Anchor Charts

We have been very busy learning new writing skills in first grade. I thought I would show you some of the anchor charts around our room. When I introduce a new skill, the class helps me write a chart about it, and then I display the chart in the room so they can refer back to it.

This one is how to choose a "just right" book to read.

This one is all about what to do when you are reading to yourself.

 This one is all about how to read to a buddy. EEKK stands for elbow to elbow and knee to knee.

Of course these are the prompts we use to help a student write an unfamiliar word.

We've been working on this one a lot the past week. No more, "Ms. Nickless, I'm done." :-)

Spelling

Here is a list of sight words I checked everyone on today. (Don't worry, you did not have a list to study at night. We worked with these words in reading groups and writer's workshop) Almost everyone made a 100%                                         a am and as at be can do for go he I in is it

I will be sending a list home next week which will include today's words, plus all the rest of the sight words we will master by the end of the year. 

To some, the list may seem overwhelming. To others, it may seem extremely easy. I will be giving spelling checks frequently, and when your child masters the whole list, they will move on to a harder list. If they master the whole list in just a week or two, I will let them move on to a harder one. If it takes them all year to master the list, that's OK. The list contains the most frequently used words in first grade reading material. If you have any questions, just give me a call or drop me an email. Thanks!

Buddy Reading

 Our fourth grade buddies came to our room and listened to the first graders read.

The fourth graders had to be the reading coaches when the first graders got stuck on a tricky word.

Waiting and Watching

The ladies who cleaned out the butterfly garden  found an egg cluster which they said would turn out to be a Praying Mantis someday. Being the wonderful researchers that we are, we promptly went on the internet to find out about the life cycle of the Mantis. We found out the Mantis eggs hatch in the spring and there could be anywhere from about ten babies to 400! So.....if the ladies are correct and this IS a Mantis egg cluster, we will be waiting and watching for quite a while!

Praying Mantis Egg Cluster

We have finished chapters one and two of our math book and are on to chapter three. In chapter three we are reviewing subtraction and the math vocabulary for subtraction. Ask your child if they know what a number sentence is, where to find the minus sign and where to find the difference. Yesterday we did partner practice. Each set of partners used a dry erase board to model a subtraction story told by the other partner. They also had to write the number sentence and find the difference. 

Modeling Subtraction Stories

First Day of School

I'm so sorry I have been remiss about posting photos of the class. These are from the first day of school. The students were each given a baggie containing a sphere of homemade playdough. Each sphere had a drop of food coloring inside, so they had to squeeze the playdough inside the baggie many times to find out what color it was. After the color was all mixed in they were allowed to take the playdough out and make some things. It was really fun!!

Playdough Discovery

I can't believe I forgot to take photos today! The students voted to meet my dog Oscar as their 100 point celebration. I checked with the nurse to make sure no one was allergic to dogs, and then I ran home during block time to get Oscar. He had a wonderful time and so did they. We had our snacks with him. Oscar had his favorite snack, red pepper. Then we went outside and sat in a circle in the butterfly garden so Oscar could walk around and meet everyone. After recess we packed our bags and then Oscar did some tricks and played "Who has a treat in their hand?" Of course I did have an ulterior motive. I plan to use the experience as a writing prompt tomorrow. SHHHHH, don't tell! :-)

I want to thank all the parents who remembered to help their student fill out the yellow reading sheet each night and return it to school on Monday. We had 16 out of 18 sheets returned this morning! Each student who brings their sheet back on Monday with at least five of the seven days filled in receives a point for the class. Great job!
Mrs. Marcinkewiz came by to visit with us today and make sure we are getting started with good manners here at Kennerly. She also wanted to make sure everyone knew the counselor's job is to help the students. Hope you had a great three day weekend! Please remember our library day is Thursday. Thanks!