Reading Buddies!

Today we met our 4th grade Reading Buddies from Mrs. Reekie-Evan's class. Students jumped right into their new partnerships by finding out what they had in common. They then spent some time reading the books the first graders had chosen in their book boxes. We can't wait until the next time we get together!

Math Games

This week we have been playing two math games, Monster Squeeze (to practice greater than and less than) and Bunny Hop (to practice moving up and down a number line.) We also began talking about number bonds, combining numbers (parts) to make a larger number (whole.) Students modeled the number bonds with cubes and then we shared them on the board.

Sharing Our Reading Journey

Students have learned in class that reading is a journey. And sometimes, we get to share that journey with a partner. Today we practiced three ways to read with a partner - Choral Reading (reading at the same time), Take Turns (partners take turns with sentences or pages) and Echo (partner reads back the same thing.) Try these fun ways to read together at home.

Rights of the Child

From 1 out of 7 Hungry

This week we have spent time discussing the rights of every child, beginning with the right to food. In class we listened to a helpful introductory song and video. We also read a powerful book called For Every Child by Caroline Castle. The three first grade classes got together for a visual demonstration with pretend food, showing how one seventh of the world's population does not have enough food to eat. We discussed how children felt about this and some of the ways people can help.We also applied our new logging on skills to the laptops and learned about the importance of food through PebbleGo. Feel free to follow the links above and the PebbleGo link on the side of the blog to visit this material again with your child.

Reading Logs!

From Reading Log

Yesterday we began bringing home our reading logs. Please help your child remember to do his or her nightly reading (to you, with you, or listening to you...depending on how hard or just right the book is for your child) and then help him or her remember to complete the reading log each night. There is a small box where you can initial, but the rest can be done by your child. The book and reading log should be returned in the folder to school the very next day. Thanks for your support in establishing this routine!

Logging On and Sharing Stories

Today students learned to "log on" to the laptops at school. (Many kept asking which "apps" we were going to use...a sign of the iPad times our children are growing up in.) We are practicing logging on in order to get ready to use a resource later in the week called Pebblego. This is a great nonfiction resource for our Rights of a Child social studies unit. We also shared our writing with partners at the end of Writers Workshop. We practiced using eye contact to do excellent listening. We found quiet places to share with our partners all over the classroom!

Word Bingo and Number Patterns

Last week students played word bingo to practice sight words. Today you will see a practice sheet brought home where students practiced covering up and writing these words independently. We have also been looking at number patterns, modeling these with cubes and other tools in class. Ask your child what is "one more than" or "one less than" a given number.

How I Can Fill a Bucket

Check out these thoughtful and personality-filled posters about different ways we can "fill a bucket."

First Days Photos

Hooray, the blog permission slips are in! Enjoy these photos of your children in action during our first several days of school.

How to Walk in the Hallway Song

The children love this catchy tune. It helps us remember to to keep our voices off and hands by our sides when walking in the hallway.

Fill Your Bucket Song

Here is the Fill Your Bucket song, to go with the book mentioned below!

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

In class we read a wonderful book about caring for others and creating happiness around us. Ask your child to tell you more about it and enjoy the story read aloud here on YouTube. We will be working on "filling each other's buckets" all year.

First Day of First Grade!

Welcome to the school year, first-graders. We had a busy day getting to know each other and learning the routines of first grade and of our brand new class. At back to school night, I will ask parents to sign permission slips to allow me to post photos of your children on our blog. I will give you all the details at Back to School Night. Meanwhile, I will not post any photos of students. For now, here are some snapshots to let you in on our first day. Ask your child to tell you more about these photos, from morning message to September calendars, our graph about how many letters are in our names, and even a bowl of worms. Your child is bringing home many important items in his/her folder today...please look out for the Me in a Nutshell Bag (bring back anytime in the first two weeks of school), Child Information Sheet (please return as soon as you are able) and the Back to School Book Party letter (your child should bring a favorite book from home by Thursday.) We had a wonderful day together; it was a happy start to the year. I am sure your child will be tired tonight...get a good night's sleep, everyone!