Kindergarten Kindergarten

Spring Break Blog Update

OK...so we all know I'm not the best at keeping my blog updated! But I am officially on Spring Break and have lots of time on my hands. So every day this week, I am going to update my blog with lots of fun, new things. I am also going to do a lot of spring blog cleaning--updating links, organizing my downloads, hopefully making the whole site a little easier to navigate. So check back everyday to see what's happening!

Shapes...Shapes....Shapes.... 3D!

My kids love 3-D shapes even more than they love 2-D shapes! They are super excited to learn everything they can about them, so that makes my job very easy. As always, hands-on exploration is essential in order for students to develop a solid understanding of 3-D shapes. So we play and explore a lot! 

I let the kids explore 3-D shapes by building, stacking, rolling, etc. Then, together, we create an achor chart. We describe the shapes using both formal and informal language (so the kids can build on their schema) and record the information on the chart. In the beginning, the kids will call spheres "circles" and cubes "squares," but they learn the correct names very quickly. Although I introduce the vocabulary--face, base, point, edge--I do not require my kids to memorize it. We're just building that foundation. We compare the 3-D shapes to their 2-D counterparts and talk a lot about the 2-D shapes we see in the 3-D versions.

Then we think of examples in real life--and this is where the real fun begins! I challenge the kids to go home and find as many examples of 3-D shapes as they can and bring them into school. We create a Kindergarten Shape Museum! We find a very special place in the room and add to the museum as the week progresses. We talk about the objects the kids bring in--What shape is it? How do you know? What do you see?

Here are just a few examples of objects that make their way into the museum...

And a few others that don't fit...mostly triangular prisms (which the kids mistakenly think are pyramids) and eggs (what shape are eggs, anyway? Google it...it will give you a headache!)

Here is one of my favorites from this year...the kids dubbed it a "Star-angular Prism"!

After a couple of weeks, all the shapes go back home. But the kids never stop looking for 3-D shapes. They point them out all year long! 

We also do 3-D shape recording sheets for our math journals. First, the kids write about the shapes. Some kids use formal mathematical language, and other kids use everyday language. It just depends on where they are in their understanding.

 

You can download these pages here: Download 3-D Shapes

And like so many other things, we compare and contrast different shapes--2D and 3D. Not only does this reinforce concepts and vocabulary, it really promotes critical thinking.

Finally...when all the kids are familiar with all the shapes, we can get down to some problem-solving.

So check back soon to see what we do!

Math Warm-Ups: 2 Dimensional Geometric Shapes

Kindergartners love shapes!

For most children, learning about shapes is one of their earliest learning experiences--their preschool years are filled with shape games, puzzles and sorting toys. Hence, they come to school with a great deal of background knowledge already. As kindergarten teachers, it is our job to build upon and extend that knowledge.

I really want my kids to explore and think about shapes in ways they never have before. So we spend time manipulating concrete models, and then we talk about them--a lot!

I'm not overly concerned that kids memorize facts about shapes and then regurgitate them on command. I have found that this happens naturally as we explore shapes through hands-on learning and problem-solving.

I'm not afraid to talk about/explore things that are beyond traditional kindergarten expectations--especially if the kids are the driving force behind it. I just try to frame it in a way that kindergartners will understand by connecting it to things they already know.

 I use math vocabulary and everyday language interchangeably. I want my students to have something to relate new knowledge to, but at the same time, I would like them to be exposed to formal math language. A great example of this is corners/vertices. Kindergartners know what corners are and can easily identify them on a shape--but the correct word (and the word they will be using as they move through school) is vertex. Although I may use this language, I don't expect my students to memorize it.

 

 Here is an anchor chart we created in my class this year. It took us several days to create. We talk about what the shapes look like, how many sides/corners they have and where we might see them in the real world.

I also have the kids fill out their own shape table and put it in their math journals for future reference:

Download Shape Table

Here is another anchor chart that my kids helped create (I'm trying to put up more kid-created and less store-bought reference materials. The kids have a greater connection to them, and they save me a lot of money!)

We spend a lot of time comparing shapes--How are they the same? How are they different? We generally do one of these charts per day (it only takes about five minutes and can usually be done at the beginning of math or during calendar).

We also do shape sorts. We usually do these whole group so we can talk about it. But you could also do them in math notebooks. I like to do a triangle/not triangle sort so that kids understand that triangles can look different--they can be long and skinny or short and fat--as long as they have 3 straight sides!

I also do a rectangle/square sort (even though a square is actually a rectangle!)

Here are a few other activities we do in my classroom to learn about shapes:

• We free explore with pattern blocks and other shape manipulatives. I talk to  the kids and ask lots of questions as they "play." I challenge them to create shapes from the pattern blocks.

• We look for shapes in the real world and record them in our math notebooks. We also make class books about shapes.

• We make shapes. One of the best ways for kids to understand the attributes of shapes is by creating shapes themselves. For example, they are going to need 3 popsicle sticks to make a triangle...or 2 short sides and 2 long sides to make a rectangle. We use popsicle sticks, geoboards and Wikki Stix. I also like to give them a piece of string tied in a loop to see what shapes they can make from it.

• We draw shapes. Again--when drawing shapes, kids really have to think about them. Will they need straight lines or curved lines? Are the sides all the same length or different lengths?

•  We use shapes to make pictures (we like robots!). I keep a good supply of die-cut and punched shapes in the art center for my kids to create masterpieces with. You can extencd this activity by having the kids record how many of each shape they used in a graph.

Download Shape Graph

 And, if you want to spend some money, here are some products I love:

 Learning Resources Shape Stencils

Mighty Mind  

(I love all their stuff!)

 Mighty Mind Tiles

 Mighty Minds Super Mind

 Next up-- Geometric Solids. Check back soon!

Math Problem-Solving Week 7: 2-Dimensional Geometric Shapes

Here is the first week of my Shapes Unit. These are just the problems--I do lots and lots of other activities to get the kids exploring and really thinking about the attributes of shapes. I will detail specific activities tomorrow in a warm-up post.

But for now, here are some problems!

This is a very hands-on unit. I provide my students with lots pattern blocks and other shape tiles so that they can explore and manipulate shapes in a very concrete manner.

Pattern Blocks

Square Color Tiles

Shape Magnets

 

Day 1

For this problem, I give each student a blackline master of a circle and some colored square tiles. I challenge them to fill the circle completely with the square tiles. They cannot overlap the tiles and they must cover the circle completely--no white spaces left. They will try and try and try--but despite their best efforts, they are unable to complete the challenge.

The most important part of this problem is the discussion that occurs during and afterwards. Why can't they fill the circle with the square tiles? They will inevitably come to the conclusion that they cannot fill the circle with squares because squares have straight edges and circles have a round edge.

I then challenge the students to use the square tiles to see what shapes they are able to make. They quickly discover that they can make different sizes of rectangles and squares. And they try and try to make triangles...and some think they actually do.

This leads to some more really good discussion...Can you make a triangle? Why or why not? Of course the answer is no--and the reasons are a little too complicated for kindergartners to understand (the angles of a triangle must equal 180 degrees and the angles of a square are 90 degrees, which means you could only have 2 angles and a triangle needs 3...and even my head is about to explode right now!) The purpose of this activity is for the kids to explore and wonder...they will start to see that the shape of a square's corners do not fit in a triangle's corners (unless it's a right triangle).

They are building a schema upon which they will add to in the coming years as they learn more and more about geometry!

Download Fill a Circle

Day 2 

This is another activity similar to Day 1. I provide the kids with a blackline master of a triangle and pattern blocks. I challenge them to fill the triangle. The same rules apply--you cannot overlap shapes and there can be no white spaces remaining.

I give them all the pattern blocks--even the orange squares and the skinny white parallelograms that won't fit. I let them try and try until they figure out that, because of the shape of the corners (the angles), they won't fit. Again--they are building that schema!

I give the kids paper pattern blocks and have them glue them into their math journals. I also have them fill out a chart with the number of each shape they used. For share time, we take a gallery walk around the room to see the different combinations of shapes the kids used.

 

Download Fill the Triangle

Download Fill the Triangle Table

Day 3

This activity is based on the Investigations Fill the Hexagon game. I give the students a blackline master with several hexagons on it and pattern blocks. I challenge them to fill the hexagons in as many different ways as they can. Again--I let them figure out that the orange square and skinny white parallelogram aren't going to fit.

 
This is a challenging activity, because the kids must find different ways to fill the hexagons. They get 2 or 3 quickly, but then they get stuck. It pushes them to really think!

For share time, we make a class chart that shows all the different ways the kids were able to fill the hexagons...

Download Fill a hexagon

Day 4

Here's a fun problem that the kids love. I actually hide 2 shapes in a basket and they get to guess what shapes they are. It is essential that kids have actual shapes to manipulate and count the sides when solving this problem. Most will not use an addition strategy at this point in the year...they will simply guess and check. They will choose 2 shapes and count the sides. If they do not equal 7, they will try again. It is interesting to see which kids will put both shapes back and start all over again from scratch, and which will keep one shape. Watch for the kids that figure out that they have too many or too few sides and choose their second shape accordingly.

(a rhombus, a triangle) Gotta love that kindergarten spelling!

When the kids have found a combination of shapes that equals 7 sides, I say, "That might be it...but it might not be. Can you find 2 more shapes that have 7 sides?"

I have the kids record their answers in their math journals. For share time, we make a class chart recording the different combinations of shapes that have 7 sides. This year, one of my kids figured out that "the triangle always stays the same." He has very good computational fluency, and figured out that it was going to have to be a combination of 3 and 4 sides, and that a triangle is the only shape that has 3 sides!

When we are all done, I open up the basket and reveal the shapes inside--the kids love to see whether or not they were right!

Day 5


So this is the same as yesterday's problem, but taking it a bit further--this time I do not tell them how many shapes I have--just that it's "some."  So there are even more possible combinations.

(a hexagon, a square) (a hexagon, a rectangle)

(I love the early attempt at writing equations!)


(square, hexagon) (hexagon, rhombus) (hexagon rectangle) (trapezoid, hexagon)   We still haven't mastered organization when recording at this point!

Again, during share time, we make a chart with the different combinations the kids thought of. During the big reveal, the kids discovered that I had included an oval, which added zero sides--they loved that!

Check back tomorrow for some 2-D Shape Warm-up activities!

Blog Hoppin' Teacher Week: Classroom Pictures

I'm not ready!!

 I cannot post pictures of my classroom yet, because...

1. Today was the first day of school and it looks like a small tornado hit.
2. Most of my shelves are completely empty. Seriously, this is how I start school. I don't put out anything until we have gone over the expectations for it.

Exhibit A: Art Center

 
Exhibit B: Writing Center

We learned about crayons. gluesticks and scissors today, so they are now in the table buckets. But we don't even have pencils, yet! (We have to learn about the sharp/not sharp bucket--tomorrow!) We will also do the whole dried out marker lesson, and then we will add those to the shelves, as well.

In a few weeks, the shelves will be full of paper, stamps, drippy glue, fun foam, watercolors, even glitter and a stapler! And the kids will be able to use them as they need/want. But the key is laying a strong foundation and going over expectations explicitly. That takes time--but it's worth it. The kids become extremely independent.

So, I promise I will get some good pictures of my room soon. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of my new Expedit shelves in the library:

 
And here's a link to last years pictures:

2010-2011 Classroom

I am exhausted and am off to bed now!

Sweet Dreams!

 PS...

I'm sure there are lots of finshed rooms over on the Blog Hoppin' Blog. Check it out! 

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Teaching Rules and Routines: More glue and markers...

I'm diabolical. Truly.

I got the brilliant idea to purposely leave the lids off a few markers and gluesticks and let them dry out.

 

Today, when we were making our No David! puppets, I innocently handed out the dried up gluesticks for the kids to use. They tried and tried, but those noses just kept falling off. A few kids caught on pretty quickly..."Ms. Warner--someone must have left the caps off these gluesticks and now they won't work anymore!" (Me, in response) Really? Well what should we do?

 

We agreed that I would give the tables all new gluesticks and they promised they would always put the caps back on so they would never dry out! Then I taught them the song--which, by the way, I wrote wrong on here a few weeks ago. It actually goes like this (to the tune of London Bridge):

 

Put the lid back on the glue, on the glue, on the glue...

Put the lid back on the glue, so it won't dry out! SNAP!

Tomorrow...same lesson with the markers! (I think the kids really get it now.)

By the way, another helpful hint...

 
Keep a collection of spare lids. Because no matter how great your lesson is, lids are still gonna get lost! 

Teaching Rules and Routines: Taking Care of Books

I'm really excited about my latest project. I worked on it all day Sunday, even though I had loads of laundry and lesson planning to do! But it was worth it. I made a book to teach kids the right and wrong ways to handle books.

This is not my idea. There is a famous book out there called Mr. Wiggle. Several teachers at my school have copies made from laminated construction paper with a cute little bear. I even think there is an actual published book out there, but it seems that it's out of print, and used copies are running $80 and up (yikes!). Anyway, making this book has been on my to-do list for years. So when I finally got around to doing it, I decided to update it a bit.

So here it is:

 
Just like in Mr. Wiggle, someone has been very naughty with this book and the forest friends are very sad! (Cheesy, huh?!)

Here someone scribbled with markers and crayons... 

Here somebody drew a picture with a pencil... 

Here somebody got mud on the page... 

Here someone got juice and chocolate on the page... 

Here someone glued on paper and stuck on stickers. And yes, that says snail when it's actually a caterpillar. I fixed it. (Thanks, Anh!)

And here somebody ripped a page... 

But now all of the forest friends are happy again, because they know the kids are going to take good care of the books in their class (awww....) 

When I'm done reading this book, we will make a T-chart of good/bad choices when it comes to handling books. Here it is, all ready for tomorrow. 

I'm also going to make a bookmark that the kids can take home to remind them of how to properly care for books (I'll post it when I'm done). 

You can download Forest Friends here:

Download Forest Friends

I printed mine on cardstock and had it bound at Office Max for just a few dollars. You will have to do the scribbling and ripping yourself (it's kind of cathartic, although my friends inform me that I am not a very realistic scribbler). I used red watercolor for the juice and let it drip. I used brown tempera paint for the mud and chocolate.

I'm sure we will still have a few torn pages here and there, but I think the kids will be more invested in taking care of our library. 

Have fun scribbling! 

To All My New Teacher Friends...

I'm continuing to participate in Teacher Week over at the new Blog Hoppin' Blog. Today is Teacher Talk: Advice for New Teachers.

So--to all my new teacher friends:

We were all in your shoes once...anxiously preparing for our very first day in our very own classroom...filled with a mixture of giddy excitement and pure terror. Shoot--I've been doing this for a decade now, and here I am the night before school starts and I still have butterflies in my stomach. (Really huge, possibly extra-terrestrial butterflies).

Did I remember everything? Do I have enough planned? Do I have too much planned? Will the kids like me? Will they listen to me? The best advice that I can give you is to take a deep breath and have courage. Everything will be OK.

Remember...

• Take time these first few weeks to teach the kids your expectations for every single routine you can think of. Be explicit--do not make any assumptions! It will feel like you are not teaching any academics at all, but the investment now will pay off in spades, later!
• Take time to really get to know your kids. Talk with them (not just at them) everyday. These days, we get so caught up in rigor and academic achievement and high expectations, we sometimes overlook how smart and funny and kind our kids are.
• Don't beat yourself up. You're going to have bad moments. You're going to have bad days. You're going to plan out the perfect lesson and it will all fall apart--possibly at the exact moment that your principal decides to do a walk-through. It gets easier--I promise.
• Take time for yourself. I know you're excited, and there's nothing I can say to keep you from spending ridiculous amounts of time in your classroom or from bringing home huge tote bags full of work. Trust me--there will always be just one more thing to do. So step away from the teacher stuff and go see a movie, or get a pedicure, or reconnect with some non-teacher friends (and you are not allowed to talk about school!)
• HAVE FUN!!!

 

I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs--I Have Confidence from The Sound of Music. Please--7 children. Maria, honey, you've got nothing on us. We can handle 20+ kids from all different backgrounds and of all different ability levels. We can tie a shoe and wipe a nose and band-aid a scraped knee all while teaching a differentiated lesson on the five senses! (OK--so maybe we don't have Nazi's--but we're still pretty amazing!)

 

Have a great year!

And be sure to check out the great advice of other teachers over at Blog Hoppin:

 

Meet the Teacher (That's me!)

Hello!

  

I've decided to participate in Teacher Week over at the new blog Blog Hoppin' (started by Babbling Abby, Deanna Jump and many other great bloggers.) Day 1 is Meet the Teacher Monday--so here goes!

My name is Kathryn and I have been teaching for 10 years now (and I can't believe it...it seems like YESTERDAY when I started). I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl and I forced my younger brother to sit and play "school" with me. (My mother always said that's why school was never his favorite thing--he had already been to school for years before he ever started kindergarten. And I think I was a really mean teacher!)

 

I am still single and do not have kids of my own, but I have a very spoiled dog named Calvin. He does not enjoy back-to-school because I often forget to do things like, you know, feed him! So maybe it's a good thing I don't have kids!

When I'm not teaching, I love to be crafty--especially art journaling and paper crafting. And jewelry making and sewing (well, OK, I'm still working on that last one!) I'm getting ready to buy a new, fancy camera and am going to learn how to take decent pictures--so there's something to look forward to...no more iPhone pics!

I love to read--especially "Chick Lit." And I love movies--especially romantic comedies. I'm a sucker for a happy ending! I also think I've seen just about every Jane Austen/Charles Dickens/Henry James adaptation out there.

I'm addicted to reality TV--Project Runway, Top Chef, Survivor...

I love to travel and am planning a big trip to Europe next summer. I can't wait!

 

I spend way too much time on the computer--reading blogs and on Pinterest! And I may have a slight addiction to Diet Coke.

That's about it!     

School starts tomorrow for me--so I'd better run. But I do have something very special to share later today--(I worked on it all day yesterday!) So check back later!

 

Setting up my classroom...

I'm in my classroom today. I'm trying some new things--we'll see how it goes. I got some new Expedit shelves from Ikea--they make me happy. Here's my progress so far (pics from my iPhone...sorry). I'll post some good pictures when I'm all done.

 

 
Here's my big project. See that mess--those are my paper files. I'm going through them, purging most of it, and making electronic versions of what I can. My goal is to get down to a quarter or less of what you see.  So I'd better get busy. Have fun in your own classrooms!