Friday, August 29, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014
August 25-29
Greetings Cheetahs! Here's the happenings of the week:
Reading
We have our book boxes full of 'just right' books, and some choice books for a little dessert of course :) In reading, we have been discussing different ways you can reread a book:
1. First, read for tricky words.
2. Second, read again for meaning.
3. Third, read with fluency and expressions.
4. Last, read again and ask questions for deeper meaning.
We also talked about how readers get their focus back when they're distracted, how you can visualize a book or story like a movie, and how we can predict in our reading.
Writing
The Cheetahs have been working on adding details in their illustrations and sentences (i.e. juicy words, buddy sentences, etc.). We were also excited to learn how we can add words in our pictures by using thought bubbles, thinking clouds, and labels.
Math
In math, we have been working hard on addition story problems, counting backwards, and comparing numbers. We have also been working hard in our math stations while playing math games such as Mystery Bags, Dreambox, Compare, Compare Dots, and 5 in a Row to help us practice our counting and addition skills.
Social Studies
We finished up learning about the rights and responsibilities that we have has citizens and as first graders. We then started learning about friendship by discussing the positive qualities of a good friend and finding out what we have in common with our friends by playing team building activities such as our "Stand up if You..." and Find a Friend Bingo games.
Reading
We have our book boxes full of 'just right' books, and some choice books for a little dessert of course :) In reading, we have been discussing different ways you can reread a book:
1. First, read for tricky words.
2. Second, read again for meaning.
3. Third, read with fluency and expressions.
4. Last, read again and ask questions for deeper meaning.
We also talked about how readers get their focus back when they're distracted, how you can visualize a book or story like a movie, and how we can predict in our reading.
Writing
The Cheetahs have been working on adding details in their illustrations and sentences (i.e. juicy words, buddy sentences, etc.). We were also excited to learn how we can add words in our pictures by using thought bubbles, thinking clouds, and labels.
Math
In math, we have been working hard on addition story problems, counting backwards, and comparing numbers. We have also been working hard in our math stations while playing math games such as Mystery Bags, Dreambox, Compare, Compare Dots, and 5 in a Row to help us practice our counting and addition skills.
Social Studies
We finished up learning about the rights and responsibilities that we have has citizens and as first graders. We then started learning about friendship by discussing the positive qualities of a good friend and finding out what we have in common with our friends by playing team building activities such as our "Stand up if You..." and Find a Friend Bingo games.
Photo Request
Hi Parents!
Please remember that the bulletin board in the main hallway by the cafeteria is going to be a collage of all of our students at Barretts this year. We are asking that you send in a small photo (4x6 or smaller) in over the next couple weeks. Students can turn in their photos into me, and I will take them up to the office!
Please remember that the bulletin board in the main hallway by the cafeteria is going to be a collage of all of our students at Barretts this year. We are asking that you send in a small photo (4x6 or smaller) in over the next couple weeks. Students can turn in their photos into me, and I will take them up to the office!
Friday, August 22, 2014
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!
I was challenged by one of our students to the ALS ice bucket challenge! Success :)
Check out our video at http://youtu.be/EPnZhDB8R2A
Check out our video at http://youtu.be/EPnZhDB8R2A
Thursday, August 21, 2014
The Cheetahs' Mission
Here is the mission statement we created!
As the Cheetahs, we are fast learners, helpful friends who are kind to each other, and who like to have fun. We are here to learn, make friends, and practice the 7 habits.
August 18-22
Wow, The Cheetahs accomplished a lot in their first full week of first grade! We wrote a class mission, learned how to be proactive, talked about setting goals, and much more.
Reading
We've been talking about how readers are a lot like runners. Readers, like runners, build stamina, warm up, set goals, and work hard for a long time. During our reading time, our students have been able to begin readers workshop with their 'dessert books,' and we have begun to book shop for our 'dinner books.'
Writing
This week we have been working hard on reviewing the writing process. We have practiced thinking of ideas for our stories, planning out our writing, drawing simple sketches, adding sentences to our writing, adding in details to our illustrations, and revising our sentences and pictures.
Word Study
I have administered our Words Their Way assessment this week and will be working on forming word study groups. We have also been using our word study time to review kindergarten and first grade sight words.
Math
Our students have been focused on efficient counting strategies in math this week. We explored with 'mystery bags' and tried different ways of counting what was in our bags (i.e. by 1s, 2s, 5s). In addition, our students have also started to become familiar with the 100s chart by practicing different counting activities.
Social Studies
Our first unit in Social Studies is 'What is a Citizen?' We have been discussing how everyone is different and how we should celebrate that! Also, we've been having discussions of what a good citizen looks like in our community, what rules are and how they help, and what the Constitution is and connecting that to our mission statement.
Reading
We've been talking about how readers are a lot like runners. Readers, like runners, build stamina, warm up, set goals, and work hard for a long time. During our reading time, our students have been able to begin readers workshop with their 'dessert books,' and we have begun to book shop for our 'dinner books.'
Writing
This week we have been working hard on reviewing the writing process. We have practiced thinking of ideas for our stories, planning out our writing, drawing simple sketches, adding sentences to our writing, adding in details to our illustrations, and revising our sentences and pictures.
Word Study
I have administered our Words Their Way assessment this week and will be working on forming word study groups. We have also been using our word study time to review kindergarten and first grade sight words.
Math
Our students have been focused on efficient counting strategies in math this week. We explored with 'mystery bags' and tried different ways of counting what was in our bags (i.e. by 1s, 2s, 5s). In addition, our students have also started to become familiar with the 100s chart by practicing different counting activities.
Social Studies
Our first unit in Social Studies is 'What is a Citizen?' We have been discussing how everyone is different and how we should celebrate that! Also, we've been having discussions of what a good citizen looks like in our community, what rules are and how they help, and what the Constitution is and connecting that to our mission statement.
Friday, August 15, 2014
We are the Cheetahs!
We have a class name! We have decided on our class name as The Cheetahs! Why? We're fast learners! As a class, we have also decided on three rules for our classroom:
1. Take care of others.
2. Take care of ourselves.
3. Take care of our school.
We are currently working on writing a class mission. Check back soon!
1. Take care of others.
2. Take care of ourselves.
3. Take care of our school.
We are currently working on writing a class mission. Check back soon!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Sneak a Peek!
The first grade team and I enjoyed meeting our first grade families this evening at Sneak a Peek! We cannot wait to officially start the school year next week. I will see you on Tuesday, August 12th! :)
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