Using Whiteboards

Whiteboards are always a popular writing tool in our classroom.  Sometimes we put them on a table and invite students to use them.  Often they just help themselves to record a message or take a survey of their friends' favourite colour.  Students feel comfortable taking risks when writing on whiteboards because they can simple wipe the boards off and start again, making them an excellent tool for beginning writers.  They are also fun because students get to use "the teacher" markers.

Here we are using information from our non-fiction texts about pets to gather and record information.



 Writing begins with pictures.

Students have enjoyed using whiteboards to conduct surveys of their friends.

Then students begin to understanding that letters are symbols that convey as message.  

Understanding that letters convey a message is an important step in writing.

 Here are students using whiteboard to explore shapes:

 

 

Ask your child to tell you what they are up to in these pictures and to identify some of the important places and faces from around the school.

 

 

The snow has been a welcome addition to the playground.  It has given students new opportunities to play and explore.

 

When it warmed up one day last week we posed this question to the class:



We rearranged tabled in front of the windows so students could record their ideas.

Students asked for help writing some of the words they needed to label their pictures so we made this chart. 

Here is what they came up with:

 

 



 

Welcome to our Pet Shop!

Thanks again to the generous contributions of our families our pet shop has been a busy place for students to explore during activity time.  Aside from the feeding and grooming, the Dramatic Play centre is providing opportunities for students to role play, as well as develop their social skills as they negotiate with their peers how to use the space and materials, take turns, and consider the opinions and needs of others.

 

Feeding Time!

Keeping our coats in good condition!

Putting on a collar for a walk.

 

Students make posters of the pets for sale.

 

 

Students show their creativity by making their owns props to use during play.  These puppies needed blankets, and then they had to be labelled so they wouldn't get mixed up.

Meet Goldie and Shimmer




Students are also using their pictures from home and their knowledge about pets to share their ideas.

"My fish just swims."

"Fish. Goldfish can swim."

"My pet dog loves me and I love him."

 

 

Journey into Space

 

Today we had a special visitor - the Ontario Planetarium.  Our class visited the mobile planetarium and learned all about the solar system.  Here's a peek!

 

Getting read to board the rocket

Our sky during the day



Getting dark



The night sky



How many stars can you count?

Looking for constellations



5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 Blast off!

 

Robot Puppy on a mission



Spotting a comet
 

 

 

 



One of our projects last week was to draw and write about an arrangement of greenery.  The goal in this activity is for students to practice drawing what they observe and use their writing skills to label their illustrations.  Labeling illustrations is a great starting point for students to begin experimenting with writing.

 

 

Students struggling with the order in which to dress and undress with their snowsuits.  We discussed as a group what order we should use when getting dressed for the outdoors and came up with this list.  A small group of students worked on making signs for each step during activity time.  When we gathered later as a group students had to put the signs in order and then we posted them in order by our cubbies for students to refer to when getting dressed. One of our Oral Language goals is for students to follow and provide multi-step directions, so we practice using the language first, next, last.  Here is an example, you can use it at home too!

Frist, we made a list as a class about how we should put on our outdoor clothes.

First, we made a list as a class of how to put on our outdoor clothes..

Then, a small group of students made signs for each step.

Next, students put the steps for dressing in proper sequence.

 

Last, we posted the sequence in proper order as a visual prompt when dressing.