Snack & Share and Creative Writing

I found a really great website, blazinglogs.com , that is a big screen view of a crackling fire. During their creative writing I had the fire projected onto the big screen. It turned out to be our longest writing session yet! They were all quiet as mice as they wrote about what snowmen do at night. Later in the week, we invited Mr. Anderson's class over for a First Grade Book Club by the fire!! Oprah has nothing on our Book Club! We all heard the same read aloud, Emmitt's Snow Ball, and then wrote the characters, setting and favorite part on our snack bag. When all students were done writing on their bag, the bags were filled with popcorn and the students were buddied up to discuss the story. We were AMAZED at the conversations the students were having with each other. It was extremely fun to listen to and they were really able to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the story.

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Metacognition

This week we worked on metacognition, or thinking about our thinking. We learned that good readers are thinking and making connections as they read. After demonstrating the thoughts that go through a good readers head during our read aloud, it was then time for some brave volunteers to give it a try. Below are students reading a book about arctic animals while their partner holds up a thought bubble and shares their thinking with the class. They had to start their sentences with "I wonder", "I notice", or "I predict". They did such a great job and those that were listening were quite the captive audience!

A Fun Way To Practice Word Wall Words!

Here is our reigning champion demonstrating one of our Literacy Center games. The students must read the sight word on the cup before adding it to the tower. This is an excellent way to work on fluency, and the kids LOVE it!! Enjoy!
Thank you to our camera man, Hunter.

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Cause and Effect

This week we read The Napping House by Audrey Wood. We really focused on identifying the many different examples of cause and effect present throughout the story. We learned that cause is why something happened and the effect is what happened. The students then chose an example of this that occurred in the story to write and illustrate.

5 in a Row

Here we are playing a math game involving solid figures. The object of the game is to get 5 of your markers in a row on the game board. In order to place a marker down you must name the solid figure your spinner landed on along with one fact. For instance if you landed on a cube you would say, "This is a cube and it has 8 vertices". We play many different math games in first grade. It is an excellent opportunity for me to walk around and asses what students know, and best of all they are solidifying their skills by playing a game!

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Creating Our Gingerbread Neighborhood

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Playing In The Snow

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A BIG THANK YOU!!!!

This weekend at the cake auction my husband and I were bidding on some delicious chocolate cake pops. I know they are delicious because they are made by Grace's mom Trina : ) . Anyway, by the time we left the auction we had been outbid. To my surprise when I arrived at school Monday I had the cake pops on my desk!! Whoever bought them for me wanted to remain anonymous so this is my only way of thanking them. So, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I can't wait to bring them home and surprise my husband!!

Stone People Game

Here we are playing a Native American game called Stone People. This game involves listening, sequence and story retell. Our buddies made rocks with symbols on them. First graders then had to come up with a story that would involve all three symbols on the rocks and their buddies had to decide whether or not the story made sense. Enjoy the slideshow and have a wonderful weekend.

Computer Lab

This week we used the computer lab for the first time. The first graders were able to get their computers, open and turn them on, get online and find our blog, then access a link to a math game. They did such a great job and were very careful with the laptops. We will definitely be seeing a lot more of the lab!

What a Week!

Here are pictures from our week full of fun! The pictures taken during our poem book reading in the dark turned out blurry, but I thought you would enjoy them anyway. Have a Happy Halloween!

Writer's Workshop

Writer's Workshop is a time that children are able to write about experiences, family, friends or create a make believe story. As they write I walk around the classroom and have small meetings (about 2-3 minutes) with individual students to help guide their writing. We have been doing Writer's Workshop for several weeks now and we have started our peer editing. This is a time that students use to make their writing better. Students discuss what has been written and look for places they could add detail. We give one compliment and one suggestion. I have seen such growth in their writing and there is nothing better than a first graders imagination! Writer's Workshop folders will be shared at parent/teacher conferences. I hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Bookworm Club

Thank you so much to those of you that were able to make it to Bookworm Club! I was so impressed with the amount of reading that was done at home. Thank you for being so involved and for making Bookworm Club a part of your daily routine!
Bookworm Club is every Friday from 12:00-12:30.

Skyview Parade and Apple Stations!

5th Grade Buddies!!

Interviews