The Maples
12.19-12.23
Math Workshop
This week we focused on measuring and measurement. Using a tower of ten unifix cubes, the Maples compared the ten tower to various objects from our classroom, like white board erasers, markers, and sticks. Questions we asked were:
- Why do we measure?
- What do we learn from measuring?
- Why is measuring important?
We stressed the importance of holding the tower of unifix cubes close to the measured object, and to hold it to the tallest side.
Later that week, we extended a game we have played many times in Math Workshop, Grab & Count. Each student grabbed a handful of unifix cubes, built a tower, and compared it to the unifix tower of ten. They then assessed: is it longer, or shorter? After counting the cubes and building a tower, the Maples recorded their answers.
Writing Workshop
This week, we started the Looking Closely unit of Writing Workshop. This study stresses that writers, like scientists, reflect on the world around them. It also encourages the strategy of stretch-spelling and independence in corresponding letter sounds with the letters themselves. To begin this unit, we visited our Garden (in the wintry cold - the Maples were such troopers!) and looked closely at parts of our Garden.
We then continued the exercise in the classroom by creating tableaus and looking closely at pinecones, flowers, and leaves. As you can see, the Maples practiced detailed drawing and labelling.
Reading Workshop
The Maples refined their pointer power this week during Independent Reading and Shared Reading.
Our Shared Reading sample was the text to a classroom favorite, Five Little Pumpkins. Below is an image of the text for Five Little Pumpkins. Ask your Maple to read it aloud with you, and make sure they use their pointer power!
Scenes From The Classroom
Ask Me About ...
- Our shared reading sample, Five Little Pumpkins
- Playing the game Change Detectives
- Reading a different version of a classroom favorite story book from our Emergent Storybook reading unit, The Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Having a winter party with Oaks on Friday!