Thursday, March 11, 2010

Maybe we need some work on /i/ and /e/. . .

Yesterday I had a group of 1st graders. We have a part in their lesson to practice spelling with sounds we've learned, so sometimes we make a game of it on the white board. They love this! I had two students at the board racing to see who can spell the word correctly first and the loser picks who goes next. Here's a small part of our game -
Me: OK guys, your word is "tent"
Spacey Boy swiftly wrote "tit" and was so proud for finishing first!
Challenger got it right (thank goodness) and I quickly made sure no one was peering in the window to see what I was teaching!

Usually I have them sound out incorrectly spelled words so they can hear the difference, but I hurriedly moved along!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Art Museum

I went along with 2nd grade on a trip to a local art museum. We were divided into groups, so I was with 11 kids and a docent. She stopped in front of a picture of a covered wagon on a trail with snow tipped mountains in the distance. She asked the children what season they thought it was. In our part of Texas it hardly ever snows. So they saw snow and answered winter! The docent frowned and asked if there was snow on the grass - no. Well there's no snow on our green grass either. Last I checked it is still winter though! She told them the mountains her higher up and could have snow year round. So she asked again what season it looked like. Now the kids are confused! Finally someone guesses spring. She asks what else. Fall? OK, what else? Summer?? Puzzled looks were on every one's faces. She said, "The only season this could NOT be is winter!" Poor kids!
We continued walking and one girl excitedly pointed at another painting, saying, "Look! A pot bellied pig!!" The docent looked and replied, "No. That is a wild hog."
The docent brought us to another painting with four men in it. She asked what they noticed about the faces. One child said, "PIMPLES!!" I couldn't help it, I snorted! She asked for it!! Of course, the ever positive docent replied, "No. Those could be moles."
Thank you docent, for encouraging these young minds!