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Back to school!

Time to change the calendar

and talk about my math board!

   Loved January's pattern- star, cube, star, cone.  I use math vocabulary at every opportunity.  Added a present on my birthday.  The kiddos didn't mind. 

  On Thursday, I "randomly" choose a number.  The children represent it in math journals using tens and ones.  On Friday, we count to 120 using Thursday's number on a 120 chart.   I thought this was enough counting until I heard a little friend saying, "eleventy-one, eleventy-two."  So we added some extra counting during the week.
   The first 10 days of a new month, we count around our circle and back.  I'll ask, "If I say 8, what will (the person beside me) say?"  The teens give several kids trouble so I make sure our count includes them, but we also use larger numbers.  On the eleventh day and after, we use our calendar to count forward and back.
   On Monday, we use Thursday's number and figure out greater than/less than.  (I'll move 86, scoot 19 over and 74 up. Confusing?)  So proud that every child answered correctly last time!  These little routines only take a few minutes, the kids enjoy them and improve their number sense.

   We started reading aloud Little House on the Prairie this afternoon.  It's the February Classic selection at Reading to Know.  Love the precious little illustrations.  Chapter one has the little family leaving their home, moving across the country and crossing dangerous creeks.  Who knew I'd get so emotional?  Rereading as an adult and a mom makes a big difference.  We'll see what happens tomorrow!