It was another busy week in 1S!  Below are some highlights from our week.

Reader's Workshop:

This week in Reader's Workshop first graders continued to work on building their stamina.  Today we read for 16 minutes! We also talked about what readers do at the end of a book.  Check out our anchor chart below:

We also created our Readers Workshop Promise and talked about what we were going to do every day during Reader's Workshop.

Today, first graders got their reading bags and shopping lists!  Ask your child to tell you about our reading menu (entrees and desserts).

Math Workshop:

During math workshop, first graders continued to work on their addition skills by playing 5 In-a-Row, a game similar to Bingo.  They also worked on comparing quantities by playing Double Compare and Double Compare Dots.  First graders also worked together in pairs to order numbers that they drew from a deck of cards.   Ask your child about the different games they played this week!  

Playing Collect 20

Playing Collect 20

Playing Double Compare Dots

Playing 5 In-a-Row

Playing Double Compare Dots

Playing 5 In-a-Row

Playing Double Compare

Writer's Workshop:

We read a story called Rocket Writes a Story during Writer's Workshop.  This was a story about a dog named Rocket who couldn't think of a story to write.  We used this story to talk about how sometimes it's hard to come up with a story to write about.  As a class, we generated a list of topics that first graders could write about if they got stuck.  Check out our list below:

We also talked about how important it is to make sure that there are spaces between all of our words.  If we forget to leave spaces, our writing looks like a long string of letters and makes it hard for the reader to understand what we're writing. 

Conferences:

If you haven't signed up for a fall conference, please make sure you do.  Please let me know if you need the sign-up sheet resent.

Classroom Donations:

• Purell-We are all out of Purell in 1S!  If you have any that you would be willing to donate to our classroom, we would greatly appreciate it!  
• Games-Every Friday in first grade, students earn "Fun Friday".  I would love to have some new (ours are getting a little outdated, missing pieces, etc.) board games available for students to use during this time.  If you have any that you are willing to donate to our classroom, we would love to use them!

Thank you in advance for your donations!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

First Technology Project!

First graders completed their first technology project of the year using VoiceThread!  First, we read a story together called The Important Book.  Then, first graders created a page for our version of this book called The Most Important Thing About First Grade.  After, I took pictures of first graders proudly holding their work.   Finally, Mrs. Kress came and recorded first graders reading their page.  Click here to take a peek at the final product!  You should also be able to share the link with family and friends!

Welcome to First Grade!

Thank you all for taking the time to come to curriculum night last night.  It was great to see so many familiar faces and wonderful to meet some new families.  Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the information given out last night.  A conference sign-up will be going out next week via email.

First graders have been very busy the past eleven days learning and practicing the new routines in first grade.  So far, they have been doing an amazing job!  In Reader's Workshop, we have been working hard on building our stamina as readers.  This means that we are trying to build up our reading muscles as we read the words and pictures in a book.  Today, we read for 13 minutes!  We have also been practicing choosing "good fit" books.  These are books that are not too hard and not too easy, they are just right!  Ask your child about the five finger rule when figuring out if a book is a "good fit".

Here are a few pictures of first graders building their stamina!

We also launched Writer's Workshop this week.  We started by creating a "heart map" where first graders sketched and wrote about things that they love and care about.  Then, first graders picked an idea and began writing and illustrating their story.  I was so impressed with all the writing I saw on the first day!  Ask your child to tell you what their story is about.

In Math Workshop, students have been working on counting and comparing quantities by playing different math games.  The math games are called "collect 20", "compare dots" and "compare".  They have also been familiarizing themselves with the different math materials that we use in first grade. 

Here's a peak at first graders exploring some of the different math materials in the classroom.

We ended our very busy week with Fun Friday!  

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Welcome to 1^st Grade! 

We are off to a great start to the year!

Stay tuned for more information…