Week of October 20

Literacy Stations:

We work in our literacy stations daily using the Daily 5 format.   Our stations are grouped in the following categories Read to Self, Work on Writing, Word Work, and Listen to Reading.  We will soon start Read to Buddy.  While the kids are engaged in station work, I meet with groups of kids in reading groups.  

This an example of a read to self and work on writing activity.  

The kids can read the poem to themselves (i.e. read the CVC words dog, pig, cat)  or 

write the poem down in their poetry composition notebook (builds 1:1 correspondence).  

This is an example of a word work station where the kids are finding beginning sounds or sight words. Jacob was looking for words that started with an "F."

Kernan was looking for words that started with a "P."  He then wrote down all the "P" words.

Alex and Jack were working with a parent (Ms. Ashley) to match letters on the alphabet chart.  

This is an example of word work.

Skeleton Sort:

Frito Lay makes  "Bag of Bones" Cheetos during this time of year.  The kids sorted the bones, wrote down how many they had and then got to eat them.

Gabby enjoyed sorting her "bones" and eating them.

Maddy also had fun.

Kolton was done sorting and was already eating his "bones" by the time I took his picture.

Gage was writing down how many bones he had before eating them.

Math Stations:

We started some new math stations this week.  Although the stations will remain similar all year, the difficulty will increase as the kids learn new math strategies and gain math knowledge.

Lillian, Josie, Hannah and Maddy are playing "Go Fish."  These cards only go up to 10 items.  

We will officially start numbers in the teens in January although I may put out some stations with numbers up to 20 for those kiddos who are ready.

S., Gabby and Aiden are matching cards up to 10.  They are also practicing the skill of "subitizing" where they can look at a card with various items and instantly know how much it is worth.   

This is a skill that takes practice but can really benefit kids as they learn math concepts. 

Kernan, Gio, Kolton and Abigail are working on "Roll a Die" game.  They each roll their own die and then write the number on a laminated sheet of paper that has numbers 1-6.   

They use an expo marker so they can erase the numbers when they are done.

Later on during the school year, the numbers will go to 12 and the kids will use two dice.  I will also have a dice game with three for those who need a challenge.

They love this game!

Gage, Samuel, Jacob and Miri are playing "Go Fish."

Evan, Alex, Garrett, and Nikolas are playing a puzzle matching game with numbers up to 10.  

Yes, you guessed it, later on this school year I will add the rest of the puzzle pieces that go up to 20.

Naturalist in Residence Thursday, October 22:

Sarah Uebel with the help of Glen Canning did a wonderful presentation on the various levels of soil that can be found.  The kids were very fascinated as was I.  Our parent Mrs. Surmeier helped out.  Thanks Lacy!

Soil levels.

Mrs.  Uebel explaining the levels.

The kids were circling things that could be found above and below soil.  

Look at how engaged they were.  If you look closely, you will see our new student Zander who is looking at me.  He is probably trying to figure out why his new teacher takes so many pictures!  Welcome to Oregon Zander and family!

Inga was having fun "inside the soil."

A bug hole can be found above soil with lots of creepy bugs.

Vegis and plants grow in dirt.

A toilet?  Really?  And yes it flushes.  

This was used to show the kids that some of us have a septic field below our dirt.  Love it!

We learned that soil can be different colors.

Davis Family Farm Pumpkin Patch Thursday, October 22:

Our field trip was awesome.  The kids had a blast.  I had tons of volunteers--thank you thank you for making this first field trip such a success!!!

We had 22 kids go on the field trip.  I seem to have a few missing from this picture…

These kids had a blast in the corn maze.  

They got lost (always with an adult nearby) and then found the exit.  And then went back in.

Kolton is telling me something…probably: "Really?? Another picture?!!!"

Josie loved the life sized corn/grain sensory bin.

Gabby was swimming in the sensory bin.

Fun in the bin!

Garrett loved the life sized sensory bin.

Cody had fun pumping water.

Evan was very focused on the task.

S., her older sister, Miri and Cody really enjoyed racing the ducks!

Jakob loved the water!

The bus ride home was uneventful--thank goodness.  Everyone was tired but had a great time!  

I'd call that a successful field trip!!!

Measuring Pumpkins:

On Friday, October 24, we met with Ms. Loggins' kids and measured our pumpkins with standard and non-standard units of measurement.  We had about 50 kids in our class and they had a blast working together!  We have awesome kids!

That's it for this week!