Spelling Check Ups

Starting tomorrow we will take a brief spelling 'check up' (quiz) on most Fridays.  This is NOT something that you need to have your child study for. It is an informal assessment that allows me to see what skills students have mastered and what skills need reinforcement and practice. 

As a 'treat' (to make check ups more fun rather than anxiety-provoking) I allow students to chew sugar free gum during this time.

If you would prefer that your child not have gum please let me know.  Otherwise, we'll be happily chewing and spelling away!  Thank you, and happy (almost) weekend!!

An Exciting Week in Room 6!

We have had such a busy week in first grade--it was hard to pick which moments to share!

Today we started partner reading, and everybody did a great job taking turns and looking at the pages together.

We also got to explore with some different math tools, and I saw a lot of creative structures and designs! Yesterday we learned a math game that uses pennies, and the kids got to make up number stories for each other to solve!

In writing, we started talking about telling "Small Moment" stories and spreading out our ideas onto more than one page. It is hard work!
Tomorrow our whole school will celebrate filling all three 'buckets' with Champ Bands by having a picnic lunch outside. Have a great weekend!
 

Celebrations!

Today we filled our classroom bucket with Champ Bands and got to have a picnic snack outside as a celebration! It was the perfect way to end our week!

Reminder: Picture Day!

Hi Everybody!

We have been having a great busy week together! Just wanted to remind you all that picture day is NEXT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH.

Please try to get the picture forms sent in as soon as you can!

I will be trying to update the blog regularly with some of the great learning we have been doing in our room!

-Miss Roberts

Monday Journals

Please be sure to check your child's backpack today for his/her Monday Journal. There is a note from me on the inside cover explaining in detail what these journals are and how we will use them.

 

 

 

Exciting News from Reading Workshop

The reading loft and reading bathtub are open!!! Each week different students will have the classroom job of 'loft' or 'bathtub'. I think they are very excited to have access to these classroom spaces!

 

 

 

See- Sight Word Song

Today I used this site to introduce our new 'red' words (can, see). For many students adding music to skills that need to be learned can be a helpful tool. Feel free to watch this video and others as well.

Writing Workshop

Wow! Wow! Wow! Our first lesson in writing workshop was amazing! Today we focused on the routine of how writing time should feel, look, and sound. Everyone added a piece of writing to their first grade writing folder.

 

 

 

The Important Thing

This week we all shared what we think is important about ourselves. Please look for our smiles and thoughts hanging up in our room the next time you stop by!

 

Sesame Street: Furry Potter and The Goblet of Cookies - 'Monster Listening'

More Word Work

Today we tried doing our first paper and pencil practice for spelling words. Boys and girls really tried hard to make their work neat.

 

 

Guided Discovery of the Bus

Today Mrs. McCleary took us on a 5 minute bus ride to practice safe and expected behavior. Everyone did a great job!

 

 

 

Share Schedule and Letter

A paper copy will be sent home tomorrow, but in case online is easier...

 

 

Launching Reading Workshop!

Today we had our first reading workshop session. Students practiced quiet, independent reading. We were able to 'catch' a lot of boys and girls making good choices!

 

 

 

Word Study

Each week students will have a new spelling skill and new 'red' words (words that cannot be sounded out) to learn and practice at school. This week we introduced 'the' and 'I' as red words. Our skill practice is to review the difference between consonants and vowels. I was so impressed by students' careful work this morning.

 

 

 

Portraits Continued

We added more detail to our creative portraits today! I think these are really going to liven up our room!

 

Math Stations

Today we tried math stations for the first time! Although we only did one rotation the boys and girls were excited to have some different activities out.

Some geometry with pattern block templates.

Partners playing 'penny dice'.

 

 

 

 

 

PBIS Kick Off!

Hopefully by now you have received Mr. Antonicci's email which explains a new UMS inititiative: PBIS. The acronym stands for positive behavior intervention system. In a nutshell, we are going to be celebrating (both in our classroom and as a whole school) the positive choices students make. Here are some photos documenting day 1! Make sure to ask your child about 'first grade play day' (choice time spent in both our classroom and Ms. White's!

All teachers and staff will be wearing 'champ bands' every day to hand out to students who are demonstrating the school rules.

Look for our school collection boxes in the hallway near the cafeteria. We have already started to fill them!

 

 

A Fantastic Friday!

Although it was a short week we squeezed in a lot and ended with a fantastic Friday! I have been so impressed with the acts of kindness, effort, and focus students are already demonstrating! Here are a few pictures from today. Please remember there is no school on Monday due to Labor Day.

The second step of our self-portraits inspired by Todd Parr.

Choice time with puppets

Choice time building

Choice time art

Today we began to focus on our second school rule: be kind. We read 'How Full is your Bucket?' And 'Chrysanthemum'. Ask your child what we did with the fragile tissue paper heart today.