Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Throughout the year, our fabulous first graders will be highlighted for being smart, kind, caring, and everything awesome with our Star Student Program.  Each student will have the opportunity to share, lead and feel just how wonderful they are!  Watch the monthly calendar to see when your child will be highlighted in our classroom.

Meet Andrew

Have you met Andrew?  If not, you are missing out!  Andrew is this week's Star Student and he really shines!  Did you know, Andrew loves gym and everything sports.  His favorite sport is Football, yet can even be found on his very own baseball card!  Andrew has a big sister, Danica, that shares the halls of Washington with him (I was lucky to have her in 1st grade too!).  Though quite athletic, Andrew is also an exceptional reader and writer!  This week, as Star Student, he lead calendar like a champ!  Check him out in action below!

Can I send a HUGE shoutout to all of you for purchasing books thruogh Scholastic.  I wanted to send a photo of what items I am able to get with a typical book order for our classroom!  The students are loving the new Who Would Win books along with the sports themed titles!  Thank you so much for helping build our classroom library!

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: This week we have been working hard to learn more about nouns, specifically possessive nouns.  Students learned how to use an apostrophe in their writing to show possession of an object.  We thought it was extra fun to say apostrophe out loud!  We also took our first reading test.  The focus for this week's assessment was phonics skills.  Students will take a short reading assessment weekly, which will be sent home for you to view and review.  Please remember to sign the test and return it to school.  Feel free to call or email with questions.

Students learned to sit EEKK (Elbow, Elbow, Knee, Knee) style to read with partner this week.

Math: In math we worked on solving number stories using math tools including ten frames, number lines and 120's charts.  Did you know that first graders will become fluent in addition and subtraction to 10 by the end of the year?  If you are working with your child at home, encourage them to talk about the strategies for solving. 

Writing: Wow!  Our first grade writers are amazing!  They have learned the four strategies for spelling and are using them successfully during writer's workshop.  In writing we ask students to stretch words, find "snap" words on a word wall, use an alphabet sound chart, and spell new words using words they already know.  As we near the end of our first unit, I will be sure to send some of their amazing writing home for you to keep.  

Writer's working with a partner to begin the revising process with a partner.

Science: In science we are examining living things, specifically plants still.  The students are making observations in their science journal.  This week we explore the movement of water through a plant using celery and food coloring.  We had so much fun seeing how the colored water traveled all the way to the tips of the leaves!    

Upcoming Reminders

September 29: School Picture Day

September 29: Author, Nancy Carlson visits

September 30: No School for Students

What's the Buzz with Daily 5?

Daily what?  Has your first grader told you about Daily 5?  Imagine yourself teaching a room full of six and seven year olds.  In order to reach students independently and in small groups, the other students must be able to hold enough 'stamina' to work independently and quietly.  Additionally, the goal is that students are participating in meaningful work to enhance their learning.  This is where Daily 5 comes in!

Students have been introduced to the first three of our dailies.  We began learning how to "Read to Self."  Students learned that during read to self they should read independently quietly while staying in one place and reading the whole time.  This is hard for first graders, yet we have managed to get over 10 minutes of stamina already (WOW!).  Next students were introduced to "Listen to Reading." During listen to reading, students have the opportunity to listen to a fluent reader using a portable CD player and book/CD sets.  Managing a CD player and set of headphones can be challenging for a first grader, especially if they can't find the right button or hole for their headphones.  They have been problem solving and are doing a great job with the devices.

Finally, students have recently learned about some of our "Word Work" stations.  Word Work stations allow students the opportunity to practice their weekly sight word and spelling words.  Students may build a word with play-dough, write words on a Boogie Board, or type words on a pretend keyboard. Whatever the practice is, students are excited and engaged the whole time!  Ask your first grader how they hold their stamina during Daily 5!

With rain in the forcast we took some time to learn how to play with indoor recess toys.  The first graders had a blast building, playing and exploring!  I have been working hard to add to our class collection of toys, especially those that encourage STEM play.

Gabrielle and Morgan build with a new STEM toy. 

Finn, Saad and Bentley build ramps with blocks for cars.

Emily, Alexis and Mason explore legos and tangrams.

Reading: In reading students are reading What is a Pal? Not only are students learning what a good friend is, they are also learning to identify the main idea of a story.  Students searched their texts for supporting details in the pictures and words that supported this main idea.  Students have also been working on blending CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words like man, mat, and Sam.  Students were introduced to their first, six sight words for the year as well as their first spelling sort.  I placed child's most current sight word list in his or her G.O. Book.  Please work with your child to read and write these words.  Practice making the words with magnetic letters, writing in sand building with clay.  I will reassess in a month or so and update their lists.

Writing: In Writer's Workshop students are learning to write from the heart.  They are practicing adding appropriate spacing, capitalization and punctuation as well.  This week we introduced the three parts of a lesson, which included the sharing session.  Students practiced sharing their writing for the first time with a partner.

Trevor and Bentley take turns sharing their narrative stories.

Pyper and Alexis take turns reading their narrative stories.

Math: In math students have been introduced to counting strategies including counting by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's as well as grouping.  Students learned how to create and analyze a tally chart as well.  We learned several new math games this week as well!  Next week students will take their first math test. Please note that all tests will come home for you to view and review with your child but then should be signed and promptly returned too school.

Ethan and Sam play roll and color.

Anabelle and Iris play Top-It.

Science: This week the first grade scientists made a huge discovery!  We planted Lima bean seeds using a wet paper towel and bag.  We taped our bags to the window to get sunlight.  Many of the seeds have started growing.  Then to explore a plant's need for sun, we placed one bag in the closet, assuming it wouldn't grow.  During our observations, we discovered that the bean plant without sun was growing the best!  The first graders have determined that not all plants need the same amount of sunlight to grow.

Upcoming Reminders

Every Friday: Homework Due!

September 29: Author, Nancy Carlson visits Washington

As always, thanks for taking a peek at our day!

First Full Week of 1st Grade

We made it!  I always feel proud and amazed after we complete the first full week of school.  These firsties did a great job this week.  First grade is quite different from kindergarten and doesn't always feel as fun, but I try very hard to excite the students through numerous learning activities throughout the day!  Very few tears were shed and positive attitudes were had my all!  I feel so blessed and excited to be your children's teacher this year!  I will use our classroom blog in place of a traditional newsletter.  Please let me know if this format does not work for you.  I will print a paper copy of any posts and send them home with your child if you desire.

Counting to 100 with Jack Hartman's Exercises

Milk and Juice break will begin on September 6.  If you ordered a drink for your child, it will arrive to our classroom on Tuesday.  We will also be receiving the fruit and veggie snack in late September.  Book orders will be due on Friday.  If you only order from one book order this year, please consider this one!  The bonus points available for teachers are excellent and I am looking to beef up our Sports Themed book bin!

If you had a 1st grader in my class in the past, you are probably wondering where the daily homework is.  Information regarding homework will come home on September 12.  Please note, our homework policy has changed drastically.  Children will have minimal weekly homework in the form of a "menu" of choices.  I am looking forward to your feedback for future planning of homework options.

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: This week in reading we spent some time exploring back to school mentor texts to aquatint ourselves with the school rules.  We read some of my favorites such as Chrysanthemum, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, and The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes.  We began reviewing letters and sounds as well as the kindergarten sight words.  In the coming weeks, a student specific sight word list will be placed in one of the page protectors of your child's G.O. Book.  Please study and review the words on this list weekly.  I will update the list as your child masters more words.

Writing: We will begin Writer's Workshop next week with some introductory mini-lessons.  This past week I was able to observe the students writing and make note of their strengths and some target goals for their individual writing.  I was so excited to see the great writers that we have in our classroom!  

Math: The first graders were introduced to their Math Interactive Notebooks.  These notebooks provide an opportunity for students to practice math skills independently.  Our focus skill this week was "I can count and find the missing numbers."  Students were also introduced to our Math with Partner strategies.  We have played several games to review making 5 and counting by 1's.  Students enjoy playing games to practice target skills.

Anthony and Bentley play Fabulous Five Worm

Morgan, Leah, Jocelynn, and Pyper play Make 5

Handwriting: Posture, pencil grip and letter placement were are skills this week in handwriting.  We reviewed "Frog Jump Capitals" from kindergarten and were able to get our hands on our new Handwriting workbooks.  When working with your children at home, please remind them to start their letters at the top!

Happy Birthday Alexis!  We hope you had a fabulous time celebrating at home and school!

Upcoming Reminders:

September 5: No School - Labor Day

September 6: Milk/Juice Break Begins

September 9: Book Order's Due

September 12: Homework Begins (Due on Fridays)