First Grade Fun!

We've had a busy two weeks in 1st grade!  Students have been working hard to follow the school rules and have almost filled our class gumball machine!  Once full, as a class we will determine a reward to celebrate our success!  This could be a pajama day, movie, snack, recess or lunch in the classroom.  The event always stems from student ideas which makes it even more meaningful.

Last week students participated in the district Bus Safety presentation.  Even though some students do not ride the bus to and from school, all students will be riding the bus for several field trips this year.  Students reviewed the bus safety rules including emergency evacuations.

I've finally finished assessing student in reading and sight words, yippee!  You may have seen a letter accompanied by yellow sight word flashcards home with your student.  I'm asking for a bit of home support to review and refresh students in their kindergarten sight words.  Summer vacation is a long time and unfortunately, some of the sight words slip their minds.  Please practice these sight word cards with your child.  A list of suggestions accompanied the cards though the possibilities are endless!  Return the cards or a note indicating mastery and I will re-assess your student so he or she can begin practicing the 1st grade words.

I'm excited to say that small group reading instruction will also begin this week!  Students have increased their stamina to 20 minutes so we are ready for the challenge!  This is honestly my favorite part of the day as I am able to tailor my instruction to meet the needs of the students.  After a student completes a two-day lesson with a particular book, he or she will bring home the book in a plastic, book bag.  Please ask your child to read this book aloud to you (or another adult) and fill out the yellow log including your initials.  Parents often say, "the book was so easy for my child" which is great news!  We have practiced hard at school and I am hoping the read is smooth and easy for your kiddo!  Watch for 1 or 2 books to come home each week with your child.  I ask that all books are returned within 2 school days.

Speaking of reading, the Book It Reading Program will begin in October.  This is perfect timing as those guided reading books that come home count towards your child's book total!  A letter informing you of the rules and requirements will accompany the first reading log.  The Book It Program leads in nicely to the 1st Grade Reading Medalist Program that begins in January!

All About Piper!

This week we had the privilege of getting to know Piper a bit more in 1st grade!  Piper enjoyed helping us get to know her by bringing in special items as well as a special treat to share.  The students loved seeing Piper's tricks with string and it brought  back wonderful memories for me of playing cats cradle as a child!  Additionally, as the Star Student, Piper was my personal assistant and did a great job leading calendar math, helping with snack and handing out papers.  

September Birthdays

Hip-Hip Hooray!  We celebrated two birthdays in the month of September!  

Happy Birthday Xander and August!  

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: This week students will begin learning about story sequencing while reading Curious George at School. We will practice monitoring while reading as well as look at the importance of an author's word choice.  Our phonics practice will include short o and consonants l, x, and inflection -s. In grammar students will learn about verbs action words that tell what a noun is doing.

Math: In math students are busy learning about number combinations to 10.  How  can we make 10?  Students use manipulatives, including their fingers, to show combinations to 10.  We are also busy practicing several hands-on math games to prepare us for when daily math begins next month.

Science: Our unit of study is life science.  Students are currently exploring living and nonliving things.  Last week we planted bean seeds in various environments to determine plant needs.  Students also planted their own flower seeds to care for in our classroom.  As we wrap up our study of plants, we will begin to compare and explore animal needs.  Students will observe how animals grow and change using rich non-fiction texts and interactive websites.

Planting Marigolds!

Writing: In writer's workshop students are busy writers!  Students are working hard to write, illustrate and add to their pieces.  This week students will learn about the revision process in 1st grade.  We begin the year with peer revisions and students will learn how to visit our "Revising and Editing" table for support.  Utilizing peer support is a powerful experience for the students to learn from one another.

Upcoming Reminders:

September 28: School Picture Day

September 29: Mrs. Sterling absent in the morning (guest teacher subbing)

PS: Thanks for the recent Scholastic Book Orders!  Look at the new books I was able to get for our classroom library!

Daily What?!?!

If you are anything like me, when your child arrives home you begin asking about their day at school.  What did you learn about?  How was lunch?  Did you have art?  My child's normal response is free of details.  He often says he didn't do anything or learn anything.  This post and others in the future will help give you a glimpse into our day!  Perhaps they will provide you with some promoting questions to ask your child about 1st grade!

We have been busy in 1st grade learning all about independent stamina during Daily 5.  Daily 5 will be our workshop model for small group reading instruction.  In other words, when I am meeting with a small group to teach reading, the other students must be engaged and motivated to complete a beneficial task.  To launch this, lots of practice, modeling and even failing must take place!  Students must learn what the room should look and sound like.  So far, students have learned three of the five "dailies" in Daily 5.  We have practiced Reading to Self: students can read self-selected texts independently, Listen to Reading: students can listen to fluent readers AKA, books on tape or CD, and Word Work: students will practice sight words using hands on activities including sand, magnets, beads, playdough and lots more!  Eventually students will be introduced to Work on Writing and Technology, but for now, the three choices give students ample opportunities to work independently.  As we practice, we graph our Stamina on a class chart with a goal of 20 minutes, or enough time for me to complete a reading lesson with five eager 1st graders at my table!  Right now students can engage for about 15 minutes, so we have a little more practice to go but are well on our way!  I posted a video on Seesaw showcasing our AWESOME Stamina!  If you haven't checked it out yet, please do!

Speaking of Seesaw, did you sign up yet?  If you haven't or are having trouble, please do not hesitate to contact me!  Seesaw will be our main communication tool with classroom messages sent through the app.  Don't forget to turn on your notifications so you don't miss an important message!  Additionally, I will (students eventually will) post photos, student work, and videos that will form a digital portfolio that you can save to remember your child's year in 1st grade!

Lots of assessments are taking place in 1st grade right now too.  I am currently busy assessing student sight words, beginning with the words taught in kindergarten.  If your child does not quite know the kindergarten sight words, I'll be sending home a copy of yellow flashcards for you to practice.  Once your child masters the words, please return them to school and I will re-assess.  Don't worry if they can't quite remember all of the words.  One 1st grader politely informed me that he knew these words in kindergarten and just forget them over the summer!  My guess is this is true for most of the kiddos and they just need a quick refresher!  The students will also participate in a district assessment called AIMSweb+ this week.  

A Peek at Our Week:

Reading: We will begin our reading curriculum this week in 1st grade.  We will learn about identifying the main idea or topic of a fiction story.  Students will practice summarizing using the story What is a Pal?  In phonics students will review words with short a as well as consonants n, d, p, f.  Finally in grammar students will begin learning about nouns.

Writing: We launched writer's workshop last week and the students are busy writing their first stories.  Students learned about the three parts of a lesson as well as where to gain ideas for writing.  This week students will learn how to plan a story using a "Touch and Tell" strategy.

Math: In math students are busy learning about numbers 1-10.  We have practiced counting forwards and backwards as well as have looked at math patterns.  Students have practiced completing their interactive math notebooks as well.  We will take our first math test this week.

A completed math notebook from a student. 

Practicing showing numbers to 10 on ten frames.

Amazing team work happening already!

Social Studies: Students have been busy learning about the rules of school in social studies.  We have used several Howard B. Wigglebottom books to highlight school expectations for learning.  Mrs. Selberg visiting our classroom this week to review her role at Washington too!

Upcoming Reminders:

September 11: 1st Grade Homework Begins (Information letter to accompany homework)

September 13: AIMSweb+ District Assessment 

Thank you for all of the Scholastic Book Orders!  I can't wait to show the students all of the books I was able to get for our classroom with the bonus points!  Didn't get a chance to order?  Look for the October book orders in the coming weeks!