Montessori work period

   

Today we had a first glimpse at our Montessori work period. While we're still setting you routines and expectations within our classroom, students had an opportunity to review lessons that they may be familiar with from last year. Students explored the Montessori bead bars, worked with tens frames, used the moveable alphabet to create their names, and explored the Montessori golden beads. Over the next couple of weeks we will continue to set up the expectations for our Montessori work period so all students can be successful and work to their full potential.


  
This afternoon we talked more about our Peace corner. As part of the Montessori Peace Education program, students have the opportunity to use the Peace corner in our classroom to help them resolve small conflicts amongst themselves and/or use it a space to practice mindfulness. Today we talked about what makes each of us feel peaceful. Hopefully this is something students can recall when they use our classroom Peace corner throughout the year.

Exploring our Natural Environment

    

I can use my senses. 

Today we took the opportunity to get outside and explore some hands-on natural learning. Students used their senses (all but taste, of course) to explore our discovery garden. As scientists, we observed the plants using our eyes, noses, and hands. We found insects and bugs. We heard the leaves blowing and the sprinkler system watering the grass. We observed a caterpiller in its natural habitat. There is so much to see, hear, smell, and feel when you just take the time to observe.

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An important notice came home today regarding clubs, which will be happening during school hours. Please read it and return it tomorrow with your child's choices. 

Great 2nd day of school!

Mrs. Wacker was amazed at how well everyone has learned our class routines!

Now you are asking...why are you posting pictures of shoes.  We used shoes as a metaphor for how choose "GOOD FIT" books.   We learned we have different shoes for different purposes?  I wouldn't wear cowboy boots to play tennis and I wouldn't wear my rainboots for a fancy dinner out.  Similarly, we read books for different purposes.  We read non-fiction books to learn information, Fly Guy for a laugh, and other books to go on adventures!

We each got a book bag and chose books that were at a good level for us and that we found interesting.  Each day we will be learning skills, so that we can start our daily independent /guided reading program next week.

We worked on printing skills, using Montessori Insets to create designs.  These insets help us trace, colour, shade, and create vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines. We also used white boards to practice forming letters.  We are practicing letters in families of letters formed in a similar way.  Today we did the "Downers".  When creating all of these letters,  you start at the top and go down, then hop back up and create horizontal lines from left to right.  L. T, I, H, F, and E are all "Downers".  Practicing this way will help us create "Muscle Memory". 

 

In math, we made two I CAN statements today.

I can represent numbers in different ways.  We used our math books to represent the number two through pictures, ten frames, equations and tally marks.

I can subitize numbers.  We learned that subitizing, is when we can recall a number based on its pattern without having to count the number.   This is a very important skill in grade one and two.  (The patterns on a dice, help us subitize, so we don't have to count the dots).  Today we used ten frame cards to help us subitize numbers in a game called "Line Them Up".  Kids had to recognized the patterns and tell their partners how they knew their numbers.  Example:  "That is eight, because it is two less than ten", or "It is eight because I see 5 and 3 more".

Welcome to our class!

Today we read the story, The Dot and we used the I Can Statement - I can paint. Students explored water colour paints and created Dot masterpieces. We used bright, bold colours to paint dots of different sizes and colours and we learned about respecting our classroom materials (paints and brushes) and respecting our friends work.

  

What to do during the summer?

The summer is a time to recharge, spend time outside and to special family outings.  Parents ask what they can do with their child over the summer to help them prepare for the next year. 

Here are some ideas: 

1.  Have great discussions!  Use your extra time to have detailed conversations about topics of interest.  Ask you child their opinion and get them to explain their thinking.  

2. Go to the zoo or the science centre.  You can even bring a journal to sketch and write about the things you see. 

3. Build something or bake something.  Get your child involved in a project.  Teach them how to use some tools and build something like a birdhouse.  Make some cookies for a neighbour/friend and talk about how you measure and follow instructions. 

4. Observe nature.  Go on a bug hunt or look at all the different kinds of plants you can find when out at a park or camping. 

5.  Read!  Read to your child and have your child read to you.  Choose a chapter book that is too hard for your child to read independently and read it to them.  Stop lots and make predictions, connections and ask questions.  Also have your child practise reading books that are just right for them.  The library is a great place to visit in the summer. 

6.  Play board games.  Monopoly junior, Mille Bourne, Guess Who, Snakes and Ladders.  Games teach kids to take turns, strategize and to add and count.   

Great for long car rides.......

7.  Practice counting forwards and backwards by 2s, 5s, 10s.  Count by 2s starting at 1.  Count by tens with different starting points. ex. 4, 14, 24, 34, 54...

8.  Practice mental math strategies for numbers to 18  

Doubles

Doubles plus one

Make Ten facts (1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6, 5+5...)

Adding 9 facts (9+6...give one to the 9 to make 10 to make 10+5=15)

9.  Play rhyming games

10. PLAY!!!!!!!

Building a Habitat

   
What do all living things need? Air. Water. Food. Shelter.

Students created a habitat for the bug they researched. They included all their animals' needs in its habitat. Today students will be bringing home their habitat and informational report. We have spent a lot of time researching in books and on ipads to find information. Some students included important text features of non-fiction books, like headings, text boxes, labelled diagrams, and a glossary.
Please take the time to celebrate all this hard work with your child!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Today we did NOT go outside to do some summer observations because of the rain.  Instead we used oil pastels and hot colours to create suns with different patterns and textures.  Children filled sections with:
-curvy, straight, horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines
-dots, dashes, circles
-zig-zags, spirals and more