A Peek into Daily Calendar Counting

Here's a peek into my daily calendar time.  My children use offices which are pages we combine to follow along with the calendar routine. This allows them to be more active followers during that time. We work on adding: the date, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the digital date, a weather graph, domino numbers, and a daily ten frame.  For the ten frame, the children use bingo chips to show the date on their ten frame, while the daily helper shows the class with my magnetic version.

                                     Magnetic Ten frame
          (Cookie sheet with dot magnets from Walmart with colored dot stickers on top)

After the children show the number of the day (date), I then have them show me and say aloud what one more looks like and one less.
       We then show how many days we've been in school on the adding machine tape with 10 different colored post it notes.  Each day is a different color which adds up to make a great walled number line.  I also add little icons made with the Cricut to the number line that goes around the room every 5th day (high five hand), every 10th day (pair of feet) , and every 25th day ( a star).  This coincides with our daily bank.  Every single day we add a penny to the bank and sing the penny song.  Every fifth day we add a nickel and sing the nickel song, a dime on 10th day and dime song, and a quarter every 25th day and the quarter song.  That way by the end of the year,  the students know their coins and values without a lot of extra effort.  We work on adding coins, sorting, etc. during math station time.

Number line with icons

Daily bank containers - The helper has to identify the daily coin needed and add it to the bank.

Double Ten Frames

I haven't decided exactly how I am going to use these yet, but I thought I would share anyway!

Double Ten Frames

Pumpkin Measurement Journal Prompt

Here is the October version of my Measurement Journal Prompt.  I have a more detailed description here.

Pumpkin Measurement Journal

Community Helpers

This week we are learning about Community Helpers.  We are concentrating on Dentists, Firefighters, Police Officers, and Postal Workers.  Instead of doing our usual predictable chart, we are going to write our own books-one page a day.  Some of my kiddos are still learning to form letters.  Some can write short paragraphs (okay, maybe only one! :)).  So I made one book blank.  The kids at grade level can write I see a ___. on their own.  The kids above grade level can write a sentence or two about the community helper.  I made another book for the kids who are struggling.  They can trace the sentences.

Community Helper Book

Mystery Containers

We are counting objects into the teens now!  The students use the Double Ten Frames to count the objects in the containers.  I am using Halloween erasers, table scatter, and goodie bag stuffers.  This work station can easily be updated throughout the year using seasonal objects and larger items.  Here is the record sheet to go with it.

Mystery Containers Record Sheet

Using Ten Frames to Count to 20

My kinders are doing very good with counting to 10, so we are moving on to counting to 20!  Those teen numbers are tricky!  I made a counting mat to use with objects like erasers, stones, gems, etc..  I differentiated the mats so that the kiddos who don't know the numbers yet can learn.

Ten Frames Counting to 20

10 Frame Fun for Math Work Station

We incorporate ten frames a lot to build number concepts.  This month we are focusing on the concept of 1 more and 1 less.  We've found a great manipulative to use when covering ten frames, and it comes from the dollar store.  Many times you can find they have ice cube trays that go along with the season/theme. They have just ten openings, which is perfect.  We either use pompoms to fill them or themed mini erasers. Changing them out monthly, helps keep the stations/activities fresh.

   Here is the worksheet I plan to use to go along with the work station. I'll use some seasonal number cards to go along with it. (I put a ten frame on the paper, in case you didn't have the trays) Click the link to get your copy.

Ten Frame Fun

Apple Measurement Activity

I love doing this activity every month with different die cuts.  I put apples up on the door.  Each child take a turn to measure himself.  Last year I took a photo and below it the children wrote ______ is __ apples tall.  We made a class book.  This year we put it in our math journals.  First, we measured my daughter's height.  Then I modeled how to write 12 on the line, draw 12 apples, and draw my daughter so that she was 12 apples tall.  My students were all engaged in this activity.  My students are still learning their numerals, so I labeled the apples to help them write the number in their book.

Apple Measurement Journal Prompt

Here are some ideas for die cuts for the rest of the year:

October: pumpkins

November:  turkeys

December: gingerbread men

January: snowflakes/snowmen

February: hearts

March: shamrocks

April: eggs/bunnies

May: flowers

Domino Counting Book

In order for our students to participate in calendar each day, we have them complete calendar books.  This month in Every Day Calendar Counts, students are learning to match numerals to sets.  As we introduce the domino dots to the students, the students will record the dots, practice writing the number word, and practice writing the numeral.  I made this book for them and hope you can use it too!
Domino Number Book