We have been learning about compound words during Skills Block for the past couple days. The students absolutely love this game and wanted us to post it on the blog so they could play at home! Have fun guys! Play away!
Compound Words Game
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Fact Families
During Calendar Math each day, we have been working on Fact Families. Fact families are a set of facts, each of which relates the same three numbers through addition or subtraction. Examples: 3 + 7 = 10, 7 + 3 = 10, 10 - 7 = 3, 10 - 3 = 7. Click here to read a very helpful and informative article by Amanda Moran.
Here is a link to a Fact Family game we play during Calendar Math.
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| Our Fact Family board we use in Calendar Math. |
Here is a link to a Fact Family game we play during Calendar Math.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Reading, Reading, Reading!
We had such a great Awards Ceremony today! We are so proud of all of our students and how hard they work through out each nine weeks. As promised for our "Million Word Campaign" reward, our principal, Mrs. Phillips was duct taped to the wall for two hours as she read a book!
Your child should be reading every night, logging in the title, level and whehter they liked the book or not.
Reading nightly is so important! Please read the following to truly understand it's importance:
Did you know one of the most prominent indicators of a successful reader is the amount of time spent actually reading? Let's figure it out -- mathematically!
Student A reads 20 minutes five nights of every week
Student B reads only 4 minutes a night...or not at all!
Step 1: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
Student A reads 20 min. x 5 times a week = 100 mins./week
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 minutes
Step 2: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.
Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
Student B reads 80 minutes a month.
Step 3: Multiply minutes a month x 9 months/school year
Student A reads 3600 min. in a school year.
Student B reads 720 min. in a school year.
Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten whole school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading practice.
By the end of 6th grade if Student A and Student B maintain these same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days.Student B will have read the equivalent of only 12 school days.
One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance. How do you think Student B will feel about him/herself as a student?
Some questions to ponder:
Which student would you expect to read better?
Which student would you expect to know more?
Which student would you expect to write better?
Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary?
Which student would you expect to be more successful in school....and in life?
Your child should be reading every night, logging in the title, level and whehter they liked the book or not.
Reading nightly is so important! Please read the following to truly understand it's importance:
Did you know one of the most prominent indicators of a successful reader is the amount of time spent actually reading? Let's figure it out -- mathematically!
Student A reads 20 minutes five nights of every week
Student B reads only 4 minutes a night...or not at all!
Step 1: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
Student A reads 20 min. x 5 times a week = 100 mins./week
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 minutes
Step 2: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.
Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
Student B reads 80 minutes a month.
Step 3: Multiply minutes a month x 9 months/school year
Student A reads 3600 min. in a school year.
Student B reads 720 min. in a school year.
Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten whole school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading practice.
By the end of 6th grade if Student A and Student B maintain these same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days.Student B will have read the equivalent of only 12 school days.
One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance. How do you think Student B will feel about him/herself as a student?
Some questions to ponder:
Which student would you expect to read better?
Which student would you expect to know more?
Which student would you expect to write better?
Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary?
Which student would you expect to be more successful in school....and in life?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Contraction Action
Contraction Action
(Tune: The Hokey Pokey)
(Tune: The Hokey Pokey)
You pop some letters out!
To put apostrophes in!
You pop some letters out!
That's the way you must begin.
To do contraction action is as easy as can be!
Come on and dance with me! Oh Yeah!
We have been having a lot of fun learning about contractions in school! Here are some fun online games to play and learn more!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Synonys & Antonyms
We have been learning a lot about synonyms and antonyms in class this week! Here are some fun games that you can play at home to learn even more about synonyms (two words that mean the same) and antonyms (two words that are opposite).
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
We also have fun songs that we have been learning! Ask your child to sing them for you!
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
We also have fun songs that we have been learning! Ask your child to sing them for you!
Synonyms Song
Sing to the tune of "Hush Little Baby"
Synonyms are the same,
Synonyms are the same.
Come, let’s play a matching game,
Sing two words that mean the same.
When I’m happy I am glad.
When I’m naughty I am bad.
If it’s large it’s also big.
A hog is also called a pig.
See me hurry, see me rush.
To be quiet means to hush.
If I want, I also wish.
A plastic bowl is still a dish.
Practice or repeat a song.
If you miss you’ve gone way wrong.
If you end you stop the game.
They have like meanings,
Much the same.
Synonyms, almost the same.
Synonyms, almost the same.
The Antonyms Song
Sing to the tune of “Shortnin’ Bread.”
We can find opposites, opposites, opposites.
We can call them antonyms here we go.
Top and bottom
Front and back
Happy and sad
Left and right
Up and down
LOUD and soft
Open and shut
Stand and sit
We can find antonyms, antonyms, antonyms.
We can call them opposites here’s some more.
She and he
Out and in
Stop and go
Boy and girl
Old and new
After and before
Below and top
First and last
We can find antonyms, antonyms, antonyms.
We can find antonyms way to go!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Hands On Children's Museum Field Trip
Last Friday, we went on our first field trip of the year to the Hands On Children's Museum. We had a blast! There are 15 exhibits the children could interact with. They could be a vet, firefighter, EMT, banker, server at a restaurant, Winn Dixie employee, an actor, a news reporter, and the list goes on! Enjoy our slideshow below of our fun-filled day!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Parts of a Plant
What are the parts of a plant and what do they do? Our super 1st grade scientists should be able to answer these questions! Here is a fun website to help them practice and remember parts of a plant.
Have fun Scientists!
Have fun Scientists!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Kevin Henkes
Dear Family,
We are studying the children’s author and illustrator, Kevin Henkes. Ask your child about the books that we have read (Chrysanthemum, Weekend with Wendall, Wemberly Worried, Owen, Sheila Rae, the Brave) by Kevin Henkes. Also ask them about the reading and writing strategy that we have been working on, called “making connections.”
We are trying to find answers to things we are wondering about Kevin Henkes. Below is a list of common wonderings, but ask your child about things that they wonder about Mr. Henkes. You might find information in the public library or on the Internet. This is not a mandatory assignment. Your child may enjoy searching for the information and bringing some of the answers to our questions in to share with classmates.
Things we wonder
Childhood
Ø Does Mr. Henkes have any brothers and sisters?
Ø Did Mr. Henkes have a pet mouse when he was a kid?
Ø Did Mr. Henkes like to read when he was a kid?
Family today
Ø Does Kevin Henkes have any children of his own?
Kevin Henkes, the author
Ø We know that Kevin Henkes writes about young children starting school. Does he ever write for anyone else?
Ø Where does Mr. Henkes get ideas for his stories?
Ø Are the stories Mr. Henkes writes from things that really happen to him?
Kevin Henkes, the artist
Ø Does Mr. Henkes draw anything except mice?
Ø Has Mr. Henkes ever won any awards?
Try some of these Internet resources:
http://kevinhenkes.com/ http://www.carolhurst.com
Library references: Talking About Artists by Pat Cummingham (ed), Simon and Schuster, 1995. Ask your Librarian about other references.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Pumpkin Patch Math
On Friday, we selected our center group 2 to perform "Pumpkin Patch Math" from our Dramatic Play Center. Since this group worked very well together these past two weeks, they were chosen to share the play with the class. Thank you Group 2 for an excellent puppet show!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Open House
Thank you to all of the parents and students who joined us for Open House last night. We had a wonderful turnout and we enjoyed seeing everyone! Below is our "A Day in the Life of a First Grader" video we shared. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Our Puppeteers!
Part of our Reading Centers that we do everyday is the Dramatic Play Center. In this center, the students read from a play and perform it with their group members with puppets. This helps the students work on their intonation and expression while reading. It also helps them with fluency since they are rereading the same play a few times each week.
This week was the end of our first full round of centers. So, we chose the group that worked the best together during our center time to perform our first play in front of the class. Congratulations Group 7! They worked so well together and really read the play with intonation and expression! Here are a few snapshots of the group performing the play "Leaves Laugh".
This week was the end of our first full round of centers. So, we chose the group that worked the best together during our center time to perform our first play in front of the class. Congratulations Group 7! They worked so well together and really read the play with intonation and expression! Here are a few snapshots of the group performing the play "Leaves Laugh".
Leaf puppet
The class watching on respectfully!
Behind the scenes of our puppeteers!
The puppeteers take a bow!
Group 7 did such an awesome job! We wonder which group will win next round? Keep on reading with expression! Practice at home with your nightly reading! :)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Retelling
Try this with your kids at home or click here to use our "Shape GO!" Map to help them organize their thoughts :)
Friday, September 2, 2011
S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G Small Moments
During writing this week we have been learning a lot about ways we can make our writing better. One strategy we learned this week is to stretch a small moment. Instead of writing about our entire day, we focused our writing on one small moment and stretched that moment using our five senses. What did you see, hear, smell, taste or touch during this moment? Also, what were you feeling and thinking inside during this small moment?
First we turned and talked to our neighbor about our small moment and the five senses that went along with it. Then, we went back to our seats and wrote independently. When we were finished with our writing, we got to draw a detailed picture to go along with our story! Here is a great example of our writing:
"I went to disny wrold and i rode splashmoentn (Splash Mountain). I felt woter. I Heard woter splashing. I felt the seat. I sol the bote. I smelt aer (air). I felt glad."
"I wus At Avngrlanding (Adventure Landing) I wet on the Gronup (grown-up) slide. And the wus a fish u liv (a live) fish. I had a loee pop (lollypop). Threr wus a pio (pillow) wen I fell But the pio cach me! And we wet on the prit ship (pirate ship)."
What great examples of writing what the saw, heard, smelled, touched, tasted and thought inside! Ask your child what the small moment they stretched was! Happy writing!
First we turned and talked to our neighbor about our small moment and the five senses that went along with it. Then, we went back to our seats and wrote independently. When we were finished with our writing, we got to draw a detailed picture to go along with our story! Here is a great example of our writing:
"I went to disny wrold and i rode splashmoentn (Splash Mountain). I felt woter. I Heard woter splashing. I felt the seat. I sol the bote. I smelt aer (air). I felt glad."
What great examples of writing what the saw, heard, smelled, touched, tasted and thought inside! Ask your child what the small moment they stretched was! Happy writing!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Superhero Scientists!
In Science we have started our unit on Matter. We have discussed what a scientist is and what one does and reviewed our five senses. On Wednesday, we went on a nature walk and collected three items. We got to choose one of our items and observe it with a hand lense. We then recorded our observations. On Friday, we sorted items and put them into groups based on shape, color, and texture. We are learning how to observe properties of objects and sort objects into groups by properties (standard SC.1.P.8.1). We can explain ways to sort objects with our classmates. Below are pictures of our Sorting and Classifying Objects exploration.
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| Sorting using property cards and objects in our "Things Bag" |
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| Exploration sheet |
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| Recording our observations and what we discovered |
Monday, August 22, 2011
What a MARVEL-ous First Day!
Wow! What a fabulous first day of first grade! We started our day with a first day story and played the name game "Hickety-Pickety Bumble Bee" to introduce one another. Ask your child to recite it for you. We then had an assembly with special guest Omegaman! He was so strong! He ripped phone books in half and bent iron rods!
In Readers' Workshop, we reviewed rituals and routines and read the book, The Kissing Hand. In Writers' Workshop, we created our superhero name, wrote what is means to be a superhero, and who our hero is. We finished our piece with an illustration of what we look like as a superhero. We have some very creative first graders!
We introduced the August elements of Calendar Math and explored pattern blocks, which kicked off our first Math Investigations Unit, Color, Shapes, and Number Patterns: Patterns and Functions.
Your child's red home-school folder was sent home today containing our weekly classroom newsletter. Please be sure to read this each week, for it contains important dates, curriculum updates, and vital school/classroom information. The home-school folder is to be returned everyday. Be sure to use the communication log on the back of the folder if your child is going home a different way, was absent from school, you need to schedule a conference, or just have a question. :)
Tomorrow your child will receive and wear their own Chets Creek superhero t-shirt (a gift from PTA). These shirts will be worn on our field trips and flag raising Fridays, so please keep up with them and be sure not to lose them. They cannot be replaced.
We had a very successful and productive first day! We are very excited for the year ahead of us!
In Readers' Workshop, we reviewed rituals and routines and read the book, The Kissing Hand. In Writers' Workshop, we created our superhero name, wrote what is means to be a superhero, and who our hero is. We finished our piece with an illustration of what we look like as a superhero. We have some very creative first graders!
We introduced the August elements of Calendar Math and explored pattern blocks, which kicked off our first Math Investigations Unit, Color, Shapes, and Number Patterns: Patterns and Functions.
Your child's red home-school folder was sent home today containing our weekly classroom newsletter. Please be sure to read this each week, for it contains important dates, curriculum updates, and vital school/classroom information. The home-school folder is to be returned everyday. Be sure to use the communication log on the back of the folder if your child is going home a different way, was absent from school, you need to schedule a conference, or just have a question. :)
Tomorrow your child will receive and wear their own Chets Creek superhero t-shirt (a gift from PTA). These shirts will be worn on our field trips and flag raising Fridays, so please keep up with them and be sure not to lose them. They cannot be replaced.
We had a very successful and productive first day! We are very excited for the year ahead of us!
Participating in Hickety-Pickety Bumble Bee
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Welcome Back!
We are so excited to begin the 2011-2012 school year! First grade orientation will be held this Friday, August 19th, at 11:00 AM in our classroom (room 120). Please remember to bring all of your required grade level supplies. Volunteer orientation will immediately follow, at 12:00 PM, in the Dining Room. Please make sure to attend this meeting if you would like to volunteer in the classroom/school or chaperone on our field trips. We cannot wait to see you Friday! :)Thursday, April 14, 2011
Milk Jug Bunny Baskets
Next Thusday is our Spring Celebration Egg Hunt! A letter was sent home yesterday explaining how to make your milk jug bunny basket for this special event. If you need some more guidance on how to make the basket, below are directions and sample pictures. Bunny baskets are due Tuesday, 4/19.
- Use scissors to cut the milk jug in half. Start cutting the milk jug just above the handle. Cut all the way around the jug to remove the top half.
- Cut two long, skinny bunny ears out of white (or any color of your choice) construction paper, each measuring about three inches wide by six inches high.
- Cut pink (or any color of your choice) construction paper in the same shape as the white, with a width and height half an inch smaller, to make the inner part of the bunny ears. Glue these pieces to the center of the white bunny ears with liquid glue or a glue stick. Then, glue the paper ears inside the back of the basket with the inner pink ear facing forward.
- Glue on eyes and a nose, made out of felt or construction paper. You can even paint them on.
- Glue pipe cleaners or yarn on for the whiskers. You may draw these on as well.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Our Trip to the Zoo!
Last Thursday we took our last field trip of the year to the zoo. We had a blast and loved every minute of it. We saw giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, elephants, monkeys, and many more animals! We went to an educational program and talked about animals' five senses. We got to pet a snake, Bearded Dragon, Silky chicken, and a rabbit named Miss Coco. Click here to see pictures from our fun-filled day!
Monday, April 4, 2011
A Look at Our Week!
Skills: letter combinations, beginning and ending digraphs (ph, ck, kn, wr), high frequency words, bossy ‘e’ long vowel word families
Readers’ Workshop: Read-alouds, continue to practice and review old Reading Strategies, Schema (ask your child about the schema song we learned today!)
Writers’ Workshop: Persuasive Writing
Math Workshop: We will develop strategies for accurately counting and keeping track of quantities up to 20; find the total after 1, 2, or 3 is added to, or subtracted from, a set; use subsets to count a set of objects, using numbers, pictures, and/or words to represent a quantity; repeat multiple nonstandard units to qualify length.
Science: Comparing Plants and Animals: “Where do animals live?” and “How are plants and animals the same and different?”
Social Studies: Weekly Reader: Animal Rhymes
Zoo Field Trip
Our Zoo field trip is this Thursday, 4/7! Please make sure your child wears sneakers (we will be walking a lot) and comfortable, weather appropriate clothing shorts). Your child will only need a snack that day.
Our Zoo field trip is this Thursday, 4/7! Please make sure your child wears sneakers (we will be walking a lot) and comfortable, weather appropriate clothing shorts). Your child will only need a snack that day.
Welcome Mrs. Griffin!
As Mrs. Cole is home taking care of her new baby girl, Mrs. Griffin will be teaching with Mrs. Ciupak in the classroom for the rest of the year. Mrs. Griffin used to be a teacher and has children here at Chets Creek. She has subbed in our class this school year.
FCAT Spirit Week
Even though your child has a few years until they take the FCAT, we are still supporting and cheering on the 3rd-5th graders. Below is the Spirit Week schedule:
Monday, 4/4- Spirit Week begins! Dress like a farmer
Monday, 4/4- Spirit Week begins! Dress like a farmer
Tuesday, 4/5- dress in mismatched clothes
Wednesday, 4/6- dress with wacky hair and silly socks
Thursday, 4/7- wear a Chets Creek t-shirt
Friday, 4/8- dress like a pop/rock star
Monday, March 28, 2011
Eric Carle Day!
Last Thursday, we celebrated Eric Carle Day. We have been doing an author study on Eric Carle and wrapped up this unit by celebrating a day of fun-filled activities related to his books. Below are some pictures from our special day.
The mouse from Do You Want to Be My Friend?
The Very Quiet Cricket
The Very Busy Spider
Mister Seahorse activity
The Grouchy Ladybug hats
Pancakes, Pancakes station
The catepillar from The Very Hungry Catepillar
St. Patrick's Day Fun!
Leprechaun footprints...
He walked across red group!
Leprechaun notes...he was a sneaky fellow and didn't fall for our traps!
"He he he! You can't catch me!
Love,
The Leprechaun"
More Leprechaun notes
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