Patterning With A Passion

So we all use patterns using our classroom calendars and we might use manipulatives along with this but why not record these in strip books so the children can take them home and "read" them to their families? You can do ABAB forever and just use different images to keep it interesting. This book would be for the kids that understand this concept and need more of a challenge. I love the cut and paste aspect too. I will be selling strip style books in my TpT store if you love this and want them. My partner cannot get enough of these (seriously).We start out patterning the kids and using hand motions which our students really enjoy. I think this year I will have a new pattern every day that we can build in a pocket chart. Remember you can use dot markers at the very beginning and have them work with 2 colors (KISS).I have it as a free download in a much earlier post. What do you use for patterning?

Color My World in Patterns

So I am warming up for next week's Chapter 4 but I have been thinking a lot about differentiation after reading the first few chapters of MWS. Have you? Anyway at the beginning of the year the pattern mat is useful to get the kids started and oriented to the idea of reading left to right. Debbie talks about not providing million of choices and I actually am doing something right. I start with patterning by color and put the stuff
(teddies, cubes, etc. ) into a baggie for each child only using 2 colors. Hey, it leaves very little wiggle room for making a mistake. Now here is the math talk- "My pattern is red,blue,red,blue,red,blue." The student can turn to his partner and ask, "What is your pattern______ (call student by name since they often can't remember and need to practice this). Now here is the differentiation, once you have done this in small groups, some kids can build their pattern right on top of the sticker cards and just do actual matching since they really have no clue. Another student can extend the pattern based on the first half of the card. A more capable child can create the same pattern but with different colors. This can be recorded using dot markers or crayons. Also look at the buttons where a student has to decide what is missing in the middle of the pattern - more demanding huh? I like using the back of sentence strips because it has a line and I just attached the extension with tape so you can fold them in half for the child who is not ready. Woohoo! Now I just need to organize all this in ziplocks and buy some tubs. I need a nap. Too much cognitive work for me!
Now don't forget about our journey together...
Our book study continues so start reading Chapter 3 and check in with Mrs. Parker and link up with her!

          Share your ideas and how you your create your stations. I hope we hear from you.
                                                                      Fran Kramer

Jazzy Patterns to Dazzle Your Kids

 Click here for "kid friendly" patterns:

I got this amazing idea from Amanda on her blog  http://aspecialkindofclass.blogspot.com/

and I can't thank her enough. My kids needed something different to mix it up a little and Amanda  inspired me to make this important concept more interesting. Each child got their own baggie of cards and I told them what kind of pattern I wanted them to make (AAB etc. ) Then they had to read their pattern to me. We switched our baggies and I could quickly assess who needed more work on this.

The children loved this! We had so much fun... I love all the creative teachers out there...


First we practiced in the pocket chart.

They got to pick their baggie: