Fairy Tale Last Assignments

This year our Fairy Tale ending took a very Happily Ever After turn. Years past we ended our Fairy tale Museum of Homemade Dioramas. This year Toontastic took over! We recreated our Favorite Fairy Tale in an app called Toontastic. We used the basic app and "retold" our story using the story elements we learned in our Fairy Tale Unit. Please visit often as we will be adding our Presentations to our Blog!

We can view from home. Please keep your eyes open for information!

Self Assessing our Own Writing

April/May 2014

Writing is difficult for children and some adults too!  Over the next few weeks our students will be self assessing their own writing.  We will be looking at penmanship, beginning middle ending of a story, story elements: such as characters, the setting, the problem of the story and the solution how the problem gets fixed. 

We will also be looking at our writing at the mechanics (punctuation), of a sentence, a capital letter in the correct spots, a noun and a verb in a complete sentence. (The subject and the predicate). We will be exploring these assessments to finalize a complete writing assignment through editing our own work.

Our First Writing Rubric will look very similar to this...

Level 5: Best Work Possible

·      Name is on project and written neatly.

·      Coloring is in the lines and nearly perfect.

·      Writing is neat with correct spacing.

·      Punctuation and Capitalization are used..

·      Illustrations are detailed, have background and at least 6-7 different colors.(Depending on age)

Level 4: Quality Work

·      Writing has good spacing and is mostly correct.

·      Name is written on the project.

·      Coloring could be neater and needs to be improved. There are white spaces or colors that seem out of place.

·      Writing could be better. It looks rushed and is missing letters and other conventions..

·      Illustrations are not complete. They need additions in details, backgrounds and maybe number of colors.

Level 3: Fair Work

·      Name is written on the project.

·      Coloring could be neater and needs to be improved. There are white spaces or colors that seem out of place.

·      Writing could be better. It looks rushed and is missing letters and other conventions..

·      Illustrations are not complete. They need additions in details, backgrounds and maybe number of colors. 

Level 2: Poor Work

·      Name may or may not be written on the project.

·      Coloring is minimal and not complete.

·      Writing is minimal and needs improvements in several areas.

·      Illustrations lack completion. 

Level 1-Unnacceptable

·      Name may or may not be written on the project.

·      Coloring is missing and not complete.

·      Writing is missing.

·      Illustrations are not complete.

·      This project is not finished.

Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales are the topic of our reading this month. We have been reading many different types of Fairy Tales!

Our first fairy tale we read was the original Goldilocks and the Three Bears followed by 4  different types, "Fractured Fairytales" Goldilocks and the Three Bears books, which we found played close attention things that were the same in each story and the things that were different in each story. The we wrote about our Favorite Bears Story.

The First Goldilocks was...

The Second Goldilocks story was...

 The Third Goldilocks was 

The Fourth story we read was

And the Last Goldilocks story was  

*****Come check out our bulletin board outside our classroom to find out which Goldilocks was your child's favorite!!!*****

Spelling City

I have been trying to dabble into Spelling City forever… This week we are going to try it.

our class link is ...          Our Spelling City Class Link

My school has been talking a lot about teaching typing to the kids.  As an educator I am having a hard time with this.  I have been working very hard, teaching my students the importance of handwriting and the formation of each letter.

So this week will try a few activities that could involve handwriting and/or typing! 

You can scan this QR Code directly from your screen if you wish to reach spelling city through a different devise then your on right now.

Homework

Homework is sent home Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. If your child does not bring home their folder or homework then you can supplement the homework with IXL for Math and Raz-Kids for Reading.

If you would like your student information again please let me know.

Typically I send home a math Home Link and or a writing activity. Please send back the following day.

I also have been sending spelling words on Mondays with a few activities to practice spelling over the week.  These activities are for you to keep at home and for your child to practice daily.  This is up to you and your schedule. Also you may keep these activities no need to send them in. 

Cam Jansen

Some of our students have been working on Cam Jansen

                 Cam Jansen        

                          Wouldn't it be really cool if we all had a photographic memory?

Ok starting to put together my Cam Jansen things.  I have so many books but now need some supplies to go with it!  So this will be my sharing post.

 First I googled Cam Jansen and came across this website http://www.camjansen.com! Check it out!

I think I will look at her first book Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

Here on the website is a quick little study guide you can look through while you read the story.

Study Guide

Our next Math Unit-Unit 4

Math Unit 4 Everyday Math

I just came across this awesome parent website if you ever need copies of our daily homework. Check it out!!!

Grade 1 Everyday Math For Parents

As you can see it is full of ideas and items that are part of our Everyday Math Program. If you search through the site you will be able to see what we will be working on over the next few weeks.

This unit has some new routines and introductions to new skills.

First our students will be introduced to Math Messages and these are daily independent problem solving activities that our students will soon be able to do their own thinking and answer questions independently about Math.

We will be measuring with a ruler and tape measure during this unit. It's funny because my daughter is actually measuring things in the house with other things. So I see development milestone as the next step is inches and cm. so now 6-7 years learn to measure by inches and centimeters. 

How much is a foot?

How much is a centimeter?

How much is an inch?

Think of different ways to measure one object

.

Top to bottom

Left side to right side

Height 

Length

Depth

Our program is a spiraling program which means we will continue to practice math facts, money and time!  Looking forward to this unit. 

Oh Spelling Words here we come!

Spelling City for Our Class

Spelling in Mrs. Smith's 1st Grade has begun!  

Please notice the Welcome to Spelling Letter is going home.

•               Week of January 13 each student will be on list 1

•               Week of January 21 each student will have their own list plus the challenge words.

•               Week of January 27 each student will have their own list plus the challenge words.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my first graders and their families!

I hope that you all have rested up. We are close to being half way through the school year.  Here are a few things about the next few weeks.

Our Curriculum in January

Our Math focus will be on measuring non-standard objects, time to the hour, half hour and now quarter hour. We will continue with counting coins up to $1.00.  We will also be writing our numbers up to 1000 through a math activity that is going to grow and grow.  This will help the students with reinforcing correct number formation, number sequencing and identify more and more number patters.

Readers Workshop

This is the month that our first graders will become "Word Detectives.  we are going to be learning about how  different vowel combinations sound is not exactly how its phonetically written. 

example:  ar as in car says the same sound as the word are.

Ok simple, but try explaining this one…

are as in hare says the same sound as in air like in hair

They will become a word detective as they learn to use certain strategies such as using picture clues, looking for chunks and/or word families, asking question like does this make sense or does that look right? Our students will use end marks and special fonts in their own reading voice to be come "better" readers.

We will also be thinkers that write.  We will be writing about our thinking.  Written responses our students are going to begin to take ownership of their own reading by a

Writers Workshop

Adding details st

US Cellular $25,000

Thank you to all the families who helped our school win $25,000

What would our class buy if we had $25,000?

Sadie - we would buy a lot of folders for everything! 

Aron- I would by 900 elves for everyone to have at home!

Jayna's - I would buy a outside playhouse for the school to play with!

Holden - would want a bigger classroom!!!

Elijah-a roller coaster for our school to use at recess and a cannon ball

Bode- a giant Lego car for the ninjas! 

Abbie a fish tank built into the hallway.

Jayden- a hot tub for outside recess during the winter.

Nora- I would get stuffies, 100 popsicles, and 2 big balls.

Lauren- would buy more games and more books!

Daniel -would get a hot tub for the snow.

Hannah wants a hottub with a dving board for outside in the summer.

Owen- would get 100 rainbow iPad for everyone to use! 

Skyler would get an American girl doll for each girl in our school! 

Our Elf has arrived!!!

Let's see what the kids name him!!!

Snack as of November 21

OK our Snack is now in the afternoon- My belly is trying to get used to this!  Anyway Snack will be now at 2:00-2:10 everyday.  So that means on 1/2 day Wednesday we can have snack with kids who eat lunch at school.  So if your child does not eat lunch at school on Wednesdays you could send them with a snack to tie them over until they do have lunch.

Hope this isn't to much of a confusion.
M,T,T,F and Full Day Wednesdays- Snack in the afternoon
1/2 Day W's- small snack if your child is not eating lunch at school.

Thanks Everyone!

IPad, Kindle Fire, IPad Mini, Tablet, NOOK- Oh My

I have had a number of parents ask me my own personal recommendation for an electronic for this holiday season.
                                     Oh My...

Tough "Choice" I often run into blogs and articles on these topics.  I will add them as I find them again.

Article #1
Here is an article that is a great reference for your choice. It has its own opinion of their top choice but the article has a                                       little summary of the commonly used tablets that are out                                             there.

We use iPads in our classroom as you know.  We, are used to a big interface (how big the screen is, such as the iPad 2.  We can manipulate through different types of apps. We can also make videos and take pictures.

In my house we have an Android Tablet, an iPad and a Kindle.  Each one of these are user friendly and run just like the next one. Meaning I can do the same things on my iPad that I can do on my daughters Kindle.  My daughters Kindle has a lot of the same apps that I have on my iPad. We can stream Netflix and Amazon video on all three. My husband can download movies from google play, I download movies onto my iPad from iTunes and my daughter's Kindle we download from Amazon or stream Amazon Prime.
(wow we have a house full of geeks)

So needless to say I have 3 different types in my house and they all are used the same!  I do however want to state my own opinion and that would be Apple.  Apple products are used in most schools now days. I did have a android phone but went to apple after my contract was up and have now used Apple products for 5 years.  This was written just to type my own thoughts and opinions.

When I come across some more suggestions then I will add to this post!

What did we have for dinner?

Today is the first day that I am writing our blog with our students...

Todays question will be- What did you have for dinner last night?

Gabrielle-Pizza with water
Skyler- Spagetti with iced tea
Ethan- spagetti with milk
Aron- Macaroni with butter with milk
Owen-pizza with juice
Ally-Spagetti with juice
Daniel- ham italian with grape soda
Reed- Mac and Cheese with milk
Elijah- curly noodles and green beans with nothing to drink
Zoie-raviolis with cheese inside with orange juice
Lauren- mac and cheese and celery with milk.

Because of a lot of distractions we were unable to finish our list.  Lots of children talking during our morning meeting.

Just so you know parents our Carpet SOP is

1. Come to the carpet quietly
2. Sit in a just right spot
3. Voice Level 0

Math Facts

Do you remember learning math facts when you were a kid?

Well now its time to do this with your child.  Think about how you group items when counting them.  Now think of another way you group those items.  When counting a handful of pennies do you count them by 2's or group them in 5's?  

Well now it time to teach your child these skills.... but wait lets do them in a sequence please!

Research has shown that long-term success in mathematics is closely tied to strong number sense, including fluency with basic facts. The sooner your child becomes fluent with her or his addition and subtraction facts, the better! Addition and subtraction of larger numbers will be much easier to master, and multiplication and division are easier to learn with the support of addition and subtraction fluency. 

Over the next few weeks we will be starting timed math facts. Please take some time with your child and practice the Math Fact Skills that we are working on in school.

I will add, to this post, some math fact activities that you can do at home. Check back please!

Snack in the AFTERNOON????

We might have to change snack from the morning to the afternoon.  Please take a few minutes with your child and talk to them about what their choice is.?

Would your child like to have snack in the morning or in the afternoon?

Thanks let me know by leaving a comment.

What are we doing the week of November 4-8

This week in writing we are concentrating on our penmanship.   We are working out the kinks in our penmanship. We are noticing sinkers or floaters, reversals or "sloppy". Take a few minutes to notice their penmanship writing. 

** I sent home a few weeks ago a packet of "How-to form lower case letters."  

                     

                      Writing in First Grade
                        check out this article that I found 
                            (click right on Writing in First Grade above)

WE are beginning to see our mistakes and be able to fix them.

Notice how we match our "sounding out" to our writing with remembering to use proper handwriting formations.  This is hard.  With your help at this point you can have your child reflect on their writing.  

Thumbs up - Great

Thumbs sideways- Just OK

Thumbs down- not so good, then why.

       Reading- Our Kids Did it.

  

    Our class was able to Read to Self for 15 minutes.

At the beginning of the school year our kids wanted to set a goal.  The goal was to be able to read alone, in a perfect spot for 15 minutes.  On Tuesday October 29th our class read for 15 minutes with minimal interruptions. On the 30th we did it again. On the 31 we read for 13 minutes.  Hey, understandably, it was Halloween.  Then on Monday they read again for 15 minutes. (I was absent on Friday) Tuesday was a quick my treat of ice cream sundaes!  I was so proud of our kids for accomplishing the ability to "Really Read" for 15 minutes.

Now your saying my child can NOT do this at home.  Well yes they can- in a quiet Perfect Spot.  Take some time with your child and find that "Perfect Spot" at home. A "Perfect Spot" where your child can start building stamina while reading at home.

As of  November 2013 build stamina and share that reading is great!

I would say up to 15 minutes of reading.

                          MATH

Our Kids have just finished the first 2 units in math.  You will receive your child's testing info by Monday of next week.

I am using our kids testing to assign parts of IXL to each students individual needs.

In our Unit 3 Everyday Math Program

Visual Patterns

Number Patterns

Counting on a number grid

Time- hour and 1/2 hour

Calculators

Money- P N and Dimes- yes dimes are here.  

Math Work you can always do at home.

Math Facts example- 0+1=, 0+2=, 0+3=, 0+4= the zero math facts

               the ones math facts

Sequencing numbers, tricks to help remembers the facts.

Number stories

This week we will concentrate on Odd and Even Numbers, coin counting ability to physically count N and P's and the ability to show their thinking on paper. 

(Don't go any higher than $1- unless your child is ready for that)

                                                 Sequencing

For the next few weeks our underlying theme will be sequencing. Sequencing in many different areas of our day-to-day lives as a First Grader. Sequencing is a part of reading comprehension, math, writing and our day to day tasks!  

• Sequencing is the understanding how to retell a story.
• Understand one story format- beginning, middle and ending.
• Sequence through a series of tasks.
• Math - understanding the sequence of a day (Time)
• Reading-First Then Next Last
• Writing- A capital letter ALWAYS starts a sentence and a voice mark at the end of a sentence.
• Math- Time, number order
• Brushing your teach
• "Routine"