I'm linking up with Mrs. Wills Kindergarten for a Peek at My Week! Just checking in with a few highlights for our upcoming week!
Click on my plans for more details.
This week we're working on the short e and short u sounds. The short e sound can be tricky and I've already noticed a few of my kiddos having some trouble with this sound. We'll be sure to get a ton of practice in this week with various word work activities.
As we wrap up our first go around with short vowels we'll be playing a game of HedBanz this week as well (Thank you Hope King at Elementary Shenanigans) for the idea. I just printed out some CVC pictures and I picked up some stretchy headbands at Target so we're all set. I think for our first attempt at the game I'll wear the cards using the headband and I'll have my kiddos spell each CVC word so I can guess the picture. This is a game I'm sure I'll use all year!
In math this week we'll be working with the number 10. We'll also be introducing the rekenrek to model different ways to make 10. I loved using individual rekenreks last year but I'm sure this large scale version will be a huge hit and will really help the kids understand different ways to make 10.
Sorry about the picture... the pool noodles are at school while the rekenrek was put together at home!
This week we'll also begin our workstation rotations. We did this a bit last week but I really feel the kids are ready to begin working on their own without me circulating constantly. I'm going to get the rest of my September assessments done while my kiddos try out 2 or hopefully 3 rotations each morning. Here's what I use to show my kiddos where they are each day. I don't know include meet with teacher on the rotation board... I just call over groups as we rotate. This allows some flexibility as I meet with individual students/groups.
During writing workshop this week we're going to be using two very important tools for instruction. The first tool we'll be using are rubber bands to help us stretch our words to spell them. Such a simple tool but I'm sure the kiddos will benefit from using them!
We'll also be using a watermelon and watermelon slices. Yup, that's right. Watermelon for writing workshop. This will help the kids better understand watermelon topic and smaller seed stories that we want to write about. I can't wait to see their reaction to the watermelon during writing time!
We began learning about apples last week and the kids are excited to continue reading some non-fiction books about apples. We'll also begin reading some books about fall and fall weather as the season has changed to fall... can't believe it!
I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for
Friday. Another week in the books and I'm so proud of my kiddos... they are working so hard and we're having some much fun together!
Here are some highlights from our week!
ONE: Problem Solving
We begin every math workshop session with an application word problem. This week we began using these problem solving work mats. The kids did a great job using these math tools to help them solve word problems. I was very proud. If you'd like more information about how I run my math workshop block, here is a link to a post I did over the summer.
TWO: Calendar
This week we also began using our calendar workmats. They were a big hit last year and I was so excited to begin using them again this year. I waited a few days to introduce them until I felt the kids were ready. I love how these mats add some math and ELA skills to morning meeting/calendar time. This is the mat we'll use for now. As the year goes on we'll add more skills and we'll complete two calendar pages. We have not attempted the sentence fix it yet... possibly next week... we'll see how it goes!
THREE: Book Logs
In previous years I've tried book logs and it was just something that I didn't think worked very well. I thought my kids wasted too much time writing titles of books when all I wanted was for them to be reading during our reading workshop block. After reading the Literacy Teacher's Playbook by Jennifer Serravallo I was determined to make them work this year.
Using some ideas in the book I think I found a format that will work. The kids did a great job writing their book titles for the first time this week and I think this will only get easier as the year goes on.
FOUR: Writing Workshop
Our writing workshop block is off to a great start. My kids have really embraced the writer's life and they are so excited to write their own stories each day. This week we really focused on touching and telling before sketching and writing across the pages. I'm so impressed by the quality of writing that is produced when the kids use this method. Next week we're going to focus on zooming in. This can be difficult for some and something we'll work on all year but I'm so excited to get started.
Five: Organization Tip
Can I tell you how excited I get when I open up a book to read aloud and I find some lesson ideas or a worksheet we've completed in previous years inside the book. I have binders full of work and lesson ideas that I use on a weekly basis but there are always those stand alone read alouds that have a lesson or worksheet that go with it. I was never really sure where to put these worksheets/ideas because they never really fit with the ELA units I have in binders.
So I came up with this idea... stick the lesson idea or worksheet inside the book so when I pull the book the next time I know exactly how I used the book for a previous lesson. It's always a nice surprise! And... the kids love this book! They couldn't stop laughing!
Have a great weekend. Don't forget to visit Doodle Bugs Teaching!
I'm linking up with Mrs. Wills Kindergarten for a Peek at My Week! It's our second full week of school and we have a ton to do!
Click on my plans for more details and hyperlinks.
This week we're working on the short o and short i sounds. We've been practicing different word work options and we'll continue that this week. The kids are doing a great job using word work materials and I think we're real close to being able to begin our workstation rotations... I can't wait.
During word work my kids will be building words using magnet letters. The kids have been reading the short vowel words and then building them with magnets. Last week we worked on these short a words. I'll have the kids continue to use these and add in the short i and short o words.
This week I also want to introduce the pictures and have the kids build the words using the short vowel patterns they are learning.
In math this week we'll be learning about addition and we'll focus on different ways to make 6, 7, and 8. We began this last week and the kids did a great job using manipulatives to model the different ways to build numbers.
During our Read to Self time the kids increased their stamina on Friday to TEN minutes! I was so happy and proud of them. They have really embraced the idea of reading in book nooks to "get better at reading" and they are truly enjoying it. Can't wait to see what this week brings!
I'm loving these stair treads I picked up at a local hardware store. They're big enough for the kids to sit on in their book nooks but small enough to store away and have the kids grab them when they're needed!
We began learning about apples last week and the kids are excited to begin reading some non-fiction books about apples. I put these apple/fall books out at the end of the day on Friday and several kids couldn't wait to read them this week.
This week we'll be working on finding facts in these non-fiction books. We'll talk about the purpose of non-fiction books as well as the difference between facts and opinions. Then I'll have my kids complete this worksheet to highlight one fact they learned about apples this week.
Have a great week!!
I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for
Friday. We survived our first full week of school and we had a blast!
Here are some highlights from our week!
ONE: Pocket Chart
We spent a ton of time this week practicing pocket chart workstation. My kiddos are doing a great job and they're so excited to use the materials at this station. We've done some math and some short vowel work on the pocket chart this week.
Two girls asked to use the pocket chart during free choice time at the end of the day! I love the excitement and enthusiasm from little kids.
TWO: Journals
We did a ton of work in our math and ELA "explorer" journals. We took it very slow the first few days so I know the kids understand the routines and expectations as we use them almost every day.
THREE: Word Work
We began working on different word work activities this week. I introduced a few different options and the kids had a chance to try them with a buddy after we worked on them during whole group time.
This week we were working on short a and the kids were able to build short a words as well as come up with their own short a words for different word families.
FOUR: Writing Workshop
We began writing workshop this week and the kids have fallen in LOVE. I had a few ask me today if they could start a new book because they had another idea that they wanted to write about! I couldn't be happier!! We talked a lot about coming up with topics to write about as well touching and telling before sketching and writing. The kids are really buying in and I have seen some great writing!
Today after our mini-lesson and writing time I had one of my more reluctant writers share their work on the document camera/promethean board. What a motivating way to share his work and he was so happy to show it off!
I also let my kids turn and share their work with a buddy. They were thrilled! It's amazing how proud they all were. I can't wait to dig a little deeper next week as we focus on zooming into our small moment stories a bit more.
Five: Positive Reinforcement
I am a huge believer in positive reinforcement. I love rewarding those students that are working hard and making good choices... they deserve it. It also serves as a great way to motivate those that perhaps aren't making good choices.
I do use a clipchart system in my room and I am a believer. I I've also been using a VIP basket and seat sack to highlight one student each day. At the end of the previous day I announce the VIP and the kids get so excited. I've heard some of them talking throughout the day about behaviors that would earn them the VIP basket... so cute!
I've also sort of jumped on the Brag Tag bandwagon and I'm glad I did. I've been handing out a few each day and the tags have sparked some great conversation about character education topics.
Have a great weekend. Don't forget to visit Doodle Bugs Teaching!
I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for
Friday... a day late!
This week was our first week of school and we had a four day week. Typically we have a two or three day week so this four day week was LONG! Here are a few quick highlights from our week.
ONE: Jungle Theme
Our classroom has a jungle theme this year and to get my kiddos excited about the "jungle" we created jungle animals using paper plates. I love this craft for the first week of school because there isn't a ton of prep involved and the kids can easily assemble their animals. It's also simple enough that I can have 4 groups of kids make four different jungle animals.
I have a rather large bulletin board as your walk into my room so I will keep these animals up all year. I have four other bulletin boards to display student work so it's nice not having to worry about this one.
TWO: First Day of School Book
Each year I love to do a predictable chart about how the kids are feeling on the first day of school. We create this chart after reading First Day Jitters and it sparks some great conversation among the kids. Then as each of my kiddos discuss how they are feeling, I have them come up to write how their feelings on the chart. Typically I have them write the first letter of the word but a few of my kiddos were able to write the whole word.
After creating the predictable chart on the first day we create a class book on the second day. My class was so excited to see their work in our classroom library!
THREE: Calendar
We were finally able to begin our calendar/morning meeting routines on Thursday and it seems like I always need to take a step back at the beginning of the year to remember I'm working with 6 year-olds during the first days of school. When our kids leave us in June they are second graders, so independent and adjusted to the routines. When we get a new bunch of kids each year I always forget how difficult it is for them to sit and listen the first few days! We didn't get to every aspect of the calendar routine this week... little by little we'll build up our stamina.
FOUR: Read Alouds
These books are hilarious!! They came in the mail at the beginning of the week and I was reading them one night before I brought them to school. I couldn't help laugh at the writing. I even had to share some of it with my husband... even he thought it was funny! This week I used them as read alouds and the kids LOVED them!! One day during our share time at the end of the day a few kids named these read alouds as their favorite part of the day!
Five: Math Manipulatives
This week for math we worked on number sense, naming numbers and then building them. I wanted to get the kids working in groups and working with manipulatives to begin setting the groundwork for our math workshop time. We used manipulatives two days this week and for the first two days the kids did an awesome job! They took turns with their buddies and for the most part used the manipulatives as "tools not toys". A huge success for us this week. Can't wait to get more practice in next week!
Have a great weekend. Don't forget to visit Doodle Bugs Teaching!
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During writing workshop this week we're going to be using two very important tools for instruction. The first tool we'll be using are rubber bands to help us stretch our words to spell them. Such a simple tool but I'm sure the kiddos will benefit from using them!
