I've been thinking a lot about how to make calendar time a good learning experience that is new and challenging but follows a routine so my kiddos can get familiar with the concepts.
My goal is to add something new to calendar once a month - whether it's a new routine, poster, chance for them to interact, etc. Something that I (and hopefully them) can be excited about!
Here's what it looks like now. I switched my Calendar to my whiteboard - and love it. It give me so much flexibility with writing on the board, using magnets, moving things, etc.
I saw this idea on Pinterest - and wanted to add it ASAP!
The base 10 blocks have helped with our test prep and number sense in general. I pick a card to go on the left and they determine the number that will "balance" it out. The cards on the bottom right are just to help them remember the values. Want these cards? Grab them here!
The number line changes everyday - they love coming up and adding the numbers to the line.
We do a pattern of the week too - Monday is reading/completing the pattern, Tuesday is extending the pattern, Wednesday is naming the pattern (AAB, ABB, etc.), Thursday is creating a new pattern with the same name. We do all of this on the white board - fabulous!!! Grab your pattern cards from Lory Evans!
We are working on ordinal numbers and positional words in calendar this quarter. We do two of the bear cards per day - the kiddos do a great job describing the bear (and then some lol!). Teddy Bear cards here!
For ordinal numbers I put up 5 student pictures and have my kids answer questions (Who is 5th? What color shirt is the 3rd person wearing?). I just did this today and they were excited to see their pictures.
Lastly we have a number of the day - where we write the number that comes before and the number that comes after.
Whewww. That's a lot when you type it all out! What do you do to keep calendar fresh and new? What great ideas can you share?!?
8 comments:
The balance with tens and ones is awesome! And exactly I'm needing! Thanks =). I feel the same way you do about calendar sometimes! Thanks for the great ideas!
This is awesome! My calendar time has gotten so predictable and boring. My kids are bored and their behavior has shown me. Now I have some great ideas to switch things up! Can't wait to implement at the beginning of February!!! Thanks so much!!
oooh, you've given me some great ideas!! thanks!
I am so glad to know that it is not just me that needs to "jazz" up calendar time. I love all your ideas and will be "snatching" them! Thanks for all your creativeness and willingness to share!
I need to revamp my calendar time, too! Thanks for the ideas :)
A Cupcake for the Teacher
You are so fab. Loving these great ideas! Printing it out now!! :)
Thanks for all the great ideas!!! I too find myself getting stuck in that calendar rut! I keep trying new things, but haven't found that one thing I love yet. I have changed how I teach calendar each year, and even throughout the year. I bought the themed calendar numbers for each month last year and started adding them over the existing numbers to make a pattern. For example to make an ABAB pattern #1=apple #2=book #3=apple, etc. As the year progresses I change to more difficult patterns. I have a calendar helper who is responsible for completing the pattern for the day as part of their morning duty and we review the pattern during calendar time. They seem to like the change in pictures and pattern each month.
Where did you get your day card calendar inserts? I really like them!
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