Rainbow Letters

We have been seeing a lot of Sandpaper Letter practice these days and the children very much enjoy this writing activity.

I also want to give my students as much practice as possible for writing and strive to provide lessons with variations that allow them to refine their skills.  To that end, I thought it would be exciting to introduce 'Rainbow Letters' for writing practice.  I had seen a great set of letters HERE and decided to use them for this activity.

I love how these two friends have set up their work next to each other .

A completed 'Rainbow Letter.'  The child is able to practice writing the letter at least six times with the different colors. What fun!

After plenty of practice with the Sandpaper Letter, a student can practice writing with a 'Rainbow Letter."  To complete the activity, a student can retrieve the letter from the file folder box in which all the letters are stored:

The letters are categorized into red, yellow, and blue groups according to the way they are organized on our shelves.

A tray housing two wooden trays for pencils (and sharpeners) fits directly on top of the filing box when not in use.     

Continuing Progress

The pictures from this week's time in the classroom illustrate the continuing progress of our group.  The children are enjoying our lessons together, building independence, and taking great ownership throughout their environment.  What a joy it is to observe this and be a part of it all!  It brings me much comfort to see these progressions, especially as we approach the date of my departure overseas.  I know our classroom will continue on the same path of learning and growth.

Pouring yellow and blue paint using spoons...

…and folding the paper to create a symmetrical painting while exploring color mixing.

Sorting stones by color.

Writing practice with Rainbow Letters.

Building concentration and fine motor skills through Finger Knitting.

Tearing Paper art collage.

Pouring dry ingredients.

Using a single Cylinder Block to refine visual discrimination skills and the pincer grasp.

Language: Reading Sentences practice.

Tactile discrimination and writing preparation with the Touch Boards.

Tracing shapes with the Geometric Demonstration Tray.

Auditory discrimination: Sound or No Sound sorting.

Matching autumn and Thanksgiving themed language cards.

Circle Drawer:  Geometric Cabinet 

Writing practice:  Metal Insets - two shapes and two colors.

Pairing colors with the Second Color Tablet Box.

Learning numbers 11-19 with the Teen Beads and Boards (quantity and symbol).

Writing:  Rainbow Letters

Using two Cylinder Blocks at a time for an added challenge.

Working sensorially with the Binomial Cube.

Pouring into two vessels - this was a popular activity this week in the classroom!  

Tracing numbers with Sandpaper Numbers.

The ever-present Rock Painting lesson.

Learning names of shapes with the the Geometric Cabinet drawers.

First Days Back

To say the children were ready to get back to their lessons during these first days of school would be an understatement.  The children amazed me with their knowledge and readiness for lessons.   The newest members of our group are fortunate to have so many role models to learn from and are becoming more confident in their choices each day.  My observations have given me a clear direction of how to guide the students - just keep going, because they are ready!

Our new set of nesting dolls from Russia was in use as soon as the classroom door opened on the first day of school.
Child:  "Is this a new one?  Where is the crack?!  There's no more crack!" speaking of the cracked wood of the old set.

Exploring concepts of height with the Knobless Cylinders.

Sewing activity with the lesson from the first sewing drawer.

Transferring with a spoon, a preliminary Practical Life lesson.
Child:  "This spoon is shiny.  I have brown rice at home."

This student completed the Maze with the Red Rods as one of her first choices upon entering the classroom after summer vacation!

Letter writing practice with Rainbow Letters.

Solidifying place value with the Golden Beads and place value mat.

Using the Short Bead Hanger to match quantities and number symbols.
Child:  "Look, I mixed them up.  But they still match.  Wait, this one is five and it's blue."

Using the Moveable Alphabet to write phrases and record/illustrate them on paper.

Visual discrimination of size with the Pink Tower.
Child:  "This one is next.  It's getting taller."

Noticing the puzzle (sight) words in the transferring activity.

Working with the Solid Cylinders.

Pre-reading:  "Go-Togethers"
Child:  "Squirrels like nuts.  Mmmm!"

Teen number quantity and symbol with Teen Boards and Beads.
Child:  "Seventeen.  This one is going to be seventeen!"  while counting the beads.

Learning about odd and even numbers using the Cards and Counters activity.
Child:  "This one's even because my finger goes through [the counters]." 

Spelling words with the Small Moveable Alphabet.
Child: "Did I spell it right?  Let me check my list!"

Counting the units during the 45 Layout.

Introducing articles 'a' and 'the.'
Child:  "I use 'a' when there is more than one in a group and I use 'the' when there is only one."  

Building and refining writing skills with the Metal Insets.
Child:  "Look, I did it!  I made a circle."

Static addition with our Math Drawer activity.

Letter writing practice on the chalkboard.

Using the Red Rods to enhance visual discrimination of length.

Writing practice with the Sandpaper Letters.
Child:  "Oooh, I like tracing this one! 'M,' 'm,' 'm.'"

Enjoying a lacing card while building coordination and fine motor skills.

Using  mirror to complete a self portrait.

Using letter stamps to spell words from the 'Language' Works word list.

Using 'Language Works' - reading, writing, and spelling practice.

Grading shades of orange with the Third Color Box.
Child:  "I think this one is lighter.  Look I did it!" 

Sensorially exploring the Binomial Cube.

Using our Reading Drawers to practice reading and writing three letter phonetic words.