What is a rekenrek?

 Rekenreks  are another way for your child to "see" numbers up to 20.  They are designed to help children see groups of 5 and 10 (benchmark numbers) quickly.   They can then see how many more they need to get to their next 5 or 10.  

Here is my large Rekenrek.  I use it for whole group instruction.   (It's amazing what you can do with pool noodles, pipe, and 90 degree connectors.) 

This is representing 18.  A child can quickly see 3 groups of 5 and 3 more,10 and 3 more, or even 10, 5, and 3 more. 

Here is what the children are able to use individuality.  ( pony beads, pipe cleaner, and tag board ) 

Reading stations

Chart station

They love reading their sight word poems and color song poems. This station helps them work on their word recognition and fluency. 

Computer Station 

I love Leap Frog's Letter Factory

Alliteration Station

The students are matching the picture to the letter /sound they hear in the beginning.  (They said "We rocked this"). 

Magnet Station 

Students are matching the beginning sound to the picture (they enjoyed this so much, I rotated it back in ) 

iPad Station

Thy love the iPads and I love that I can choose different games or levels depending on what each child needs. 

Write the Room Station 

Being able to walk around with a clip board makes all the kids feel "big".  

Rhyming station

They loved finding the match for their rhyming words. 

Sight word station

They have enjoyed this station so much I decided to keep it in for one more rotation. 

Spelling City

A colleague of mine told me about the website Spelling City.   Although we are not required to spell our sight words, I will add the first 12 list to the site.  I will also add some CVC (consonant vowel consonant) words with the sounds we have learned to this point.   I hope your children enjoy this fun game.  There is also an app you can download and the kids can play on your phone or tablet.  The User Name you will look up is - MrsElkins (no spaces)

http://www.spellingcity.com/MrsElkins/

Click on the link above

Decide which list you want your child to practice 

S-test ~is a spelling test

Teach ~ says the words and spells them for the students

Games ~ self explanatory 😊 HAVE FUN!!

50 Chart

I am loving doing these with the kids on Fridays.   I call out numbers , the position in place value of a number, or decompose a number and the kids locate the number in their chart.  Each number or numbers or certain colors, when the finish, the "mystery number" is revealed!  This is great for number sense.   Each picture goes with our Saxon Phonics Letter of the Week.  Last week we created a pencil (I forgot to get a picture) and this week we created an apple with a silly worm coming out of it.  We will do these for a couple more weeks and then hopefully move to a 100 chart!!!! 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/50-Frame-apple-869629

Busy Day!

Today we had Guidance with Mrs.  Hamilton.  The students learned about bullying and how to react when someone provokes you.  Mrs. Hamilton is amazing.  She is always there for our children. 

We also went to the Media Center Mrs. Robertson loves to read them a story and the Mrs. Shacklford helps the check out their book.   The kids look foward to this all week.  

Comparing and Contrasting

This week we read Winter's Tale.  The students love when we read "real" stories.  We discussed characters, settings, and events. 

Then we compared and contrasted Nubs and Winter's Tale. 

The students were able to choose their favorite story and illustrate and label the character and setting.  

I love the spelling of aquarium :)

This setting is the desert. :)

Look who came to school!

I cannot believe one of my students showed up to school in an Auburn jersey!   At least he brought me cookies to bribe me 😉. Then another student walked in with a Hiram Hornets jersey on!  What?!? We cheer for South Paulding in here!!! 

I took their "mug shot"... They look scared don't they? 😊