It was so nice to return to the class this week and see that just like the daffodils and crocuses outside, my first graders are blossoming into second graders right before my eyes!
We are hard at work exploring the genre of poetry in Readers Workshop. The class has been learning about different kinds of poems and are reciting poems to the class in their most fluent reading. They know that this means that they are paying attention to punctuation, reading at a good pace with clear volume and using expression in their voices. Some students have been practicing poems to read solo while others have been teaming up and practicing in groups of two and three. I can't wait for you to see them preform some of their poems at the poetry jam later on this month.
In Writers Workshop we are also exploring poetry. Last week we learned about how strong poets get ideas for their poems by using their five senses to write about an object. We practiced this skill by describing a mystery object from nature. Poets also use their five senses to come up with "juicy" words instead of "tired" words. We had fun practicing this skill while describing a chocolate chip. Of course, the sense of taste was the most fun!
In math we have wrapped up our unit on geometry. The class has learned about congruent and similar shapes during number corner. In our work places we've looked at the attributes of three dimensional shapes using polygons and played several games looking at the attributes of two dimensional shapes. Next week we will jump into the last unit for the year, an integrated study of Farms. Students will work in teams to create their own little farm where they will have to make decisions around spending money and land use planning as they purchase animals and farm equipment. We will also be reading many great books about life on a farm and writing about farms. It promises to be a fun and interactive way to end the year in math.
I am so glad to be back and can't believe that it is already May! Be sure to check the important dates widget as we have many things happening at this time of year.
Happy Spring!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
First Grade Community Quilt
The students had a great last week before vacation. The first graders wrapped up their Community Unit with the creation of a Community Quilt. Each student was responsible for making a square. The students illustrated their square with a picture of Community Helpers working together. The quilt is hanging in our Kiva for the entire team to enjoy!
In Readers' Workshop the students continued to work on their reading of poetry. This unit will continue when the students get back from vacation. The students have been enjoying poetry and have been really using great skills to learn how to interpret the poetry they are reading.
In Math, the students continue their study of Geometry. The students created their own Mini Quilts this week that went home in their Friday Folders. Also, the students continue to look at shape attributes when describing shapes. We want the students to be able to talk about what a shape looks like as well as the attributes that give a shape a certain name. The students practiced this skill through a game called, What Shape is in my Pocket.
In Fundations, the students continue to build their skills on using the suffix /s/. The students created their own books this week titled Jack's Bag. The children developed their own illustrations to go with the words. Those books were sent home in their Friday Folders.
This was my last week in the classroom. I just want to say thank you for all the support while I have been filling in for Mrs. Eaton. It has been wonderful working with your children and helping them develop as learners!
Thanks again,
Jamie St. John
In Readers' Workshop the students continued to work on their reading of poetry. This unit will continue when the students get back from vacation. The students have been enjoying poetry and have been really using great skills to learn how to interpret the poetry they are reading.
In Math, the students continue their study of Geometry. The students created their own Mini Quilts this week that went home in their Friday Folders. Also, the students continue to look at shape attributes when describing shapes. We want the students to be able to talk about what a shape looks like as well as the attributes that give a shape a certain name. The students practiced this skill through a game called, What Shape is in my Pocket.
In Fundations, the students continue to build their skills on using the suffix /s/. The students created their own books this week titled Jack's Bag. The children developed their own illustrations to go with the words. Those books were sent home in their Friday Folders.
This was my last week in the classroom. I just want to say thank you for all the support while I have been filling in for Mrs. Eaton. It has been wonderful working with your children and helping them develop as learners!
Thanks again,
Jamie St. John
Friday, April 8, 2011
Red Clover Reading
The students have had a busy week! To start, Mrs. Eaton and Marcus came to visit the classroom this week. The students were so excited and came up with lots of questions to ask Mrs. Eaton about being a mom! They were able to share with her some of what they have been working on while she has been away.
The class also voted for the Red Clover Book Award. I was lucky enough to get to read two of the books to the class. The students really enjoyed hearing both Redwoods and Moonshot. Red Clover books are selected by a committee for quality literature. Then the books are read to the students by different adults and we vote on our favorite. This award is statewide; all the votes are combined and one book is awarded years best picture book.
In Readers' Workshop the students are continuing to explore poetry. They are really enjoying being able to read poems they find with partners. They also are enjoying being able to add illustrations to poetry based on the mental image they develop while listening.
In Math, the students were introduced to solid figures this week. The children explored and learned the names of numerous three dimensional shapes. The students used polydrons to help them build both a cube and a pyramid. Students are still building their understanding of what is the difference between a solid figure and a 1 or 2 dimensional shape. To help with that we learned some new math vocabulary; faces, vertex or vertecies, and edges. In Number Corner, we are continuing our work on shapes and also just starting to discuss congruent shapes (same shape/same size) as well as similar shapes (same shape/different size).
Ms. Steins' class and ours has been continuing to learn about community. The students focused this week on places in the community that are important. They also worked really hard to write about their community members using their best penmanship. It was great to see how excited they got when they took their time and saw the end result. Next week, we will conclude this part of our Community Unit by talking about how community helpers work together and making a large community quilt of our discoveries!
Hope you all enjoy this beautiful weekend! I can't wait to get outside and enjoy the sun!
The class also voted for the Red Clover Book Award. I was lucky enough to get to read two of the books to the class. The students really enjoyed hearing both Redwoods and Moonshot. Red Clover books are selected by a committee for quality literature. Then the books are read to the students by different adults and we vote on our favorite. This award is statewide; all the votes are combined and one book is awarded years best picture book.
In Readers' Workshop the students are continuing to explore poetry. They are really enjoying being able to read poems they find with partners. They also are enjoying being able to add illustrations to poetry based on the mental image they develop while listening.
In Math, the students were introduced to solid figures this week. The children explored and learned the names of numerous three dimensional shapes. The students used polydrons to help them build both a cube and a pyramid. Students are still building their understanding of what is the difference between a solid figure and a 1 or 2 dimensional shape. To help with that we learned some new math vocabulary; faces, vertex or vertecies, and edges. In Number Corner, we are continuing our work on shapes and also just starting to discuss congruent shapes (same shape/same size) as well as similar shapes (same shape/different size).
Ms. Steins' class and ours has been continuing to learn about community. The students focused this week on places in the community that are important. They also worked really hard to write about their community members using their best penmanship. It was great to see how excited they got when they took their time and saw the end result. Next week, we will conclude this part of our Community Unit by talking about how community helpers work together and making a large community quilt of our discoveries!
Hope you all enjoy this beautiful weekend! I can't wait to get outside and enjoy the sun!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
First Grade Poets!
Wow...it is starting to feel like Spring is here! The students have been enjoying their time outside this week. I hope you all have been enjoying this beautiful weekend.
We had a great week in our classroom. In Readers' Workshop, the students started engaging in a Poetry Unit. The class was excited to start this unit and share and learn more about poetry. The students are creating a their own poetry books. We are currently reading lots of different poems. This week we discussed what poetry is and made a list of things that we know about poetry. The students also practiced choosing "just right" poems, how to use the words of a poem to understand the meaning, and making metal pictures while reading poems. We set up a Poetry Share sign-up sheet. When students practice a poem and feel that they are wanting to share it with the class, they can sign-up have a chance to practice reading their favorite poems aloud.
The students are enjoying listening and sharing their "just right" poems.
In Math, we are continuing our study of Geometry. The students are having a great time exploring shapes through the use of manipulatives. We have been focusing on using hexagons, triangles, trapezoids and rhombus. We have been looking at shape attributes. The students are learning great geometric vocabulary and are learning about how to describe shapes. I was able to share one of my favorite books with the class, The Greedy Triangle, by Marilyn Burns. This book does a great job talking about different shapes and is a fun way to practice the names of different shapes.
This week we started a unit on Community. Both First Grade classrooms have been talking about Community Helpers or people in the community. The students were able to create their own Community Helpers with construction paper. The students are making some great connections with what their family members do to help out in the community as well as recognizing other jobs that people have in the community. We have been focusing on the importance of being a Community Helper. Next week, we are going to shift our focus to places that are important in the community.
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to enjoy the sunshine!
We had a great week in our classroom. In Readers' Workshop, the students started engaging in a Poetry Unit. The class was excited to start this unit and share and learn more about poetry. The students are creating a their own poetry books. We are currently reading lots of different poems. This week we discussed what poetry is and made a list of things that we know about poetry. The students also practiced choosing "just right" poems, how to use the words of a poem to understand the meaning, and making metal pictures while reading poems. We set up a Poetry Share sign-up sheet. When students practice a poem and feel that they are wanting to share it with the class, they can sign-up have a chance to practice reading their favorite poems aloud.
The students are enjoying listening and sharing their "just right" poems.
In Math, we are continuing our study of Geometry. The students are having a great time exploring shapes through the use of manipulatives. We have been focusing on using hexagons, triangles, trapezoids and rhombus. We have been looking at shape attributes. The students are learning great geometric vocabulary and are learning about how to describe shapes. I was able to share one of my favorite books with the class, The Greedy Triangle, by Marilyn Burns. This book does a great job talking about different shapes and is a fun way to practice the names of different shapes.
This week we started a unit on Community. Both First Grade classrooms have been talking about Community Helpers or people in the community. The students were able to create their own Community Helpers with construction paper. The students are making some great connections with what their family members do to help out in the community as well as recognizing other jobs that people have in the community. We have been focusing on the importance of being a Community Helper. Next week, we are going to shift our focus to places that are important in the community.
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to enjoy the sunshine!
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