Fairy Tale Fun

Over the last couple of weeks we have been studying Fairy Tales in our Literacy classes. By studying this genre of writing we are exposing students to the diversity of literature and cultures as we read Fairy Tales from all over the world. Fairy Tales, Fables, Folk Tales, and Trickster oral story telling all have a common theme so important for students to learn. They convey messages of overcoming adversity, doing our best, being courageous and the ever important good vs. evil and right vs. wrong.

Students have read Jack and the Bean Stalk and learned to identify the problem and solution. We even had a visit from the Giant who left us with a Math activity comparing sizes!

We continued to learn more about re-telling stories by identifying the key elements of a fairy tale "Characters" "Setting" "Problem" and "Solution". Students were able to make inferences about Hansel and Gretel from prior fairy tale knowledge. For example, they realized the step mom and the witch were most likely the same person since there is normally only one villain and the step mom disappeared after the witch was pushed into the oven! 

Using our advanced knowledge of Fairy Tales students are now exploring Fractured Fairy Tales by studying stories such as Goldi Locks and the Three Bears. We are learning how one story can be written so many different ways depending on the voice that you give it. We are learning why this is important and how we can add our voice into our own writing. 

Over the next couple of weeks we will continue to explore Fairy Tales. We can't wait to share more of  this fun unit with our families!

Writing on Different Surfaces

This week we have been exploring with using a multitude of vertical surfaces and erasable surfaces in the classroom. During both Literacy and Math times students are using the SMART board, whiteboards, easels, chart paper, whiteboard tables, clipboards, and windows to practice their spelling, write sentences and create/solve Math equations.

There are so many benefits that students gain from using vertical surfaces that they don't get when working just at a desk with pencil and paper.

1) Shoulder and Elbow Stability: By writing on larger surfaces students are creating larger movements  which helps to strengthen their joints and muscles.
2) Midline Crossing: When writing on a large surface students cross the midline of their body with their dominant hand. This helps to increase strong hand dominate.
3) Pencil Grasp: Because students wrists are extended as they write on a vertical surface they work on bettering their stabilization creating a better pencil grip.
4) Hand/Eye Coordination: Students are more engaged and have more area to look at which helps to keep them focused and encourage hand/eye coordination.
5) Sensory: For students that have a hard time sitting while they work this gives them an opportunity to focus less on their wiggles on more on their work!
6) Core Strength: We have been working on increasing our core strength through stretching, work out of the day in gym, sitting properly and not using our hands when we get up. By having students stand or even kneel as they work there is less chance of slumping over which betters our posture and our core strength.
7) Collaboration: As students are working on larger surfaces they are able to work side by side with one or two other students. They challenge each other, they work together at solving problems, help each other with spelling words and they create masterpiece's together. Who doesn't love working and collaborating with friends!

We have watched students creativity grow this week with the collaboration and vertical writing and we can't wait to start using these surfaces in our Science and Social Studies!