IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

In Math Workshop today we added another component to our math boxes.  We learned about how to do a math sort with addition problems.  Each kid was given three main groups to sort into.  For example: group one could might have been “less than 10.”  Group two might have been “the same as 10” and group three might have been “more than 10.”  Once they had their groups they had a pile of addition problems that they had to solve and decide where they fit.  It was great to see how the kids were working with the numbers, but at the same time enjoying it because they were playing a “game!”  They were able to use materials to help them solve the problems if needed or some were able to break the numbers apart in their head!  During share time at the end of the Math Workshop, Oliver shared that he could decompose numbers and everyone get excited about our new fancy math word.

David is using base ten cubes to help him with his math sort.

Oliver is working on his math sort.

Townes is using unifix cubes to help him with his math sort.

Today in word study the students worked in partners to read rhyming books.  They had a new material to use, highlighter tape, to highlight the rhyming words.  I noticed so many students helping their buddies and having great conversations about which words rhymed.  It was great to see them apply our rhyming work to words in the text today.

We also learned a new math sort.  Students were given different addition sentences and they had to decide if the answer was more than a certain number, less than that number, or the same as that number.  Some students had target numbers of 10 or even 16.  There was a lot of thinking going on as they solved and then sorted their answers.  This is one more activity that will be in their math boxes next week!

Have a great weekend! Remember our first Family Night is next Tuesday from 6-7!

We had so much fun today during word study. We did something a little bit different- a game day! Friends were challenged to play games with friends that dealt with beginning sounds (p, t, s, m, b) and beginning blends (th, ch, sh). They had to work to determine what their card began with and advance their piece to that letter. Mr. Henderson and I noticed SO many friends were assisting one another when someone needed support. Afterwards, we discussed what worked during our game day and friends commented how nice it had been to have a friend help them when they were in need- such good teamwork. About word study today, Kalaya said, “This is SO MUCH FUN! I love this place!” We’re glad she does!

Tags: friendship, word study

Friends work togther to build half meter long cube sticks.

I have some awesome learning to share from Wednesday. Wednesday morning, our class resumed our conversation on how to figure out how big our T-Rex was in real life. Several friends showed us how they had figured out how to mark a half meter by creating sticks of unifix cubes that were 50 cm long. We knew it was important to have this measurement, but we weren’t sure what to do next. We decided to take a closer look at our picture we were working from with the scale. We re-read that 1cm = .5 meters. Lucas asked, “Well how many centimeters is the picture?” Beatrice and Ayden knew, “21!” Then Lucas suggested, “Let’s make 21 sticks and lay them out. That’s how big!” Friends agreed that this would be the best way to represent our T- Rex. They demonstrated teamwork as the entire class enthusiastically began building sticks of equal lengths. Friends problem solved on how to check to make sure the sticks were equal. Some chose to re-measure them with a ruler, some compared them to others, some insisted on counting them each time and made sure they each had the same amount. When we finally had 21, we had a decesion to make. “What now?”

Teamwork!

Addie looks down the row, its getting longer!

Going off of Lucas’ suggestion, friends began taking turns connecting each of the pieces to create one, long line. The kids were paitient as we fixed breaks and troubleshooted directional problems. The cubes began to extend beyond our carpet area, past our word wall, and beyond. Miles enthusiastically predicted, “Its going to go out of the room! Its so big!” And Miles was right, our T-Rex ended up being SO big that it extended out of the classroom. WOW! After admiring our work in the morning, we decided to switch out the breakable cubes for something a little more permanent- tape. We laid down tape in place of the cubes to mark how long the T-Rex was and had fun decorating it with T-Rex-es and dinosaur words. Make sure you come check it out next time you are at school!

Longer!

BreAnna adds a half meter to the dinosaur.

Right out the door!

Tags: arithmetic, capable, collaboration, problem solving, project

Mr. Ward and Melina playing checkers

Shayla, Oliver, and Jonah playing UNO

Ruth and Maxwell playing Chinese Checkers

Each morning, during Free Exploration, the kids have a few choices set out to explore before Morning Meeting.  As I have blogged on other days, the kids are really into chess and checkers.  Today, that love of game playing expanded to Chinese checkers and Uno.  Different friends brought in game boards to play and share with others.  They worked together, took turns, problem solved, and helped on another as they played all the different games.  As Mr. Ward and I looked around the room almost every child was playing a game!  Looking forward, our hope in the next few weeks to start creating games of our own!