December’s learning calendar printable is ready! Just a reminder~ as each month comes to an end, I will be posting the next month’s calendar printable for you to print out and use at home or in the classroom. (Click here for learning calendars from previous months.)
Remember that every child learns at a different pace. When trying any activity with your child or students, the goal is to challenge them, but not for them to reach their frustration level. If you notice your child becoming frustrated, it’s time to step back and modify the activity.
December Learning Calendar
Using the Learning Calendars in the Classroom
At the beginning of the school year, we’d complete these calendars together. I’d have my calendar printable on the overhead while the students had theirs in front of them on their desks. We’d first number all the days of the month. This gives the students practice writing their numbers at least up to 30 (or 31 for the longer months). The kids were also always surprised to see the first day of the month didn’t always start on Sunday! After writing the ’1′ on the first day of the month, I always circulated around the room to be sure all the students had their ones in the correct place before continuing with writing the rest of the numbers.
Once we were done writing in the numbers, we’d write any special days for the month on the correct space on the calendar.
After writing all the dates and special days, we’d answer the questions below the calendar together. I’d model my thought process as I found the answer to each question.
As the months went on, some students became very comfortable completing the calendars on their own. Others still wanted to do them with me so we’d sit together to work on them.
When the students were done with their calendars, I encouraged them to take their calendars home and hang them somewhere where they could easily access them. I loved hearing how students were using them at home to write in their special activities like gymnastics or soccer. Such a good resource for them!
Using the Calendars at Home
At home with Lucy I follow the same procedure as I listed above for in the classroom except in this situation we’re sitting together at our table at home. I even print one out for myself so we can complete our calendars together at the same time.
Remember to make modifications for your child depending on their comfort level. For example, Lucy is quite comfortable writing her numbers, but her frustration level goes up when writing lots of words. So when we get to the questions at the bottom of the sheet, we work together to find the answer, and then I write it on her calendar for her. Writing the answers we arrived at together for her allow me the opportunity to model so many things: when to use a capital letters, spacing, letter formation, and blending and segmenting words. So don’t feel like your cheating your child in anyway if you do some writing for them~ lots of learning is still going on!