In Math, we have been working on number bonds to 10 using 10 frames, playing subtraction bingo, and comparing numbers by playing 10 frame top it. We have been doing this in small groups of 4-5 so that Miss Soa and I can provide more direct instruction, while one group works independently. Try testing your child's knowledge of number bonds by at home by showing them a number, and having them tell you how many more is required to make 10. I have now set up the online component to the Everyday Math program. I will be sending home passwords tomorrow. You can use the 'Links' tab above to find the Everyday Math website. Each day our classes page will give an overview of what we have learned, and provide games to reinforce that skill. In Language Arts, we have been working on asking and answering questions. Frances, our teacher apprentice brought in bags with different objects. Students had to use their question skills to ask questions about what was in the bag in order to make a guess about what the objects were. Try playing '20 questions' at home to reinforce this skill. Today, Frances set up an obstacle course on the big field, where students had to go over, around, through, on top of, and under different objects. She was working on teaching positional language as well as questioning. As students completed each task, they had to shout out what they were doing - eg. "I am going over the hurdles". After running the course with a friend, students had to answer questions about what they did - eg. "What did you go through?". This was a fun and active way to reinforce vocabulary and questions while moving our bodies. During our Unit of Inquiry block, we have been learning about seed dispersal. We have learned that seeds travel by wind, water, animals, and gravity. In small groups we have been experimenting to see how seeds travel. We have also been planting a number of different seeds in different ways to see how they will grow. Please continue collecting and sending in seeds from home. We have lots of great inquiry projects going on with different seeds.
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We've had a busy couple of days in Mathematics so far this week. Yesterday we spent some time doing MAP testing. This comprised of adding, subtracting, dividing, and solving number stories. Today's Math consisted of solving number stories, counting, and doing some practice work in our Math journal, called Math boxes. Students complete Math boxes a number of times throughout each 'Everyday Math' unit to both, practice new skills, and reinforce previously taught skills, in order to keep us from forgetting them. In Language Arts, we have been learning about question words, and how good readers ask questions before, during, and after reading. Asking questions before reading gives students a purpose for reading and gets them engaged. When they are looking for the answer, students read more intently. Asking questions during reading makes sure students are thinking about what they read. Asking questions after reading causes our little learners to be reflective about the author's choices and sometimes helps them draw a personal opinion about the text. Asking questions is a great place to start students’ thinking while reading! Teaching our little ones to ask questions is an important comprehension strategy. Questions like, “I wonder why…?” or “What does ___ mean?” keep us wanting to read to find out answers. Our curiosity compels us to find the answers. Today our fantastic teacher apprentice, Frances, read us the story 'The Stranger.' Students were asked to record any questions they had before, during, and after reading. During our Unit of Inquiry block, we have been learning about the parts of a plant and their function. Yesterday we did an experiment with white flowers and food dye, to show how stems bring water to the rest of the plant. Today, we learned about how leaves make food for the plant called chlorophyll. We used rolling pins and hammers to macerate leaves to see that food on the inside. We will look at our chlorophyll rubbings throughout the week and notice how the green colour is turning brown.
For the past couple days in Mathematics, we have been working with numbers to 10. On Thursday we played 10 frame 'Top It,' where students had to compare two ten frames to see which one was more. Today we reviewed our 2 handed penny addition to 10 and played a game called 'Penny Plate.' To play, students were placed in pairs and given 10 pennies. They took turns placing some of the pennies on top of the plate, and the remainder under the plate, while their partner had their eyes closed. When their friends opened their eyes, they had to determine how many pennies were under the plate. Here, you can see a video of Belen and Van Fy playing a round of the game. During Literacy, we have been working on identifying the main idea and details. Our fabulous high school co-op student, Frances, created 'main idea' bags. In these bags, she put a number of interrelated details. The students took turns pulling items out of the bag, discussing how they were connected, and trying to determine what the main idea was. This activity was a blast! Today for our exploration of the concept of main idea and details, we 'found' a recipe with no title. We put all of the ingredients together and realized that it was made of 'mud,' 'soil' and 'worms'. We used the details to come up with the main idea of the recipe, and name our desert. I have sent the recipe home this evening. This lesson was TOTAL integration. They were working on main idea and details, how to measure, how to read a recipe, looking at the importance of details in writing, and teamwork!
During our unit of inquiry block, we learned about the parts of a plant, their purpose, and planted chia seeds that we hope will be sprouts when we return from the weekend. It has been a great couple of days. |
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March 2017
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