During Reader’s Workshop, the children have graduated to more challenging books where they need to put their “super reading powers” to work. We turned up the dial on these powers and made them extra strength. This week, our Kindergarten readers learned that they need to look at the whole picture to figure out unknown, tricky words. Additionally, they cannot rely on heavily patterned books anymore! Using extra strength snap word power can help them when sentences become more complex. They are taking this in stride and really working hard to decode these challenging books! Way to go, Super Readers!
Math stations will be the same this week and next week due to conference days. Two big ideas of these stations are: 1) that there are relationships between quantities and 2) that the mathematical foundations for understanding computational procedures for addition and subtraction of whole numbers are the properties of addition and place value.
- Clear the Board – As we continue to work with addition, students partnered together at this fun and engrossing game. Each student received a game board and 10 cubes. They placed their cubes on numbers that they thought they would roll. Next, the kids took turns rolling two dice. When the dice were added together and if the kids had cubes on that number, they could remove them. The first person to “clear the board” won!
- Attribute Spinner Game – We have been talking a lot over the last two weeks in Room #7 about attribute. There are so many attributes (or characteristics) by which one can sort: color, shape, size, thickness, number of sides, etc. Using 2 different spinners, one for shape and this week, one for size, 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 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!
- Snap It! – Working with numbers six to twelve, students made trains of cubes. They then “snap” their trains at various places. Putting part of their trains in front of them and placing the other part behind them, students worked to figure out how many were hidden. In this manner, students are learning to describe a number by its parts. We then brainstormed and recorded all the corresponding number sentences! It was fun to see all the different ways to make the same number!
- Subitizing Chicks – In this fun book, students were asked to subitize! Drawings of chicks were placed strategically on each page so that students were able to see groups. After they framed the groups with pipe cleaners, they then circled those groups and wrote a number sentence that reflected how they subitized. Challenging work but the Kindergarteners rose to the occasion!
- iPad – subtraction! - At this iPad game, students worked to finish subtraction number sentences!
- Grab Bag Subtraction – At this oldie, but goodie, game, the students decided what number they wanted to work with (10 or less). They then put that number of counters into a bag. Next, a partner reached into the bag, took out some counters, and showed what he/she had taken. Finally, they wrote a number sentence to demonstrate the subtraction that occurred. This is tricky work!
Students are hard at work on their how-to stories. Last week, they were introduced to a writing chart so that they can think about and name what stage they are in the writing process: think, say, sketch, write. Of course, this is a cyclical process and therefore, as they write more and more, the cherubs become more independent, resourceful, and more creative in their problem solving. This is incredibly thoughtful and challenging work, but our Room #7 writers are up for this challenge! What’s even more amazing is the amount of characteristics they are including in their how-to stories. Because we have read a variety of mentor texts, the students have been exposed to many features of excellent how-to books: comparisons, tips, warnings, diagrams, detailed pictures and detailed words, closings, suggestions, and using exact words. Our writers are endeavoring to include many of these attributes in their own stories! Way to go, Room #7!
Have a wonderful weekend!