Monday, November 30, 2015

Wow, have I missed these kids!!!

We jumped right into this week's reading theme (measuring time) and reading/spelling with a consonant e. Loved their hard work today. 

Our fluency is Santa (hope that comes home tomorrow) and we used Santa yo help us learn and practice contractions. 

Math felt like no time was lost. We picked  right up with subtracting 9 from a teen number and reviewing all the strategies we know, plus we started doubles (which is review--smart kids!!!). 

I was super impressed with the behavior of the kids today. Quiet, respectful and loving. What a good day!!!

Thanksgiving in First Grade

On Thursday we made a cute pumpkin pie craft, and then wrote a sequence of how we made the pie on Wednesday.

And then--after lunch--we tried it! Some liked it, some loved it, some did not like it.

Friday was crazy! I tried to keep it normal, but fun, but it was just HARD!

We finished up our week of maps and digraphs, and continued to practice subtracting 9 from teen numbers using tens frames (to have the visual without using fingers or a number line). I am working very hard to get the kids to "see" the numbers, and do the math with the picture--because that leads to greater understanding than just "counting backward on the number line." The second, third and fourth grade teachers will be so happy about this in the future!

The fun things we did was create "turkey leg" hats. The room was loud, and chaotic. But we managed to get them all done by the time our school-wide feast started. And Mrs. Black let us knead some bread for the Big Feast.

Thank you families that donated baby carrots to the feast.

I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving break, and if the kids want to do work...

1. Play Go Fish with a regular deck of cards (take out face cards). Instead of asking for the same number, ask for the partner to ten, then when you get a match--say the addition problem when you lay it down.

(I have a 6, I ask for a 4, I get a 4. When I lay it down I say "6+4=10.")

2. Read to your child every day. (Books from the library, kid friendly articles on the Internet, recipes that you are making for a big dinner, the schedule on the tv, comics, instruction manuals, the blog)

3. Write a sentence (or two...) about what you do every day.

I would LOVE to read these when the students come back to school on November 30!

Pumpkin Pie Day

It was crazy, but beautiful!

This morning we ran through some reading and groups reviewing digraphs and high frequency words.

Then we were brave and made two pumpkin pies. Each child got to do part of the cooking.

I finished up the other two pies while they were at lunch.

And the maps, treasure maps were made and used at recess. 

Later, in the afternoon we worked on a sequencing related to the pie, and read a fluency about pumpkin pie. Both of those were sent home--check the backpacks.

Next, we did A LOT of review of adding numbers. I hope to send more papers home to show you what we are doing. The goal is to not use fingers for addition, rather use strategies (make a ten).

What a great day!

Monday and Tuesday

We've been busy, but the pictures have just not happened. So sorry!!!

Highlights:

1. The kids cleaned out Violet's water tank and changed the straw in her shed. 

2. They continue to knock my socks off with addition facts and we started subtraction story problems. Our go to strategy is to figure out how to make a number closer to 10 and then solve. That shows an increase in number sense for sure!!!

3. Hello sight words (high frequency words)! They are all over the place and they love reading them in stories. 

4. And hello to some new digraphs (ch, wh, and ph). Love the readers they are becoming. 

5. Mr. Williams stopped by today and we gave him an update on Violet. She is now going to get only one bottle a day and grain twice a day. He was pleased with the children as they spontaneously told him about Violet. 

6. Maps. We are reading about maps. Maps are fascinating. Soon the kids will become map makers. 

7. Today we had about ten minutes to read from The Doll People. I love reading aloud-it is such a great way to increase vocabulary. Today's wonderful word was sprawled. 

So, they decided to demonstrate "sprawling."

PS--we know all kinds of things about nouns. What can the kids show you? (Hints: what is a noun? What do singular and plural mean?)

Fantastic Friday, November 13, 2015

We rocked and rolled this morning to crank out all the work in Reading, Writing and Math so that we could have a celebration in the afternoon. Great job kids!

The fabulous first graders wrote thank you letters for our colorful carpet.

They completed a "character, setting and events" organizer for the Thanksgiving book Lillian read yesterday.

And they continued to work on adding three numbers. Really it is adding 2 numbers ( 9+4= ) but trying to break the 4 into 1 + 3 really helps, so that is the three numbers ( 9+1+3= ).

After lunch we celebrated a great week of flexibility (substitutes, no voice, sore throats, etc.) with a movie (Maya the Bee), recess, popcorn and another recess.

Love the weather! Happy weekend!

Rest up, I have BIG plans for next week!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

It was a quick day for me...

The fluency story for the week is about Long Ago and Today. So, today we did a little writing about differences, and added a craft to it. Now it hangs in our room. Looks great!!!

Just before science Lillian read a Thanksgiving book to the class. I wanted to read it, but my voice just didn't let me. She did great reading and the kids were fantastic listeners. So respectful!!!

I left the class in capable hands at noon and went home to try to find my voice. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow. 

Wednesday, November 11, 3015

It was a lovely day in first grade! 

Meet our new classmate: Goldy. 

We are learning about some digraph and how to read them. Again, so proud of the notice the kids are taking when they read our stories. 

And then there's math! These kids are PROS at adding three numbers, and adding ten to a number (1-9).

And finally---the pumpkin has sprouted!!!

Thoughtful Thursday, November 5, 2015

This isn't really thoughtful, but rather some thoughts...

One group that worked during reading intervention did an activity with beginnings and endings of words. Put them together and read. The word could be real or non-sense.

After lunch I read a chapter from our newest chapter book The Doll People, and then we headed to do some work in the calf pen.

The kids cleaned out the hay container. Loved watching them work hard.

During math we practiced more friendly numbers in addition. Really, they have it!

Looking forward to a great evening and a fantastic day tomorrow.