Adjectives

Adjectives

We are studying adjectives this week and my students are enjoying every bit of it more than I do. None of these ideas are my original. I am sharing my  favorite ways to teach adjectives using our curriculum and the anchor chart I have browsed from Pinterest.  

 Here is the anchor chart we use to fully grasp what Adjectives are. I find it very helpful for and my students. During our writing workshop, my students use the anchor chart to aid them in using adjectives. Such an awesome idea!

Adjective flashcards are also provided in our writing center. This is one of a very interesting idea for my students to reflect on different adjectives as they read and use the illustrations to fully understand the meaning of a particular adjective. I am amazed to hear them using these adjectives to express their feelings and ideas. A treat for my heart.

This is one of the many writing samples of my students. The task was to write sentences using adjectives. They just loved this one.

We get technology support as well. These pages were flashed on our interactive board.

And it won't be complete without having fun with Adjectives using this online game.

The best part was when they got to think of adjectives that describe about themselves. Not only they reflected on who really they are, but they found pleasure in writing and telling others who they are using the adjectives. I randomly asked the students of some adjectives that best describe them and wrote them on the board. Really exciting! One of my favorite was when of my girls wrote SEXI (sexy) as her adjective. You see the developing of invented spelling in there!!!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Doors

Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm glad I'm back! What a busy,busy week!  But hey... Christmas is almost here...what should we look forward to?!  We did a lot of fun things ...a lot of deadlines...a lot of assessing...and more next week too!  Let's skip serious stuff and get right to the FUN stuff! We have been decorating our doors and hallway. Oh, how I adore to get in my sight the creativity and unique ideas of the teachers that absolutely captures your mind.So here are the pixies for your heart's enjoyment as we all anticipate the celebration of Christmas.

Santa and this cool snowman wave to welcome you to our cool school

More snowmen for you while Santa is in his sled (Ms. Julie's)

Singing reindeer for you guys on the 2nd floor display board

Would you open this door to see what's inside? (Mr. Garrette's Class)

My favorite door. Kudos Ms. Charity!

What's under the Christmas tree Mr. June?

Chillin' here would be nice Ms. Emilie

The best way to warm yourself when the weather outside is freezin' you:)

Flying reindeer as you see

My glowing and colorful reindeer saying "Merry Christmas from me and Ms. Anh

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!The perfect gift of the season

(Ms. Susan I.)

Sweet treat for every boy and girl this Christmas. 

See Ms. Marithel:)

Brave Builders building their way up to the top of the Christmas Tree.

(Ms. Susan Li)

Santa? Is that you? (Ms. Rae's) 

Patterns

Children get fascinated on  patterns.  They're absolutely fun and engaging! Patterning is one of the many activities in my classroom that boost children's excitement and creativity. They think they are simply playing and having fun, but little do they know that the  activities are the essential building block in their understanding about numbers. We started by free exploration, making pretty designs with pattern blocks eventually leads to more complex skills.  Free exploration and making designs are just ways to provide that solid foundation that they need for higher skills later.

I admit it. My new favorite part in teaching is using anchor charts. It makes thinking visible. It's more effective to teach new concepts and the kids love learning by looking at the anchor chart as they can fully grasp what the teacher is talking about. The purpose of anchor chart are:

1. to build a culture of literacy in the classroom, as teachers and students make thinking  visible by recording content, strategies, processes, cues, and guidelines during the learning process.

2. Posting anchor charts keeps relevant and current learning accessible to students to remind them of prior learning and to enable them to make connections as new learning happens.

3. Students refer to the charts and use them as tools as they answer questions, expand ideas, or contribute to discussions and problem-solving in class

I love visiting pinterest and grab some ideas on anchor charts. It's amazing to see thousand of anchor charts available for all the teachers to see what other teachers around the world use in their classroom. It's like a ticket to get a classroom tour.I count this as a privilege.  

                                                     

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d2/0b/22/d20b221a27342ddf8e60bd5d018714a5.jpg

I enjoy watching my students  recognizing patterns in many different contexts. It is my objectives to let them  understand that blue...blue..green ...green is the same as orange...orange...red ...red  and is equally  the same as big...big...little...little.

I also teach my students that there are many ways to name our patterns. One way is by using the letters which is really popular such as A- B, A-B-B, A-A-B, A-A- B-B, A-B-C and so on.

Manipulatives such as  connecting cubes, counters, blocks, and other objects are provided to challenge them to create their own number patterns and have have them record on the  their math journals.  

                                

The best part of this patterning activity is to have the children make their bead bracelets and then let them name the pattern they used. 

Learning About Plants with National Geographic

A B C D E F Gee we had fun learning about plants using My National Geographic Connect.

This online curriculum  offers K-12 educators resources that align to and support the Common Core State Standards. 

As taken from the website: 

"National Geographic has a long history of providing high-quality informational texts suitable for primary, upper elementary, middle, and high school English language arts, social studies, and science classrooms. National Geographic’s Common Core collection brings together both free resources and resources for sale from National Geographic Education, National Geographic Kids, National Geographic magazine, National Geographic Kids Books, National Geographic Explorer, and National Geographic Learning. "

                            http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/ngs-common-core/?ar_a=1

National Geographic’s high-quality materials support the pedagogical shifts outlined by the Common Core State Standards, including:  

• balancing informational and literary text—students read a true balance of informational and literary texts
• knowledge in the disciplines—building knowledge about the world through text rather than the teacher or activities
• staircase of complexity—students do close readings of the central, grade-appropriate text around which instruction is centered
• text-based answers—students engage in rich and rigorous evidence-based conversations about text
• writing from sources—writing emphasizes use of evidence from sources to inform or make an argument
• academic vocabulary—students constantly build the transferable vocabulary they need to access grade-level complex texts

The month of September was dedicated to learn about Plants and Animals. The children are so into Science now knowing that all of them can be little scientists.

We are so privileged to use this big book with wonderful pictures which are so rich in colors and details. The book also has big ideas which are very essential. 

                                      .

 I brought different kinds of plants in the classroom and encouraged every student to look closer to the plants and share their observation.

They were told that cacti are spiky but hey, those little hands are unstoppable:)

                              Their teacher got her finger pricked. Ouch!

Leaves can be alike and different. We went outside and collected different leaves and had a 

 "Compare and Contrast" mini lesson. We discussed how leaves can be alike and different.

Plants have different parts. We discussed how each part takes its role for the plant to grow and survive.

Our tables were covered with dirt and leaves yet we didn't care. We just love how our hands and room get messy when learning invades our class.

You choose!