This week Joe's favorite activity from Itty Bitty Bookworm was cookie division based on the book The Doorbell Rang, by Pat Hutchins.
After reading this book about sharing cookies with guests that just don’t stop coming, I pulled out some paper cookies I had from one of our lapbooks, and had Joe divide them evenly among plates. Joe really enjoyed this activity, so much that we did it several days this week.
Besides our daily Code lessons and various workbooks, I had Joe use our magnets and cookie sheet for phonics and math. Using it for phonics he spelled words, made up his own words and filled in missing vowels in three letter words. He is still not reading on his own—he has no problems making words if I call them out or filling in missing vowels, however, he is still not at the point of reading a word that I write or show him. He will get there. I do not believe in pushing him. I did try and push Hanna when she was his age and it got me nowhere. I am pleased to say I have learned from this, and will not go this route with Joe.
For math Joe used the cookie sheet to make numbers that I called out, as well as doing basic addition equations. For example, I would put up 2+1= ?, then have Joe use manipulatives to find the answer and fill in the missing number in the equation. I am trying to get him used to understanding what the symbols in equations mean.
Joe read poetry and dictated several stories to me in our Language Lessons for Little Ones.
We had a great week of school. Not only did we get in learning, but we read so many fun books, made lots of Christmas crafts and decorated our home for Christmas as a family.
I will have to check that book out. We read a book very similar to it but based on Christmas, look for it in my Book Reviews this weekend.
ReplyDeleteJoe did a lot this week, he is sure growing and learning!
You are doing a great job!
That does sound like a great week! I like the idea of using the cookie sheet for the magnet letters and numbers.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before, but I so wish the Itty Bitty Bookworm curriculum came in Kindergarten!
great stuff I love cookie sheets for esy magnet work!
ReplyDeleteGidget can recite the addition tables of 1's and 2's :) cuz she hears it all the time while big sis (froggi) is playing school :)
I agree with you about not pushing children to read. I tried to push T and all I got was a child in tears. C kind of figured out how to sound out words on his own and he loves Bob books. He sets the pace. R isn't really interested in letter sounds right now and that is fine.
ReplyDeleteWe have magnet boards but my kids still love to use cookie sheets - the novelty of them, I guess. Fun!
You accomplished so much this week. I think this cookie division idea is great for learning odd and even.
ReplyDeleteI love that book. It's so much fun, and so many great lessons to pull from it.
ReplyDeleteI love using cookie sheets for stuff. I remember buying a bunch of them back when I was teaching for many of the activities you did this week.
And my boys are at the same level as Joe for reading. They can spell most anything I call out to them, but they don't really read the word if I put that same word in front of them. It's weird. I know it'll come someday.