I was overcome by my love for alliteration. Our letter of the week was S and I just couldn't resist it. We glittered sparkling snowflakes and silver stars. We'll hang them from the ceiling next week for a beautiful celestial view during quiet rest.
In math workshop we took the number ten and found as many ways as possible to split it into two numbers. We used counting rods to match the numbers for a visual aid. Next we used Chex and counted out ten. I pushed several to one side and then counted the remaining. The next step was for each child to divide a number.Paper strips were folded in half with a marker line delineating the dividing line. Then each child rolled several dice to find their number. We wrote their number on the paper and they began finding the divisions possible with their number.
I expected repeated calls for help and was very surprised that the use of glue bottles was the greatest challenge. The children have been playing the "What is _ and _?" game since late fall and must have absorbed more than I realized. When I explained that they were really doing addition they were so impressed with themselves and eager to do more. Why wasn't math this exciting when I was their age?
Buddy time was very productive today. Betsy B. has adopted an army unit in Afghanistan and the school has been making footprint greetings to decorate their mess tent. Our big buddies helped to trace our class' shoes, cut out and decorate them. After doing several sets they were ready for something else. I have two special toys that have been waiting for a moment such as this. One has been used sparingly in the room and is always exciting. It is essentially a gears construction game and is a winner with everyone.
Our other game is new and the class has been waiting for awhile to open it. This is a variation on a marble run. The difference is this run is not based on the floor. Instead, it is mounted on the wall with poster putty. There are bendable tubes and clear runners for marbles to travel through and the success of the run depends entirely on the configuration of them. Now I didn't take physics (although my father often used dinner to teach us the laws of physics) and don't know the formulas, but I do know that velocity is determined by angle. As I explained that changing the up or downward position of the tubes and runners I began to wonder why I thought I could do this and where was Neal Nida? In spite of my feeble instructions, the children seemed to get the basic idea and began making suggestions. I can't wait to see what they do without my help.
Monday is a holiday as remember Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. I'll see everyone on Tuesday.
Please remember book orders are due Wednesday (Jan. 19).
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