LITERACY WORSHOPS: Journaling, Letter B sound and formation

During our Literacy Workshops this week, we focused on journal writing and letter B formation as well as its sound. At one station, the Cardinals were invited to write about their weekend experience. We all had four days off from school and each Cardinal was quite eager to share their story. Amazing! Not only were they excited to verbalize their experience, but many Cardinals took the interest in “writing” it too.

Each child progresses at their own developmental writing level. The goal is not to tell the children how to write, but to help them sound out words by stretching the sounds. Allowing the child to write the words the way they sound will eventually help them as they learn to read.

At another station, the focus was on letter B formation. Using sand on a tray, the Cardinals were encouraged to write the letter “B” – Start at the top, one big line down, jump to the top, little curve to the middle, and little curve to the bottom. The Cardinals did astonishing work!  Also, many words that begin with the letter B were placed on the table and the Cardinals were invited to “write” the word on the sand. Remarkable work!

A final activity was creating a collage with pictures of objects that begin with the letter B. The Cardinals were asked to cut out pictures from the pages of old magazines that start with the letter B. What a fabulous activity to reinforce the sound of the letter B. 

Books, Boogying, Building, Birds and Buttons

The Cardinal's started their morning off with a dance party which turned into a game of freeze dance! Friends did a great job of turning into a statue as soon as the music stopped! 

Some friends even decided to freeze like the bird they are studying.......then, Danielle had to guess which bird each friend was! Friends stumped her!

After our quick game of Freeze Dance, friends flew to the Morning Meeting rug for a Moment of Silence, Morning Meeting and a book. Danielle read us the book called Cat, You Better Come Home. Many friends gave this book two thumbs up! Some friends enjoyed the part of the book when the cat sailed away on a flower pot shaped boat and others thought that it was funny that the cat was named Purr!  Soon after, friends started coming up with names they would name their cats. 

Can you guess which friend said which name?

"Leopard"

"Ballerina"

"Dog"

"My Daddy"

"Condor"

"Rainbow"

"Noel"

"Bowdy"

"Sparkle Sparkle"

"Double Sparkle"

"Flowers"

"Unicorn Rainbow Peacock"

"Choo Choo Train"

"Wyatt"

"Lemon Lime"

"Scarecrow"

"Samuel"

After our Cat Name conversation, friends had a Moment of Silence and then we went over our schedule for the day.

After Morning Meeting, we had Choice time. 

Friends choices were decorating the letter B with buttons (which was a popular choice),

Journaling / kid writing with Alicia,

building marvelous rocket ships, hockey stadiums, towers and Robots out of magnatiles

eating a delicious snack,

And lastly, books!

After Choice Time, friends met back at the Morning Meeting rug for V.I.P. time. Friends were very excited to learn about how our V.I.P. received his dance trophy and his Hulk Mask.

Next, we headed outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Some friends spent their time stump jumping, digging and making bird nests out of hay that they found.

Friends finished up their morning with a fantastic presentation about the Blue-Footed Booby. We learned that this bird has difficulty walking on land because of its feet, that both the males and females sit on their eggs and that the Blue-Footed Booby lives in Central and South America. 

After our bird presentation, friends gathered to enjoy their delicious lunches, to rest and end with our Appreciation Circle.