Counting on
9/20/2019
We introduced coins this week. Nickels and pennies to be exact. Our number corner is a gathering place each morning to predict patterns, read the calendar, and learn how to group numbers and objects. We have used to nickels to group our pennies, as well as add the coins to represent the date. We even engaged in a nickel and penny hunt around the room and students worked together to add their amounts and order their totals from least to greatest. Who knew 39 cents could be so fun?! In addition to learning how to sort and recognize nickels and pennies, we celebrated our 2nd decade day on Friday because it was the 20th of the month! We learned that deca means 10, that a decagon has 10 sides, and that we call it the 2nd decade day because, well, 10 + 10 = 20! Little lightbulbs went off as students started asking about triple decade day and fourth decade day and so on. I asked them how many decade days we would have this month and they were able to figure out that there will be 3 all on their own. We explored how animals protect themselves (following our biomimicry study) and how they can escape from predators. Each student was tasked with their own project that required only two things: their bug must 1) be able to fly away from predators and 2) be able to protect itself. We utilized our awesome Makerspace materials and students created some amazing bugs with very unique defenses. Their creative sides were engaged as well as their problem solving skills as they had to figure out how to join their materials, explain their designs, and use trial and error to make their bugs better. I was, of course, the testing subject for the bug's defense mechanisms and I don't think I have ever been "stung" by so many bugs in one day! We have further developed our mission of teamwork and collaboration through our weekly build-a-tower challenge, as well introducing centers that require students to work together. Children, as well as adults, need to consistently practice in order to improve their speaking and leadership skills. I have noticed that there are particular students who always take the lead and it has been interesting assigning the team lead position to students whose voice is not always heard. It is empowering for the students to have to practice leading and listening to each other. Classcraft's article on how to teach leadership resonated with me, especially the part stating "Good, effective leadership is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and improved upon. And while we tend to notice the more obvious charismatic leaders with the loud and bold personalities, the fact is that anybody, even the quiet kid in the back who hardly speaks a word in class, can be a leader." Classcraft has a great article here if you are interested in reading more about how leadership can be taught in the classroom. Lastly, PNA's annual field day was a great success! Our students did an awesome job trekking through the forest on the path build by PNA's prior middle school students. It was so important to recognize this achievement and for our younger students to see the value in applying what we learn to the real world. First graders and fourth graders partnered up while walking to the park and it was so neat to see the community and relationships being cultivated between students of different age groups. For some students, this was their first opportunity to go on a hike or be exposed to the forest, and for new PNA students, this was a great opportunity to experience the mission of PNA in action: courage to try something new, the vision to create something authentic and useful, and the integrity of following through with a plan with the help of fellow classmates. Comments are closed.
|
Hali TuomiMs. Tuomi has over five years experience in ASD, where she taught first and fifth grade classrooms. An avid skier, Ms. Tuomi is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Alaska Pacific University’s Bachelor of Arts in K-8 Education. Archives
April 2021
Categories |