Apples, ice cream, ten frames (freebie!), and word walls!

What have we been up to this week so far???

LOTS and lots of good stuff....

We've started my 

 

(letters are from Just So Scrappy Too)

unit...and I just LOVE Fall...

Again, too bad I live in Florida - lol. It's really the only season I am TRULY jealous that other people have it.

Anyway, this is when I do the plant life cycle, seasons, and of course, 

(I LOVE the Steven Kellogg version!)

I've been using Alisha's math and literacy units..

My kids are having so much fun!

In small groups, they are reading a book from Reading A-Z

(Lori - see the computer center?? Spelling City! woo!)

After they have read it a few times with me and we've discussed it, I have them use their whisper phones to read it to themselves....

Check out how I did a 3-for-2 version HERE

And one of my kiddos took it upon himself to save some seeds from his apple that he got at lunch and he wanted to plant them...lol.

Good thing I had soil on hand, because you just never know. haha!

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In other news, I've had TWO students pass their addition fact quizzes!!

They are ready for their ice cream sundae party! 

I generally have our ice cream sundae party the first day of December (or the first day that we're in school in December).

So now they have moved on to their subtractions...I bet by Christmas, they'll be in the multiplication pack!

We've also been working on subtraction strategies....using ten frames...they're getting REALLY good at seeing these as visuals..

They used the double sided counters...and instead of taking them away, they just flipped them over.

It was neat to see all the different ways the students took away six (or whatever number they working on).

Here is what they did with just the ten frames (which are laminated) and a marker so they can practice how they could write them out on their own.

Need some ten frames??

Here you go- click the pics to get some frames!

I made just one ten frame on a page...

two on a page for working up to 20....

and then some with dots already on them....there are also blank ones that you can copy off and use like I did above there....

Also, I wanted to show you my new word wall words!!

aren't they so purrrty?!?!

I put my alphabet under my chalkboard this year instead of above it. That way it could act as both an alphabet AND a word wall!

After much seeking - I saw Lori's word wall (or rather she shared it with me) and I LOVED how the words were in configuration (the boxes). So that's how I did it too!!  I L.O.V.E it!

And I think I'm just sticking to sight words for this year.

A) my kids are SO low that they really need to focus on those

B) I lack space

C) this is my downfall - the word wall, so baby steps...baby steps.

BUT....

I thought, maybe to keep me accountable for making my word wall be used EVERY week in a center, I could do a "Word Wall Wednesday" post - what do you think??

Something you'd be interested in?

Anywhosit - time to go put the baby down..

OH!

HAVE to show you one of my new fave pics of B!

Kisses for mommy!!

P.s....I have something BIG "brewing" with some friends - can't wait to show you in a few days!