Monday, January 30, 2012

Groundhog Day Fact Book

Sooo unfortunately I have to be out on Wednesday the 1st because what I really want to be doing is making predictions about that little groundhog!  The next best thing is to have my students learn about Groundhog Day and make predictions without me {boo :( }.

I quickly made this Groundhog Day Fact Book.  It includes predictions, visualizations and some vocabulary.  I hope your kiddos enjoy it!




Good luck with your predictions!  I'm hoping for early spring {yes, I do live in Florida and don't even have it that bad }.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Word Wall Routine

During our Reading Workshop our word work time focuses on the Word Wall.  This allows students to learn the sight words needed and spelling patterns that develops them into problem solvers while reading.  Otherwise the students are learning the patterns within the context of reading, whether it be shared reading, read alouds, or guided reading groups.

In first grade, our school uses Month-by-Month Phonics and Words Their Way.  The MBM develops the sight words that they must know in order to read and does some spelling patterns.  WTW allows the students to work on patterns at their individual pace.

Here is our word wall routine, day by day...this is when we use the MBM words. 






My students work on their WTW sort from a workbook during centers.  This way each student is working within their abilities at the given time. The patterns are then reinforced during guided reading groups.

Here are some other items I have posted before but I find really useful while working on words.
Enjoy!


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

More Expository!

Here are two book formats for All About writing and How To writing.






Enjoy!

Odds and Ends

***Updated with finished product pictures!***

So I saw this adorable job on Pinterest and went to investigate @ Me and Marie Learning.  She created the greeter job for her class.  The child wears an apron in the morning with ways to greet.  The students coming in select which way they would like to be greeted.  I thought it was an awesome idea!  There are cards to print on her blog and I also made some using Scrappin' Doodles. 
Pinned Image

This also got me thinking about my own job chart.  I've had a hard time getting my students to be hyped about their jobs.  I'm not afraid to change things if they just aren't working.  All that being said, I thought that if I tied it to real jobs out in the real world (or funny ways to say them) they might just be inspired enough to help out a little more.  Here's our new jobs we are going to try out! My herder will also be my greeter.


Lastly, we have a school wide sign that everyone has on their door to tell where the class is at.  I love it but it has no picture supports and it is missing a couple places we go....so time for a new one!  The person with the GPS job will be in charge of changing this.  I am going to attach a paper clip with ribbon fringe on the end (easy to slide).  Once I put the finishing touches on these little projects I'll post the pictures :)


Enjoy!


Saturday, January 21, 2012

Word Wall update

Pinned Image
rjyoung23 on flickr.com posted this picture.  I instantly fell in love with the look and knew I couldn't wait till August to try it out in my room.  My word wall was fine but I knew this would make it even better!

Here's the before:


The AFTER:



In my room there is one bulletin board and cement block walls {hard to hang stuff...see the missing piece to the alphabet above} so my cabinets were the most logical place.  I would like to have a bulletin board, like rjyoung's but sometimes you just have to make do.  To complete this look, I used scrapbook paper, letters from the dollar tree, ribbon {5-6 kinds}, and a glue gun.  Pretty simple and probably to an hour to make.

Here are some anchor charts from the week:
 My smart coworker told me to read the first several pages of The Most Beautiful Place in the World to start visualizing.  Great reccommendation from Mrs. Gilman!  Those kiddos just got it!

 For Schema we read Alice the Fairy and Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild.

 For retelling, we used Rosie's Walk and next we'll be using The Napping House.

This was our order numbers using a numberline chart.  At the top is vocabulary, then a poem about the alligator and a chart about comparing numbers.  The bottom holds our graphic organizer.  We used food to carry this one through.  I put three food items on the ledge of the board and wrote their costs above.  The students wrote them at the top, marked them on the number line and wrote them in order.  Then I said, "Your Momma told you to get the cheapest or least, which one did you get?"  It was so fun!

Now here's for the cuteness that fills my Saturdays....my sweet niece giving me the hurry up look or I'll help auntie!

Look I'm a blogger too!

Have a great Saturday!


Friday, January 20, 2012

Odd and Even Patterning and Exploration

We ran a little tight on time and had to skip patterning {gasp!} but its OK, my intern and I found a way to squeeze it in while moving on with the curriculum.  She is such a smart woman....some kids {and mine as well} will be lucky to have her....her ability to know what to do is right on target!

Sooo...we decided to forgo centers for a week or two and take that time to work on patterning.  Here are some fun activities that are sure to brighten our firsties' patterning days!








Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Using Place Value to Add and Subtract

Hi y'all!  We are moving from comparing numbers to using place value to add and subtract.  I know my little ones will need a lot of support because we struggled with comparing numbers. My new intern and I have planned some fun, interactive lessons that will meet every type of learner.  The kids will role play using their bodies as ten rods and their shoes as ones.  We also have a scavengar hunt in the works....and much more!  Here are the organizers I have created for support....

The first idea I got from Mrs. T's First Grade Class!  I changed it to include an addition problem.  {The second page of the document has ten rods to copy and use.}
The other ideas are straight from my head after going over our series, the content and our roadmaps.


So that's what I have for that {for now!}.  On another note, our class has our first intern!  She is a sweetie and has such great ideas!!  Especially math {which happens to not be my strong suit} in which my lessons tend to lack something at times.  I feel like I will continually learn and grow year after year...even from the newest of the new.  I feel very blessed as a teacher that she came into my life to make me even better at my job!

Enjoy your night!

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