Math
Hi. I have been having such a nice time getting to know the second graders. Over the first month we have set up some some new routines, such as meeting by the bridge before class and singing rhyming songs in various languages or playing clapping or counting games. The students are also enjoying having tea in the math cabin, always herbal. We have a class jobs chart which includes jobs that practice mathematics and literacy skills and helps the class to run smoothly. Another routine, is our daily quiet time activity, which can be folder choice, working on a number scroll, exploring manipulatives, etc. depending on the day of the week.
We began the year with a problem solving activity in which students worked in partnerships to determine how many feet the Orchard chickens have. Then, the problem was extended to include the number of feet of all of the Orchard animals. Students were asked to show their strategies in solving these problems. They continued this activity by writing their own problems and providing the answer to the problems they had created. We then moved on to a place value exercise called ‘How Many Pockets?’. In this exercise students were asked to use unifix cubes to represent each pocket in their clothing and then to attach the cubes into trains of ten and to determine and record how many tens and ones we had altogether each day. We did this for a week and then wrote observations about the data collected. Even, now they continue to ask if we can count our pockets!
We played an addition game left by Jenni called Pomo Stick Dice based on Native American traditions and completed the calendar for January. Please encourage students in correct pencil grip and number formation from sky to earth. For Chinese New Year, we read the story ‘Grandfather Tang’s Story’ and students created their own tangrams to take home. I have introduced Early Tangram Geometry task cards last week and the students loved them! We practiced subtraction by playing Take from 10 and reviewed fact families and played Domino Top It.
The jobs chart is part of the Positive Discipline I incorporate in my teaching. We are also having weekly sharing circles which always begin with compliments and appreciations. I have introduced I statements as a tool to help share feelings: I feel _______ because _____________ and I wish or would you be willing to _______. I tried to explain that we use the expression I feel often when not expressing a feeling such as ‘I feel like I won that game.’ Instead, we use feeling words such as happy, sad, anxious, encouraged, despondent, exhilarated, enraged…. This week, we were able to use our circle time to help some students find solutions to a problem.
