I am no fan of winter weather (unless it's really spring weather) but I do love teaching at this time of the year. The children have been in school long enough to increase their attention spans and to get excited about learning. This week as we talked about several more new shapes and how we could make pictures with them, you could see the sparkle in their eyes as they thought about what they would create. We actually made a demo chart yesterday to show any curious visitors to our room and will soon begin making shape books of their own.
As we have been counting the number of days on the calendar, the class has worked on which number comes first in two digit numbers. I promised them the answer to the secret last week and today I delivered. My place value chart was pinned to the bulletin board and thousands (literally) of coffee stirrers appeared in front of them. Their eyes were wide as I begin explaining the rules of this game called "Numbers". In just a short time they were making two digit numbers. I sent Rylan to the 100 chart to select a number for us to make and 99 was the winner. It was no match for these wizards so like a stinker I added 1 more stirrer. Several grinned widely as they announced we now has 100.
Number sense is very different from the recognition of symbols representing numbers (numerals) and I am always fascinated how many children have a keen sense of numbers without recognizing numerals. The latter is basically memorization and the ability to distinguish between subtle shapes.
If your child is still struggling with numeral recognition talk with me and we can share what I am doing here and what can be done at home. as for number sense... rest easy because this group is on it!!
The letter C is the letter for the week and I began with an explanation that this tricky letter had no sound of its own. As I pulled out a box of cereal, a chocolate candy, a chartreuse crayon, a circle and a cat from my bag there was silence. Finally Alora realized the letter was C and the realization that we had already studied the /s/ and /k/ sounds hit them. Words came flying as Rylan kept track of the number making their way to the board. Chocolate was mentioned as being in the bag and I explained that our friend Mr. H had once again changed the sound of a letter he stood by and now turned c into a /ch/ sound. That was all Django needed and cheetah promptly went on the board. A flurry followed until we had to stop for fruit break. Nineteen correct words found their way to the board - today. I'm betting they will come in tomorrow with more!
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