Mrs. Spitzer's Garden

I can develop my muscle memory printing letters the same way every time. 

We have worked on "Downers" and "Rounders" families.  When practicing, we only print one family at a time.  (for example, we didn't practice lower case "e" with upper case "E", because they are formed in different ways.)

Kids are encouraged to verbalize their motor plan... "talk through the steps they will take". 

For the "Rounders", kids will say:
-Leave space for my letter
-Start near the top
-Go up, back and around...


I can compare objects and quantities.  

 Today we looked at three different balance activities.  We compared the mass  of different objects, we used blocks to measure the mass of objects and we used the Montessori balance which shows us how to balance equations.    Often kids think equals means....put the answer here.  A balance, helps kids understand that "equals" means both sides of the equation are equivalent.    ex.  1+3= 2+2

Today we learned a "Ten Frames" game called war.  You can also play this game with regular playing cards.  Children needed to say their number (no counting) and how they knew.
ie.  "I have 8, because 8 is two less than 10."
      "I have 6, because 6 is five and one more."

"I win because 8 is greater than 6."

Being able to verbalize your thinking is very important in math.


Today we read a fabulous book named Mrs. Spitzer's Garden.   It made us do a lot of thinking, as the author used a garden as a metaphor for the diversity of children in a classroom.  This book will help launch us on our big question of the year: "HOW DO WE GROW AND CHANGE".

So far, students brainstormed that:
-we will get bigger
-we may lose and grow new teeth (lost one today!)
-we might develop new hobbies
-make new friends
-learn new skills

After we read the book, the children worked on their "cut art" and patterning skills to create their own unique flower.  We hope to have OUR garden ready for parent for our Welcome Back Picnic.