After the morning bell, the first graders practiced the steps in their morning routine again. This included unpacking and checking home folders for notes or work. The students also learned that whenever they enter the classroom and find papers on their desks, they should be placed in their green folders to take home. The Question of the Day was: Do you have any brothers or sisters? Morning work was a hidden picture activity mat.
We previewed the events planned for the day by going over the schedule and reading the morning message. The morning message also provided the written material for a mini lesson about punctuation marks. Following our morning meeting, we read the poem Children, Children, Everywhere. The students drew little pictures of children described in the poem.
We read the amusing book Too Much Glue by Jason LeFebvre. The boys and girls then used glue sticks and foam pieces to create a door hanger craft. After this, it was time for a recess break outside.
One of our first math lessons of the year involved tally marks. Tally marks help us when we collect data. The first graders used tally marks when they searched the room for various items like doors, desks, and dinosaurs. They then each received a Lost Tooth Chart upon which they will record the number of teeth the students lose every week. One student kindly lost a tooth right after this so we were able to put the tooth chart to use immediately!
We had a quick Quiet Time before heading up to the second floor to have music with Ms. Prescott. The return trip took quite a bit longer than necessary. It seems we have not yet mastered traveling from Point A to Point B without numerous course corrections. We will keep practicing!
Once back in the classroom, we took on some organizational tasks. First, we labeled the pockets in our daily folders. The “To Do” side will be for assignments that must still be finished. The “Keep” side will be for ongoing activity sheets and reference materials. Ask your child what is already in his/her daily folder pockets! The first graders also received phonics books, math books, and Junior Great Books. We then organized all the books, folders, notebooks, etc. in their desks. Every item has a special place.
We shared several more postcards and brochures before the fifth graders arrived at the end of the day. The buddies participated in a scavenger hunt together. They tried to find first or fifth graders who fit various categories. The papers were sent home. Ask your child to share something he/she learned about a classmate or fifth grade buddy!
Please check your child’s home folder for a pink pick-up permission note from the school office.
The Owl About Me posters are due tomorrow (9/6).