Dear Families,
Room #7 began a new unit in Writer’s Workshop this week! The kiddos became the teachers (and writers) as they learned about informational how-to texts. Our first exercise was to write and illustrate the 4 steps one must do in order to make a snowman! Before we even began, though, we talked a lot about how the order is important when writing how-to stories! We also discussed key vocabulary words that let the reader know what the order is: first, then, next, and last. Miss Wilkes was a guest teacher in our class again and the kiddos did a great job noticing all the details one can add in their stories! Over the next few weeks, they will begin to integrate them into their own work!
Our measurement and addition/subtraction unit is coming to a close! Stay tuned for more information on our next unit: think 3-D shapes!
· Combo Toss, Part 2 – This game provides a visual display of the number combinations that make up each sum from 1 to 10. With a partner, a cherub rolled 2 number cubes and built two stacks of cubes to match the numbers rolled. He/she then placed the two stacks in a column of the game board according to the sum of the numbers rolled. For an extension, as the students built their sums, they wrote down the corresponding number sentences! This was an extra challenge that the Kindergartners were excited to face!
· Fix-it Strips - At this center, students continued to work on the tricky concept of “changing numbers.” Independently, the kiddos received a fix-it strip. Using cubes, they created an organized pile that represented their first number. Next, they changed that pile to match the second number. Lastly, they articulated if they added or took away cubes and how many cubes they needed to make the change. The cherubs have really gotten the hang of this station – they challenged themselves by doing this activity with teen numbers! Holy Moly!
· Dr. Seuss Addition Mats – Using animal manipulatives, Room #7 mathematicians created various addition number sentences!
· Attribute Spinner – thickness and color – We have been talking a lot about attribute blocks over the last three weeks in Room #7. There are so many attributes (or characteristics) one can sort by: color, shape, size, thickness, number of sides, etc. Using 2 different spinners, one for thickness and one for color, students spun and then had to find the corresponding shape. This is a great way for kiddos to use their math vocabulary and practice identifying the various attributes!
· Comparing Containers – At this station, the kiddos filled 2 containers of different sizes with cubes. Next, they had to determine which container held more and which held less cubes. After they labeled the containers with more, less, or same cards, they recorded their results using our “alligator” symbols.
· Comparing Cube Train – After getting a cube train of 10 cubes, students explored the classroom to find four items that were shorter than the train and four items that were longer than the train. The cherubs certainly put their thinking caps on for this one!
· Tell Me Fast – This station encourages instant recognition of quantities to ten. The boys and girls of Room #7 were asked to use their subitizing and number combination skills to discern how many dots were on each card. The kids absolutely loved stating the number as quickly as they possibly could!
This week we learned our last Alphafriend, Jumping Jill! The cherubs felt proud that they know all their letters and sounds! Way to go, Room #7!
In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday this month, Room #7 read The Cat in the Hat! During Learning Labs, students made their very own Thing One or Thing Two, using just a little paint and their handprints. Later on in the week, we brainstormed a list of events that might happen if Thing One or Thing Two came to each of our houses! The kiddos were incredibly responsible, insisting that they wouldn’t let in the “strangers” OR that they would call their parents or siblings to make sure it was okay! Additionally, the Kindergartners suggested they would play “safe” games inside the house so no grown-up would get angry! Very cute! The students wrote down their clever ideas to accompany their art work!
The children are learning to solve new words by making connections to words they already know. In class, we’ve been changing the first letter or letters of a word to form a new word, such as cat to bat or may to day. This understanding is helping the children take words apart as they read and spell as they write. You can practice this at home too with the word families your children have learned (-at, -ay, -and)! Ask your child to change the first letter of each word to form a new word. Your kiddos can tell them to you orally or write them down! Then, ask your child to read the word pairs to you. Happy word making!
Hoping for some more lamb days this weekend! Enjoy :)