Weekly Round-Up: October 5

I took Friday and Monday off for the wedding but we were back to business on Tuesday!  Here are some of the things that we have been up to in our classroom:

1. HOME READING

We actually started home reading last Monday.  Students get these folders (I purchased these at Staples) in their book boxes (I use the IKEA FLYT magazine file for the book boxes).

Inside I include the letter that explains the home reading program and a reading log.  Students switch their books at book box time (independent reading time, after lunch recess) and place their home reading folder in their backpacks.

I put 5 levelled books in their book boxes at their reading level each week.  Students are welcomed to take home the same home twice if they wish.  When they bring their home reading folders back in the morning I have them put it in a bin.  Once all home reading folders are handed in, I quickly check for notes and have one of my responsible SK’s put them in the book boxes for me.

Once they fill up a reading log they get to choose a sticker to add to the cover or back of their home reading folder.  In the past we also let students choose items from a treasure box (my old school provided the treasure box, this year I’m doing stickers because I don’t have enough items to fill a treasure box myself).

When I asked on Instagram, a lot of you were interested in seeing the home reading printables in my TPT store so I have put them up.  You can click here or on the image below to grab them if you are interested!

2. SHAPE SHIFT CENTRE

I got the idea for this centre from @ourkindergartenfamily‘s Instagram account.  First we read the book “Shape Shift” by Joyce Hesselberth.  Then, students roll the shape dice 10 times.  They colour the shape they rolled after each roll.  After they have rolled 10 times, they collect the 10 shapes they rolled and make a picture using the 10 shapes.

This activity practices so many skills, such as following directions, ordinal numbers and fosters creativity and imagination! I love activities that promote higher level thinking!

This girl told me she made a girl walking her dog.

We had lots of amazing creations and it was a super popular centre! If you would like the recording sheet to try it too, you can grab it by clicking here or on the image below:

3. 2D SHAPE TRACE/WRITE THE ROOM

This week we continued to work on identifying, describing and comparing 2D shapes so I also introduced this 2D shape trace/write the room and the kiddos LOVED it.  My group last year had no interest in write the room but so far this group is all about it.

I had the students pick the sheet that was “just right” for them (not too easy and not too hard).  

The kids were instructed to find the shape cards that were taped around the room (there were 8) and either trace the matching shape or write the shape word beside the shape on their paper.  I also encouraged them to colour the shape the same colour as the shape on the cards.

You can find this 2D shape write the room activity in my 2D shape unit on TPT here.

4. DAILY SCHEDULE

You will have to take your own photos but if you would like the editable template, you can click here or on the image below to download it! You will need PowerPoint to edit the file.

5. THANKSGIVING WRITING

We started our October guided writing this week! We read the book “Thanksgiving Is For Giving Thanks” by Margaret Sutherland and wrote about what we are thankful for.

First we completed this anchor chart together to brainstorm some ideas:

Then we wrote our own on the writing paper!

“I am thankful for my family because they love me.”

“I am thankful for my sister because she plays with me.”

The kids did a great job and it was a good opportunity for me to get some diagnostic assessments on where they are in the writing continuum.  You can grab this writing paper for free by clicking here or on the image below:

6. TURKEY CRAFT

I set out this invitation to create a turkey at the art table this week.  The kiddos did a great job creating their own turkeys!  Below is the sample I made that I left out for the kids to look at.

I provided them with paper plates cut in half, googly eyes, tissue paper cut into squares and brown, red, orange and yellow construction paper cut into squares.  I had some brown paper cut into circles and some I left square so that kids who choose to could cut their own circle or a different shape for their turkey bodies.

Here are some of the finished turkeys! Love how they all turned out so unique!

Our sensory table finally arrived this week! I kept the first one simple and filled it with corn kernals, a variety of fall items (all items found at Dollarama), wooden letters (also Dollarama) and clipboards.  The kids were so engaged in their play here! They only had one centre block to play with this sensory bin so many students are looking forward to exploring it next week!

8. ALPHABET BINGO

I had two Grade 6 kiddos visiting my room for 2 days this week (they didn’t go on the field trip) so it was the perfect time to bring out my new Alphabet Bingo! As always, the kids loved playing bingo and the Grade 6’s lead the game.  Once they got a line they got to pick a sticker! 

You can grab these bingo cards in my TPT store here.

The calling cards you see in the photo above are NOT included in the bingo product (there are simple calling cards that are included in the bingo product but they are not the ones pictured above).  I already had these cards printed and laminated so I used them as my calling cards.

The letter cards pictured above are the Letter Formation Flash Cards.  You can find them in my TPT store here.