I am Thankful For... Pictures

I am Thankful For...

This week we have had lots of discussion about things we are thankful for! I have had a blast listening to the children discuss what they have to be thankful for. Throughout the week I have provided mini-lessons on sounding out words and using the sounds to spell the word (NCATE 4 & 5). I have also conducted individual mini-lessons with students to help correct some of their most commone errors in their writing(NCATE 2). On Friday I allowed the children to complete a 4-square writing titled "I am Thankful For..." We are going to transform our 4-square writing into a book! Stay tuned for the final product!! Pictures coming soon!

Finding Mistakes part 2

This week has proved to be a great week. The children have worked on correcting each others work. We discussed that when we correct other friends work we must "kindly" tell our friends their mistakes (NCATE 5). By the end of the week the children were "picky" on highlighting mistakes. I found it very interesting that the children would discuss why they had highlighted mistakes and if it was a true mistake or not (NCATE 7). I believe that my children have learned a great deal on proper writing techniques. I have also taken the time this week to have one on one mini-lessons with individual students (NCATE 2). In these mini-lessons I would focus specifically on errors that were common to the specific student. I believe that this week has been a week that the children have learned to write neatly, using spaces, and properly on lines. What a great week!

Finding Mistakes in Writing

This week proved to be an Awesome week. I was concerned how my students would react to finding mistakes in their writings. Most of the mistakes we focused on was basic writing errors such as a period at the end of the sentence, an uppercase letter at the beginning of the sentence, and all other letters lowercase unless there is a "special" word that requires an uppercase letter in the sentence. I thought that they would not like finding errors in their own work, but I was wrong. On Monday after journal time (NCATE 1) I passed out highlighters and guided the children through finding errors. To begin with they were highlighting everything (errors and non-errors). I explained to the children that our goal was to have zero highlighter marks on our paper. By the end of the week I only had a few children that made simple writing errors. We then moved on the finding errors in printed work. I used the mimio and projector to display sentences on the board. I allowed the students to use the "magic" pen to locate errors (NCATE 5 &9) . They had a blast.

Making Lists

Throughout this week my students and I have discussed making lists, and various types of lists that can be made (NCATE 6). The firt type of list that we made together was a grocery list. I modeled how to begin a list and had the children brainstorm items we would need to place on our grocery list. As they told me items to place on our list I as modeled how to spell the items. Another list we made this week was a list of animals that live in grasslands. Our reading book this week was "Animal babies in Grasslands." After reading the book we made a list of animal babies that live in the grasslands. As we made lists over the week I discussed that list have a title and sometimes have numbered items and often items are listed down the paper in a row (NCATE 3) The children really enjoyed making the lists and their final lists were great. For their list to complete on their own, I asked them to make a list of the events that were their favorite at the pumpkin patch. We discussed events that had taken place and then I modeled how to spell "Pumpkin Patch" for the title and set them off to work (NCATE 10). I am very proud of their spellings and illustrations they included on their lists! I constantly reminded them throughout the week: "If you can say it you can hear it, and if you can hear it you can spell it."

Week 4

This week I have spent a great deal of time modeling the 4-square method and decoding words (NCATE 3 & 5). I have also discussed the importance of adding detail to the student's pictures. I provided the children with a 20 minute mini-lesson this week on using detail, decoding words, and producing a 4-square piece. Along with the 20 minute lesson, I also spent at least 10 minutes a day specifically modeling how to spell words (NCATE 4). I read the comments on my post last week and developed a saying that I have taught my children this week it is: "If you can say it you can hear it, and if you can hear it you can spell it." Before practicing spelling words we say this chant together. I using my hands to reinforce the say, hear, and spell portions of the chant. I feel that this has been effecting in putting the sounds to letters. They really understood what I was saying after modeling several times. The children were spelling the words for me. SO EXCITING. This weeks 4-square was based upon the reading book we were using "Armadillo's Orange." The assignment was to think of Armadillo's friends in the story and pick out 4 to illustrate on their 4-square. After the children had completed their work they were allowed to display their writing on the board using the mimio (NCATE 9). While displaying their work they discussed what they had written.

Week 3

This has been a really Awesome week! I love teaching the children the 4-square method of writing. This method can really develop into great writing. The skills that children learn from this method of writing are amazing. I use the 4-square method (NCATE 10) all year long and we will eventually develop a 4-square piece into a book. This week I have spend a great deal of time on sound/letter relationships (NCATE 1). I am spending time on sounds because for the children to spell they must be able to relate the sounds in words to the letters that make the sounds. The children are no longer asking me to spell; however, they are asking each other. They understand that in Mrs. Boone's class "their brain tells them to spell and not Mrs. Boone." I believe that when children use their brains I can better find their errors. When I know exactly where they struggle I can better target my instruction(NCATE 8). Kindergarten children learn so much! It is so exciting to watch and see before your eyes!