March Math..."While I'm Waiting" Activities

Just a quick midweek post about some "while I'm waiting" activities that I recently created. These are for those times when you have a small group waiting while you circulate getting everyone settled at their stations. They are nothing earth shattering and literally took all of 45 minutes for me to make. But the kids can easily take them out and work independently while they are waiting for me. 

Half of these have glitter on one side, and half do not. 

Recently I purchased several packs of these foam shamrocks and gold coins, thinking they would make some fun activities. My class is working on composing and decomposing numbers 11 through 19; especially the concept of 10 plus some more.  My below level group is still having a lot of trouble with ten frames...filling boxes in the right order, and realizing that if one frame is full, it simply equals ten and they don't have to count EVERY SINGLE BOX EVERY TIME. 

I laminated work mats from our math program. (So I can't share these, but I'm sure 10 frame templates are easy enough to find!). I have numbers 11 through 19 written on index cards. They each take a work mat and draw a card. They then have to build that number using the gold coins (which, by the way, make everything SO much more special!) 

I wanted them to have a way to self check, so if they flip the card over, I have drawn out circles and they can check their work.

All packed up and ready for the next time!  

My next game I call "the shamrock sort." It is for my high group, which really needs to be challenged. I've written three different ways to represent the numbers 11 through 19 on the shamrocks. The shamrocks get spread out and the group has to work together to sort them. For example, here are the three ways to show 19:  (I may add more 'ways' such as tally marks and more addition and subtraction facts, but this was enough for us to start!)

Again, I wanted a self checking component, so when they think they have found three of the same number, they flip the shamrocks over to check them.  

Tada!

Finally, I needed to use the glitter-sided shamrocks, so I made a little sight word memory matching game for my below level group: 

I used the first 10 sight words for set 1, and made a second set of the next 10 words for my mid level group. The foam does shed glitter quite easily, but the kids don't seem to mind being "sparkled" :).  

They love being able to pull these activities out while they are waiting for me, and I love that they are occupied with a constructive warm up! 

Like I said, nothing earth shattering but simple and fun. I'm sure there are many other ways to use the coins and shamrocks. What else could you do with these?

Monday Meetings

Several years ago I started Monday "How was your weekend" journal writing prompts with my high school ESL students.  The intent had several purposes- I could get to know a little about them outside of our school day, they could let me know anything that was bugging them or exciting to them, and they could practice their writing in a non-threatening way, because the language was coming from their own experiences.

I sort of became infamous for it.  They knew exactly what to expect on Monday when they walked into my room, and actually began to look forward to it.  I had forgotten about that tradition until it occurred to me that I could do the same thing with my kindergarten kiddies.  They always want to tell me about their weekend adventures on Monday mornings, so this way they can get some talking time and I can monitor their language, formation of complete sentences, and other communication skills.  Enter the "Monday Meeting."  I use a little orange dog that I had gotten for our reading buddy basket.  Every Monday we sit in a rectangle on the tape around our carpet.  The dog functions as our "talking stick."  Before we begin,  I remind them that the only person talking should be the person holding the dog.  This works well...until about the 15th student, then they start getting antsy.  We're still working on speeding up the process.  :)  They always have the option to just say "pass" if they don't feel like sharing.  I make the question VERY specific and focused:  "Tell me the BEST part of your weekend- just ONE part, the best part."  I start by modeling a quick, descriptive sentence from my own weekend ("This weekend I made delicious chocolate chip cookies") and toss the dog to the next person.  They love hearing about each others' weekends, and so do I.  However, I do have two or three 'ramblers.'  You know the kind...

Student:  Well.  I had this football.  It's my favorite football ever.  I got it for my birthday.  And me and my brothers went outside.  I think it was like Friday because we got off the bus.  And we started playing football and I fell down and ripped my pants.  And then my dad came.  And he said let's go bowling.  And we got our shoes and went bowling and while we were driving there we saw a dragon.

Me:  Remember...one thing.

Student:  But it's the same thing. 

Me:  OK just the best part.

Student:  Well the best part was that when we went to the bowling alley we started to order a pizza and I asked my dad if I could get some candy too.

Me:  (while checking the time and reprimanding the three students who are beginning to wiggle and talk) Finish up, your friends are waiting.

Student:  Okay well there was music playing and then I saw my friend and he said...

Me:  Sounds like you had a great weekend!  OK pass the dog!

Like I said, we're still working on being concise.

Meet our Monday Meeting helper: Pumpkin.  One day during center time a student came up out of the blue and said, "I know what to name our Monday meeting dog.  His name is Pumpkin.  Do you want to know why?  Because he is round and orange and green." 

It sounded like a logical idea to me.  So now he is Pumpkin.  Really though, you could pass anything around; the idea is that the visual and tactile object helps remind students who should be talking.

We also have our Monday meeting after any holiday or extended break.  Have you tried something like a Monday meeting?  What guidelines do you establish and how does it work for you?

Five for Friday: In Like A Lion!

This is probably getting redundant, but it's another snow day.  Seven and counting, to be exact.  I've definitely appreciated the extra time to catch up on some things and keep up with my two masters classes.  The downside is, I've only been in the classroom two days this week, so there hasn't been a whole lot going on.  

This is what I woke up to on Monday.  I thought that we'd seen the last of winter, but given the fact that we're now getting the biggest snow of the season as I write...nope. 

   

We continued practicing Read to Self this week AND THEY ARE GETTING IT!!  We went over the three ways to read a book the other day and it was great to see them take off with this.  I saw it make the most difference with my lowest readers...demonstrating how to "read" pictures and retell really unlocked the books for them.  They are doing so well that I am going to introduce another component of the Daily 5 on Monday. 

Such good readers! 

  

These are from a couple weeks back, but they are too cute not to share.  We read the book Little Cloud by Eric Carle as an extension at the end of our weather and seasons unit.  We talked a lot about how the illustrator made beautiful pictures using just a few colors.  Then, they created their own cloud pictures and worked on sentence writing.  They did a draft sentence at the teacher table in pencil, then copied it onto their picture in marker (lest you think we always write in marker- we don't!)  I gave each student 6 cotton balls and showed them how to stretch and form them into different shapes.  Initially they wanted more cotton for their pictures, but as they saw everyone's creations, it really drove home the point of how many different shapes a "little cloud" can make.  

We DID read my all time favorite children's book, Horton Hears a Who this week.  And we WERE going to make a really cute craftivity bulletin board, writing words to describe Horton.  But the cold stuff falling from the sky changed all that.  

AnyWHO....we're still waiting, but you can get my quick little writing frame below to use as you'd like, and hopefully I'll have some pictures of the finished product soon! 

  Horton Hears a Who Writing Prompt

This is my new favorite TV series that I've been watching this winter...yes, it is a cheesy romantic Hallmark one, but I watched the pilot movie then bought the whole series!  It's about a new teacher working in a Canadian coal mining town.  I'm hooked...and halfway through the series now, so I hope there is another season coming! 

Happy March!!!  Think spring thoughts! 

Five for Friday

Linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching again for my February 27th February 28th edition of Five for Friday!

 

I began implementing the first area of the Daily 5 this week; Read to Self.  The kids did great with some clarifications and rehearsing.  I had already introduced our classroom library and discussed how to take care of the books and pick them appropriately a few weeks ago, so I built on that to launch the I PICK acronym.  We had fun looking at each other's footwear and comparing how just like our shoes fit our purpose and interest, our books need to fit our purpose and interest too.  By the third day they were catching on and already asking "Are we doing that read to myself thing again today?" The most fun part was the modeling and teaching them how we build stamina and what that is all about. I have to be honest...I was skeptical as to whether a kindergartener would grasp this or not, but I think they do!

Survived two observations yesterday.  One during reading and another during math.  On a Friday.  After a snow day.  Shew. 

But they both went great! 

 

 



GoNoodle has new Indoor Recess mixes up!  I'm telling you, whoever came up with this is a genius, and if you haven't checked this out you need to.  I love not having to go over to my computer every 3ish minutes of recess time and pick a new video.  My kids especially love #9 "Slice N' Walk N' Pop."  It's fun to see how they gravitate towards certain videos.  We tried a couple of the new Brainercise with Mr. Catman too.  The humor was a little over their heads but they loved trying to circle their fingers in opposite directions!



 

4...as in the number of snow days we are up to.  Not too bad compared to some places.  We are finishing our unit on weather and all the wintery whiteness has provided a great real-life connection to our discussions.  On Thursday we had a bit more snow than expected in the morning.  I was sure we would at least have a delay, but no call came in so I headed to work.  I was 10 minutes from school before they called the closing.  So much for that.  At least I was able to fill my car up with gas and swing through the drive thru and get a big cup of coffee before I turned around and (very slowly) drove home.

 

 

 

 

Making "green eggs and ham" for Read Across America day...also known as Dr. Seuss's birthday!  I'm so excited to celebrate on Monday with my kiddies.  I know these are all over Pinterest, but just in case you want to make my version...

1.  You need "snaps" pretzels, white chocolate candy melts, and green M&M's.  I used dark chocolate mint M&M's, and you can get the melts at Michaels. 

2.  Spread out the pretzels on a plate, as many or little as you want.  Put a white chocolate melt on each one and microwave for 1 minute. 

3.  Press an M&M into the top of each melted wafer.  (They will hold their shape)  Put the plate in the freezer for 5 minutes and you're done! 

Oh, one more step.  Eat leftover M&M's.  :)

 

 

If you have any 'tried and true' Dr. Seuss ideas, let me know!

Book Review- Monster Musical Chairs

We have been working very hard on subtraction in our room.  Addition was so easy, but we seem to be 'stuck' on subtraction.  Just when I think most of them get the idea, someone will surprise me with an off-the-wall answer.  (9 minus 3 is 10????  Sigh...)

When I was recently sorting through some books left to me and working on my classroom library, I came across a book called Monster Musical Chairs by Stuart J. Murphy.  It looked like so much fun that I pulled it out this week since we are spending some time away from our regular math book lessons to work on subtracting in different ways.  We are practicing using objects to subtract, so I figured "objects" can be monsters too.  

Anyway, I have never seen all of my kids so hooked on a story this year.  The suspense to see which monster would be left by the end of the story was killing us!  I had them hold up fingers to represent the monsters and put them down as each on left the game.  Just before turning to the last page, I had them do a quick vote to guess which monster would be left.  They even cheered for the monster at the end of the book!  I'm telling you, they were SO into it.  I did however decline the request to play musical chairs afterwards instead of going to math groups.  :)

 

The illustrations are fun and helpful to explaining the math.  The text is delightful, predictable and rhyming.  I'm all for integrating subjects, so anytime we can combine reading and math, I'm all in.  In addition to this (no pun intended!) after the story we practiced hands-on subtraction using some of The Kindergarten Smorgasbord's ideas.  Smashing subtraction with play dough went over great.  Hopefully all the multimodal review will help them get the hang of it soon!

What other read alouds work well during kindergarten math time?

Acts of Kindness

This month in my classroom we have been working on acts of kindness.  Maybe it is the cold, lack of sunshine and outside recess, who knows, but I have been noticing a lot of bickering, name calling, pinching, poking, snatching, etc. amongst my kiddies.  One afternoon I stopped a math lesson and said "That's. It."  I had a pack of red heart doilies handy and a window that needed redecorating anyway (gingerbread men in February, anyone?) so I called everyone to the rug and told them it made me sad to hear some people being unkind to their friends.  I told them I would be looking for kind words and kind actions in our classroom so that I could write it down and post it on our "Acts of Kindness" window.  I told them we could see how many we could fill our window with before our class Valentine party.  No prize, no rewards, just a little recognition of some of the nice things going on in our classroom.

Enter the scene where kids fall all over each other to pick something up or walk over ten other kids on the carpet to tie someone's shoe and look up and ask if I see them.  Or fill me in on all the nice things they did for one another at lunch or gym.  

Sigh.  Time for a whole-class clarification: I had to "catch" them doing something good.  That they couldn't just do it because they wanted me to see. 

We did get a few hearts on our window and I've decided to keep it going throughout the month of February.  I love being able to watch and surprise kids with "So and so just helped so and so sign up for lunch.  It was so nice I think I am going to have to put a heart on our window."  It's allowed us to at least have lots of conversations about the difference between angry and kind voices, how to appropriately handle conflicts, and has allowed me lots of opportunities to recognize what they SHOULD be doing instead of what they SHOULD NOT be doing.  Sometimes we teachers need to remember to stay positive, too, especially when we, like our kids, are cold and tired of indoor recess and snow. :)

My first Five for Friday!

This week flew by and we weren't even in school that much!  Here's my first five for Friday post...hopefully the first of more to come!

Last weekend I finished my first run of 2015.  I was super happy with my time, and even happier that it was a Valentine run with a chocolate buffet afterwards!  It gave a whole new meaning to the expression "Will run for chocolate!"  I'm looking forward to my March run for St. Patrick's Day...now if the weather would just cooperate a little better....

Speaking of the weather, thanks to President's Day, snow and single digit temperatures, we've had approximately 1.5 days of school this week.  I'm not complaining, but it will be nice to hopefully get back into a normal routine next week!  We managed to get in some President's Day activities and keep working on subtraction in math.  I used some of the pages from Ship Shape First Grade's free download (below) and put together a little packet for my students to work on.  It was perfect because the week was so short and unpredictable that we were able to work on it a little bit at a time.  Their Abraham Lincoln writing turned out so cute!  I was really pleased with how they responded to my picture book read alouds and put together a few sentences of their own! 

 

 

Really not liking the whole canned template thing of this blog right now.  Maybe that will change soon...just sayin.'

Ash Wednesday was this week.  This year for Lent, I'm following Matthew Kelly's Best Lent Ever.  Basically, you are emailed a short reflection, quote, or video to reflect upon every day.  I'm trying to get into a better habit of starting my day off right before heading off to work and the kiddos, so hopefully this will help.  I really like it so far.

(I also made broccoli cheddar soup on Wednesday following a "Panera knock-off" recipe, and it is delicious!  I did not make the bread bowls however.  Maybe another time!)

I'm reading the book The Daily 5 and hoping to start implementing it soon...maybe next week if we actually get back to school!  I've known about the Daily 5 for quite some time, read about it a lot and known that I want to take my classroom in this direction for awhile now, but with being new to the grade level there were just other things on my plate that took precedence.  I know I am late in the year starting this, but we're going to give it a try.  I really appreciate the time that is taken to build in the classroom management piece.  It looks like it will take some time to get going, but once it is implemented successfully it will be worth it...especially for planning and management!  Do you use the Daily 5?  What would be some advice you would have for someone just starting out like me? 

Happy Weekend, and check out the other Five for Friday posts here!