So, evidently I am not a very good blogger. It has been a LOOOONG time since I have posted.  I just don't have a lot of spare time these days. When I do have time, I am usually looking at other people's ideas on Pinterest!

I love it when ideas pop in my head actually works! We have been working on "the missing number" and "what comes next". Like every other kindergarten class, the range of number sense varies from learning one-to-one to could do calculus. :) We have been having a good ole time building numbers using cubes and writing the numerals to match. This has become a game of speed and accuracy. It did not take long for it to become BORING for many of my students. So, I asked myself the following questions:

How can I engage all of my students considering all their levels and abilities?
How will they SEE and understand a missing number in a hands on sort of way?
How can I motivate them to STAY engaged long enough to practice the skills?

Here is what we did.

Build numbers 1 to 10 using cubes.
Mix them all up.
Put them back in order as fast as you can. 
Make sure the "cube towers" are growing by 1.
Find a partner to count your cube towers.
Tell your partner to close their eyes.
"Steal" and hide a tower behind your back.
Ask your partner to look at the cube towers and determine which tower is missing.

They had SO MUCH FUN! I LOVE it when that happens!
They were practicing counting, one to one, ordering numbers, greater/lesser concepts, and determining the missing number.

On another note, of the ELA variety...I am so proud of my kindergarteners' writing this week! They are all writing stories, stretching words, and playing with sounds. I can't wait to brag about them to their parents at open house next week!

Getting Back in the Groove

Well, here it is...the last day of spring break. I have accomplished a few little tasks like cleaning out the pantry, taking some clothes to get hemmed, organizing my closet, planting flowers---(saw a snake, so it was short lived) and getting rest. Today means laundry, grocery shopping, and preparing for the new week. I have some fun surprises for my little sweeties! We are in the midst of learning how to research so I made a little packet that will allow me to guide the students who need guidance and it is simple enough that others can work on it independently. We are integrating science (animals) with our research. Next, we will integrate social studies (landforms). I will be making a packet for that next. Too bad there isn't another spring break in the near future! After we research and write, we will make and paint paper plate animals to display what we have learned on the wall. I will post pictures. If you would like the packet, click HERE

Happy last day of spring break!
Kerry

Book Club!

One of the cool things about teaching first grade is how the kids LOVE to read. It is so sad when they get older and lose that enthusiasm. I want my kids to love not only reading books but also love to talk about them and be able to form their own opinions about them. I am going to start having book club meetings! We will start with the basics and once the students become familiar with the idea, their topics will become more substantial and maybe even to the point where they are coming up with their own agendas for their club! Click here for a free copy of my meeting log. I will be making more for fiction and nonfiction soon.