The first graders were greeted by the paper people first graders when they arrived this morning. The paper people will stand at attention outside Room 104 for the rest of the year. They are currently holding the hermit crab projects created a couple weeks ago.
Once inside the classroom, the students discovered that their seat had been moved. Everyone is now sitting with new classmates at a new table. Ask your child to tell you the names of his/her new tablemates!
Today's morning work was a name poem to read together. The boys and girls shared some tidbits about their weekend activities during our morning meeting. We then moved on to spelling. This week's words are abstract vowels, vowel combinations that make new sounds. The patterns this week are /ou./ and /oi/. We also had a mini-lesson on consonant blends (or clusters) and digraphs. The gr in ground is a consonant blend. The th in thing is a consonant digraph. We will will revisit this terminology frequently.
Before going to recess, we visited the computer lab for our only shapes powerpoint session this week. Today the boys and girls learned to make circles from ovals (shift key alert!). They also used the copy and paste tools to make many shapes from just three. The shift key was used again for coloring those shapes. Ask your child about that process!
During math, the first graders created their monthly calendar of events. We have six birthdays this month and lots of special events!
After Quiet Time, we observed the brassica plants. The boys and girls were excited to see flower buds growing on the plants. There were some cases of not-too-gentle touching the last time we looked at the plants, so we just turned the cups on the table trays during this round of observations.
Once inside the classroom, the students discovered that their seat had been moved. Everyone is now sitting with new classmates at a new table. Ask your child to tell you the names of his/her new tablemates!
Today's morning work was a name poem to read together. The boys and girls shared some tidbits about their weekend activities during our morning meeting. We then moved on to spelling. This week's words are abstract vowels, vowel combinations that make new sounds. The patterns this week are /ou./ and /oi/. We also had a mini-lesson on consonant blends (or clusters) and digraphs. The gr in ground is a consonant blend. The th in thing is a consonant digraph. We will will revisit this terminology frequently.
Before going to recess, we visited the computer lab for our only shapes powerpoint session this week. Today the boys and girls learned to make circles from ovals (shift key alert!). They also used the copy and paste tools to make many shapes from just three. The shift key was used again for coloring those shapes. Ask your child about that process!
During math, the first graders created their monthly calendar of events. We have six birthdays this month and lots of special events!
After Quiet Time, we observed the brassica plants. The boys and girls were excited to see flower buds growing on the plants. There were some cases of not-too-gentle touching the last time we looked at the plants, so we just turned the cups on the table trays during this round of observations.
Our Second Step lesson of the week was all about focusing attention and blocking out distractions. This is something we all need to practice to become better learners. We played a game of My Turn, Your Turn. Ask your child to teach you how to play!
During reading, we focused on story elements. The boys and girls identified the setting (where and when the story takes place), the main characters, the problem, and the solution in the book Blueberries for Sal. They recorded the information in a graphic organizer.
The last event of the day was Music with Ms. Lambert.
Please check backpack mail for graded classwork and homework. I think we will have some fascinating 100-Page Books to read in February! In the not too distant future, I will provide ideas/templates to help you help your child with his/her book project. In the meantime, just get some ideas flowing!
You will also find a trip slip and a chaperone request form among the papers sent home today.
We will begin using our Map Champ Atlas books tomorrow.
During reading, we focused on story elements. The boys and girls identified the setting (where and when the story takes place), the main characters, the problem, and the solution in the book Blueberries for Sal. They recorded the information in a graphic organizer.
The last event of the day was Music with Ms. Lambert.
Please check backpack mail for graded classwork and homework. I think we will have some fascinating 100-Page Books to read in February! In the not too distant future, I will provide ideas/templates to help you help your child with his/her book project. In the meantime, just get some ideas flowing!
You will also find a trip slip and a chaperone request form among the papers sent home today.
We will begin using our Map Champ Atlas books tomorrow.