1st Grade Math

During our math mini-lesson (yesterday and today) we focused on telling time to the hour.  This can be a very difficult concept for many students (especially early in the year). Your child should have brought home a paper clock today.  Ask them if they can show you how the hour hand works.  We have only practiced times to the hour so far!

Reading Strategies

Recently, during our reading workshop mini-lessons we have been focusing on the reading strategies that good readers to solve 'tricky' words.  So far we have learned about 'Lips the Fish', 'Stretchy Snake', 'Eagle Eye', 'Tryin' Lion', and 'Hoppy the Frog'.  Ask your child to demonstrate how these strategies work!

Guess the covered word is a great activity for using 'Tryin' Lion'!

Classroom Volunteers

We will begin our volunteer program the week of Monday, October 13th.  If you have already selected a day to come in, but want to confirm your time please let me know (hughest@csdvt.org).  Additionally, if you would like to volunteer, but have not yet selected a day please contact me and we can work that out.  I am looking forward to have you join us at school and participate in the growth of all students!

Community Helpers

Today during morning meeting students were given an opportunity to try and match a photograph (cutout) of a community helper to the tools they need to do their job well.  I was impressed at how quickly students made their matches.  We are now working on a 'Popplet' (iPad app) to organize how different community helpers help (i.e. safe, clean, or pleasant).  It's makes for a good conversation when students believe that a helper belongs in more than one category. 

Fun Reading Spaces

We are very fortunate in our classroom to have many spaces to read!  The loft is officially open.  This has made many kids excited to read.  Additionally, we have a reading tub and lots and lots of pillows and comfortable chairs.  Reading is always more fun when you feel relaxed doing it. :)

1st Safety Drill of the Year

This morning we had our first safety drill (more commonly known as 'lockdown') at school.  The students did an incredible job getting to our safe place in the classroom and waiting quietly while the building was checked.  Due to the young age of students as we prepared I simply told the class that there are times when leaving the building is safer (i.e. fire drills) and times when staying inside is safer (i.e. safety drills).  If you have any questions about this protocol please do not hesitate to ask!

First Social Studies Theme: Community Helpers

Yesterday, we began our first social studies topic - Community Helpers.  We brainstormed what we already know about this theme.  We also watched a short BrainPopJr. video about community helpers.  Throughout this unit we will be revisiting our essential questions: "What is a community? How do people in a community work together to keep it safe, clean, and pleasant?"  As a part of this unit we hope to take a field trip to our local library and fire station!  Keep checking back to find out more information about these two trips.

Social Detectives

Today your child should have brought home an illustration that has cut-out parts (brain, ears, and eyes).  This is their visual reminder of how we use our bodies to help us understand people and situations around us.  We use our eyes and ears to receive information and our brain takes that information to figure out what is important (i.e. A friend tells you it's his/her birthday.  The expected response to that statement would be 'Happy Birthday!'  We say that because we know it's what the other person is thinking about at that moment).  

Chromebooks (and other great reading moments)!!!!

Today was a very exciting day in Room 6!  The Chromebooks came out for the very first time.  As a part of our 'read to self' time a small group of students were able to explore RAZ-Kids (use this link if you are unfamiliar) today.  Each day different students will be able to read from their leveled library within RAZ-Kids.  This site is highly motivating for young readers.  I am also pleased to report that even though the computers were out the remaining students continued to do an excellent job of reading from their book bags!  Way to go first graders!

Homework is Starting on Monday!

In your child's green, home-school folder on Monday you should find a spelling skills list, math homework, and the Family Letters for units 1 and 2 of math.  The only official written homework is math.  This will always be due back on the following Monday.  Our hope is that families will do homework when it best fits into your schedule.  Of course, we love to hear that there is some reading happening each night too!  Please let me know if something is unclear or if your child does not bring their homework home.  Thank you!

Technology Tools and Kids!

In Colchester, we are very fortunate to have a lot of technology tools at our disposal.  Below two students share their thinking with the class using the document camera.  The document camera allows images to be displayed on the whiteboard so that all can easily see.  The first student is modeling how he used a reading strategy (Eagle Eye) to help him figure out a 'tricky' word.  The second student was showing her counting strategy.  It's always powerful to have students become the teacher.

Fall Foliage

I can't believe that I didn't get any pictures of kids working through the process of this gorgeous art project.  It was time to decorate the hallway with some early signs of fall.  What do you think?  I'm impressed!  Check out this link to see where I got the idea and the steps we took.

Wonder Wednesday

Our first 'Wonder Wednesday' question is brought to you by Jackson P. : 'How long do owls live?'

Students will be bringing home a graphic organizer that we completed together, but in case you're curious here are the two links that we used:

Wonderopolis
Kid Rex