We really enjoy the small group time of centers, as it targets the exact area of instruction for groups with similiar abilities. In the ususal format, there are two independent stations, which require kids to focus on applying their knowledge of literacy or math skills independently. The third station is formatted around direct instruction from the teacher in literacy awareness.

1.Domino Math: Dominos are the perfect tool as students grow a bit stronger in addition skills. They are still a manipluative-but the challenge comes because the kids need to learn to memorize groups of dots as certain quantities, and then use the skill of "counting on" to solve each addition problem. Here, the exercises help the kinestetic learner while the "paper and pencil" recording heightens the challenge and promotes first grade readiness.  A great game that can be played at home!

2. Lowercase/Uppercase Attributes: We are approximately half way through learning our lowercase letter counterparts to the uppercase set. This independent and fun matching game helps students gain speed in recognizing those lowercase letters. 

3.Literacy with the Teacher: We are back at it with word families! The Black Bats now know-  "if you can make one word in a family, you can make at least four or five!  Hat, bat, rat, fat, cat, that, flat......the fun never ends!!!"

This Tuesday, we returned to school after a long, holiday weekend to celebrate a milestone in Kindergarten...the 100th day of school! We investigated, discussed, and observed this day in many ways. We answered our daily sigh-in question relating to it, we read fantastic and entertaining read-alouds such as Miss Kindergarten and the 100th Day of Kindergarten, and we even made necklaces....made of Fruit Loops (yum!) and yarn. How many may you ask? Why, you guessed it: 100! Kids were encouraged to use their knowledge of counting and grouping by 10, to ensure they had the correct number. We also discussed this magic three- digit number in terms of money, place value, and had group conversations and made charts about 100 things we would want and 100 things we would NOT want! 

This week was slightly different from our normal week! Normally, we have centers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  But this week, we found our schedule with too many special things going on, that we needed to postpone centers until next week! Instead, during centers time on Monday, we found ourselves at Streubel Physical Therapy for a field trip, Wednesday, we were on campus, outside doing snow investigations, and on friday...there was no school! Stay tuned next week!

We really enjoy the small group time of centers, as it targets the exact area of instruction for groups with similiar abilities. In the ususal format, there are two independent stations, which require kids to focus on applying their knowledge of literacy or math skills independently. The third station is formatted around direct instruction from the teacher in literacy awareness.

1. Cup Capacity:  This small group center continued with the measurment unit we are chatting about. Students learned about a different way to measure, by measuing volume. We predicted how many unifex cubes it would take to fill and cup, and then filled it and counted the actual number. Another new vocabulary word was volume.

2. Rice Bags: Students become spies as they search out letters or sight words in rice bags, and then record thier findings!

3.Literacy with the Teacher: We played a game called Phonics fun: Small groups work on word-building at thier appropriate level. Some groups are working on initial sound, others ending sounds, while another group works on the middle sounds.