Ms. Dingman's Multi-Age Classroom
Back Row: Ms. Lisa, Kaelynn, Shiho, Jueri, Arisa, Noan
Middle Row: Rikuto, Cheska, Leo
Front Row: Yota, Kouga
Welcome to our multiage classroom!
We are excited to share what we are doing in our class with you. This year we will be going around the world in 180 days exploring different continents, countries, and cultures in Social Studies. As a part of our exploration, we will be participating in pen pal letter exchanges throughout the year with our new friends in the United States.
We are excited to share what we are doing in our class with you. This year we will be going around the world in 180 days exploring different continents, countries, and cultures in Social Studies. As a part of our exploration, we will be participating in pen pal letter exchanges throughout the year with our new friends in the United States.
Pen Pal letters to our friends in Galeton, Pennsylvania!
We have written back to our Pen Pals from America and are anxiously waiting to get more letters from them. We are looking forward to sharing more of the Okinawan culture with them while we also continue to learn more about them. This has also been a fun way to practice and improve our writing.
Valentine's Day Post Office
This year our class ran the Valentine's Day post office. Each classroom had their own mailing address and all the students had their own individual mailboxes which were placed outside their classroom. Students labeled their valentines with the name of the addressee and their classroom address. All classes participated from preschool up to high school. Students dropped off their valentines into the large mailbox in front of the office. Then we picked up the valentines and sorted them by their address. After all were sorted we went and delivered the valentines directly into each student's individual mailbox. Our class took their job as Valentine's Day postal workers very seriously. We did not want anyone to miss any of their valentines! This was extremely fun and exciting for all of us. We can hardly wait until next time!
Journey to Africa!
We have been exploring Africa! Our first stop was the Savanna region. The Desert and Rainforest will be our next two stops. We are learning about the land, animals, people, and homes in these different regions of Africa. Students have been enjoying doing their own research completing their Journey to Africa Journal. We have also enjoyed looking at photographs, reading African folktales, and playing games about Africa online. Our African masks that we have been making are almost done and we are still having lots of fun practicing our Swahili! Jambo!
We Love to Read!
Reading is an important part of our day. Everyday we spend time reading aloud together, reading in small leveled groups while learning new strategies, and in self-selected reading time. Currently, our featured author is Ezra Jack Keats. We are looking forward to reading more books featuring Peter, the little boy we were first introduced to in The Snowy Day. Other books by Ezra Jack Keats include Whistle for Willie and Goggles!
Guided Reading Groups
Everyday we meet in leveled reading groups for guided reading. Students are placed into groups based on quarterly tests. In our groups we practice different reading strategies that we have learned during the whole group mini lesson.
Working Independently!
During guided reading time students who are not meeting in the reading group are working independently practicing a reading strategy or skill. We have been practicing summarizing using a flip book and reading in pairs for fluency.
Self-Selected Reading
During self-selected reading time students get to choose the books they want to read. Students may sit anywhere in the room to read. The only requirement is to try and choose books they are interested in that are at a level that is just right for them.
Enjoying Everyday Mathematics!
|
|
Whole-Number Operations and Number Stories
In our current unit we have been using manipulatives, mental arithmetic, and paper and pencil algorithms to solve 2-digit addition and subtraction problems. We have also been creating arrays to solve multiplication and division problems.
3-D Shapes from Home!
In our Geometry unit we studied 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional shapes. We focused on observing similarities and differences among 3-dimensional shapes and developing classification skills. Students brought in objects from home to represent some 3-D shapes. They sorted the objects into categories and labeled them. Other areas of focus for this unit are developing the concepts of point and line segment, identifying, naming, and classifying polygons, and exploring symmetry.