Happy New Year!

Welcome back and Happy New Year!  We jumped right back into school on Tuesday preparing for the second half of the year. We began our morning with a quick review of school rules and routines and updated our class rules.  We wasted no time at all as on Tuesday morning, students completed the AIMSweb assessments.  I also have been busy completing some mid-year assessments in the classroom.  It is a great time to see just how far students have grown and make plans for new teaching.

You may have noticed on the calendar that the "Reading Medalist" program begins on Monday.  If you have had a 1st grader at Washington in the past, you are already familiar with this program.  An information packet and the first recording form will come home on Monday.  There are a few changes to the program, so please keep the packet handy for all of the rules and requirements.  If you were wondering where the January Book-It log is, there isn't one.  I will use the Reading Medalist tracking forms to award pizza coupons too.  No need to record books on two forms.

We celebrated two birthdays this week in 1st grade!  These cupcakes aren't helping with my New Year's resolution!  Happy Birthday to Jocelynn and Bentley!

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: We began Unit 3 in reading with the story At Home in the Ocean.  Students are working to identify the author's purpose while reading.  Additionally, they were introduced to proper nouns.  In phonics students are working on writing words with the digraph th.

Math: We began our geometry unit in math this past week.  Students were introduced to plane shapes and began to understand the defining attributes of each.  Next week we will work with three-dimensional shapes.  Addition and subtraction are reviewed daily and I am seeing huge gains in fact fluency as of recently!  The students are working really hard at Daily 5 Math too.  We just recently introduced some Everyday Math Games on the computer as well as Math with Partner.

Alexis and Sam play building towers to work on addition.

Saad uses the Everyday Math website.

Finn plays Rocket Math on the iPad.

Bo completes his math notebook (independent practice).

Pyper and Gabrielle make shape monster at math with teacher.

Science: We finished learning about seasons very briefly this week.  Next week we will begin learning about the states of matter.  We'll start with a fun Oobleck experiment that is sure to be exciting!

Writing: In writer's workshop we are working on our "How To" texts.  We had quite the lesson on adding details to our writing while the students instructed me in how to make a jelly sandwich.  They learned that they leave out quite a few details, such as spreading the jelly from the knife onto the bread.  I played it up and we were all giggles as I spread the jelly jar on the bread!

Upcoming Reminders:

January 10: Washington Skate City Night

January 10: Reading Medalist Begins

January 13: Popcorn Sales

January 13: Book Orders Due

Happy Holidays!

We have had so much fun in 1st grade lately!  We spent the last two weeks learning about holidays around the world in Social Studies, and I hope it was a worthwhile experience for your 1st grader! Opening a package each day sure is exciting for a 1st grader. Click here to watch a short video highlighting all of our fun!

We celebrated two 1/2 birthdays this month too!  We hope Iris and Mason enjoyed their special days!

We also had another Character Champion in our class this month.  Alexis was recognized this month for her willingness to help peers (and me!) in the classroom and her overall maturity in 1st grade.  Keep up the great work Alexis!

With Christmas just around the corner, I am signing off for a few days!  I vowed to really enjoy these days with my own boys (below) and recharge so I am ready for the New Year!  I hope you do the same and enjoy your special little ones.

Bonjour, Hujambo, Ciao!

Where have the past two weeks gone?  I feel like it was just November and now we are already just a couple weeks from Christmas!  Things in 1st grade are as busy as ever.  I can tell that Decembertitis has definitely struck our classroom as these little first graders have a lot to say, even when I am teaching.  Please remind your child to follow our school rules and be respectful to others in the classroom.  Don't forget, next week our class will ring the Salvation Army Bell before and after school.  I'll send a photo to you via the Remind App of your 1st grader in action.  Remember they can dress for the event in holiday hats, jewelry or any other flair you have!

We had so much fun during our personal narrative writing celebration!  We were able to share our stories with our 4th grade buddies.  After reading, the 4th graders offered one compliment and one area to improve upon.  The students were receptive to the suggestions, since they came from their smart 4th grade friends!  Here are a few kiddos sharing their writing!  I decided to send the samples home rather than saving them for conferences because they are absolutely amazing and you must see their hard work!

Anabelle share her writing.

Morgan shares her writing.

Ethan shares his writing.

Have you heard about Globe Trot Scott?  This mystery boy has been sending us packages teaching us about holidays all around the world.  So far packages have arrived from France, Uganda and Italy.  These packages teach us about each country and holiday traditions that are celebrated, include a book to share, treats and/or a craft to complete.  The students complete a travel journal to showcase their new knowledge.  It is exciting for our students to learn about other cultures and their holiday traditions.  I'm working on a video highlighting all of our fun with the unit and will post it when complete (over winter break).  For now, enjoy a few snapshots!

Skyler tries some Buche De Noel

Anthony makes a drum from Uganda that is often hung on trees.

Meet Bentley

Have you met Bentley?  Bentley was new to Washington this year and we are sure lucky he joined our classroom!  Bentley has sure learned to make everyone smile with his fun personality!  Bentley likes Pumpkin Pie (my favorite!) and video games.  He enjoys spending time with his brother and cousins.  

Meet Alexis

Alexis is another new student to Washington.  We are thrilled she has joined our classroom as well!  Alexis likes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and loves reading.  I often find her with a chapter book in the classroom reading like crazy.  Alexis is always helping others in the classroom, including me!  Below she leads calendar math.

We also celebrated a 1/2 birthday in class on Friday.  Happy 1/2 Birthday Leah!  Thanks for the yummy treats and we are glad to celebrate with you!

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: In reading we are working on identifying story structure, including characters, setting and plot.  We have also began identifying character dialogue and the use of quotation marks.  Our phonics focus is final blends like in the words camp, think, and just.

Math: In math we are working on subtraction strategies.  Students have practiced counting on, counting back and taking away to complete subtraction sentences.  This week we will work to rearrange the problems as well as determine the relationship between addition and subtraction.  The students are utilizing Daily 5 stations well and have been introduced to computers as an option for math practice.

Emily works on Everyday Math games.

Anthony, Trevor and Iris complete Math with Self stations.

Writing: We are beginning our next unit on procedural nonfiction in writer's workshop.  We began this unit by making trail mix and then writing the steps to complete the process.  Students will work to plan and then write their first "how to" book next week.

Social Studies: Students are working hard to understand different cultures and beliefs.  They will use their new knowledge to make connections and then compare and contrast holiday traditions.

Upcoming Reminders

December 12-16: Ringing the Bell for Salvation Army (see schedule on calendar)

December 22: Grinch Day! (Wear green and/or pajamas!)

December 23-January 2: Winter Break

Collaboration, Communication & 4th Grade Buddies!

Good evening!  I hope you have had a joyous holiday celebrating togetherness with your loved ones.  A lot of exciting things have been happening in 1st grade lately, but if your kiddo is anything like mine, you hear nothing about school!  I feel like I am pulling teeth to hear what my son ate for lunch!  Perhaps this post will help generate conversation with your firstie!

Meet Sam!

Have you met Sam yet?  Sam has a pretty neat hairstyle that all of the 1st graders love to touch!  Thanksgiving must be the perfect holiday for Sam because he loves Deviled Eggs!  Sam has two big brothers and is an amazing friend.  Coincidentally, Sam was also this month's Character Champion!  Sam was caught helping numerous peers without being asked.  He always demonstrates the character traits that Mr. Carlson so passionately promotes at Washington.  It is students like Sam that make this school the great place that it is!  Keep up the great work, Sam!

It was also Ethan's big day on Thanksgiving!  Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Last week the 1st graders got a first hand experience in 21st Century skills with Mrs. Cain in the library!  Following several stories, students were greeted in the library to find out that their book for the day was locked in a box!  They had to communicate and work collaboratively to solve five clues to open the box.  The clues eventually opened 5 locks, and the students found their final book, The Reader. Thanks Mrs. Cain for this awesome experience.

The excitement continued when the 1st graders were introduced to their 4th grade buddy class.  This year, our class has joined forces with Mrs. Clarey's class for some activities to promote friendship.  Our first activity allowed for students to meet their buddy as well as read to one another.  It is so fun to see so many of my former students and how they have changed over the past four years.  I had this bunch of kiddos in kindergarten!

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: Students have been working hard to stretch and segment words to hear consonant blends.  We practiced our blends by playing "Blend It" with a partner.  Students are also learning about subjects and predicates and sentence structure.  

Math: In math students are working hard on addition number sentences.  Students are learning a variety of efficient strategies to solve their number sentences.  Our goal is fact fluency to 10 and an understanding of addition to 20.  We will begin subtraction soon!  

Science: We will begin a study of the seasons next week.  Students will work in their science journal and a flip-book to draw, write and describe the seasons.  

Upcoming Reminders

December 5: Holidays Around the World Donations Due (THANK YOU!)

December 9: Book Order's Due

December 11-17: Mrs. Sterling's class rings Salvation Army Kettle Bell

Artists in the Making

What a busy couple of weeks we have had in 1st grade!  I am so looking forward to visiting with you this week at Parent-Teacher Conferences.  I have been busy gathering information to share with you and am looking forward to CELEBRATING your child's individual achievement!

Our field trip the Plains Art Museum was a huge highlight of the week!  We had a great time on the bus, in the exhibit hall and in the creative art studio, making our penguins!  Those of you that participate in Remind should have received a cute text message photo of your 1st grader!  If you haven't signed up yet, please see me and I'll help you register!  In the meantime, check out these cute photos!

Meet Mason

Mason was our Star Student October 31-4 and is a shining example of what it means to be kind and caring.  Mason always wants to make sure everyone is happy and has a smile worth a million bucks!  After meeting Mason, you will quickly learn that he loves the color red, his dogs Loki and Sif and of course, his Mom and Dad and little sister, Claire.  Check him out below making his penguin!

Meet Iris

Iris was our Star Student this past week in 1st grade.  Iris leads by example in first grade, always staying focus and on task, wanting to learn.  Iris loves crafts, all subjects in school and her family of 6.  I think Iris may perhaps be a future teacher in the making!  She was quite the helper this week, even helping me check student word sorts.  Check her out below taking her job VERY seriously!

A Peek at Our Week

Reading: In reading we have been working hard to practice our standard, Key Ideas and Details, by asking and answering questions about texts, retelling stories, and describing the characters, setting and plot.  Students have learned about nouns, verbs and adjectives as well.  In phonics we are working on R blends.

Math: In math we are working on addition fact fluency to 10.  Students are learning how to make combinations and solve equations efficiently.  We will learn about Number Bonds next week through several hands on activities.  We made turkeys to show off our knowledge of combinations of 10!  

Writing: Students are learning how to add details to their small moment stories by using vivid verbs, transition words, feeling words, speech bubbles and more!  The students are really mastering the Revising and Editing table and are supporting one another nicely to make corrections to their writing.  I can't wait to share writing with you at conferences!

A story plan a student uses to craft her writing idea.

Students use post-it notes and red pens to revise and edit their writing with partners.

Anabelle and Alexis work to revise each other's pieces.

Science: In science we began our Earth science unit.  Students have learned about natural and man-made resources.  We learned about the importance of water on Earth and even created our own water cycle.  Thank goodness my experiment worked!

Upcoming Reminders

November 15, 17, 21: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 22: Spirit Day

November 23-25: No School (Thanksgiving Break)