Hello Amazing First Graders and Awesome First Grade Families!
Today was a great day in first grade! Once again, we were busy, busy, busy bees! Today we began centers. The kids learned the rules and procedures for working in centers. They did a great job of practicing the procedures and working hard!
After learning about centers, we got to do centers! There are five centers per week, so the children will do 1 center per day. After centers there is Self Selected Reading (SSR) time and I will also be reading with small groups of children. The 5 centers are:
1. Listening - The children listen to a book on tape. After listening, they fill out the name of the book, author and illustrator. Next, they write 3 things that happened in the story and draw a picture.
2. Science - This week our science center is based on the 5 senses. I have four jars with a food item in each jar. The jars are covered up. The kids smell the jars and guess what they are. After they guess, they write about what it is like to depend on sense of smell without sense of sight to identify the item.
3. Writing - The children are working on a Starfall activity. The activity focuses on letter formation, penmanship and comprehension.
4. Math - This week our math center focuses on pattern blocks with an integration of the five senses. The children have a chance to first explore the pattern blocks. After that, they partner up. The first partner makes a shape, but does not show it to the second partner. Then, the first partner must teach the second partner how to make the shape with words only.
5. Reading - The children read with me in small groups. We focus on reading strategies and comprehension.
This week we begin our science unit on The Five Senses. Today we learned about how our eyes help us. We did a fun activity to see what it would be like if we didn't have our eyes. The children worked in partners. The first partner closed his/her eyes, while his/her partner gave directions to draw a face. This helped us to think about how important our sense of sight is. This challenge caused us to use our sesnes of hearing and feeling. The kids had a lot of fun and everyone was glad to have their sight back! I have neat science experiment planned for each sense for the rest of the week. The children had a good time and they got to see that science is so much fun!
We practiced our new spelling words. The children came home with Rainbow Words for practice today and they are due tomorrow. This week we are working on the "am" family. Our making words activities will focus on spelling practice and "am" family practice.
Today in math we made an apple glyph. The kids did a great job following the multi-step directions and successfully completing the glyph. Parents - be sure to ask your child what the word data means and what they learned about their classmates from the glyphs. Tomorrow in math we will do continued pattern block exploration and we will learn how to collect data from the glyphs.
Today in computers we went on a neat science website for kids. We practiced listening/reading as we listened to information about the eye. If you'd like to see today's activity, please see the blog entry directly below this one, "Computers, 8/30."
Reminders for the week: Kids - please bring your yellow folder to school each day. It is YOUR responsibility to remember your homework and your folder! We have library on Friday. Please bring your book back by Friday.
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
August 30, 2010
August 28, 2010
Computers, 8/30!
The Eye Spies!
Let's start by voting on this week's poll. After you vote, please come to the floor in front of the SmartBoard and we'll learn about our activity for today.
Today we began our science study on the 5 senses. It was fun to learn about our eyes and all that they do for us! We learned how important our eyes are, especially when we couldn't use them for our experiment!
Today we will read and practice our listening skills while we learn about the eye. Go to http://kidshealth.org/kid/cancer_center/HTBW/eyes.html# . Put your headphones on and click on the listening button. Read along as you learn about our eye!
When you're done, you may practice looking at a friend's eye! After that, please go to one of the links on my website.
Happy Seeing!
Mrs. Johnston
Let's start by voting on this week's poll. After you vote, please come to the floor in front of the SmartBoard and we'll learn about our activity for today.
Today we began our science study on the 5 senses. It was fun to learn about our eyes and all that they do for us! We learned how important our eyes are, especially when we couldn't use them for our experiment!
Today we will read and practice our listening skills while we learn about the eye. Go to http://kidshealth.org/kid/cancer_center/HTBW/eyes.html# . Put your headphones on and click on the listening button. Read along as you learn about our eye!
When you're done, you may practice looking at a friend's eye! After that, please go to one of the links on my website.
Happy Seeing!
Mrs. Johnston
August 27, 2010
Week in Review
Happy Friday, First Grade!
We had a busy week in first grade! Our social studies unit on manners was a success! The manners we focused on were:
Never, ever pick your nose!
"Bee sure" to always use your best manners at school and home!
Use kind words
Do not interrupt or blurt
Be responsible
The children did a wonderful job of practicing these manners and writing about them. They will be making a book with all their work from the week.
The first spelling test of the year is complete! I am so proud of my busy, SMART bees! Everyone received either an A+ or a Star! Great spelling, first graders!
We did some great math exploration this week and we learned to use some of the manipulatives in the math tubs. The children learned different ways to make ten, and they learned how to write proper computations for story problems. I just finished grading the math tests and, WOW, they are great! Kids - super job using your best thinking math brains! Way to go!
The kids have a good grasp on the components of a friendly letter. Next week they will get a lot of great practice by writing one each day to the special person.
Today we had our first trip to the library. We heard a story and then the children got to check out TWO books! Kids - "bee sure" to remember to take great care of your books! Please bring your books back on Friday.
Our day ended with a special visitor to our class! Thank you to Conor and Mrs. R. for bringing in Oreo the bunny! That was so much fun! After our visit with Oreo it was time for recess, bee bucks and Rainbow Club. It was a great Friday afternoon!
Get ready for a great week next week; we are learning about the five senses and beginning our centers!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Johnston
We had a busy week in first grade! Our social studies unit on manners was a success! The manners we focused on were:
Never, ever pick your nose!
"Bee sure" to always use your best manners at school and home!
Use kind words
Do not interrupt or blurt
Be responsible
The children did a wonderful job of practicing these manners and writing about them. They will be making a book with all their work from the week.
The first spelling test of the year is complete! I am so proud of my busy, SMART bees! Everyone received either an A+ or a Star! Great spelling, first graders!
We did some great math exploration this week and we learned to use some of the manipulatives in the math tubs. The children learned different ways to make ten, and they learned how to write proper computations for story problems. I just finished grading the math tests and, WOW, they are great! Kids - super job using your best thinking math brains! Way to go!
The kids have a good grasp on the components of a friendly letter. Next week they will get a lot of great practice by writing one each day to the special person.
Today we had our first trip to the library. We heard a story and then the children got to check out TWO books! Kids - "bee sure" to remember to take great care of your books! Please bring your books back on Friday.
Our day ended with a special visitor to our class! Thank you to Conor and Mrs. R. for bringing in Oreo the bunny! That was so much fun! After our visit with Oreo it was time for recess, bee bucks and Rainbow Club. It was a great Friday afternoon!
Get ready for a great week next week; we are learning about the five senses and beginning our centers!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Johnston
August 23, 2010
August 23 - 27 Weekly Update
Hello Fabulous First Graders and Fantastic First Grade Families!
We are off and running in our second full week of school! Today was a great day in 1st grade and we truly were busy, busy bees! The children worked so hard on the challenges of the day. In addition to curriculum, we learned a few new procedures, and the kids did a great job of successfully practicing the new procedures.
This week we begin our social studies unit on manners. We will learn about manners and how to use them through reading (stories, songs and poems) and writing. Today we kicked off our manners week with a very fun and very silly poem called "Never, ever pick your nose!" The room was full of laughter when we read that! We followed up our poem with a draw and write about good manners. Each day this week we will read about manners and then our writing will be connected to that day's reading.
We began our Special Person today and we started with Abby. The kids had a great time interviewing Abby, listening to her share her poster and writing notes to her. Today we learned the five parts of a friendly letter (heading, greeting, body/message, closing, signature) and the kids wrote a friendly letter to Abby. The children will get practice writing a friendly letter each day that we have a special person. Andrew will be our next special person on Thursday!
Today marks the first week of spelling words! We practiced our spelling words today and then we learned how to do a Rainbow Write. This is when you write the word in crayon and then go over it two more times in different color crayons. This is great for both spelling practice and fine motor skills. This week our making words lessons will focus on our spelling words and the "an" word family.
Today in math we played addition bingo. The children did a very impressive job demonstrating their math skills and they had a great time doing it! This week we will continue to work on number sense and practical math application. Tomorrow we will make a t-shirt glyph. Be sure to talk with your child on Tuesday and ask him/her what a glyph is and how it helps us!
Today your child brought home his/her first homework assignment. The assignment is to practice the new spelling words by doing a Rainbow Write. The homework is due tomorrow. The children also need to read for at least 10 minutes tonight. The spelling words for the week are: the, of, and, a, to. The "an" family words for the week are: can, fan, man, pan, banana. Please encourage your child to practice these throughout the week; our first test is Friday. These spelling words come from the 100 most commonly used sight words.
Kids - please remember to bring your yellow homework folder to school every single day! You can show your parents that you are following our rule of "We are responsible" by remembering to bring your folder in!
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Johnston
We are off and running in our second full week of school! Today was a great day in 1st grade and we truly were busy, busy bees! The children worked so hard on the challenges of the day. In addition to curriculum, we learned a few new procedures, and the kids did a great job of successfully practicing the new procedures.
This week we begin our social studies unit on manners. We will learn about manners and how to use them through reading (stories, songs and poems) and writing. Today we kicked off our manners week with a very fun and very silly poem called "Never, ever pick your nose!" The room was full of laughter when we read that! We followed up our poem with a draw and write about good manners. Each day this week we will read about manners and then our writing will be connected to that day's reading.
We began our Special Person today and we started with Abby. The kids had a great time interviewing Abby, listening to her share her poster and writing notes to her. Today we learned the five parts of a friendly letter (heading, greeting, body/message, closing, signature) and the kids wrote a friendly letter to Abby. The children will get practice writing a friendly letter each day that we have a special person. Andrew will be our next special person on Thursday!
Today marks the first week of spelling words! We practiced our spelling words today and then we learned how to do a Rainbow Write. This is when you write the word in crayon and then go over it two more times in different color crayons. This is great for both spelling practice and fine motor skills. This week our making words lessons will focus on our spelling words and the "an" word family.
Today in math we played addition bingo. The children did a very impressive job demonstrating their math skills and they had a great time doing it! This week we will continue to work on number sense and practical math application. Tomorrow we will make a t-shirt glyph. Be sure to talk with your child on Tuesday and ask him/her what a glyph is and how it helps us!
Today your child brought home his/her first homework assignment. The assignment is to practice the new spelling words by doing a Rainbow Write. The homework is due tomorrow. The children also need to read for at least 10 minutes tonight. The spelling words for the week are: the, of, and, a, to. The "an" family words for the week are: can, fan, man, pan, banana. Please encourage your child to practice these throughout the week; our first test is Friday. These spelling words come from the 100 most commonly used sight words.
Kids - please remember to bring your yellow homework folder to school every single day! You can show your parents that you are following our rule of "We are responsible" by remembering to bring your folder in!
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Johnston
Computers, 8/23!
Welcome To Your Second Computer Class!
Today we are going to learn some neat things about this blog! We'll practice together on the Smart Board and then you'll get a chance to do things yourself!
First, please vote on this week's poll! Once you have voted, please come to the floor and we'll learn how to post a comment on a blog! We'll practice all of this together, then you'll get to explain it to me and then it will be your turn to try!
Here are the directions for how to comment on the blog:
1. Click on comments underneath the blog entry (there is a counter so they will begin with 0 comments).
2. Type your comments in the "Post Comment" box.
3. Open the drop down box for "Comment As" and choose "Name/URL."
4. Type your FIRST NAME ONLY and hit continue.
5. Click on the "Post Comment" button.
***The blog may require you to enter a code word. If this happens, a silly word will appear on the screen and you type it in the box. After that, click "Post Comment" and your comment will appear on the blog.
Now that we've practiced, it's your turn!!! Your job is to post your favorite thing about first grade!
Once you've posted your comment, you may go any of the links on my website.
Have fun!
Mrs. Johnston
Today we are going to learn some neat things about this blog! We'll practice together on the Smart Board and then you'll get a chance to do things yourself!
First, please vote on this week's poll! Once you have voted, please come to the floor and we'll learn how to post a comment on a blog! We'll practice all of this together, then you'll get to explain it to me and then it will be your turn to try!
Here are the directions for how to comment on the blog:
1. Click on comments underneath the blog entry (there is a counter so they will begin with 0 comments).
2. Type your comments in the "Post Comment" box.
3. Open the drop down box for "Comment As" and choose "Name/URL."
4. Type your FIRST NAME ONLY and hit continue.
5. Click on the "Post Comment" button.
***The blog may require you to enter a code word. If this happens, a silly word will appear on the screen and you type it in the box. After that, click "Post Comment" and your comment will appear on the blog.
Now that we've practiced, it's your turn!!! Your job is to post your favorite thing about first grade!
Once you've posted your comment, you may go any of the links on my website.
Have fun!
Mrs. Johnston
August 19, 2010
Terrific Thursday!
Hello, Busy Bees!
We're almost through with our first full week of school and it has been a great week! The children are doing a wonderful job practicing the procedures for our class, remembering our rules and learning our academic structure. The children are incredibly sweet and smart. And, they all have such a wonderful sense of humor! We are off and running in first grade and we have a wonderful year ahead of us!
This week I will begin sending communication electronically, either through an email with a word document or an email with a link to my website for a new blog posting.
This week we began to settle into the structure of school. We completed many assessments this week. Grading these assessments will help me be the best teacher for your child! The children were assessed in spelling, sight word reading, reading, writing, number recognition, addition and skip counting. My busy bees are smart cookies too!
This week we learned how to do a draw and write. This is when I teach the children, step by step, how to draw something and then they write a story about their drawing. They love this! Today we learned how to draw a dancing frog. The children had so much fun and they laughed a lot while they were learning! We are also reviewing how to correctly form letters. Please join me in encouraging your child to use his or her best penmanship!
The children are learning how to choose "just right books" and they are having fun exploring the Bee Quiet Corner to make their selections.
In math we worked on number sense, addition and skip counting. We are learning all about how to find a pair and how to tell if something is even or odd. Please be sure to ask your child what it is called when there is a leftover in an odd number! Today we worked on graphing our birthdays. Ask your child to tell you how a graph is helpful!
Today we read a non-fiction book about bees and we learned a lot of great new words! We learned the words social and solitary. Ask your child to tell you what those words mean!
The children have worked hard this week to earn Bee Bucks and trips up the Rainbow on our Rainbow Club. You may want to ask your child how many bee bucks he or she has or what level he or she is on in Rainbow Club. Tomorrow will be our first Rainbow Club day; the children have worked so hard and I know they are going to enjoy it!
Tomorrow is Friday and that means it's Sharing Circle day! The children may bring in one item or a story to share. If you would like to bring in a live animal, please contact me a few days in advance to set that up.
Next week we begin our special person. We will have 2 per week. The children will need to come to school with their posters ready on their day. Next week Abby will be our special person on Monday and Andrew will be our special person on Wednesday. I look forward to learning all about my wonderful students!
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you and have a great day!
Mrs. Johnston
We're almost through with our first full week of school and it has been a great week! The children are doing a wonderful job practicing the procedures for our class, remembering our rules and learning our academic structure. The children are incredibly sweet and smart. And, they all have such a wonderful sense of humor! We are off and running in first grade and we have a wonderful year ahead of us!
This week I will begin sending communication electronically, either through an email with a word document or an email with a link to my website for a new blog posting.
This week we began to settle into the structure of school. We completed many assessments this week. Grading these assessments will help me be the best teacher for your child! The children were assessed in spelling, sight word reading, reading, writing, number recognition, addition and skip counting. My busy bees are smart cookies too!
This week we learned how to do a draw and write. This is when I teach the children, step by step, how to draw something and then they write a story about their drawing. They love this! Today we learned how to draw a dancing frog. The children had so much fun and they laughed a lot while they were learning! We are also reviewing how to correctly form letters. Please join me in encouraging your child to use his or her best penmanship!
The children are learning how to choose "just right books" and they are having fun exploring the Bee Quiet Corner to make their selections.
In math we worked on number sense, addition and skip counting. We are learning all about how to find a pair and how to tell if something is even or odd. Please be sure to ask your child what it is called when there is a leftover in an odd number! Today we worked on graphing our birthdays. Ask your child to tell you how a graph is helpful!
Today we read a non-fiction book about bees and we learned a lot of great new words! We learned the words social and solitary. Ask your child to tell you what those words mean!
The children have worked hard this week to earn Bee Bucks and trips up the Rainbow on our Rainbow Club. You may want to ask your child how many bee bucks he or she has or what level he or she is on in Rainbow Club. Tomorrow will be our first Rainbow Club day; the children have worked so hard and I know they are going to enjoy it!
Tomorrow is Friday and that means it's Sharing Circle day! The children may bring in one item or a story to share. If you would like to bring in a live animal, please contact me a few days in advance to set that up.
Next week we begin our special person. We will have 2 per week. The children will need to come to school with their posters ready on their day. Next week Abby will be our special person on Monday and Andrew will be our special person on Wednesday. I look forward to learning all about my wonderful students!
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you and have a great day!
Mrs. Johnston
August 16, 2010
Computers, 8/16!
Welcome To Your First Computer Class!
Today we will get to know the lab! We will learn how to log in and how to use Mrs. Johnston's Class Blog to help us in computers.
Busy Bees, you have a few jobs in computers today:
1. Vote on the class poll on this website! Be sure to check back and see the results!
2. Explore the class blog. It is here for you and it has lots of neat stuff on it. Please take a few minutes to explore the blog.
3. Have fun! You may visit Starfall or any of the other website links on my blog.
Enjoy your first day in computers!
Mrs. Johnston
Today we will get to know the lab! We will learn how to log in and how to use Mrs. Johnston's Class Blog to help us in computers.
Busy Bees, you have a few jobs in computers today:
1. Vote on the class poll on this website! Be sure to check back and see the results!
2. Explore the class blog. It is here for you and it has lots of neat stuff on it. Please take a few minutes to explore the blog.
3. Have fun! You may visit Starfall or any of the other website links on my blog.
Enjoy your first day in computers!
Mrs. Johnston
August 12, 2010
Way to Go!
WOW!!!
Mrs. Johnston's Busy Bees are already off to a FANTASTIC start in 1st grade! Yesterday we did an amazing job of walking to assembly in a nice, straight, quiet line. Mr. Heinemann even complimented us on our line and we got several other compliments along the way. This morning during announcements our class was recognized for being so respectful in line! It was very exciting for the first graders to hear the class get recognized.
Keep up the wonderful work!!!
Tomorrow is our first Sharing Friday! Please remember to have your child come in with his or her item to share.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Johnston
Mrs. Johnston's Busy Bees are already off to a FANTASTIC start in 1st grade! Yesterday we did an amazing job of walking to assembly in a nice, straight, quiet line. Mr. Heinemann even complimented us on our line and we got several other compliments along the way. This morning during announcements our class was recognized for being so respectful in line! It was very exciting for the first graders to hear the class get recognized.
Keep up the wonderful work!!!
Tomorrow is our first Sharing Friday! Please remember to have your child come in with his or her item to share.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Johnston
August 11, 2010
Happy First Day of First Grade!!!
Hi there, BUSY BEES!!!
Today was a fantastic first day in Mrs. Johnston's 1st Grade Beehive! I am so excited to welcome my 22 wonderful students to our classroom! We had an action packed day and we learned a lot too! First graders - get ready for an incredible first grade journey filled with learning and fun!
We had an assembly this morning to get everyone excited about school! In the assembly the Bobcat Code of Honor was reviewed and I am so happy to see that my students are following the code!
Today in class we read a great story about the beginning of first grade called "The Night Before First Grade." We learned many of the procedures for our busy beehive. We learned about the word hive and we even learned a new word to put in the hive!
Our day ended with music and then early out. I can't wait to see everyone back here buzzing around tomorrow! The remainder of the week will focus on building classroom community, learning and practicing the procedures in our classroom and creating and following rules. We will learn our academic and specialist schedules. It's going to be a great week!
Thank you to the students and parents for making today so great! Parents - thank you so much for all the wonderful classroom supplies! I appreciate you!
A FEW NOTES ABOUT THIS BLOG:
The blog contains a class calendar with all schedule and volunteer information for our class.
This blog will be updated 1-2 times per week. Each blog posting contains information about our class and studies.
Each week I post five questions based on what we learned in class. Please go over these with your child and talk about what he or she is learning in class.
There are links on the side of the page with great (and fun too!) academic websites for kids.
To post a comment on a blog entry:
1. Click on comments underneath the blog (there is a comment counter, so they will all begin with 0 comments).
2. Type your comment in the "Post Comment" box.
3. Open up the drop-down for "Comment As" and choose Name/URL.
4. Type your first name in the name section and hit continue.
5. Click on the "Post Comment" button.
*** The blog may require you to enter a code word. If this happens, a nonsense word will appear on the screen and you type it in the box. After that, click on post comment and your comment will appear on the blog.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Johnston
Today was a fantastic first day in Mrs. Johnston's 1st Grade Beehive! I am so excited to welcome my 22 wonderful students to our classroom! We had an action packed day and we learned a lot too! First graders - get ready for an incredible first grade journey filled with learning and fun!
We had an assembly this morning to get everyone excited about school! In the assembly the Bobcat Code of Honor was reviewed and I am so happy to see that my students are following the code!
Today in class we read a great story about the beginning of first grade called "The Night Before First Grade." We learned many of the procedures for our busy beehive. We learned about the word hive and we even learned a new word to put in the hive!
Our day ended with music and then early out. I can't wait to see everyone back here buzzing around tomorrow! The remainder of the week will focus on building classroom community, learning and practicing the procedures in our classroom and creating and following rules. We will learn our academic and specialist schedules. It's going to be a great week!
Thank you to the students and parents for making today so great! Parents - thank you so much for all the wonderful classroom supplies! I appreciate you!
A FEW NOTES ABOUT THIS BLOG:
The blog contains a class calendar with all schedule and volunteer information for our class.
This blog will be updated 1-2 times per week. Each blog posting contains information about our class and studies.
Each week I post five questions based on what we learned in class. Please go over these with your child and talk about what he or she is learning in class.
There are links on the side of the page with great (and fun too!) academic websites for kids.
To post a comment on a blog entry:
1. Click on comments underneath the blog (there is a comment counter, so they will all begin with 0 comments).
2. Type your comment in the "Post Comment" box.
3. Open up the drop-down for "Comment As" and choose Name/URL.
4. Type your first name in the name section and hit continue.
5. Click on the "Post Comment" button.
*** The blog may require you to enter a code word. If this happens, a nonsense word will appear on the screen and you type it in the box. After that, click on post comment and your comment will appear on the blog.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Johnston
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