Using Our Schema!

This past week in Readers Workshop we practiced what it looks like and sounds like to share about what we are reading during independent reading. We brainstormed a list of the many different things that we could share about our reading like what the book was about, things we learned, questions we still have and favorite parts/pictures. The students practiced sharing with strong voices while classmates practiced the fine art of listening to understand.

In Writers Workshop we learned that writers get their ideas from two main places, their head and their heart. We all created a list of things that we know a lot about and care a lot about to help us if we ever get writers block. These lists now live in our writing folders to help us get ideas for the next writing piece because writers are never DONE! We also learned about the importance of adding detailed illustrations to help us to tell our stories and bring them to life for the reader.

Our new word for the week in literacy was SCHEMA. Our schema is all of the things that we already know from the different experiences that we have had. Our schema helps us to choose books, understand what we are reading and helps us to create strong writing pieces when we write about what we know. The great thing about schema is we are always getting more as we continue to learn, read and write!

In Number Corner and Math we continue to look closely at patterns and sorting different materials by their many characteristics. The students have already begun to talk more like mathematicians since the saying in our classroom is "Strong Mathematicians Back Up Their Thinking With...BECAUSE." It may be fun to sort and categorize the fall leaves at home as they begin to fall in your own yard. You will be amazed at the smart thinking that you hear.

Hopes, Dreams and Dots!

What a busy week we have had in Synergy. Our class began to think about our hopes and dreams for first grade. We have lots of friends who want to learn to be stronger readers and writers, some who want to become better mathematicians and some who want to learn more about specific topics. We each illustrated and wrote about our personal hope and dream for the year on a star that will hang from the ceiling in our classroom to remind us to "Reach For The Stars!"

During theme time we began our workshops on the five senses. All of the students in Synergy house are blended together into four groups. Each day that we have workshops the groups rotate to a new classroom to explore one of the senses. In Ms. Roger's room they are exploring their taste buds, in Ms. Kate's room they are putting their noses to the test, they are getting "touchy feely" in Ms. Stein's room, and are putting their listening ears on in Mrs. Eaton's room. We are becoming sensory experts!

Wednesday, September 15th was Dot Day. This day of creativity was inspired by Peter Reynold's beautiful book The Dot. The message in Reynold's book is to celebrate your individuality and "Make Your Mark." All over the world students were using their creativity to celebrate Dot Day. In our classroom we created our own dot collage using watercolors. The students certainly loved making their mark and just as we expected, no two dots were quite the same! To learn more about Dot Day and Peter Reynolds visit his website at www.peterhreynolds.com

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Choosing Books

Today we took our first trip to the library. Mrs. Wentz reminded us where all of the many books are located and we got to spend some time choosing books. In first grade we will have library on Mondays and each student will be able to take out two books at a time.Books should be brought back to school the following Monday to exchange.

For now students are able to choose whichever two books they would like. During certain units of study I may have them choose one specific book and one free choice depending on what our focus is in reading. Recently our focus has been on different strategies that we use to choose books. Some of us choose books because they are old favorites, written by an author that we like or because it was recommended to us by a friend. You may want to talk with you student about why they chose the book that they did.

During the next few sessions in Reader's Workshop we will begin to think about just right books or books that are at our reading level. Some books are too challenging which can make reading frustrating and some are too easy which can take the fun out of reading. We will be learning different strategies for choosing books that are just right for us. When your child brings home library books you could have some rich conversations about whether or not the book that they brought home is a just right book and how they know that it is. Please be aware that books that may seem too challenging to read independently can still be enriching books to read aloud together.

Happy Reading!

Ready To Read!

Wow! What a difference a few degrees makes. We came back to school thankful for the cooler temperatures and began to dive into readers and writers workshop with great enthusiasm.

In Readers Workshop we are beginning a unit of study on the Habits of Good Readers. This week we discussed some of the things that good readers do. For example, good readers have different strategies for choosing books, good readers use bookmarks to keep their place in a book and good readers read in a quiet spot and work on reading for longer amounts of time. It is so fascinating to see how students choose books and the many different genres that they are already interested in.

In Writers Workshop the students were introduced to the three important parts of a story-the beginning, middle and end. After guided practice as a group they got together in pairs to practice orally telling a beginning, middle and end story about their summer. Next week we will take our oral stories and turn them into our first writing pieces.

Next week we are going to begin a unit on the five senses. The students will get to go to different workshops over the next five weeks in each of the
different Synergy classrooms. This will be a great opportunity to interact and learn with other first and second grade friends and teachers. Be sure to look for updates about our science discoveries!

Off To A Great Start!

We have had a great first week together in first grade despite the sticky hot weather. We've spent a lot of time learning about each other and the routines of the classroom. We have also been talking a lot about how we can Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Responsible because that is the Allen Brook way!

In math we dove into our first unit of study which investigates bugs of all types and the patterns and counting that we can do with them. The kids love the work places and are really showing that they know how to take care of the materials and work together as mathematicians.

We have a lot of bookworms in this class and they were excited to learn how to take books out of our classroom library during Reader's Workshop. Next week we will continue to think about what good readers do, how they choose books and what independent reading looks/sounds like.

In Writer's Workshop we have had guided discovery of two of the most important tools that authors and illustrators use, the pencil and the crayon. Next week we will be focusing our Writer's Workshop on writing and illustrating our hopes and dreams for the school year.

I have included a slide show of some of the students in their math work places. It is amazing all of the smart thinking that is happening in our class already!