Counting and Cardinality

One of the main clusters for pre-k students in the common core standards is counting and cardinality.  The student need to be able to counting to 10, recognize numbers 0-10, and build sets 0-10.  I have been working on these skills with them in many ways throughout the year.  Today I made a really fun and academically rigorous activity for my pre-k students that helps them to practice these standards.  I plan on incorporating it into my lessons next week.  I made lily pads that had 10 frames on them with the numbers 0-20 (I went past 10 because some of my students are ready for it).  Then I took a mini notepad with frogs on it and wrote the numbers 0-20 on them.  The students will count the dots on the lily pad and then match it to the correct frog with the number on it.  Below are some pictures I took before I laminated the materials.

Then as a follow up each students will draw a number and make a lily pad with that many dots on it.  In order to differentiate this activity I will give my working towards level students only numbers 0-10 and then my on level students I will give numbers 0-15 and my above level I will give numbers 0-20 to match.  When it comes time for the students to make the lily pad and put the set of dots on it I will have the working towards level pick numbers 1-5 and my on level pick numbers 6-10 and my above level pick numbers 11-20.   

Number Quilt

We read the book Cassie's Word Quilt.  There are a variety of follow up activities you could do to this book.  You could make a word quilt like the ones in the book in which students draw a picture of something and then wrote the word under it.  I wanted to go in a slightly different direction and have my students make a number quilt.  I have 15 students in my class so we did a number quilt 1-16 and I did one sample quilt square for the students to see.  I had some students absent so I did a few more to fill in the blank spaces.  Each student got a quilt with dotted numbers on them and I gave each child a number and had them trace and read the number and then count out a set of circle stickers and put them on the square and then decorate it.  I selected the squares for each small group starting with the lower numbers for my small group that is working towards level, numbers in the middle for my on level group, and the highest number for my above level group.  They all did a great job and really enjoyed the activity.  They have referred back to the number quilt bulletin board a few times and are very proud of their work.

More 1-10 QR codes

Recently I made some more QR codes for practice with numbers 1-10.  My kids love using these and are completely engaged in any activity we do with them.  Here is a link to my transportation themed QR codes.  I would suggest using a pocket chart or a magnetic board in which students match the QR codes to the numbers 1-10 after scanning and counting the images that appear.

Word Work with Names

I know Daily 5 is a big thing in classrooms grades 1 and up at the moment, but we even in pre-k we do some Daily 5 like things.  Recently I was at a PD lead by Linda Scott on literacy that left me inspired.  I hope to share several things I was inspired by over the next few weeks.  One of the things that was so quick and easy to incorporate was some word work you could do with names.  I immediately made a chart like the one we saw being used and then started using it in my classroom.  We are on our second day of using it and the kids LOVE it.  Below is the name chart...

As you can see the names are grouped by the first letter of the name.  This will be important.  I introduced the chart by pointing to each name and asking whose name it was and that child instantly lit up and said something like 'Me, that is my name it says ______".  Once we had done that we talked about the boxes and why were some boxes bigger than others and how did I decide where the box should be.  They quickly saw that all the names in the box began with the same letter.  Then I picked 1 student to come up and find their name.  I asked them what the word said (it is important that they realize their name is a word).  Then I asked them how many letters were in their name and they counted them.  Next I asked them what the first letter was, followed by what the last letter was.  Then they sat down and we all clapped how many parts (ie syllables)  there were to their name.  The kids love it, they are so excited to see who I will pick each day.  My goal is to do this with two students a day.  Today I added the question for Addyson, who has a name that begins with the same letter as your name.  She pointed to Allah but she wasn't sure what it said.  I said is there anyone who can read that word.  Allah's hand went up instantly and he proudly let everyone know it said Allah.  We listened closely to Addyson and Allah and noticed that we heard the same sound.  It is something so simple but it is making all the difference in my classroom and it only takes me about 5 minutes.  I hope this will help you as well. 

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss is such an inspiration. He wrote such wonderful books, from the simple and funny to get children interested in reading to the more complex but yet still funny books that keep them reading.  His birthday is March 2nd and this year due to snow days and delays we will be celebrating him tomorrow.  We will work on patterns by making Cat in the Hat hats that are red and white striped, we will work on counting by putting fish in a bowl after reading One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, we will write recipes after reading Green Eggs and Ham, we will also practice rhyming with a song and a game.  The song is one I learned from another educator but I took it and turned it into an interactive smart notebook file.  Students sing the song with you and then choose the word that rhymes.  Here is the link to the Dr. Seuss smart board song.The song is sung to Do your Ears Hang Low.  If the link doesn't work, or you are not a smart board type of person, below are the lyrics.....

Oh, Dr Seuss is a really silly guy
He likes to say things that rhyme all the time
If I said ______
Then he'd probably say _________
Oh, Dr Seuss

Have fun celebrating Dr. Seuss!