We had such a festive week! We saw a Christmas play, we performed in the holiday show, drank hot chocolate, decorated gingerbread houses, had a wonderful holiday lunch, and watched Elf on a Shelf! Oh, and we celebrated my 50th birthday together!
Please enjoy highlights from this week!
Centers/ Choice Time
Mazes…
Minecraft Blocks…
Origami…
Hidden Pictures…
King Midas and the Golden Touch Reader’s Theater by Ms. Lisa’s Class
Fieldtrip- A Christmas Carol
Ms. Melissa’s 50th Birthday
Holiday Show…
Making Gingerbread Houses…
Hot Chocolate…
Have a wonderful holiday break! See you in 2026! 🙂
Good evening, families and friends! We had a super fun week together! Here is what we’ve been up to this week in room 120!
Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Program-
This week we began the Heggerty Reading Program, which is a structured, teacher-led program designed to build phonological and phonemic awareness–the sound-based skills that form the foundation for reading. Heggerty is a daily, oral-language curriculum used in pre-K through 2nd grade. It focuses oh helping children hear, identify, and manupulate sounds in words–skills that strongly predict reading success. It builds the listening and speaking skills that make phonics easier to learn. Because phonemic awareness is a strong predictor of reading success, the program benefits all learners.
This program will be taught alongside all of the other reading experiences during the day.
Guest Reader-
Preparing Parent Holiday Gifts…
Recess in the Snow!
Mindset Mathematics…
Big Idea 7: Rulers and Clocks and Number Lines: Noticing the Ruler and Clock
This lesson helps students see rulers, clocks, and number lines as visual models of numbers–not just tools for measuring or telling time.
What students are supposed to “notice”…
1)Lines of equal spacing represent units
2)Numbers are positions, not labels
3)Units can be broken into smaller equal parts
4)Movement along rulers and clocks represents addition and subtraction
5)Rulers and clocks help visualize continuous quantities
Hello, families and friends! What a joyful and productive week we’ve had in room 120! Our students have been working incredibly hard practicing their song and dance for the upcoming holiday show–I can’t wait for you to see their enthusiasm shine on stage! We also enjoyed a special visit from our librarian friend, Ms. Stephanie, from the public library. She shared a fabulous story that sparked lots of smiles and curiosity. In addition, Ms. Georgia stopped by to teach us some new and exciting math games that had everyone thinking, laughing, and learning together.
And to top it all off, we wrapped up the week with some festive fun at the wonderful Holiday Shop!
Plato’s Holiday Shop…
Math Games…
Playing math games in early childhood is important because it helps children build strong foundational skills in a way that feels fun, natural, and low pressure. Here are the key reasons…
Builds fluency with basic facts- Games give students repeated practice with addition, subtraction, place value, and number sense. This repetition helps them become quicker and more confident-without the boredom of drills.
Strengthens number sense- Math games encourage students to compare quantities, think flexibly about numbers, recognize patterns, and try different strategies.
Supports problem-solving and critical thinking- Many games require planning, predicting outcomes, and adjusting strategies. This builds logical thinking and perseverance.
Boosts confidence and math anxiety-Because games feel safe and playful, students are more willing to take risks, make mistakes, and try again.
Encourages social skills and collaboration- Playing together helps students learn to take turns, communicate their thinking, and explain strategies–skills that strengthen mathematical reasoning.
Provides teachers with informal assessment- While students play, teachers can observe their strategies and misconceptions in real time.
Guess My Number…
20-20
Four in a Row…
Snowy Day Fun!
Math with Ms. Georgia…
Ms. Georgia DeClark comes in to our classroom every few weeks to introduce new games to the children. She is an early childhood math specialist and is a passionate advocate for learning through play. She focuses on the importance of play as an essential tool for helping students develop problem solving skills, communication, social interaction, and creativity. The students love her visits and are so enthusiastic to learn her games!
Mindset Math…
This activity “Fruit Around the World” uses data about fruit production or fruit availability in different countries. Students work with data such as:
How much fruit a country grows
Which fruits are most common in different parts of the world
Production quantities, exports, or consumption
Wondering and Asking Questions…
A major emphasis of Mindset Mathematics is curiosity. Students ask questions such as
*Why does Country A grow more bananas than country B?
Why do some countries grow many types of fruit and others only a few?
Multiplicity Lab…
In this “Off You Go” activity the students hunted for objects that are 10cm long to build an understanding of this linear measurement.
Practicing our dance for the holiday show!
Note… We are singing and dancing to the song, “Like it’s Christmas” by the Jonas Brothers. Please play the song in the car or at home for the next couple of weeks to help your child learn the lyrics. Thank you for your support! 🙂
