tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post369859821684130176..comments2024-02-17T01:36:06.347-08:00Comments on Learning and Sharing with Ms. Lirenman: Getting Rid of Traditional Calendar RoutinesK Lirenmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16058037226665551154noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-80833186598407610572012-01-30T19:39:50.811-08:002012-01-30T19:39:50.811-08:00Tracey, thanks for mentioning this blogpost on you...Tracey, thanks for mentioning this blogpost on your blog. Although it's only been a little over a week I have made a series effort to have math chat time every day. During that time I remind my students to put their mathematician hats on and to think like mathematicians. There math ability is there and it's nice for me to see it come to the surface again. <br /><br />In math right now we are working on mental math strategies such as adding doubles, or adding +1 or +2. They are really getting it too which is so wonderful to see.<br /><br />I wish you the best of luck on your math journey.K Lirenmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16058037226665551154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-53615633288749286092012-01-30T06:05:28.592-08:002012-01-30T06:05:28.592-08:00I had a similar epiphany a few weeks ago about cal...I had a similar epiphany a few weeks ago about calendar time. While I hadn't gotten to the point where I felt the lack of math chat, I have had that nagging suspicion that those kids who don't know the calendar routines after 93 days aren't going to grasp them without it either. Thank you for going the step further and helping me to see what I can add in place of calendar to foster this mathematical thinking. I'm revisiting this topic on my blog, and am linking your post as an inspiration to take the next step for my students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-5317585360116222592012-01-23T07:05:59.671-08:002012-01-23T07:05:59.671-08:00Thank you Nicole and Mardelle for you comments.
N...Thank you Nicole and Mardelle for you comments.<br /><br />Nicole my calendar has always been completely math focussed. I use it as a tool to teach math. My word work happens at a different time. I also think there is a big difference in the way you'd do calendar routines in K vs in grade one, after a year of great calendar in K. I also agree that one person doing everything can lead to bored children. I did try to have everyone involved by making it an interactive experience.<br /><br />Nicole the other interesting thing is that I certainly call my students scientist during our science discovering so it's strange that I haven't referred to them as mathematicians, until now.<br /><br />Mardelle you have mentioned a full year calendar before and i love the thinking behind that. While the numbers aren't always visible on our class calendar until the date arrives the events are still present so that we can see what's coming ahead.<br /><br />I'm not keen to assign my students jobs. I never have and more than likely never will. I try so hard to foster a community where by my students look out for and take care of one another. For example if a chair doesn't get stacked at the end of the day it's not uncommon for a classmate to do it just because. Assigning roles just doesn't sit well with me and my style of teaching. I do hear what you're getting at by having your crew talk about and change the required information on the calendar. I like that. Now that those jobs will be done alone by my special person of the day I'll have to make sure to remind them to ask a friend for help if they are having trouble. Or I'll have to remind my class that if they see something done incorrectly (or not done at all) to help the special person make it correct.<br /><br />Once again thank you both for your thought provoking comments.K Lirenmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16058037226665551154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-10008538168461248782012-01-23T06:09:19.394-08:002012-01-23T06:09:19.394-08:00I certainly agree with your calendar concerns. My...I certainly agree with your calendar concerns. My pet peeve is the mostly blank calendar with the days flipped till today's date, and then an empty calendar! It is a tool for seeing what is coming up. How does one do that when there are no dates to be seen? <br /><br />We have a Calendar Crew who work as a team for a week to set up calendar, and do morning "chores" while the Star writes a story to share with everyone. This is the first time I have used a team, and I do like it. They help each other figure out what needs to be moved, changed, added. We don't have the month up - as we use a year long calendar, and focus on a week instead of the month. Using the whole year encourages kids to see important dates that are coming up, and to see the concept of a year rather than the chanting of the names of months. <br /><br />Thanks for your post!Mardelle Sauerbornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269624228963152222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-8107636991137418502012-01-23T03:20:56.819-08:002012-01-23T03:20:56.819-08:00I love your thoughts on calendar routine. I'v...I love your thoughts on calendar routine. I've often wondered if it's a good use of our time but taking it away also seems like it would impede learning. I 'm not sure in K kids have a good concept of the calendar or time, is it something we do or do they truly understand it? I have several kids do different jobs during calendar time. I feel like more kids are engaged because more are involved. <br /><br />I use the 2nd half of calendar time for whole class word work. I'm positive this is a good use of time and have seen many benefits. <br /><br />Next year we transition to Common Core and calendar is no longer a part of our standards. I will need to reflect and see if it is still important to include.<br /><br />On another note, I too refer to my students as writers, authors and illustration but do not call them mathematicians...why? I have no idea. You really have me thinking about alot. Thanks for letting me comment with my ramblings :-)Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03216948224543402036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-59565033748344909452012-01-22T22:32:01.402-08:002012-01-22T22:32:01.402-08:00Yah, using many resources is great.
I found this ...Yah, using many resources is great. <br />I found this resource helpful because I could just pick and choose from it. It's easy to use and really added to our Math chats - lots of great math problem solving questions and, thus, lots of math language. I do not have the book. I left it at the school when I left NR. I can probably find the info for you though. It was on the recommended list and I'm sure it is still there. I'm not one to follow programs or books, but this one was good to pick and choose from.<br /><br />:-)<br />It's great to learn!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-18448262784057460792012-01-22T22:11:19.417-08:002012-01-22T22:11:19.417-08:00Okay blogger adds this great reply to a reply feat...Okay blogger adds this great reply to a reply feature but it only works when it feels like it. FRUSTRATING!!<br /><br />Anyhow Tia, this is the first year that I feel like I'm losing the math connection because I've split up my reading and writing blocks. I'm really happy with that change though because I no longer have issues with kids missing important lessons because they are out of the room for LST. But in the process I've gotten over zealous with our writing time and it's cut into our math time. Not good I know and calendar was being dropped infrequently at first, but completely since the new year. We used to do problem solving during our calendar time too. <br /><br />Do you still have that Daily Problem Solving for Grade 1 book? I'd be curious to see it. I'm not really one to follow a specific program though (i find I need a combination of several, including my own inventions, to meet the needs of ALL of my students) but I'm sure it would be filled with excellent ideas. <br /><br />Thanks for your comment too. It certainly is quite a learning journey that I'm on right now.K Lirenmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16058037226665551154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730514995199630178.post-17926429190389625812012-01-22T21:50:34.295-08:002012-01-22T21:50:34.295-08:00And THIS is one of the things that makes you such ...And THIS is one of the things that makes you such a great teacher, Karen - you are always reflecting and trying to improve on your practise. <br /><br />When I taught grade one, I often wondered about the real benefit of doing the routine calendar activities daily. One of the routine activities we always did after calendar, before a whole group story, was a problem solving activity. This was really great for building problem solving skills. I think I had a flip book called Daily Problem Solving for Grade 1. There is one for each grade. It is REALLY easy in the beginning, but gets better. I picked and chose what I used with the kids. Might be something to look into, if you don't already have it.<br /><br />It will be interesting to hear what others say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com