IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Our friends are playing Twister during Free Choice.

Today, to add to our game exploration, we played twister during Free Choice.  Mr. Ward and I were interested to see if the kids would be engaged in this.  Over the past few weeks we have noticed that they have been creating and playing a lot of different board games.  Today we wanted to expand their thinking with games.  Twister was a hit!  Over the next few days we plan on continuing with new types of games.  Check back later to see more!

October 1- Picture Day- Uniforms not required. Make sure to turn in your picture order sheet this day or before.

October 3- Dow Work in the Garden Day- Please dress your child in washable work clothes. These do not need to be uniform clothes. We will be planting, weeding, tilling, and mulching outside with volunteers from DOW all day! Make sure to get lots of sleep the night before.

Today in Math Workshop, we introduced a new game, tic-tac-toe.  The kids had a board with multiple different sums on it.  They had to add numbers together to make the numbers in the boxes.  There was a lot of strategy involved.  The kids could block others from getting a tic-tac-toe!  They really loved playing and we did some number work at the same time!

In class today, we started talking about gifts that we bring to our community.  Together, we read the book Ish by Peter Reynolds.  In the story it talks about a little boy and how he drew tons and tons of pictures.  He would draw them and his sister would secretly save them.  One day she showed him the gallery she had created out of the drawings he had made.  With his sister’s help, the boy in the story realized he had a gift of drawing!  As a class we talked about how gifts are important.  We each bring our own gifts that can help others.  Here are a few gifts from our friends.

*Jonah- I bring the gift of playing games.

*Joseph- I being the gift of building.

*Melina- I bring the gift of music.

*Aasha- I bring the gift of creativity.

*David- I bring the gift of drawing.

This week in both Reader’s Workshop and Math Workshop, we have introduced partners.  There is a lot of power behind having partners as you work.  It encourages conversation, collaboration, and questioning.  The kids have really enjoyed working with partners.  We asked them today why it was important and here are a few of their answers:

“You are reading together and you can hear other people reading so they can help you.  If you were alone you couldn’t do that.” ~Andrew

“It is important because that’s how you make a new friend.  Friends help them sound it out.” ~Carriea

“They are important because you don’t have to raise your hand and wait.  You don’t have to wait or nothin’.  Your partner can help you.” ~Tylisha

“Your partner is a different reader so they can help you!” ~William

Joseph & Avelyn are partners in Reader’s Workshop.

Jonah and Oliver are partners in Math Workshop.

Wyatt, Aasha, and William are partners in Math Workshop.

Miles and Townes are partners in Reader’s Workshop.