This post is sooo long overdue...but I am happy to report that I am well rested and ready to rock and roll in 2013!
I promise to get back on a more regular blogging schedule...and I hope you understand the need for a break...it was a wonderful time with family, friends, and the flu...(yuck is right...but better during break than when I have to miss time with your kids!!)
I want to journey back to the days before Winter Break...
As I'm sure you've heard by now, we had two Market Days the week before we left for break. This
was the culmination of our economics unit. About three to four weeks
ago, we began the ENTREPRENEURS unit...we had four companies in our
classroom. Each company perused the materials they were allowed to use
and then made up some proposals for different goods they could produce.
Each company chose one product and then was given a loan. Using the
money from their loan, they had to decide how many goods to produce, and
what type of advertising they would use. Once that data was collected,
they had to figure out at what price to sell their good so that they
could cover their costs AND make a profit. Once those plans were
approved, production began. The children had to specialize and
cooperate...when you have a classroom FULL of leaders, this can be a
challenge! They each had jobs that were important, so they got to see
interdependence in action! Once all production was complete, Mrs. Maenner's
class and our class got together to see any commercials that had
planned...and then each student was given a $5 debit card as their
salary for working in their companies. The companies split up and 1/2
were consumers on the first Market Day...the others were sellers. The
consumers got to shop in both classrooms and spend their money on the
goods produced. Some companies sold out...others did not. That
afternoon after shopping the companies got together to see what their
sales had been and to make a plan if they felt sales needed to be
increased. They had to decide how many more goods they would produce,
what it would cost, and whether any advertising needed to change. I was
SOOOO
impressed with the conversations. Tuesday and Wednesday the companies spent in
production. And then on Thursday the kids had their
second Market Day. The consumers became sellers and the sellers,
consumers. Overall...EVERY company in our classroom profited
enough to pay back their loan and come out on top! We had a great discussion about the differences in profits
and the reasons that such differences occur.
I thought the best way to share all of this information was in a video of pictures...their hard work and
committment to creating a marketable product can be viewed by checking out the post right above this post by clicking
on the words
"ENTREPRENEURS 2012"...
ENJOY!!
We began our poetry unit before Winter Break and are just wrapping it up...the kids wrote BEAUTIFUL Color Poems...they are just finishing the illustrations...
We started by reading the book Hailstones and Halibut Bones where the poet takes different colors and writes a poem about each one. The students brainstormed different colors they liked and words that create images related to those colors. They then chose the color they wanted to write their own poem about. WORD CHOICE was our next focus...creating "juicy" phrases about each item...turning blue into "smushed blueberries on a table" or green into a "twisted pipe cleaner"...each student was aware of their "poetic license" and composed their poem...paying special attention to purposeful punctuation, rhyme, or lack of rhyme, patterns, and WORD CHOICE/IMAGERY. The outcome is unbelievable!! I can't wait for you to read them!
As I'm sure you know by now, next Monday, your child has an assignment due. He/she is responsible for memorizing a poem and presenting it to the class. The presentation will be scored on expression, volume, pacing, clarity, and eye contact WITH THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE. If you have any questions about this assignment, please send me an email.
We ended a math unit right before Winter Break centered around multiplication and time...a test was given last week and I will have that back to your kids sometime this week. I'm sure you've seen the letter that came home on Friday...please refer to it if you have not. It explains that starting this week the kids will/may have either Ms. Maenner or myself for math. We will be regrouping regularly as we switch units, so where your child goes this week could change in a month. We got the kids together today to explain the changes...we will begin regrouping Wednesday. Again, if you have any questions, please email me.
Last week the kids took the mid-year Global Scholar test in Math. They will take the Language Arts portion next week. This test is given three times a year to record student progress.
We continue to utilize the COW in our classroom. Just this week we published the color poems on the laptops. The week before winter break, I introduced the kids to "Lemonade Stand", a game where they can use their entrepreneurial skills to make money at a lemonade stand. They have so many variables to consider when making decisions including the temperature and predicted precipitation!! This link is on the blog and is a wonderful activity for the kids that involves economics and math!
OK...I know this post is all over the place...but I just remembered a
few other things we did before break...we had a very fun
movie/PJ/blanket and pillow day...AND we had a great time with our
kindergarten buddies...they had been studying reindeer and we got to
join them for a reindeer party of sorts. The kids made reindeer cookies
together, made reindeer food, and watched a very small part of Rudolf
together...it was a great end to the week! Take a look...
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Well, I've rambled plenty for this update....I will write again this coming weekend. Until then, feel free to email me with any questions or concerns...I am continually impressed by your kids and LOVE coming to work every day. They make my job fun.
And check out the next post for the ENTREPRENEURS VIDEO!! You will love it!
