Be Cool Day

A few kiddos in our class dressed up during Be Cool Day. Here are two cute photos of them below.

Their sign says Be Cool-the kids loved using the anti-bullying pledge during their word work that day!

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer

Rob Rayner Visit

The Gr. 2's had a chance to listen to author Rob Raynor yesterday. A few of the students in Gr. 1 and 2 were even asked to go to a writer's workshop hosted by the author. Below please find a few pictures of the workshop.

The primary students at work.

The author working with a student.

A display of the Rob Rayner's books in the library.

 

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer

100 Chart Puzzle

This week we played a few new Math games in class to reinforce a concepts. One of the new favourite games is called 100 chart puzzle. I have 10 mini 100 charts that we have cut up into random pieces. The goal is for the kids to use what they know about number patterns to attempt to put the pieces together. A few kiddos tried to simply put the pieces together that looked like they would be a good fit but then their 100 chart didn't make sense. This was a game we played with the Gr.2's however, the Gr. 1's were feeling left out so my 2's got to "teach" them about the game. Below please find a few pictures of my Gr. 2 teachers and their Gr. 1 students/partners working together to build the 100 chart.

 

 

 

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer

Math Mentor-Working with Rekenreks

Yesterday, our class was given the opportunity to work and learn with Mrs. Wallace our Math Mentor. Mrs. Wallace brought in a great tool for the kids to use. It is called a rekenrek.The rekenrek, or arithmetic rack, was designed by Adrian Treffers, a mathematics curriculum researcher at the Freudenthal Institute in Holland, to support the natural development of number sense in children.
Smaller versions consist of two rows of 10 beads. Larger versions with ten rows of ten beads are also available. Each row is made of five red beads and five white beads. This allows students to make mental images of numbers. Using 5 and 10 as anchors for counting, adding and subtracting is obviously more efficient than one-by-one counting. This tool provides learners with the visual models they need to discover number relationships and develop a variety of addition and subtraction strategies, including doubles plus or minus one, making tens, and compensation, thereby leading to automaticity of basic facts (K-5 Math Teaching Resources Website).

The rekenrek

 

 

Yesterday was our introduction to the rekenrek. The kids learnt how to use it to show the number 0-20. Here are a few action shots!

 

Mrs. Wallace explaining how to use this new tool.

The kiddos trying it out!

 

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer



Netbooks

The kids were so excited today because we were finally able to use our netbooks! Our wireless internet had not been working in our room, but our tech team got it up and running and we were ready to go today! The kids learned how to log on, use a few sites on the internet and log off. It was a little tricky at first but I am confident the kiddos will be experts with these computers in no time as we will be using them every Friday!

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer

Halloween Party Pictures and Videos

Sorry I've been neglecting our little blog lately. Mrs. Grant (our new educational assistant)  and I have been busy establishing our new routine. She is a lovely addition to our classroom and I certainly enjoy the extra help!

On Thursday, we had a little Halloween party. We began the day by showing off our costumes, reading a few Halloween books, playing some very fun minute to win it games and making some beautiful art. Below please find a few pictures and videos of the kiddos playing their games. The kids played 4 games: Frankenstein's Castle, Spiders on a stick, Witchy Fingers and Ghost Poop. I've posted the videos below. The first video is of the kids playing Spiders on a Stick. Each player had to get as many spider rings on their own straw in one minute. They were not allowed to use their hands! The second video is of the kiddos playing Witchy Fingers. Students had to wear witch fingers and try and sort m and m's into buckets. It was the most difficult game by far!  The third video is of the kids playing Frankenstein's Castle. In this game  groups of two competed against each other to build the tallest "castle" using cups in one minute. The final video is of the kids playing Ghost Poop. They had to transport "ghost poop" (marshmallows) via a spoon to a bucket. It was a relay race.Thank goodness for Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Allison (a class mom) who helped with the games!

 

 

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer