Partners and Patterns

Being able to recognize and create patterns is an important step to aquiring number sense. Counting is patterning, adding and subracting recognizes sequence, and multiplcation is about following patterns. Being able to create patterns means that you can recognize things that are alike (odd numbers, numbers divisable by three, polygons) and things that are different.
Here are some math partners and the patterns they created Friday.

Good Evening, Opera Fans

The San Diego Opera Ensemble Touring Show came to visit and did a 50 minute version of "Cosa Fan Tutti." Here are some of the reviews.

A Busy Week

Last week certainly was a full and busy one. I have three highlights to share. One Wednesday, our garden day, we began learning about plant biology by exploring seeds. We opened up some dried bush bean seeds from our garden and took turns describing what we saw and felt. Then we read a story about two seeds who wonder what they will be as they grow. I taught them a song based on "The Green Grass Grows All Around," and then we went to tend our garden. We are learning to first take care of the plants, then clean up, then pick and eat our produce. Many of the children work or play in the garden at every recess.

The second fun thing was the whole school assembly to celebrate the international day of peace. The kindergarteners and first graders sang, "All I Really Need," a song based on the United Nations Children's Bill of Rights. I was so proud!

Last, to further our study of pets and how to care for them, my daughter Molly brought her rats to visit our class. We had prepared by reading about pet rats and generating a list of questions for Molly (Such as, "Are they vegetarian?," and "Do they bite?").

Peace Day

Our school will be celebrating the international day of peace on Friday, September 19th, with a school-wide assembly dedicated to sharing thoughts of peace. You are welcome to join us: 9 to 10am.
Click here to get in the mood.

"Hearts for Peace": International Day of Peace Movie

Boxes

This year I was inspired by the good fortune of having three huge boxes left over from the furniture for the new classrooms to create a team-building sort of curriculum for our students. First, I brought the boxes into our room during story time. Then I read a book that described the many imaginative uses a little girl puts a box to. Then I divided the class into three teams and told them that when they reached a decision as to what they were going to do with their box, they could start playing. I wanted to see what kinds of negotiating skills the children had. I was happily surprised by how quickly they were willing to compromise in order to get started playing.
The boxes became a spaceship, a clubhouse and a castle. They asked for markers so that they could decorate them, and when they were finished, they played with them for several days, until the boxes gave out and the custodian recycled them.

The dance continues...