Spooky Math!

On Friday students really enjoyed some Halloween-themed math activities!  They practiced estimation with ghosts, popcorn, and pumpkins!  They also used a variety of measurements (height, weight) to learn about a real pumpkin. 

After estimating how many pieces of popcorn would fit inside the ghost students checked their estimates.

I think eating the popcorn after the math activity was the favorite part!

Miss Siekman helped the boys and girls fill out their 'pumpkin measurement' books.

A happy first grader!

More fun with popcorn

Students used a digital scale to measure the pumpkin's weight.

Halloween Fun!

Thank you to all families who helped make our Friday afternoon party so much fun! A special thanks to our class room parents who made my life very easy by organizing all of our tasty treats! Also, thank you Mrs. Sorenson for introducing me to this new scrapbooking feature! I hope you all like the new slideshow!

Create a digital scrapbooking design

Volunteer Information

This year in an effort to keep all Colchester students safe the district is requiring all volunteers to fill out a release form allowing a background check to be done.  There is no cost involved, but the paperwork does need to be completed and returned to the central office.  If you have more than one child in our district you still only need to fill the form out one time.  This is a new procedure this year and we appreciate your cooperation!  In addition to the release form Union Memorial School still requires that volunteers sign a confidentiality form.  If you need either of these forms please let me know.  If you have already completed the forms please disregard this message.  Thank you!

Lots of Field Trip Fun!

Fire Safety!

October is National Fire Safety Month.  Today we were fortunate enough to be able to visit our local fire department.  Students had the opportunity to see fire equipment, tour the fire station, sit in a fire truck, and learn about fire prevention.  Firefighter T.J. reminded us how important smoke detectors are and encouraged everyone to make a family meeting place outside their home in case of a real fire.

Boys and girls taking a look at tools inside the fire truck.

Students got a chance to hold different fire hoses.

Firefighter Patrick demonstrates the 60 pounds of gear required to protect himself.

It was fun to try the hoses!

Happy first graders

Children were able to sit in the back of the fire truck just like a real firefighter!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of November 16th-18th.  There are a few parents who have not yet scheduled a time.  If you still have the conference form please return it as soon as possible.  Slots are assigned on a first-come first-serve basis so I will do my best to accommodate you.  If you have already returned your form please check your son/daughter's green folder on Monday for confirmation of your time.

                                              

Creativity!

I never cease to be amazed by first grade students and their creativity!  Students were exploring Base-10 blocks and got very creative.  What fun!

Tally Mark Review

In first grade we have been learning about how to make tally marks and using them for data collection.  Here students are trying to complete a jack-o-lantern's face by rolling for shapes.  Each roll of the die required them to make a tally mark.  The girls and boys then used their tally marks to interpret how many rolls it took to complete the face successfully!

Handwriting

Last week we incorporated technology into our handwriting practice.  There is a great website called 'Sketchcast' (www.sketchcast.com) where teachers or students can create a movie.  In this case I created a movie on letter formation of /c/ and /d/ while the boys and girls watched.  I am hoping to use this site a lot this year and teach the students how to use it as well.  I think that this could be a great place for children who become 'experts' on something to showcase their work (i.e. someone learned how to draw a difficult illustration for the writing piece).  Thank you Mrs. Sorenson for sharing this great site!

After watching the 'movie' about letter formation students had a chance to practice independently in their handwriting journals.

More letter writing

No Homework

As you may have already seen in Friday's note there will not be any math homework or new spelling skills/'red' words this week.  Due to the short week (no school on Thursday or Friday) we will be reviewing old skills.

Fun Friday - Spelling Check-Ups

Students took their first 'spelling check-up' this past Friday.  One way that we make this task more fun is by chewing gum!  Not only is chewing gum something special at school, but brain research suggests that the act of chewing helps the brain with written tasks.  For the photos below I told the boys and girls that they could chew with their mouth open (not something that is usually polite, but we wanted to show that we were all chewing gum)!

Everyone gets to use their 'office' (a file folder) for privacy!

Showing off the fact that they have gum at school

More happy spellers!

Lots of Math Work

Stations and Choices


This week first graders were very excited to learn that they will be able to choose what literacy station to go to each day!  Creating choice is essential to building a classroom community where children feel ownership over their learning.  It has been interesting to see what stations different children are drawn to and enjoy the most.  The only restrictions I have provided are the number(s) of kids who may be at one station at any given time.

3 people at a time may go to the listening center



Magnet letters are a fun way to practice 'red' words.

2 kids at a time can work at the writing station

The art station was a popular choice this week!

3 kids at a time may work at the art center

Brain Tools

Have you ever used a stress ball at the dentist office to help yourself relax?  Maybe you've been so excited to tell someone a story that you didn't even realize you were snapping a rubber band.  These are ways that our bodies deal with sensory needs.  Children also have sensory needs.  Today we began to use tools from the 'Brain Tool Bucket.'  I have collected a variety of materials (i.e. play-doh, squishy balls, etc..) that students can select from to use during whole-group teaching times.  Students know that if the 'tool' becomes a 'toy' (they are distracted or distract someone around them) then they have to put it back in the tool bucket.  I am really excited about this new component of our classroom!



Harvest Party!

Join us on Friday, October 29th from 1-2 p.m. for our Harvest Party.  Our fantastic Room Moms will contact people to coordinate food and supplies for this celebration.

Spelling Fun!

 On Friday students played 'spelling basketball' for the first time!  This is a fun way for students to practice spelling words while still getting a chance to move their bodies and learn about sportsmanship.  The class is broken into two teams who are competing for points.  Everyone in the room is required to write each spelling word, but only one team at a time can spell it out loud (correct spelling earns 1 point) and then shoot the ball (a made shot earns one extra bonus point).  The first game was a 13-13 tie and we all had a great time!

Although you can't see it she just shot the ball for a chance at a bonus point!

Writing Workshop

Last week during Writing Workshop students published their first piece of writing to wrap up our unit of study, Launching the Writing Workshop.  During this first unit of study we focused primarily on establishing routines.  This first round of publishing was very simple.  Each student chose one piece of writing to publish, titled it, created a cover, and colored their illustrations.  Each time we publish this year the process will become slightly more elaborate and require more editing on the part of students.  Be looking for a collection of your child's writing to come home this week!

Open House

Thank you to all families who were able to attend Open House last Thursday evening!  We had an amazing turnout and I know that it meant a lot to all of the boys and girls to be able to show-off their classroom.  It is always amazing to see what has been accomplished in just a few short weeks!

                                                                

Wish List

Oftentimes parents ask if we need anything for our classroom.  Below is a list of things that I would like to start collecting.  Please do not feel obligated to send anything, but if you have any of the items and would not mind donating them to our room it would be much appreciated!

- tissues

- baby wipes (we sometimes use these to expedite the hand-washing process)

- note cards/letter-writing paper/envelopes (all for our writing center)

- foam letters

- stickers

- plastic baby food containers (with lids if possible)

- Beanie Babies (looking for an eagle, snake, kangaroo, fish, dolphin, and/or rabbit)

Homework

As many of you may have already realized we are beginning homework this week.  Each Monday (unless a note comes home) your child will bring home 2-3 math Homelinks and a Spelling Skills list.  The math homework is due back to school by Friday (feel free to send it back to school whenever it is completed).  Although there will not be written spelling homework I do encourage you to spend a few minutes each night practicing the skills, word families, and 'red' words with your child.  Along with math and spelling I would ask that you read with your son or daughter each night.  This additional reading practice is invaluable!  I will be sending reading books home with first graders soon!  If you have any questions regarding homework routines or expectations please let me know.