Thursday, November 18, 2010

Oceans in December

One of our K Teachers is doing a unit on Oceans the week after Thanksgiving because she's teaching the sound /o/. Although it seems a little strange to teach about the ocean about the time we're changing into winter weather, the theme covers a huge amount of GLE's, so I'm getting kind of excited about teaching it. I have never taught an ocean unit except in summer school with mixed age kiddos (K-2). Here are a few of the things I will be using in addition to the file of ideas I already have.

Sounds
http://soundbible.com/tags-ocean.html

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/sound-library/index.htm

Hello Ocean Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hello_ocean_lapbook.php

Emergent Readers
http://mrskilburnkiddos.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/what-lives-in-the-ocean-emergent-reader-book.pdf


Tons of ideas - I like the ideas for There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Shell.
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/OceanPrintables.htm

Shark Tangram
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/MathIdeas/MathTangrams/Tangrams-shark.gif

Sea Animal Sort
I have lots of land/air/sea animal manipulative freebies from Highlights that I can use to let the kids sort, graph, classify, etc. 

Theme Unit Ideas
http://www.thevirtualvine.com/ocean.html

What are your favorite ocean activities?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Those pesky numbers 11-20!!!

Every year, it's the same thing. The numbers 11-19 just don't fit the same rhythmic pattern that the numbers before and after seem to fit. I just finished testing number recognition (numbers in isolation) from 0-20 and the majority of the kids that were struggling weren't able to get 11-19. The most common mistake is calling the numbers with 'ty' at the end. For example, 12 is twenty, 13 is thirty, 14 is forty, etc.

Last year, I attended a math workshop in which the presenter was more than willing to seek out resources to help us meet our grade level expectations in any area we needed a little assistance. She sent me the following book and I sooo wish I would have remembered before I started teaching numbers 11-19. Now that I know exactly who is struggling, which happens to be 8 of my 22 students, I'm going to work with them in a small group to make sure they get these numbers memorized. Hopefully this book will help.

Here's a link to the mini books I'm going to use. There is a 7-day free trial.


We are also using HeidiSongs Jumpin' Numbers 11-30 DVD this year. We adore the number 17 Chicken Dance Song. :)

Do you have any fabulous ideas for teaching 11-19?

Monday, November 8, 2010

November is crazy hectic! :)

Please be patient! I promise to post more soon. This week we have Space Night, a CTA meeting, a building meeting, my hubby's birthday, and I'm leaving to go out of town for a conference for 3 days, so I have to get ready for a sub. Plus, I'm working on getting my son's birthday party plans finalized and invitations sent, several bow orders completed and still try to find time to love on my kiddos and hubby. :) Most days, I wouldn't have it any other way.


I don't want you to think I've absolutely abandoned my blog. :)

In other news, I just had two more projects funded on DonorsChoose this evening. If you've ever needed resources for your classroom, definitely check them out. I have had 10 projects funded since the beginning of last school  year and have gotten things like an iPod, a printer, a camera, a sand and water table, 5 Tag Readers and Tag Books, Take-Home Backpacks, tons of center activities, toys and things for my students with autism, etc. Tonight, my projects were for leveled readers and 27 books with CD's for my listening center. DonorsChoose and the generous donors have been a true blessing to my classroom. Take a peek. www.donorschoose.org/mrs.howerton