IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Reid and Andrew playing ten frame war during Math Workshop.

Over the past two weeks we have been exploring different materials that we can use in Math Workshop.  Today, we used the ten frame.  It all started this morning when the kids came to morning meeting.  There was a giant ten frame on the floor with masking tape. (A ten frame is basically two rows of rectangles that form a grid.)  The kids were very curious about this and asked what it was.  I responded with, “I’m not sure, what do you think it is?”  Reid thought it might have something to do with math and Jermaine thought it had to do with the number ten.  When I said we would come back to it at during Math Workshop the kids acted like it was the end of the world.  They really wanted to know!

When we returned to it this afternoon, we had a wonderful conversation about the giant ten frame on the floor.  I challenged the kids to see how they could use them as mathematicians.  Together we came up with counting, sorting, and helping with problems.  Finally, to end our ten frame exploration we learned about the game ten frame war. The kids got a chance to play with partners.  Check out some of the pictures to see how they did!

Melina and Shayla playing ten frame war.

Maxwell and Wyatt playing ten frame war.

Joseph is writing down his skateboard story after he built it out of blocks.

Today, in Story Workshop, we added blank books as one of the choices for the kids to use.  As a class we talked about how they could create their stories using materials and then write down the story or how they could create a little and then write a little.  The goal with introducing the blank books later was for the kids to see how powerful the materials can be alone and how they can help add to the original stories.  It was great to see how many of the students chose to write while they were creating!  They wanted to remember their story!

Story Workshop is something that I am really excited about this year as a teacher.  In the past, we have has Writer’s Workshop for our writing.  While the two workshops are very similar, in my opinion, Story Workshop allows for even more creativity.  The kids are able to use manipulatives and materials to act out, paint, sculpt, or even draw before they put the story all together.  In the past, they were limited to paper, and writing materials such as crayons, pencils, pens, and markers.  With Story Workshop, they are going to be able to use clay, collage, blocks, natural materials, watercolors, oil pastels, and even more!     These materials can help the kids add more details to their stories! It adds a deeper level to their creations.  It is almost as if they are creating their first “draft” when they are using the manipulatives.  I am looking forward to seeing where Story Workshop takes us this year!

Today we spent a little bit of time talking about our hopes and dreams for our school year.  This was a building conversation that came from our strengths and what we want to learn at school over the next few months. It was wonderful to see some hopes and dreams so I thought I would share a few.

Reid- My hope is for all of us to work together and build a contraption.

Melina- I hope I will always have a nice time and everyday will be a fun day at school.

Jermaine- My dream is that I can read and write about cars.

Raki- I hope that it’s never the last day of school.

In the next few days we will be looking at our hopes and dreams and creating them using clay.  Check back next week to see our progress :).

Cooperation was the theme for us today.  As I shared yesterday, we have been focusing a lot on working as a team to build our classroom community.  Today, I have a story to share from Math Workshop.  This afternoon, the kids were given base ten blocks to work with and explore.  I challenged them to find a way to use the new material mathematically.  What would a mathematician do with these things?  As I moved around the group, I noticed that Oliver and Melina were working together with their base ten blocks.  Both Oliver and Melina were counting their blocks separately and I challenged them to work together to add them up.  As I watched, the two worked together to figure out how to maneuver  their blocks and work together to solve the problem.  They were kind, helpful, and overall happy to be working together.

While this is only one snapshot of the day, our classroom was filled with these!  I feel like each time I listened in on a conversation kids were working together and helping others.  They were genuinely happy to work with new friends and took on the challenge to do so.  I am so proud of our friends and cannot wait for another day to witness more stories like the one above!

This morning, after Reader’s Workshop we had a wonderful conversations about our individual strengths.  As we build our community, it is important to realize that everyone brings different strengths to the table.  Today, to start this conversation, each student focused on themselves. After a few minutes of talking as a class, each friend was asked to draw and write what they are good at.  We had talents ranging from reading to running!  I am excited to see how we can build on today’s conversation and grow our classroom community tomorrow.

Ruth said she is good at puzzles.

David shared he is good at running while Melina feels her strength is playing the piano.