The students learned that writers write for readers; that is, they write so that others can read their work. They learned that they can make their writing easy-to-read by using spaces after each word, by sounding out words* slowly and writing a letter for each sound they hear, and by writing sight words correctly. We reviewed how to use the word wall in our classroom to help ensure that the sight words are spelled correctly.
The students also learned about different kinds of pattern books. First, they learned that authors sometimes use a surprise ending in their pattern books; this is when the last page doesn't follow the pattern. They also learned that authors sometimes use a see-saw pattern in which there are actually two different patterns that alternate from page to page. See examples below:
- Surprise Ending: This elephant can walk. This dog can run. This frog can jump. This fish can swim. This kid can walk, run, jump, and swim! (The last sentence doesn't follow the pattern; it can be considered a "surprise ending.")
- See-Saw Pattern: A shark can swim. A bird can fly. A dolphin can swim. A butterfly can fly. A whale can swim. A bee can fly. A fish can swim. A fly can fly.
Highlights from Reading Workshop:
The students learned that readers:
- think about what is happening page by page then they read to see if their thinking was right.
- read books again and again with more power to make them sound better.
- make their reading sound like talking by reading words together.
Highlights from Math Workshop:
Last week, the students learned a lot about subtraction. Just as we looked at a 0-20 number chart for patterns when numbers increase, we used that same chart to look for patterns when numbers decrease. The children realized that when subtracting 1, the difference is the number that comes before the amount in the original set (i.e. the minuend). We also talked about how we can model subtraction with manipulatives and on paper. The students learned that they can show subtraction by crossing off, or placing an X through, pictures to show the subtraction equation. We practiced writing subtraction equations based on pictures that show subtraction.
The students also practiced writing numbers in order from 0-10, and although this may seem like a straight-forward task, there is a lot to be considered. With this activity, students can demonstrate their flexibility in thinking about numbers 0-10. For example, can you write forward from a given number? Can you write the numbers starting from 10 and going to 0? Can you start at 5 and go backwards to 0 then forwards to 10? All of these strategies show different aspects of how children understand number sense 0-10.