This morning we focused on sounds using felt squares. I said a word: boat. Together, we figured out that the word has THREE sounds: b, o, and t. Then we chose three different colored felt squares to 'write' the word with sounds. As a challenge, Ms. Ellen changed ONE sound at a time to make a new word. We made moat, goat, note, nate, gate. With each change, one of the boys helped to identify which sound was changing and represented that change by changing out the matching sound on the board, represented by felt colors. Finally, we counted out the sounds in 'float', represented these sounds with felt, then wrote the letter for each sound (phonetically, as we have learned). So, we spelled 'float' 'floet', since we learned that the long vowel /o/ sound has a 'magic 'e' to make it say its name. Eventually, we will learn the correct spelling. The kids needed some extra help, which I was happy to provide. This is the beginning of writing!
Next, we joined our blue friends for a musical movement activity. Following the favorite song Tootie Ta, we introduced a new movement and listening song: Listen and Move by Greg and Steve. It was an instant hit! If you would like to practice it at home, here is a video (of another class) that you could use. Before practicing, make sure you establish a large circle and direction of movement (such as around a large table). encourage your child to have fun, but be fairly quiet so he can stop when the music stops.
In keeping with our 'transportation- by water' theme, Ms. Cortney read one of my favorite books: One-Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova. The kids loved this book so much that we will use it as our text again tomorrow to help us with a sequencing activity.
 |
Sometimes – the more the merrier
I set off one morning in my little red canoe.
My dog wagged his tail.
“Can I come, too?”
“You bet,” I said.
“A trip for two – just me and you.”
But when “with a slap and a swim” Beaver scrambles in, and then “with a ‘woo-hooo!’ – flap!” Loon lands in the young canoeist’s lap, it’s clear that this will be no ordinary canoe trip.
A bouncy rhyming text and exuberant pictures full of funny, escalating antics will have young readers laughing out loud – for just when it seems the canoe can’t hold anyone else, frog jumps in!
A girl and her dog set out in their canoe one morning, only to be insistently joined by a series of animals, large and small. What happens when there's too many animals??!!
|
The kids enjoyed making sailboats using Styrofoam, straws, paper and stickers. Once complete, we headed to the stream in the park to test our hypothesis....we think they WILL float....and we were RIGHT! Not only did they float, when a little breeze blew they sailed! It was great fun....except Cortney and I almost fell in!
I can't wait to be with my boys again tomorrow!
