Thinking Thursday

What a great day we had today!  We started our day reading our morning message and looking at our calendar.   We do a lot of math during our calendar/opening activities.  We talk about the numbers and patterns in the calendar.  We read the pattern from the beginning and predict what colour will come next.  We also talk about the number of the day. Today 6 was our special number.  We count to that number, and talk about what number comes before and after number 6.  We also review all the different ways we can represent that number.  We showed the number 6 using pictures, words, tally marks, ten frames and addition and subtraction sentences.  We also talk about the patters that happen in numbers (all of the teens start with 1, the twenties with 2 etc..) When the numbers are smaller, I ask the students to show me if they can make that number using 1 hand, 2 hand and eventually, with a friend and THEIR hands.  We record the stories on the whiteboard and talk about how many different stories we can make for that number.  It’s really quite amazing what they know about numbers, patterns and math. 

The students loved listening to The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. It’s a very cute rhyming story.  They made some good observations comparing how this book is similar and different to the original.  Following our story, all of the students illustrated their favorite part of the story in their writing journal.  The students all worked very hard to also do their best printing, using correct shape and size and leaving spaces between their words. 

The students and I are really looking forward to Student Led Conferences.  Each student will have the opportunity to show you our classroom, share their work with you and explain what we have been learning in school.  Student Led Conferences will take place on Monday April 17 & Tuesday April 18^th.  Conference bookings are now available on line.