In Pictures and In Words Chapter 7

In Pictures and In Words Book Study Chapter 7

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Wow!  This book is very thought provoking.  It really makes you think about how much more you can be teaching when reading a story.  I spend so much of my class discussion time on story elements, and how did the character feel and when did you ever feel like that?  I never take the time to think about how or why the illustrator makes the decisions he/she makes.  Why or why not the illustrator may or may not have details.  Those are the questions the Katie Wood Ray wants you to engage your students in and build their vocabulary as well.   When you do this it will influence your students’ illustrations and help develop their decision making skills.

Illustrators make many decisions about the “content of an illustration. “  When we take the time to engage our little ones in discussions and instruction  about illustrations they will become purposeful independent decision makers.  That sounds good to me!

Katie Wood Ray has 11 Techniques in this chapter.  Normally I would just skip by and generalize these but I really feel each of these are important.  So I am going to type them out for you and for me so I can come back to this and reread later in the year.  The book suggestions are mine.  They are books I know I have that I can use to teach that technique. 

Technique 1    Distance Perspective

Every illustration has some perspective lead the discussions by talking about zooming in or zooming away.  What is the focal point? 

I want to share the first page of the story when the egg is very little.  

Technique 2   Positioning Perspective

How are the objects positioned……are the views from the front, the back, the side, above, or below.

Have your little ones talk about the angles that the illustrators want them to see.

The illustrator shows the owls from many different angels throughout the story.  

Technique 3  The Background

Does the background have lots of details, no details, or just a little bit?  How does the background relate to the central image?

The book is great because Harold is drawing the background as the story unfolds.  

I like this book because the illustrations are beautiful and the trees are gorgeous for each season.  Great details. 

Technique 4  Two Sides of Physical Space

The illustration shows two sides of the same story at the same time. 

This book book is a favorite of mine.  The illustrations are beautiful.  The story is adorable.  The top story is about Granny getting ready for Easter and the bottom story is about the Bunny Family.  

Technique 5  Using Scenes to Show Different Actions

The illustrator using small separate scenes to show different actions.

I plan on sharing the pages of the hen making the pizza.  

Technique 6  Using Scenes to Capture the Passage of Time

The illustrator uses scenes to capture what happens over time. 

This book not only deals with the time literally but also size as well.  

Technique 7

Using Scenes to Show Movement Through Different Places

Technique 8  Small separate scene may work like a list, showing lots of different details but unconnected by any background.

The illustrator has the list of items that the little girl takes with her places and of course her bear. 

Technique 9    Showing, Not Telling

The text in general but the illustration has a lot more details in it. 

Funny story you will definitely have to help guide the children through the illustrations to discuss the story. 

Technique 10   A Backstory

The illustrations may have characters or actions that are not mentioned in the words.

In this story you have to watch the borders to see that Mattie is making the gingerbread house to catch the gingerbread baby. 

Technique 11  Manipulating Point of View

Adding humor in the illustration with irony and contradictions. 

I thought of the part when the author write about mouse having to cut his hair........and then there is hair everywhere......even though mouse only had one piece of hair.  

Guided Math Chapter 5

Guided Math Book Study

Chapter 5   Small Groups

 I will linked up this chapter with other blogs at

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How do I think I can adapt Guided Math into my kindergarten classroom?  That is what I have been pondering for two nights.

Let’s start with what I already know and have in place that will help me.  I already have established Guided Reading in my classroom so I already have a teacher space set up.

 

My math supplies are already easily assessable and organized for my students to get to them and put them away on their own.  I have a lot of manipulatives to work with.

I already have a great mind set and truly believe that small group instruction is best for my students.  I want to spend time working with all my students and I want to meet my little ones at their instructional levels during small groups.  I agree with Lammons that small groups encourage young children to focus their attention and participate more thereby improving student behavior. 

So how do I see this working in my classroom with 25 students?

I like to work with four flexible groups.  Each group will depend on the concept being taught and teacher observations.  I would like to see all four groups as much as possible.

1.      Teacher Group-Introduce New Concepts

2.    .  Teacher Aid Station-Review Concepts

3.    Independent Work.  – Students work on their own work.

4.    .  Math Stations/ I Pad

I envision my stations about 15 to 20 minutes.  If we do not finish, then we pick up there tomorrow.  So that way it will allow me to double check on all the groups.

My math groups will be different from my reading groups so they will have their own names, maybe something to do with math vocabulary.  How my groups develop from there will depend on my little ones. 

I would like my students who are working on math stations to be as independent as possible this was a problem for me last year.  My students always seemed so needy, they needed constant reassurance and feedback. 

Last year I thought I organized, set up, explained, demonstrated, modeled the stations, however many of my students needed constant help.   I made “I Can” Charts but they just ignored them. 

So this new school year I want to make several changes to my math groups:

1.      I want to spend more time teaching about procedures.  I read some neat ideas on the Daily 5 book studies that I would like to add to my classroom using music as a clue. Does anyone know good upbeat songs to use for clean up and changing centers?

2.    Right Now I have my math stations organized in these buckets.  The buckets are always disorganized and cause lots of confusion. 

I want to switch to a simpler, cleaner, looking system. I saved this idea from Pinterest

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3.    Set Up a System for Trouble Shooting

·      Did you give it a try?

·      Did you ask a friend for help?

·      Put it in the Help Pocket

·      Try a new Activity

·      I could use some advice here!!!!!  What are your steps so your little ones do not interrupt your group time but still get their questions answered?

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4.  I want to have some differentiating activities.  I read  at The Differentiated Kindergarten how she has different activities based on what level is a good fit for each student. 

Green = Good for Everyone

Yellow = I’m ready for a little bit of a challenge

Red = Really Needed More of a Challenge

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What a great way to meet the different needs of all the children in your classroom.  

Although this chapter gave me a lot to think about I love the comparison that the author makes that for the same reasons you teach Guided Reading so should you teach Guided Math. 

If you have time please take a moment to Vote for me:

Thank You :)

Literacy Activity

Story Elements Sequence Cards

One of my goals this summer is to update some of my old materials.  My story cards fall under this category.  I use them all the time.  I made them ten years ago after a kindergarten workshop.   Two years I cut apart one of my sets of cards and put them in the dice that you can change.  My little ones loved it.

So I gave my story cards a Makeover. 

I use these cards in lots of different ways.  I have several sets. 

One set of cards is in the dice and I can change the cards around depending on what elements I want to focus on. 

I also have just a set of cards and sometimes I change it up by mixing them up in a mystery bag. 

I also have a set on popsicle sticks my little ones can pick a stick.

I like to let the star student choose which game we play:

• ·     The dice game
• ·     Cards
• ·     Grab Bag
• ·     Pop Up

No matter what game my little ones pick we are still practicing the same story elements. 

If you would like a copy of Click Here!    Enjoy :)

Working with What I Have

Job Chart

Every kindergarten class needs a job chart.  Well my chart was looking a bit……sad, sorry, lame, unloved! 

However I love the bear and I love that I can redecorate  the window during the different seasons. 

So I decided to give my Job Chart a Makeover.

Of course I went to my graphics folder to see what I had for this project.  KPM Doodles came through again, Kristen has these wonderful classroom helpers.

So I did a little work and combined them with a font and a box and put them together to makeover my chart.

I will print out a second copy at school as well because I like to tape my job helpers to my classroom floor where my little ones line up.  That way we know who will be helping us as we leave the room.  Bonus...... there is no pushing at the front or back of the line because everyone there has a job.

If you would like a free copy of my job chart labels go here.  Remember to say thank you by providing some feedback. :)

Please  vote this week.  It is a bit tricky  you have to go to the comment section and then hover over the +1.    Look for The Very Busy Kindergarten  towards the bottom.  

Guided Math Chapter 4 Book Study

This week the party is at 

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This chapter is a little bit harder to write about.  The assignment is to think back about how you teach math in your classroom.  How much of the instruction is whole class?  Why do you choose that instructional method? 

When it comes to math I do teach a lot of whole group math instruction for a couple of reasons:  1.  That is what I know and have done for years.  2.  Time   3.  I can address most of the children at one time….fast because we are all doing the same thing.   4.  I generally do not have a helper at this time as well.

However, this past year I started to do Math Stations after reading Debbie Diller’s book, and boy did I struggle putting together all the stations.  Even more than that making sure that all the children completed all the stations.  I had a very social class that wanted to spend all their work time socializing. 

So where do I go from here….I know in my heart that  whole group is not effective with my little ones.  Sammons reminds us that most of our students are not at the same level in math, only part of our class pays attention in whole group and children get so distracted and off task during whole group. 

Why do I even think I can teach whole group?

Just like in reader’s workshop and writer’s workshop we present a mini lesson, we should do the same in math.  We should also structure it the same as well. 

First of all set a 10 minute time limit.  Don’t forget to make a connection to the lesson the day before.  Provide some sort of quick demonstration and then quickly get the children actively involved.  Then send them off to complete their work. 

Sammons writes we should use the same strategies that we use throughout other areas in math to get children interested and engaged in the lessons:

·      Kwl charts

·      Inquiring questions

·      Word splashes

·      Children’s Literature (My Favorite)

·      Math games

·      songs

Don’t forget at the end of your math time to provide a “Math Huddle” where children can talk about what they are learning.  Sammons has two excellent points:

“This general review helps teachers discover students who may need additional help” and “Students who reflect on what they do and communicate with others about it are in the best position to build useful connections in math.”

I don’t know about you but I know I need to be more proficient at teaching Math in small groups.

Vote Here Starting June 25

If you time, starting tomorrow is the voting for the blog awards.  I was nominated along with a lot of wonderful kindergarten blogs.  I am honored to even be mentioned with these other blogs.  Thank you for the nomination.  Please take the time to vote.  Here is the link, voting begins June 25^th.  

My Sixth Sense

Everyone teaches the five senses however I have a sixth sense: order

If you know me you are probably laughing right know because you know I like things to be organized.  I truly believe this quote from Sarah Ban Breathnach book, Simple Abundance,

"No Woman can think clearly surrounded by clutter, chaos, and confusion, no matter who is responsible for it."

Right......you know what I mean trying to teach 25 kindergarteners.

My Teacher Box

I read about the idea at the end of last year and I tried to find the original idea for you to link it up but I could not find it anywhere. :( sorry.  However this is my version of a teacher box.  My teacher box contains all my important information. What I like about it most is that I can take it home anytime I want and work on things.

I just cleaned it out and reorganized it to get ready for next year.   

I have several main categories organized by tabs:

{class information}

{organization}

{forms}

{field trips}

{staff information}

{professional development}

{grading}

{sub information}

Inside each of the main categories are individual file folders and a couple 1 inch binders and notebooks.  I also use pocket file folders for forms.

{class information}

assessment chart

class checklist

class  information binder

(I use pocket dividers.)

·      Class list

·      Schedule

·      Year outline/events/calendar

·      Reading buddies

·      Birthdays /addresses/phone numbers hard copy

·      Emergency phone tree

·      Volunteer sign up sheet (originals)

·      Field student information

{organization}

·      Book order folder

·      Student labels

·      Ordering info

·      Guided reading resource book

{forms}

·      writing rubric

·      pattern block shapes backlines

·      birthday book pages originals

·      school behavior slips

·      recess slips

·      uniform policy

{field trips}

·      green meadows farm

·      fire prevention

·      art museum

·      dental awareness

·      first stage

·      discovery world

·      penguin program

{staff information}

·      notebook of technology information

(I write down info every time somebody teaches me something new on the computer so I can reference it later.  And Passwords and Usernames)

·      primary information teacher committees

·      SPA (School Accreditation Information)

·      Specialty Schedules

{professional development}

·      PDP

·      Religious ED.

·      Employment Info

{grading}

·      Webgrader info

·      Copies of report cards

·      Speech guidelines

{sub information}

·      Class schedule

·      Volunteer schedule

·      Daycare schedule

·      How to use the smartboard

·      Passwords

·      Typical Daily Schedule/procedures

·      Fire Drill and Tornado Drill Info

·      Behavior Expectations

·      Medical Alerts

·      Class List

·      Extra Activities to do in Kindergarten

·      Extra Worksheets

Life is good when I am organized!