Open House this Thursday!

Just a reminder that the UMS Open House is this Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  I hope to see all of you there!  This is a great opportunity for you to see what your child has been working on and learning up to this point.
                                            

Reading Partnerships

As a part of our daily literacy block students will have the opportunity to read with someone else.  Reading with someone allows students to focus on a variety of skills:  fluency, comprehension, connection-making, and many more!  Friday was the first time that students read with someone during our reading block.  They were very excited to share their 'good fit books' with a friend.  These partnerships will change regularly as right now we are focusing more on the routine of 'EEKK' (elbow to elbow and knee to knee sharing of a book).

Our First Video Project

I am so pleased with how well students are doing with the preparation for our "We Are Alike; We Are Different" video--the first video we will produce using the iMovie app for the iPad. This is the culminating project for the All About Me social studies unit in first grade. Students took part in selecting a partner for this project (ask your child about details on that, if you're interested), and then they worked with their partner to complete a Venn diagram to compare themselves to one another. Using the Venn diagram as a guide, students started to fill in a script for what they will say in their video clips with their partners. "Filming" will begin on Monday. :-)

Reading Workshop

This week during reading workshop we have been practicing using a variety of reading strategies.  I have only introduced three so far:  'Eagle Eye' (using pictures to help figure out a word), 'Stretchy Snake' (stretch a word and say all of its' sounds), and 'Hoppy the Frog' (skip an unknown word - read to the end and go back).  We will continue to work on strategies that help all readers improve their reading accuracy as well as comprehension, fluency, and expanding their vocabulary.  I am pleased to report that today boys and girls read independently for 5.5 minutes.  We are working on building our stamina to read for 20 minutes independently.  

UMS Running Program

On Tuesday first grade students had their first opportunity to try the 'UMS Running Program'.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays students are encouraged to run or walk around the outside perimeter of the playground during recess.  Once they have completed four laps they have run/walked a mile.  For each mile a student runs he or she earns a 'foot' for their bracelet.  These bracelets are highly motivating for students!  If you find your son/daughter's bracelet at home please don't throw it out as I guarantee they will be disappointed.  Ask your child (if they haven't already told you) if they ran on Tuesday.

Shaving Cream!?

This afternoon students practiced letter formation, 'red' words, and phonetic words in shaving cream.  It was a real hit!  It also made our room smell nice. :)

Four Winds

Do you know how to tell a boy spider from a girl spider?  Is a Daddy Long Leg a spider?  Do all spiders make webs?  These were just a few of the questions that we got answers to yesterday during our Four Winds lesson with Jenn Kerner.  Four Winds is a great parent run science program that teaches students about a variety of topics in a fun and engaging way (the puppet show is always the favorite)!

The puppet show

Discussing the puppet show

Passing around and examining real spiders

True or False Game

Hunting for a spider outside

Pretending to be spiders and use their adaptations

More 'spiders'

I just love how they are all so engrossed with the spiders

Questions for your Child

I have heard feedback that occasionally having specific questions to ask your child about school help elicit more information from them.  Well, here are a few about this past week!

1. Did you like the hidden greeting ('Where is ______'?) or the shoe greeting better at morning meeting?
2. When you took 'brain breaks' which ones did you like? (some examples:  Go Bananas, Grandma Moses, The Swimming Song, The Hamster Dance)
3.  How did your math 'check-up' go?  Did you like having your own office (file folders upright to block others from seeing)?
4. Tell me about chewing gum on Fridays.
5. What are you writing about at writing workshop?
6. Where is your favorite place to read in the classroom?

Of course I could go on and on, but hopefully this will help you get started!

Curriculum Night

Thank you to those people who were able to attend curriculum night on Thursday.  For those of you who were not able to make it I hope that you found a large packet of information in your child's green folder yesterday.  Although the packet does not include all that we discussed it does provide you with some important information.  The top two pages contain log in information specific to your child for both RAZ-Kids (a reading website) and Everyday Math E-Suites (an online version of our math program).  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me!
                                                               

Unit 1 Math Assessment

On Friday afternoon students took their first official math assessment.  I will be sending a copy of the completed assessment home to you on Monday in green folders.  I was very impressed that although this was really the first opportunity students have had to take a 'test' they were calm and did really well!
                                                              

All About Me Lap Books

We have moved on to our second of three 'All About Me' projects.  Yesterday students finished up their 'lap books' (file folders that will fit on their lap).  These books contain biographical information, student strengths, and some fun artwork!  Unfortunately, my camera battery died after only taking these three pictures on Friday so my next post will have to be a lot of text only. Sorry. :(

Wednesday Lunches

Each Wednesday (more popularly referred to as Pizza Day at UMS) for the next few weeks I will be inviting students to have lunch with me in the classroom.  It's a nice opportunity to talk and get to know each student!  I think today's boys and girls were happy to eat in the room!

Finished Self-Portraits

Our self-portraits are complete and I think they look amazing!!! Please enjoy the show!

Self-Portraits - making a free slideshow

Fun Friday!

Students had a lot of fun on Friday!  It began with starting our 'gum chewing' tradition.  Beginning next week students will take a spelling 'check up' on Friday.  When students take a check up they get to chew gum.  There are two reasons for this.  First, there is some research to show that the act of chewing can stimulate neurons in the brain making accessing information easier.  Secondly, allowing students to chew gum puts a positive spin on spelling check ups!

Later in the day we celebrated earning five stars as a class with a popcorn party!  Mr. Antonicci happened to stop by while we were eating and he quickly joined in the fun!

SWR (Spelling, Writing, Reading)

Students are quickly becoming familiar with our daily routines for SWR.  We begin with our 'name of the day' where we focus on letters, sounds, and words.  Next, we move into letter/sound practice with the help of Echo (our friendly spelling  puppet).  We quickly move to our 'red' word practice.  We do a lot of movement to help us learn these words in a fun and active way.  Finally, we have a mini-lesson followed by practice.  Today students used the mini whiteboards to practice writing 'red' words.

Choice Time Fun

The wooden blocks were opened as an option for choice time today!  This is a big deal in our world!

Writing Binders

In first grade (similar to kindergarten) students will participate in Writing Workshop each day.  Students will work on a variety of writing genres and pieces throughout the year.  One way we hope to demonstrate their growth in writing is by using writing binders to collect samples each month the year.  Students were very excited to decorate their binders and have even added a piece of writing already!

The Beginnings of Self-Portraits

One of my favorite art projects of the entire year is happening now!  Each child is creating a self-portrait that will hang in our room all year.  They have been working very hard and I know you'll be impressed when Open House rolls around to see all that your child has already done.  I will make sure to add a slide show of self-portrait photographs once we have completed the project!

Boys and girls painting their skin color

Adding hair using a collage technique

More cutting and gluing

Tomorrow we'll add a nose and mouth

Such focus and determination