Language Arts Publications

Please check out these resources from the Department of Education. They give parents suggestions on how to help their child at home and also go over reading research.

Our Community Standards

We worked hard last week developing our Community Standards. We began the year by creating a class book about Why we go to school. Then each student came up with a Hope and Dream for the school year.We moved onto how we can help each other reach our Hopes and Dreams by creating our Community Standards. Community Standards are like rules. However, the standards are things we will do instead of what we won't do.

Students began listing rules for our class. Then we changed each "don't" into a "do." Next, we sorted rules into groups. The students felt that "Walk" and "Go down the slide," could all be covered with "Be Safe."

These are standards developed BY the students. I guided students when needed, but they felt these five should be our standards for the year.

I typed our our standards in fun fonts and today the students were able to decorate the letters. We worked with the word cooperation before beginning. Here are some students hard at work.

Each group worked together on one standard. I have hung up the Community Standards on a special bulletin board, but you'll have to wait for the big reveal...one more special addition.

My Mathematicians

I am a HUGE fan of Math Investigations! Several years ago I began searching for new approaches to math instruction after I was disappointed in my students Iowa math scores. (That is when first grade took the Iowa tests.) I began teaching math with the same philosophy of Investigations several years ago after taking a Marilyn Burns class. It was eye opening and helped me develop a passion for Math. I became even more excited when I saw results. So when they asked for teachers to pilot Investigations two years ago, I jumped at the chance and haven't looked back.

Students dived right into our Math tools. The exploration days are some of my favorites. I get to observe what students already know and what they discover during this time. Many of you saw the photos at Parent Info Night. Students were exploring symmetry. They discovered that you can put certain shapes together to create a new shape, and had much fun with patterns.

We have now moved onto number sense. We learned Collect 20 and then focused on counting and ordering quantities.

As we began Collect 20, I did not tell students how to organize their counters. This student chose to do rows of 5. I challenged him to figure out how many rows of 5 make 20. He was so excited to share what he learned with his classmates!

These students chose to make a pattern while playing Collect 20! 

These girls are working together to create staircases.

So proud of his finished product!!

This week we will continue to work on ordering numbers, but also comparing numbers.

First Day Fun

The school year has begun! Today we learned A LOT about being a first grader. We modeled and practiced lunch, recess, lockers, and much more. We began learning about the tools we will use in the classroom by starting a very special self-portrait. We also had a school wide assembly. Here are a few photos.

And here is our first class photo of many. Don't I have the cutest class!!!

 

And of course we had to do a "silly" photo!

To My First Grade Families

Meet the Teacher Forms

Happy New School Year! I am looking forward to Meet the Teacher on Wednesday. Please remember, last names A-M are from 1-2 and Last Names N-Z are from 2-3. Please bring the following:

I understand that there are a lot of forms to fill out this time of year. There will be additional forms on Meet the Teacher and Parent Info Night. I will have the forms available for you, but if you want to print and fill them out ahead of time, please do so. Here are the forms for Wednesday.

Thanks to Cara for making the Student Info form.

Save the Date for Parent Info Night! It is Thursday, September 1st at 7PM. We will be going over curriculum, policies, and the year ahead. You will also be introduced to your child's FROG book that evening. If you want to learn more about the FROG book and our classroom, you can visit our website. Just click the frog below.

Finally, there will be information on Parent Volunteers at Parent Info Night. However, I am in need of a few parent volunteers to help put together the FROG Books on Monday, August 29th. If you are able to assist, please comment below or send me an email.

Thanks!

This one's for the Teachers

Dear Teacher Friends,

Check out the new blog, Blog Hoppin', then hop on over to my teaching blog, Teach to Reach All for a fun filled week!