School Rules!

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."

 ~ Fred Rogers

I love this quote and I believe it to be SO true! We can learn so much about what children know by listening to their conversations and engaging in play with them. Today I saw evidence of shape, letter, and number recognition, sorting, patterns, and addition. I also love overhearing such statements as "I'm using my imagination!" while a student is looking at a book. Some students were realizing that they can 'read' a book by reading the pictures. Yay! Students also saved yet another spider by returning him to nature and they created a bank, a McDonald's, a race track, and a restaurant during free choice centers. Busy Busy!

We read White Rabbits Colour Book by Alan Baker and Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh to build some background knowledge as we begin our first PWIM cycle. Students did some of their own writing and illustrating today, as well. We had our first go at journal writing! Students practiced writing the date and the word "School" and were asked to draw a picture of their favourite thing about school. We took another look at No David  and David Goes to School  to form a discussion about school rules. Then students did some great work brainstorming rules and they each got to make a page for our newest class book! Check it out:

In Science we did our Week 2 Observations of our pumpkins. We also tried to fill in an OWL chart, which tells what the students Observed (or already know about), Want to Know, and have Learnt about pumpkins. For math class, we continued to practice our sorting skills. Students are going beyond sorting by colour! We are ready to move on to patterns :)