet every student by name. Eye contact. Every single one.
SAY: "Good morning [name]! Journal at seats is at your seat β€” go get started."
⭐ SHEEP TIMER: Already counting down. When it goes off students must already be at bumblebee spots β€” not walking there. Already there.
πŸ”΄
Morning Meeting + Phonics Β· Module 1 Lesson 15
Letter b β€” /b/ sound Β· bat-big-bus-bed-bug Β· slides only
~50 min
RF.K.2aRF.K.2bRF.K.3SL.K.1
Phonics Focus
Letter b β€” /b/ sound Β· bat-big-bus-bed-bug Β· slides only
πŸ‘
Sheep timer β†’ bumblebee spots β†’ Monday greeting β†’ PA 1 β†’ PA 2 β†’ sing to smartboard β†’ morning message β†’ letter cards β†’ phonics β†’ brain break β†’ math.
⭐ SAME ORDER EVERY DAY: Predictability is the behavior plan. Students who know what comes next do not act out.
🎡
PA Activity 1 β€” bumblebee spots β€” 2 minutes.
SAY: "Clap syllables: BUTTERFLY (3), BAT (1), BUMBLEBEE (3), BASKET (2), BUS (1), BUBBLE (2). Students clap and hold up fingers."
🎡
PA Activity 2 β€” bumblebee spots β€” 2 minutes.
SAY: "Thumbs up for /b/ at start: bat βœ“, cat βœ—, big βœ“, dig βœ—, bus βœ“, cup βœ—, bed βœ“, red βœ—, bug βœ“, mug βœ—."
πŸ“‹
Sing to smartboard β†’ morning message β†’ letter sound cards.
🎡 SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
MORNING MESSAGE: "Today is Monday. We will use our phonics slides. Our snap word is [to]. Let's check our schedule." [Point to every block on the posted schedule and name it out loud.]
Letter sound cards β€” every card β€” every day β€” 3 minutes β€” non-negotiable.
πŸ”΄
Phonics β€” Letter b β€” /b/ sound Β· bat-big-bus-bed-bug Β· slides only
Alphablocks β†’
SAY: "Hold up the letter B card. 'This is the letter B. It makes the /b/ sound. Put both lips together and then let them pop apart β€” /b/. Feel that quick pop? /b/. Not buh β€” just /b/. It is a fast sound. Say it: /b/. /b/. /b/.' Point to picture. 'The picture is a bat. Bat starts with B. First sound in BAT? /b/.'"
Today's words β€” tap sounds, then read:
BATBIGBUSBEDBUGBITBOBBUN
SAY: "Hold up BAT. 'Tap the sounds with me β€” /b/ [tap] /Δƒ/ [tap] /t/ [tap]. Three sounds. Read it β€” BAT.' Hold up BIG. 'Your turn β€” tap before you read. Go.' Students tap /b/ /Δ­/ /g/ then read BIG. Hold up BUS. Students tap and read independently. Then show word cards mixed with known letters β€” students sort: does this start with B or not? CAT β€” not B. BED β€” B. NAP β€” not B. CUP β€” not B. BUG β€” B."
🧰 WAIT TIME: Ask the question. Count silently to 10. Then call on someone. 10 seconds. Every time.
⚑
Snap Word β€” "to" β€” T β€” O β€” introduce and add to the wall.
SAY: "Hold up TO. 'Snap word β€” TO. T-O. Just two letters. Spell it: T, O. I am going TO school. I want TO read. Write it in the air: T, O.' Add to wall. 'Seven snap words! I, SEE, A, THE, AND, WE, TO. Read them from the wall.'"
Snap words so far: I, see, a, the, and, we, to
🧠
Brain break β€” 2 minutes β€” before math.
SAY: "Freeze like you just heard very good news β€” your whole body shows it. Now freeze like you just heard sad news. Now like you are trying to make someone feel better. Show caring with your body."
GoNoodle β†’
πŸ”΅
Math Β· Unit 1 Lesson 15 Β· Compare groups β€” which has more, fewer, same? Β· numbers to 10
Hook β†’ mini lesson β†’ seat work β†’ 2 rotations Γ— 20 min
~75 min
K.CC.C.6 K.CC.C.7
Objective
Compare groups β€” which has more, fewer, same? Β· numbers to 10
πŸ”΅
Hook on bumblebee spots β€” 3 min β€” spark curiosity β€” do NOT teach yet.
SAY: "Put two groups on the rug β€” 6 cubes and 9 cubes. 'Two groups. Before counting β€” just look. Which do you think has more? Which has fewer? Take a guess before you count at smartboard spots.'"
🎡 SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
πŸ“
Mini lesson β€” smartboard spots β€” 8 minutes MAX β€” word for word.
SAY: "'We are comparing two groups. More means the bigger amount. Fewer means the smaller amount. Same means they are equal β€” the same number.' Count both groups together: '6 cubes. 9 cubes. Which has more β€” 6 or 9?' Students answer. '9 has MORE. 6 has FEWER. Write on your paper: the [blue] group has more. The [red] group has fewer.' Do 3 more comparisons with groups up to 10. Students draw two groups on recording sheet, count each, and circle the group that has more."
🧰 8 MINUTE RULE: Hard cap. Everything else happens at small group table. Extended whole group = more behavior problems.
Numberblocks β†’
⏱️
Brain break β†’ seat work with visible timer (8 min) β†’ 2 rotations Γ— 20 min.
SAY: "Timer starts now β€” 8 minutes. When you finish β€” flip your paper face down, both hands flat on the table."
Teacher table Β· Adult 2 table Β· Math shelf Β· SuccessMaker
🟣
Writing Β· Unit 1 Β· Drawing to tell a story β€” wrap up Β· what makes a story complete?
Mini lesson 5 min β†’ independent 15 min
~20 min
W.K.2W.K.3L.K.1L.K.2
Objective
Drawing to tell a story β€” wrap up Β· what makes a story complete?
πŸ–ŠοΈ
Model on chart paper first. Then students write in folders.
SAY: "'We have been drawing stories all month. Before we start our next unit, I want to look at what makes a great story drawing.' [Display 3 student examples β€” with permission] 'This one has a character, a setting, and something happening β€” that is a complete story. This one has details and labels β€” I know exactly what is going on. What do you notice that makes these great?' Students share observations. 'Today β€” make sure your story has a character doing something. Not just a drawing of a thing β€” a story. Something happens. Draw that.'"
Conference with 3 students minimum. One question: "Tell me about your writing." One suggestion. Move on.
🍽️
Lunch Β· 12:33 Β· Ticket color dismissal Β· Hot lava line
12:33–1:30
🚌
SAY: "Red tickets β€” stand up, push in chair, line up. Blue tickets β€” up, push in, line up. White tickets β€” up, push in, line up. Lunchboxes β€” up, push in, line up."
🟒
Teacher's Read Aloud Β· After Lunch Β· Non-Negotiable Β· Every Day
1:30 Β· Bathroom train β†’ bumblebee spots β†’ read Β· Joy only Β· No questions
~10 min
🚻
Bathroom train first. Every student. Before the book. Every day.
⭐ BATHROOM TRAIN: Line up. First person in, comes out, taps next. No talking. No saving spots. Everyone goes. No interruptions during read aloud.
πŸ“š
SAY: "Sit on your spots. Get comfortable. All you have to do is listen."
September suggestions:
Strictly No Elephants β†’ The Giving Tree β†’
πŸ“–
Guided Reading / Centers / Flex Block
1:40–2:05 Β· Pull whoever needs it most
~25 min
πŸ“š
Pull the students who need the most support today.
AT THE TABLE: "Look at the first letter. What sound? Look at the picture. Try the word. Don't skip it."
🎨
Centers simultaneously β€” another adult supervises. Library Β· Drawing center Β· Puzzles Β· When I'm Done chart.
🩷
SEL Β· Empathy L1
3:20–3:30 Β· 10 minutes maximum
~10 min
🩷
Empathy L1 β€” what does it mean to care about someone?
Quick and engaging. GROW lesson on Fridays only.
🍎
Shutdown β†’ Specials β†’ Dismissal
2:05 pack up Β· 2:25 specials Β· 3:30 dismiss by ticket Β· Never guess dismissal
3:30
πŸŽ’
SAY: "Pack up. Open zipper. Folder in. Close zipper. Backpack on. Push your chair in. Hot lava line at the door."
⭐ DISMISSAL: Any unclear dismissal β€” flag before 3:25 β€” call the office β€” hold the student β€” never guess.
πŸ“±
Class Dojo β€” Send Tonight
πŸ“± Copy + Paste Tonight
"Hello families! Week 4 β€” we are learning the letter B this week. Ask your child to make the /b/ sound β€” it is a quick pop of both lips, not 'buh.' Our new snap word is TO β€” now they know 7 words! In math we started comparing groups β€” which has MORE and which has FEWER. Ask: 'I have 4 grapes and 7 raisins β€” which is more? Which is fewer?' πŸ…±οΈ"