The kids are now 102 days smarter!!! We had such a fun celebration last week. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to help make our day special!
Nature's Treasures
Nature’s Treasures is put on by the 5th and 6th graders and it features a variety of small items available for purchase. Today we visited the Nature’s Treasures shop for a preview day. The kids were able to look at the items for sale and make a wish list. Your child brought home a list of available items today. Our class will visit Nature's Treasures to shop on Friday, February 1. If your child would like to purchase items from the shop, please send the money in a closed and labeled envelope.
This week we are studying the scientific method to prepare a class science project for the science fair! Today we began our own study of science and the kids were already so excited. Mr. Shah came in to talk about his job as a scientist and help us with our experiment for the science fair! Today in guided reading we learned about the steps in the scientific method and we watched two short Brain Pop videos about it. For the rest of the week we will work on our project by completing a different part of the scientific method. Parents - be sure to ask your kids about this neat process!
On Friday, February 1, we will learn about Groundhog Day! The kids will read a story to sequence it and they will also make a cute groundhog hat and bookmark.
In writing we are learning about scientific writing. Our six traits focus is fluency. The kids are practicing re-reading their writing to make sure it makes sense. I have seen dramatic improvements in the kids' writing just since we returned from Winter Break. It is SO exciting!
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. In making words we are working on the "tricky c" (when the "s" sound is heard, but the letter c is written, like in race). We will also find rhymes for various spelling words.
In reading we are working on learning how to tell words with “ou” and “ow” apart.
The kids enjoyed their science/Groundhog theme centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to Wake Up Groundhog and then sequenced the events of the story.
2. Science - The kids made bubbles! A table was lined with black garbage bags and then a water/dish soap mixture was poured on the table. The kids used straws to blow bubbles. This was a lot of fun!
3. Writing - The kids pretended they were mad scientists and they wrote about building their own monsters. They used transition words to write about the steps in building a monster. They came up with some very funny stuff!
4. Math - The kids practiced subtraction patterns with 0 and 1. The also practiced ordering numbers through 100 on a daisy picture.
5. Reading - The kids played a new Spill and Spell game. They dump out a cup with different letters and see how many sight words they can spell before the timer runs out.
In math we are working on data and graphing. This ties in nicely with our work about the scientific method.
We have a fun activity planned for computers this week. If you’d like to see what the kids will do, please check the blog on Friday for the blog posting called “Computers, 2/1.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston and Ms. Klein
January 28, 2013
January 22, 2013
Weekly Update, January 21 - 25
Hello Awesome First Graders and Amazing First Grade Families!
100th Day Information
The 100th day of school is this Thursday, January 24! We are counting down to the 100th day and the kids are getting very excited. We have some fun 100th day activities planned on Thursday. It would be great to have a few extra helpers in the class that day. You are invited to stop by in the morning to celebrate your child. The kids will be 100 days smarter!!!
This week's guided reading and writing lessons center around the 100th day of school! Each day a few children will share their 100th day projects. We began this today and the kids really enjoyed it. Today we began a chapter book called "The 100th Greatest Day of School," and we will read this throughout the week. The kids love reading chapter books! Each day after the 100th day projects are shared, we will make a different 100th day - theme class book. To celebrate the 100th day of school on Thursday, the kids will decorate their own 100 glasses (a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Rowland for making the glasses; they are adorable!), string Fruit Loop necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops, and make pennants to display in class that say, "I Am 100 Days Smarter." It should be a great day!
We learned about Martin Luther King last week and we will continue to study him during our guided reading and read aloud times.
In writing we are working on our class books and thank you notes. The 6 traits focus is powerful word choice. The kids really enjoy making and reading the class books. They are great authors!
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. In making words we are working on patterns with words that end in e when the "ing" chunk is added. We are also working on patterns with words that end in y when "s" is added. We are also working on the letters and sounds aw, au and al.
The kids enjoyed our 100th day centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to a funny book called, "My Principal Lives Next Door." This is a book written by kids and it is a riot! After the kids listened, they wrote their own page to the book.
2. Social Studies - The kids played a board game called "Tiny Town." In this game the kids roll dice and practice addition skills and group counting to move on the game board. The first person to reach the 100th day of school is the winner!
3. Writing - The kids made their own 100th day book, in the shape of the numbers 100! The pages include a variety of examples having to do with 100. These turned out so great and the kids really enjoyed having their own book to take home.
4. Math - The kids received a piece of paper with 100 in bubble letters. There are different pictures inside of the 100. The kids colored the pictures inside the 100 based on a color code. After they colored the pictures, they added up each picture to see if there were 100 pictures in all!
In math we are working on review of both addition and subtraction. The kids are doing an excellent job with math and we have done a lot of extension activities to keep them challenged and excited about math.
We have a fun activity planned for computers this week. If you’d like to see what the kids will do, please check the blog posting on Friday called “Computers, 1/25.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
100th Day Information
The 100th day of school is this Thursday, January 24! We are counting down to the 100th day and the kids are getting very excited. We have some fun 100th day activities planned on Thursday. It would be great to have a few extra helpers in the class that day. You are invited to stop by in the morning to celebrate your child. The kids will be 100 days smarter!!!
This week's guided reading and writing lessons center around the 100th day of school! Each day a few children will share their 100th day projects. We began this today and the kids really enjoyed it. Today we began a chapter book called "The 100th Greatest Day of School," and we will read this throughout the week. The kids love reading chapter books! Each day after the 100th day projects are shared, we will make a different 100th day - theme class book. To celebrate the 100th day of school on Thursday, the kids will decorate their own 100 glasses (a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Rowland for making the glasses; they are adorable!), string Fruit Loop necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops, and make pennants to display in class that say, "I Am 100 Days Smarter." It should be a great day!
We learned about Martin Luther King last week and we will continue to study him during our guided reading and read aloud times.
In writing we are working on our class books and thank you notes. The 6 traits focus is powerful word choice. The kids really enjoy making and reading the class books. They are great authors!
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. In making words we are working on patterns with words that end in e when the "ing" chunk is added. We are also working on patterns with words that end in y when "s" is added. We are also working on the letters and sounds aw, au and al.
The kids enjoyed our 100th day centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to a funny book called, "My Principal Lives Next Door." This is a book written by kids and it is a riot! After the kids listened, they wrote their own page to the book.
2. Social Studies - The kids played a board game called "Tiny Town." In this game the kids roll dice and practice addition skills and group counting to move on the game board. The first person to reach the 100th day of school is the winner!
3. Writing - The kids made their own 100th day book, in the shape of the numbers 100! The pages include a variety of examples having to do with 100. These turned out so great and the kids really enjoyed having their own book to take home.
4. Math - The kids received a piece of paper with 100 in bubble letters. There are different pictures inside of the 100. The kids colored the pictures inside the 100 based on a color code. After they colored the pictures, they added up each picture to see if there were 100 pictures in all!
In math we are working on review of both addition and subtraction. The kids are doing an excellent job with math and we have done a lot of extension activities to keep them challenged and excited about math.
We have a fun activity planned for computers this week. If you’d like to see what the kids will do, please check the blog posting on Friday called “Computers, 1/25.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
January 18, 2013
Computers, 1/18
Cool Clouds!
Let's start by voting on this week's poll. After you vote, please come to the floor in front of the Smart Board and we'll learn about today's activity.
We have learned a lot about weather and clouds! Read about clouds here: http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloudhome.html
* Clouds Impact Our Lives
* Clouds Can Cause Chaos
* How In The World Do Clouds Form?
* Cloud Types
When you're done reading about clouds, click on Games at the top of the page and then choose Cloud Matching Game.
If you still have time after you're done, you may play the Cloud Concentration Game.
Have fun!
Mrs. Johnston
Let's start by voting on this week's poll. After you vote, please come to the floor in front of the Smart Board and we'll learn about today's activity.
We have learned a lot about weather and clouds! Read about clouds here: http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloudhome.html
* Clouds Impact Our Lives
* Clouds Can Cause Chaos
* How In The World Do Clouds Form?
* Cloud Types
When you're done reading about clouds, click on Games at the top of the page and then choose Cloud Matching Game.
If you still have time after you're done, you may play the Cloud Concentration Game.
Have fun!
Mrs. Johnston
January 14, 2013
Weekly Update, January 14 - 18
Hello Amazing First Graders and Awesome First Grade Parents!
No School
There is no school on Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
100th Day Homework Information
Thursday, January 24 is the 100th day of school! To celebrate, the kids will bring in a collection of 100 small items. Your child brought home a paper today for the project and an information letter. This project is due on Tuesday, January 22. Please let me know if you have any questions.
This week we are having career week and studying community helpers. Thank you so much to the parents who are able to come in and talk with the kids! The kids absolutely love having visitors in the classroom. Today we learned about community helpers and what they do. We learned how to interview someone to get ready for our first visitor. The kids had a great time today and they are looking forward to the rest of the week!
In writing the kids will get more practice using good ideas to write thank you notes! Each community helper will receive thank you notes from the class. We will learn to write "How To" poems for our Martin Luther King, Jr. study and the kids will write a poem on how to be kind. This week they will get more practice writing "How To" poems about community helpers. At this point in the year we are doing a lot of really great writing in writers’ workshop! The kids are still working on their snowman stories from last week. They are learning about the six traits and going through the writing process of pre-writing, drafting, editing and revising. Their writing has come so far and I have loved reading their stories!
In reading we are working on reading words with “Bossy R.” (er, ir, ur). The kids are learning to create words with different types of bossy r.
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. In making words we will continue our ABC order practice. The kids did an amazing job of alphabetizing to the first letter. We are now working on alphabetizing to the second letter. We will also work on words with the "le" chunk, like our spelling word people.
The kids enjoyed our community helper centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to "School," a pattern book about things that are seen at school. The kids followed the "I see" pattern to create their own list of things that are seen at school.
2. Social Studies - The kids got firsthand experience writing a police report! We discussed how police officers need to be watching carefully and pay attention to little details. Today during center time, another teacher came in the class and said things and did things. When she left, the kids tested their observation and memory! They recorded a variety of things about the teacher's visit to see if they would make a good eye witness! They had so much fun with this!
3. Writing - The kids practiced what it would like to be a news reporter. They interviewed teachers and kids in our class and the surrounding classes and wrote a newspaper report.
4. Math - The kids practiced finding addition patterns by completing adding with 0 and 1 problems.
5. Reading – The kids used puzzle pieces to read and write silly sentences.
We are working on subtraction strategies in math. The strategies such as using a number line and counting back.
We have a fun activity planned for computers on Friday. If you’d like to see what we’ll do, please check back on Friday for the blog posting called “Computers, 1/18.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
No School
There is no school on Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
100th Day Homework Information
Thursday, January 24 is the 100th day of school! To celebrate, the kids will bring in a collection of 100 small items. Your child brought home a paper today for the project and an information letter. This project is due on Tuesday, January 22. Please let me know if you have any questions.
This week we are having career week and studying community helpers. Thank you so much to the parents who are able to come in and talk with the kids! The kids absolutely love having visitors in the classroom. Today we learned about community helpers and what they do. We learned how to interview someone to get ready for our first visitor. The kids had a great time today and they are looking forward to the rest of the week!
In writing the kids will get more practice using good ideas to write thank you notes! Each community helper will receive thank you notes from the class. We will learn to write "How To" poems for our Martin Luther King, Jr. study and the kids will write a poem on how to be kind. This week they will get more practice writing "How To" poems about community helpers. At this point in the year we are doing a lot of really great writing in writers’ workshop! The kids are still working on their snowman stories from last week. They are learning about the six traits and going through the writing process of pre-writing, drafting, editing and revising. Their writing has come so far and I have loved reading their stories!
In reading we are working on reading words with “Bossy R.” (er, ir, ur). The kids are learning to create words with different types of bossy r.
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. In making words we will continue our ABC order practice. The kids did an amazing job of alphabetizing to the first letter. We are now working on alphabetizing to the second letter. We will also work on words with the "le" chunk, like our spelling word people.
The kids enjoyed our community helper centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to "School," a pattern book about things that are seen at school. The kids followed the "I see" pattern to create their own list of things that are seen at school.
2. Social Studies - The kids got firsthand experience writing a police report! We discussed how police officers need to be watching carefully and pay attention to little details. Today during center time, another teacher came in the class and said things and did things. When she left, the kids tested their observation and memory! They recorded a variety of things about the teacher's visit to see if they would make a good eye witness! They had so much fun with this!
3. Writing - The kids practiced what it would like to be a news reporter. They interviewed teachers and kids in our class and the surrounding classes and wrote a newspaper report.
4. Math - The kids practiced finding addition patterns by completing adding with 0 and 1 problems.
5. Reading – The kids used puzzle pieces to read and write silly sentences.
We are working on subtraction strategies in math. The strategies such as using a number line and counting back.
We have a fun activity planned for computers on Friday. If you’d like to see what we’ll do, please check back on Friday for the blog posting called “Computers, 1/18.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
January 11, 2013
Computers, 1/11
Weather Wiz Kids!
Let's start by voting on this week's poll. After you vote, please come to the floor in front of the Smart Board and we'll learn about today's activity.
It was fun learning about weather this week and now we'll have a chance to read more details about weather elements. Go here: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/ .
Click on the blue rectangle tabs on the left to learn more about different weather elements. After you read about weather elements, you can click on the blue rectangle tab called "Weather Games" to test your knowledge of weather!
Have fun!
Mrs. Johnston
Let's start by voting on this week's poll. After you vote, please come to the floor in front of the Smart Board and we'll learn about today's activity.
It was fun learning about weather this week and now we'll have a chance to read more details about weather elements. Go here: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/ .
Click on the blue rectangle tabs on the left to learn more about different weather elements. After you read about weather elements, you can click on the blue rectangle tab called "Weather Games" to test your knowledge of weather!
Have fun!
Mrs. Johnston
January 7, 2013
Weekly Update, January 7 - 11
Hello Amazing First Graders and Awesome First Grade Families!
Welcome back and Happy New Year! Can you believe 2013 is here??? I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing break! The kids were happy to be back and to share their adventures from break with each other.
This week in guided reading, writing and science we are learning about weather! Today we learned the elements of weather and the definition of weather. The kids began a story about weather. This is a story that we will work on all week. The kids will work on editing to make their stories great! The kids all received a weather journal today. Each day they will be responsible for recording the weather in their journals. On Tuesday, we will learn about the three basic cloud types (cirrus, cumulus, stratus) and we will observe the clouds to see what kind we see. On Wednesday, we will practice identifying and describing cloud types and even do a neat science experiment to make a cloud! On Thursday, we will read a wonderful story, "The Cloud Book." We will make a cloud mobile with each type of cloud. On Friday we will learn about wind, rain and snow. The kids will also write a silly story about having their heads in the clouds.
In writing we are working on adding detail and editing. The kids are learning to write strong sentences so that their writing gives the reader a clear picture in his/her head. We are learning how to understand small moments and how to write about them. We are also working on poetry. We are also learning about contractions, and this week we are focusing on 'not' contractions.
In reading we are working on reading words with the long i and o sounds. The kids are learning different blends that all make up that sound.
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. This semester the spelling words also include a more difficult word and it is a bonus word. The kids are all invited to try to spell it correctly on the test but it will not count against them.
The kids had fun in our weather related centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs," and they completed a Somebody - Wanted - But - So chart.
2. Science - The kids made tornadoes out of water bottles, food coloring and glitter. The kids had to predict what kind of food coloring would work best for their tornadoes. These are really neat!
3. Writing - The kids worked on weather related acrostic poems. They had their choice of writing an acrostic poem on any of our weather spelling words.
4. Math - The kids worked on subtraction practice to 20. They colored a space picture according to an answer code. They love these types of practice pages!
5. Reading - The kids read 1:1 with me. We worked on asking questions about the story.
We began we made a weather glyph today in math. We will collect and analyze our data during the week. We will also review even/odd and counting by tens during the week.
There is a fun activity planned for computers on Friday. If you’d like to see what the kids will do, please visit the blog on Friday and read the blog posting called “Computers, 1/11.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
Welcome back and Happy New Year! Can you believe 2013 is here??? I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing break! The kids were happy to be back and to share their adventures from break with each other.
This week in guided reading, writing and science we are learning about weather! Today we learned the elements of weather and the definition of weather. The kids began a story about weather. This is a story that we will work on all week. The kids will work on editing to make their stories great! The kids all received a weather journal today. Each day they will be responsible for recording the weather in their journals. On Tuesday, we will learn about the three basic cloud types (cirrus, cumulus, stratus) and we will observe the clouds to see what kind we see. On Wednesday, we will practice identifying and describing cloud types and even do a neat science experiment to make a cloud! On Thursday, we will read a wonderful story, "The Cloud Book." We will make a cloud mobile with each type of cloud. On Friday we will learn about wind, rain and snow. The kids will also write a silly story about having their heads in the clouds.
In writing we are working on adding detail and editing. The kids are learning to write strong sentences so that their writing gives the reader a clear picture in his/her head. We are learning how to understand small moments and how to write about them. We are also working on poetry. We are also learning about contractions, and this week we are focusing on 'not' contractions.
In reading we are working on reading words with the long i and o sounds. The kids are learning different blends that all make up that sound.
The kids came home with Rainbow Words and they are due tomorrow. This semester the spelling words also include a more difficult word and it is a bonus word. The kids are all invited to try to spell it correctly on the test but it will not count against them.
The kids had fun in our weather related centers! The centers for the week include:
1. Listening - The kids listened to "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs," and they completed a Somebody - Wanted - But - So chart.
2. Science - The kids made tornadoes out of water bottles, food coloring and glitter. The kids had to predict what kind of food coloring would work best for their tornadoes. These are really neat!
3. Writing - The kids worked on weather related acrostic poems. They had their choice of writing an acrostic poem on any of our weather spelling words.
4. Math - The kids worked on subtraction practice to 20. They colored a space picture according to an answer code. They love these types of practice pages!
5. Reading - The kids read 1:1 with me. We worked on asking questions about the story.
We began we made a weather glyph today in math. We will collect and analyze our data during the week. We will also review even/odd and counting by tens during the week.
There is a fun activity planned for computers on Friday. If you’d like to see what the kids will do, please visit the blog on Friday and read the blog posting called “Computers, 1/11.”
Have an A+ week!
Mrs. Johnston
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