Positive Rewards for Great Behavior

As vacation approaches students often need reminders about what is expected in first grade.  This week we are slowing down and revisiting classroom rules and expectations.  Whenever I am able to 'catch' the class making good choices they earn an 'oh yeah'!  Today, twenty 'oh yeahs' equaled some end of day choice time.  Keep up the good work boys and girls!

Choice Time in Room 6

Rigorous work must be balanced with some down-time and free explore/play.  I think these pictures speak for themselves!

100th Day Fun...A Little Late

I apologize for getting these photos up a little late (technical difficulty).  We had a great time celebrating the 100th day of school last Thursday.  The highlight of the day was rotating through the four, first grade classrooms to complete four different activities.  I wish I had been able to get more pictures, but I was busy in my room with the 100th day posters.  Students had an opportunity to use their counting, art, and cooperative skills in each of the rooms!

The Chill Chair

There is a new addition to our classroom and it is called the 'chill chair'.  Mrs. McCleary helped to introduce this new tool during guidance class this week.  The purpose of the chill chair is to help students calm down when they begin to feel themselves becoming upset or agitated.  We are hoping that the chair will help students use what they have learned about mindfulness.

This student was kind enough to model (we staged the picture) for me what our chill chair looks like.  She is looking at a glitter bottle to calm down.

Conference Sign Up Form

This morning I received a conference sign up form that did not have the student's name on it.  The preferred times were the final 3 slots on Tuesday night.  If this could be your form please let me know!  Thank you.

Guest Expert

As an extension to the research we have been doing in our classroom I asked Mr. Antonicci to join us for writing one morning this week.  We have been talking about the fact that there are a variety of resources (people/experts included) that people can use to gain information. Mr. Antonicci presented on his trip to Africa a few years ago and what he learned about elephants.  The students were a fantastic audience!

FYI...

Please check your child's home/school folder carefully on Friday.  I will be sending home the sign-up form for March parent/teacher conference slots.  Please choose your top 3 choices and return the form as soon as possible.  Thank you!

Goldfish Math

Students enjoyed taking a break from our Everyday Math journals today.  Instead, we reviewed graphing, tally marks, and comparing numbers using rainbow colored goldfish.  Boys and girls really seemed to enjoy 'eating' their math at the end!