Seedling&Sapling CORE Jan 13-15

This week we continued our language centers with tracing races to build muscle memory for printing letters, spelling tests and language worksheets (that the students LOVE) to support them in knowing how to spell all of the dolche words they can already read. Reading assessment is ongoing for some students, and homework is sent home on Wednesdays for students that need support with sight words. Saplings created their own spelling lists and practiced their typing skills. They also learned about possessives this week which helps them know when to add es and 's to words to indicate ownership. Printing and cursive practice was also a focus this week.

Math centers this week were spent with Seedlings focusing on addition and subtraction in creative group games and on worksheets, while Sapling focus was multiplication and long division as they work through their first math assessment. Long division boards were used to support organization through the process and all students rose to the challenge! Cribbage and Prime Climb were also played.

Everyone is reaching for their badge work goals, as posters, reports and group lessons are being created daily. We had two lessons this week to support research and comprehension in small mixed groups (Seedlings and Saplings) with Sapling leaders supporting reading support and understanding. Special thanks to Hazel and Ethan for stepping into leadership roles and being fantastic and patient with their group members. This week, students researched Garnet (January's birthstone) and Onyx, as well as the Zodiac and Star formation of Capricorn.

Everyone is progressing very well and I am looking forward to the coming weeks as I present lessons the students can emulate in their badge work planning for level 3 badges. This level requires students to know and understand their content, and also design lessons with follow up exercises to ensure the understanding of participants in their lessons.

Our budding musicians are still practicing, and piano was the main focus this week. Kassidy supported all students by making letter tabs and taping them on the piano keys to make decoding and sight reading a little simpler. Thanks Kassidy!

Create a beautiful weekend everyone!