This hot mess has been sitting there for approximately three weeks eating away at me. Here's the deal, I don't really care about other people's messes or stuff but my own piles are extremely bothersome. Life is all about learning to let go and prioritize. Nine years later, the fact that the pile lasted three weeks is huge. I have learned to let things go to an extent but the pile is now gone. I have said before that January is one of my least favorite months and this January has been packed full of stress and blessings but I am ready for February so I made my pile disappear. Marking things off a to do list is glorifying to my type a personality.
Sequence is a year long teaching point in Kindergarten. We literally work on this everyday when we retell the events of our day. Sequence is huge in children understanding story development and being able to retell the story to aide their comprehension. I orally use sequence words like first, next, then, last, and finally when we retell our day using a retelling rope and it is fun to hear children use those words at this point on the year. Sequence is also huge in math for understanding patterns, time, etc. One of my math curriculum lessons is on order of daily events so we used this foldable to help children understand the sequence of their day using the vocabulary morning, afternoon, and evening. We talked through examples in whole group setting and children worked independently at their tables to draw and write about each time of their day. One thing that was really confusing for my class is the time we go to lunch and recess is still considered morning so we have had great conversations about noon and when that begins. They have also started using the vocabulary morning, afternoon, and evening during our daily retelling.
This week, we began working on standard and non-standard measurement. I really enjoying teaching this because it is something that I am not good at. I can measure things but that's about the extent of it. For instance, if I am measuring a window, I could go buy curtains that are ready made and be fine but if I am wanting to make them (or let's be honest...have someone make them) then I need someone to figure out the amount of material. I find myself really working to make sure my little learners grasp measurement concepts in Kindergarten so they are ready for First.
Therefore, I spend more time on it than my math book allows. One day this week, I partnered them up and gave them directions for tracing and cutting out their foot. I was amazed because it took following multiple step directions for them to be successful. We also read the book How Big Is A Foot? and they loved it! One of the little ones said before reading "you know if you measured something with your foot it would be be different than with our feet" which is the concept presented in the story. We have also talked about tools for measuring length such as tape measure, yardstick, and ruler. We have had talks about when to use which tool specifically related to measuring our amaryllis plants. One little boy said, "well you could use a ruler but if it gets taller then you would want to use a yardstick so maybe that's why you choose it". We are going to use our feet and the standard foot to compare and contrast measurements around the classroom in the coming week.
We also made symmetrical snowflakes! This was another opportunity for children to practice listening and following multiple step directions. We began by each putting a hexagon in the center of the snowflake. From there, children were asked to make a pattern on each row.
I love how they are each different yet their work reflects their understanding of the concept of patterns and symmetry.
It's early to countdown to heart day but I really believe this helps their understanding of orally counting back as well as subtraction. It also gives us opportunities to talk through the concept of time when we talk about the number of days and weeks until said event.
I may have a budding artist on my hands. I found these two pieces on the drying rack. I still don't like Winter but these made me smile. The snowflake is better than one I could have done.
There are books that I just love using. They are their own time machine in the world of teaching. I love reading these books and thinking about how I gave grown as a teacher. One of those books us The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll. It just has a great message about cooperation. It also has similar stories that help children make connections which is so powerful to their reading development.
This week, we read the story and worked on the sequence of the story as well as story elements using interactive writing. This was done over multiple days! It was fun to listen to them name characters, the setting, and remember what those words mean. My heart may have jumped for joy! Inside recess and wiggly worms were discouraging this week but there are moments where their learning simply amazes me despite all the distractions.
January has been long and busy. All the months are but something about the cold weather and no breaks to catch my breath make me jealous that bears get to hibernate. So here's to the last week and rocking it, even with the piles of to do here and there.
“The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye, the story of love is hello and goodbye...until we meet again” ― Jimi Hendrix
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