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

Tuesday, September 23

Phonics M1 L16 Β· Math U1 L16 Β· Writing U2
πŸ”΄ Phonics: Short a vowel β€” /Δƒ/ sound Β· cat-hat-bat-sat-m πŸ”΅ Math: Compare groups β€” order 3 numbers fr ⚑ 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
Computers Β· SuccessMaker
πŸ”΄
Phonics
M1 L16
πŸ”΅
Math
U1 L16
🟣
Writing
Unit 2
🟒
Read Aloud
After lunch Β· Every day
⚑
Snap Word
to
πŸ“‹ Prep Box
πŸ”΄ Before Students Arrive
  • Computers Β· SuccessMaker ready at every seat
  • Sheep timer set and counting down
  • Phonics M1 L16 slides on smartboard
  • Whiteboards staged β€” helper distributes
🟒 Another Adult Handles
  • Circulate during morning work
  • Log in SuccessMaker
  • Restock supplies
🟑 On Prep Today
  • Log reading observations
  • Check unanswered parent messages
  • Preview Monday's lesson before you leave
πŸŒ…
Arrival Β· Tuesday Β· Computers Β· SuccessMaker
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]! Computers 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 16
Short a vowel β€” /Δƒ/ sound Β· cat-hat-bat-sat-mat Β· slides + whiteboards
~50 min
RF.K.2aRF.K.2bRF.K.3SL.K.1
Phonics Focus
Short a vowel β€” /Δƒ/ sound Β· cat-hat-bat-sat-mat Β· slides + whiteboards
πŸ‘
Sheep timer β†’ bumblebee spots β†’ Tuesday greeting β†’ PA 1 β†’ PA 2 β†’ sing to smartboard β†’ morning message β†’ letter cards β†’ phonics β†’ brain break β†’ math.
⭐ TUESDAY β€” WHITEBOARDS: Helper passes whiteboards. Helper picks one friend to pass markers. 'Pick up your marker. Cap on the back end. Show me it's ready.' Wait for every student.
⭐ 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: "Blend: /k/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = CAT. /h/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = HAT. /b/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = BAT. /s/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = SAT. /m/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = MAT."
🎡
PA Activity 2 β€” bumblebee spots β€” 2 minutes.
SAY: "Isolate the middle sound β€” what is the MIDDLE sound? CAT β€” /Δƒ/. HAT β€” /Δƒ/. BIG β€” /Δ­/. MOP β€” /ŏ/. BAT β€” /Δƒ/. CUP β€” /Ε­/. NET β€” /Δ•/."
πŸ“‹
Sing to smartboard β†’ morning message β†’ letter sound cards.
🎡 SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
MORNING MESSAGE: "Today is Tuesday. We will use whiteboards. 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€” Short a vowel β€” /Δƒ/ sound Β· cat-hat-bat-sat-mat Β· slides + whiteboards
Alphablocks β†’
SAY: "Hold up the vowel card A. 'We have a special letter today β€” it is a vowel. Vowels are different from consonants. Every single CVC word has a vowel in the MIDDLE. The vowel A makes two sounds β€” today we learn the SHORT sound: /Δƒ/. Like this β€” open your mouth wide: /Δƒ/. That is the short A. CAT, HAT, BAT β€” all have the short A in the middle. Say /Δƒ/ with me.'"
Today's words β€” tap sounds, then read:
CATHATBATSATMATRATFATVAN
SAY: "'Whiteboard day. I say a word β€” you write the MIDDLE letter only. Just the middle sound. Ready? CAT β€” what is the middle sound? /Δƒ/ β€” write A. Show me. [scan] Erase. HAT β€” middle sound? /Δƒ/ β€” write A. Show me. Erase. BAT β€” middle? /Δƒ/ β€” write A.' Do all 8 words β€” middle letter only. Then: 'Now try the whole word β€” I say it, you write all three letters. CAT: /k/ = C, /Δƒ/ = A, /t/ = T. Write C-A-T. Show me.' Do HAT and BAT as full words."
🧰 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: "Snap fingers. 'Review β€” TO β€” write it on your whiteboard. T-O. [scan] Good. Erase. Read the wall with me: I, SEE, A, THE, AND, WE, TO.' Students read the snap word wall together pointing to each word."
Snap words so far: I, see, a, the, and, we, to
🧠
Brain break β€” 2 minutes β€” before math.
SAY: "Freeze in a shape showing loneliness. Hold it 5 seconds. Now freeze in a shape showing you noticed someone was alone and you went to sit with them. Show what that looks like in a body."
GoNoodle β†’
πŸ”΅
Math Β· Unit 1 Lesson 16 Β· Compare groups β€” order 3 numbers from least to greatest
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€” order 3 numbers from least to greatest
πŸ”΅
Hook on bumblebee spots β€” 3 min β€” spark curiosity β€” do NOT teach yet.
SAY: "Put three number cards on the rug β€” 4, 9, 2 β€” in random order. 'These are not in order. Before smartboard spots β€” can you figure out which one is the smallest? Which is the biggest? Think before you touch.'"
🎡 SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
πŸ“
Mini lesson β€” smartboard spots β€” 8 minutes MAX β€” word for word.
SAY: "'Ordering numbers means putting them from LEAST to GREATEST β€” smallest to biggest. We have 4, 9, and 2.' [Hold up each card] '2 is the smallest β€” it goes first. 4 is the middle β€” it goes next. 9 is the biggest β€” it goes last. Least to greatest: 2, 4, 9.' Model with cubes β€” build a group of 2, a group of 4, a group of 9 and line them up shortest to tallest. 'The towers show you the order β€” shortest tower is the least.' Students order 3 number cards on their recording sheet and write them least to greatest."
🧰 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 2 Β· Labeling Unit begins β€” what is a label? Draw something and label it with a word
Mini lesson 5 min β†’ independent 15 min
~20 min
W.K.2W.K.3L.K.1L.K.2
Objective
Labeling Unit begins β€” what is a label? Draw something and label it with a word
πŸ–ŠοΈ
Model on chart paper first. Then students write in folders.
SAY: "'We are starting a new writing unit today β€” LABELING. A label is a word that tells readers what something is. Labels use arrows to point at the thing they are naming.' [Draw a classroom scene β€” door, window, rug, books] 'I am going to label this drawing. Door.' [Write DOOR, draw arrow] 'Window.' [Write WINDOW, draw arrow] 'Rug.' [Write RUG] 'Now you try. Draw a place you know β€” your bedroom, the cafeteria, the playground. Label as many things as you can. Each label needs a word and an arrow.'"
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:
Fly Away Home β†’ Last Stop on Market Street 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 L2
3:20–3:30 Β· 10 minutes maximum
~10 min
🩷
Empathy L2 β€” how does someone feel when they are left out?
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! Big day today β€” we introduced our first VOWEL sound: short A β€” /Δƒ/! Vowels are special because they go in the middle of words. Ask your child to identify the middle sound in these words: CAT (/Δƒ/), HAT (/Δƒ/), BAT (/Δƒ/). We also started our new writing unit β€” LABELING. Ask your child to label one thing in your home tonight β€” just write the word and draw an arrow to it! πŸ”‘"