Today we had an amazing assembly!  

We have a new friendship bench at our school now because of one BHS senior and his vision to help kids find friends.  Check out our guest speaker ...   http://www.tinygirlbigdream.org/

Today we worked on more problem solving in math.  We focused on four different strategies for solving a problem, drawing a picture, making a number sentence, making a model with stuff (dominoes, cubes, crayons etc.)  or tallying.  The kids did great!
FYI you will see lots of unfinished work send home this year (for example the word problem paper from today).  Please be aware that unfinished work at this age and this time of the year is fine!  First graders are working on the balance between work completion and work quality.

FYI the spirit wear order for BES shirts and sweatshirts closes tomorrow.  If you are interested look for the link on the BES website.

What a special day in room 107!  We were loving having our stuffed animals here in school with us today.  It was a hit!

In literacy we have been segmenting and blending words.  When we do this we are practicing it on our fingers by tapping the sounds out and then blending or sweeping them back together.    

In math we did tried our hand and some simple word problems.  We found that there are a lot of ways we can solve these problems!  Some kids made tallies, some wrote a number sentence, some used a number line, some used a number grid, some drew  picture and others made a model.  

Instead of our normal writer's workshop today we did a special project.  As we are reading the book Charlotte's Web, we each brainstormed and chose a word that Charlotte might have put in the web to describe us!  Here is a list of our final words....see if you can guess your student's word!

Ice skater

Funny

Loving

Happy

Good

Playing

Smiley

Silly

Smart

Fun

Fast

Artist

Beautiful

Brother

Sweet

Awesome

Terrific

Today we reached a very exciting milestone!  We have filled up our privilege bucket for the first time this year!  The class brainstormed and voted and the first privilege is...bring in a stuffed animal day!  Which will be tomorrow (Wednesday).  Please remind your first grader to pack 1 stuffed animal in their bag for tomorrow.  We discussed the difference between a stuffed animal ( no light up/ sound effects etc) and a toy.  We discussed all kids who ride the bus need to keep their stuffed animal in their bags on the bus and then they can free them when they get into our room.

This class couldn't be more deserving, we took 2 (short) assessments today.  First our end of unit FUNdations test to look at how well we are doing with letter/sound correlation and handwriting of lowercase letters and then later a AIMSweb math assessment to get our baseline data for addition and subtraction.  I was very impressed by what I saw on both tests.  The big idea I went over with the kids was that I wasn't concerned so much with what they get right and wrong and just that they try their best.  I can honestly say they worked very hard today and they did try their best!

These assessments and much more will be shared with you at PTC in a few weeks.

Despite my best attempts at carving out time in the day to call and chat with families I have not made it through my list.  I know talking on the phone during the day is not easy or doable for everyone.  IF you did not get a call or chance to chat with me and want to chat or email about your child's transition into first grade I would love to connect.  Shoot me an email, my possible times are 10:10 am, 11:30am or 12:40pm.  No question or concern is too small.  I am all ears!  Thanks!

Today we had our first guest teacher when Mrs. Pelletier was out in the morning.  I was so happy to hear the team worked well together for the guest teacher!

In literacy we revealed our last two letters of the alphabet and got our last two picture cards.  We now know a picture clue to reference for each letter sound.  Look for a new homework log coming home this week and focus on the letter/picture/sound correlation for our 5 vowels.


Today also in our folders is a pink permission slip for our first field trip!  We are continuing the first grade tradition of building fairy houses!  We will be reading the fairy house books by Tracy Kane in school soon.  All families are invited to join us on Thursday October 6th from 845 to 945.  We will meet in the school outside the gym/office area and walk into the Bow School Woods behind the school and follow the trails to find a good building site.  Please return the pink permission slip and check the box if you plan on coming to join us.

FYI we have a guidance lesson in lieu of library 1 out of every 5 weeks.  Today we had guidance.  I gave the students a choice to either return their books or hang on to them until next Monday.  Next Monday we will return to the library and exchange books.

We had our best day in first grade yet!  I am so amazed at how comfortable the kids are getting and how much they are already learning and participating.  We start each day with a morning meeting and we have started taking volunteers to lead the song ( sing solo part).  I have already had a lot of hands up to be a leader!  What a brave group!

In literacy we are learning for some and reviewing for others how to segment and blend words.  We tap out the sounds on our fingers and then blend them.  Ask your first grader to show you how to segment and blend a simple word by giving them the sounds one at a time..."/c/..../a/...../t/."

In math we launched our new math app called ST Math on the ipads today!  All the kids did some training to remember their 13 pictures code password!  They loved it!

More on ST Math soon!

Remember to turn in your homework log tomorrow or Monday if your first grader has colored in any apples on their log.

Also we introduced the privilege bucket today to reinforce all the positive behavior we have going on in our room.  We work as a team to fill the bucket and then we pick a special privilege to do!  Ask your first grader what they brainstormed they want to suggest!

Yesterday first graders brought home their first homework log.  All families should have received an email from me about the log. Key points:
*We (the first grade team) are doing something different this year
*We are not focused on worksheets as we may have done in the past
*Homework time is working to build fluency
*All ideas are suggestions and not mandatory
*Use this as it fits in your life for your family and your first grader
*Logs can be turned in Monday in any condition (did none, did some, did a lot)
*Email me for any clarification.

In literacy we have worked our way up to doing 4 rotations a day!  Phew!  One of those rotations is at the reading table and we are slowly beginning to try reading groups!  Reading bags will begin coming home in October (again use as you see fit).

In math we are continuing to practice counting by 5's and making tallies.  We have started to talk and learn about number sentences, with the focus being on addition sentences.  We started making some number sentences today for our cluster cards.  For example a cluster of 4 could be 3+1=4 or 2+2=4.  We will continue to practice number sentences with cuisenaire rods tomorrow.

In writing we are launching our first unit of study (in the Lucy Calkin's program) Small Moments.  Our focus is to write about something that has happened to us or that we like to do and zooming in to tell about a specific small moment in that story.  Our mentor text The Night of the Veggie Monster , tells a funny story about what happens in one zoomed in moment when a little boy is forced to eat his peas at the dinner table.  Ask your first grader what they are writing about!

Today was our school picture day!  We all made it to the camera and gave our best smiles.

Today ( and last Monday) we had Mr. B, our school guidance counselor come in and do a lesson on the Zones of Regulations.  We started talking about our emotions and our actions.  We are learning to identify when we are in each zone with our bodies and how we can get and stay in the green zone.  If this is unfamiliar to you check out this link...  www.zonesofregulation.com

In math we are learning to count by 5's.  Look for a number grid coming home today with only the count by 5 numbers highlighted.  Have your student practice telling you the count by 5 numbers first by using the number grid and then eventually by memory!

We had library today, please try to remind your first grader to bring in their library books each Monday so we can exchange them.

Today we had our first whole grade morning meeting. Each Friday we do this in the caf with all 5 first grade classes to promote friendship among kids from different classes and create a sense of community. We sang "hey there neighbor!" to partners from different classes, did "just like me" and wet over recess rules and expectations.

In math we used our knowledge of tallying to tally fingers and solve problems like "how many fingers are at my table?"  "how many fingers on all the girls in our class?  our whole class?"
You can extend this at home and have your first grader find the number of fingers at your house!  Have them try to tally them up!

Tonight there is a yellow paper coming home which is our first grade team 107 friendship list.  Put this in a safe place for future play date contact information!  If you would like a digital copy email me and I can send one to you!

Don't forget tonight is the BES picnic, check the website for details.

We have been busy in first grade, sorry no blog post on Wednesday.

We have been learning to tally!  Yesterday we focused on numbers 10 and under and today we will extend beyond.  We are first using pop sticks to make tally marks and then learning to make by writing.  This is preparing us to count by 5's.

In literacy we are beginning to rotate to jobs to prepare for starting reading groups! 

Today and yesterday we had 3 centers, reading table (working with Mrs. Pelletier on writing letters and sounds), read to self and then word work (making letters out of play doh).

We also wrote our school rules today.  The kids brainstormed the rules themselves and we groups them together into 3 main ideas:

1. Take care of me

2. Take care of each other

3. Take care of school stuff

Today we had our first Library!  We were so excited to see Mrs. Brewster and take out 2 books each.  Please return these two books next Monday when we will get a chance to go and exchange them for new ones!

In literacy we have introduced 3 vowels and (i,e & u) and 6 consonants (t,b,f,m,n,&c).  The kids really are learning these sounds and we played the mystery letter game today.  I use my finger to write a letter and they guess which letter is it.  You might want to play at home.  You can also have your first grader be the mystery letter writer and write it on your back!

In math we reviewed all the math materials we have been learning and made huge posters to show a number.   For example if my number was 10 I might have on my poster:

*orange cuisenaire rod

*dice for 4 and dice for 6

*a tens frame with exactly 10 dots

*ten pennies

*a hexagon and a square for ten sides total

*10 hearts I drew

ETC.

The kids loved doing this!  

Enjoy the day tomorrow and don't forget the idea books are due Wednesday if you can!

We have been introducing buddy reading!  One partner reads the words or the pictures and the other partner listens and then does 'check for understanding'.  Your first grader might like to practice this at home with you!

In math we are exploring and learning more of our math materials including cuisenaire rods and tens frames.

Yesterday we launched our word wall with our names as the first words on the wall.  Ask your child what 2 colors they used to make their name and why they needed 2 colors (vowels / consonants).

Have a great weekend and remember no school on Tuesday for students.  

Today we did the second lesson (yesterday we did the first) of our word study program called FUNdations.  We are beginning by reviewing all the letters and sounds of the alphabet.  Your student should be able to remember the key word and sounds for these letters, ask them and see if they can!

T top B bat F fun M man N nut

In math we are exploring and learning how to use some of our math materials.  Today we used cluster cards, these are like playing cards without the numeral.  These are very useful to give kids a visual for each number.  It also helps us learn to decompose and recompose numbers.  For example if I show this:

The kids might say "This is 9 because I see 4 and 4 and 1"

We also started reading our first chapter book!

Look for a pink paper coming home today that is for a friendship list.  Please fill out and return IF you would like your contact information shared with the purpose of planning play dates and party invitations etc.

Heads up!  I like to call all families around this time of the year to check in on their first grade transition to school.  If you see a number pop up from the school it is probably me calling during lunch or special time to just check in.  Talk to you soon!

Today we are coming home with our first first grade homework!
This letter should be printed on a blue paper and coming home in a small notebook labeled 'Idea Book'.

First Grade Writing Idea Book

Due Date:   Wednesday, September 14th.

If students finish before September 14, please have them bring it to school!

First Graders will writing throughout the year.  Our first unit is  ‘Small Moments’ where writers create stories about things they have experienced, for example: I went apple picking. I take the school bus. I baked muffins. I rode my bike. I help my brother.

We are asking that over the next week your first grader put 10 ideas (or more) in their idea book - 1 idea per page.  They could sketch, glue a photograph, cut and glue a magazine picture, write a word(s) for an idea or dictate to an adult and have the adult write a word(s) for an idea.  The idea book will be a resource of ideas to potentially develop into stories.  This should be a fun family activity that is NOT writing intensive!   

If you have any questions please email me!  Thank you for your support at home!

Phew!  What a week.  Expect your child to be tired!  Remember any emotional meltdowns tonight or tomorrow are likely in part due to a very long week back where they are working so hard to listen and follow directions!  Get lots of rest over the weekend!

Conversation starters;
*I heard you practiced a fire drill today, what do you do if it is a fire drill?
*Mrs. Pelletier said all the first graders wrote and drew hope for first grade, what were you coloring this afternoon that showed your hope for first grade?
*You read the book Owen where the mouse has a favorite blanket, what did that make you think of (self to text connection to a doll/blanket/stuffed animal at home)?
*Who was your partner (s) when you played your math games today? (Penny Dice & Bunny Hop)

We are really getting into our groove!
Today we practiced doing read to self, which is when we sit and read a book by the pictures, words or retell the story to ourselves.  We are working to build up our stamina to read to self longer and longer.  Today we did 4 minutes!  Tomorrow we will try to go for 5 and eventually work up to 15!

In math we used our white boards for the first time and practiced numbers before and after.  Look for a practice paper coming home.  We also learned a simple math game called Penny Dice where we practiced taking turns, sharing, cooperating, rolling a dice and counting the corresponding number of pennies and determining of there was enough left to take.

We also explored our FUNdations word work board and I was excited to know that lots of kids knew their letters and figured out the vowels on this tool are all a different color.

We will be having our first field trip on October 6th from 845-955 am. 
We will be taking a short woods walk on the Bow School Woods behind our building and finding a spot ot build fairy houses.  Please save the date if you would like to join us!

Please email me with a conference time of your choice if you have not signed up yet:

Nov. 7 MONDAY
1-
130
2-
230- Anthony
3-
330-
4-
430- Andrew
5-Piper
530- Zoey
6-Jenny
630-Mily
7- Tyler
730- Isabelle (potentially)

Nov. 8th TUESDAY
730-
8-
830-
9-
930-
10-
1030-
11-
1130-
12-
1230-
1- Aurelian
130-
2-

Email me to set up a time if you cannot make these days.