Math Problem Solving Journal

About once a month, we do a big problem for our math problem solving journal. We discovered that we needed 55 black sticker dots for our Ten Black Dots book. We also found out that Mrs. Garber had to buy 1,375 dots for the whole class to do this project.

Let's Be"Leaf" in Trees

We had a wonderful lesson on leaves and trees. We were scientists and we labelled, sorted, and observed the different attributes of the leaves that I collected last week. We did some leaf rubbings, leaf prints with paint, a leaf poem, and we made leaf animals. We learned what comes from trees and why they are so imortant to our survival.

Zion Reunion

This weekend my husband and I drove to Zion National Park for our reunion. Zion is 100 years old. We met there 40 years ago as summer employees. I was in charge of contacting people from all over the country and we got 300 people there. It was a magical weekend of connecting with our dear friends. We had so much fun in the perfect fall weather.

Autumn Art

Did you like all the patterns on the scarecrows? This was my mother's project for her 1st grade, which I have adopted for 30 years. I think of her each year that I sent the kids out the door with scarecrows in hand. We created a Great Pumpkin Patch in the hall. Please practice the words on the witch word slider that went home last week. Our goal is to have the children each read the words in less than one minutes. They are words from our homework sheets. Our fluency test will be on Wednesday.

Sock Sort

On Silly Sock Day last Wednesday, I let the students sort 71 of my socks. They picked attribute cards and found socks on the floor to place into sorting circles. After everyone had a turn, we found the pairs and counted by twos. There was one left over, which made our number 71 an odd number.

Number Writing

Children often write their numbers backwards. These activities help them think of the direction to start their numbers: Clay numbers, Guess the number on your back, Number Flip, Sandpaper number, and Trace and Write. They can practice their skills for the Math Box.

Making Words

We are almost finished honoring each of our little Kings and Queens. After we write a story of some of their favorite things, we make words with the letters in their names. Last week we made 36 words from our Queen for the Day's name!

Comparing Math Menu

We worked our way through 7 math games that compared weights of pumpkins, domino dots, heights and lengths, and estimates compared to the real count. These games increase their understanding of number sense.

Miss Vanderhoof's lessons

This week my student teacher was here all week to do several lessons. She will be going to Kindergarten next and my other student teacher Mrs. Morley will come to first grade. (They flip flop to have both experiences for student teaching.) She did a wonderful friendship lesson based on the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today. As the students told her kind things that they have done, she put a heart into her bucket. Kind acts go straight to our hearts. Mean things effect us the opposite way. Miss Vanderhoof also did a cool phonics lesson as the kids made a yarn web in a circle. We will miss her, but we will have her back in February.

MATH BOXES

We decorated the tops of our Math Boxes on Wednesday. They each created a surrounding pattern to glue onto black paper. We will finish decorating and filling them on Tuesday. The kids are usually so excited to play with the math materials, that they want to do a bunch of activities. Please have them pick ONE to do each week night. If you get behind, do some on the weekend. The idea is to get in a good homework habit: read the 1/2 sheet, read for 20 min., and do one math activity (usually 2-5 min.) Read the letter that is glued to the lid. You can adapt it and make up math activities. Please cut off the bottom recording slip after 5 activities are finished and send it to school. Your child will be rewarded with an Eagle Dollar for store. They only get credit for 20/month. Then each month, I will send another packet home. Please keep all the materials in the box and away from pets or toddlers. Have fun!

Trips to the Principal

Periodically throughout the year, the students get to visit the Principal's office with a certificate detailing something they have done to demonstrate our school's High Five rules: Be respectful, Be responsible, Hands and feet to self, Follow Directions, Be there, Be ready. After 3 reading slips turned in, many students got to experience a trip to the principal for being responsible. (I give them a "trip" when they get to new places on the Bonanza Gold Mine Map.) She wrote down their names to read on the intercom next Friday. They each snatched a fruit snack from her howling wolf. Keep up the good work!