Working on Words Wednesday

Today we work on the third element of Daily 5: Word Works.  Basically during this time, students will work on making words.  They will be practicing their spelling words along with HFW with hands on activities.  Today we discussed making words with Play-doh.  They had a great time and did a fabulous job getting their words made.  We will also be using magnetic letters, wikki sticks, stamps, chalk, and lots of other cool things in this rotation!  I have a feeling this will be a favorite!

Have a wonderful rest of the week.  Don’t forget to go to Limeades for Learning and vote for our class project EVERYDAY!!!!

Mrs. Richardson

Limeades for Learning

YEAH!!!  Our class has their project posted on Limades for learning!  Go and vote EVERYDAY! 

*****Also, when you go to Sonic…ask for one of the Limeades for Learning stickers…you will receive 2 extra votes***

http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/pages/search

Search for Ore City!  There are two..one is mine and one is Mrs. Wingo's.  Make sure you vote for "It's All About Technology....using iPODS to enhance Literacy!"

Thanks!

Terrific Tuesday

Yesterday I was busy filling out our Limeades for Learning project, so I didn’t get a chance to blog.  So, please watch out for emails concerning Limeades for Learning.  This is a really awesome program that gives us the opportunity to get some iPODs for our listening center!  So cool! J

Back to Monday…..

Our “Zookeeper of the Week” is LAYNE!!  Layne did an awesome job last week!   Congrats Layne!!

“Read to Someone” was introduced today.  They did wonderful.  Here are some pics of their partner reading.  My goal is to have all the 5 components of Daily 5 introduced by Friday.  This way we can start Daily 5 and reading groups on Monday. 

When we start reading groups next week is when I will begin to send home reading books for them to read.

Our first spelling pre-test is THURSDAY!  If they make a 100 on Thursday, they don’t have to retake on Friday!  We are shooting for 100%!!!!  If you noticed, I send checked papers home on Friday.  Some papers will have grades and others just a sticker or a smiley.  The ones with grades will go in the gradebook.  The smileys are just practice.  Sometimes it’s just simply if they are following directions.

Well, we are bound to have another great week here in First Grade!   .

Mrs. Richardson

Fantastic Friday

We ended the week with Fantastic Friday!  And boy was it Fantastic!  We did “a little” work and “a lot” of FUN!!!  We played with legos, blocks, and had some computer fun.  We also played Alphabet Hits the Spot!  It's like an ABC twister!  So much fun! Today was a reward for an awesome first week!  I introduced “Read to Self”, part of Daily 5.  Daily 5 is the program the class will use as workstations.  There will be 5 activities the kiddos have to complete during our reading time.  During their Daily 5 rotations, I will be working with small reading groups.  We won’t begin for a few weeks, but we are practicing what to do in each Daily 5 station so we can be prepared when the time comes. 

With “Read to Self” the students pick a “good fit” book and read by themselves for an allotted amount of time.  We talked about building our stamina in reading.  We made it to 7 minutes of “Read to Self”!  I was so proud of them.  They challenged themselves to make it to 10 minutes on Monday!  I have complete confidence that they will make it!  During “Read to Self” they can read three ways: Read the pictures, Read the Words, or Retell.  

Next week we will begin “Read to Someone” and “Listen to Reading”.  All three of these activities will help your child become proficient readers.  After all, practice makes perfect!

I want to thank you all for sharing your kiddos with me!!!  I can’t brag on them enough.  I want to also brag on their parents!  You guys did a great job filling all that paperwork out and sending it back promptly.  Thanks so much!  You make my job easier! 

Mrs. Richardson

Finding the "Right Fit"

Well it was another great day in first grade! Today we talked about finding “good fit” books.  We learned that not every book is made for everyone.  Just like Mr. Robby’s (my lucky husband) size 14 shoe doesn’t fit me, some books just might not “fit” you!  Finding a “good fit” book involves the steps of I PICK.  Below is the picture of our I PICK anchor chart.

The kiddos then got the chance to pick 5 “good fit”.  They had a blast finding just the right book!  I was so proud of their choices.  These are the books we will use when doing our Daily 5.  (I will blog later about Daily 5) 

We were blessed again today with a little bit of rain which the kids didn’t like so much since it interfered with recess!  Hopefully the rain will continue, but on “first grade’s schedule!”

Mrs. Richardson

My Cup Runneth Over.....

With GLUE!!!  My goodness….how did you know my biggest fear at the beginning of school is a shortage of Glue?  Thanks so much to everyone who sent extra!!!  I heart glue!!!



What a great first day!  I can't even begin to describe how utterly AWESOME this class is!!!!  I am leaving this school on cloud nine!  We began our day by drawing pictures of our summer vacation.  Let me tell you, these kids had an awesome time!  We also got to know one another.  Of course, we had to practice procedures and go over rules.  I have a good feeling this class is going to pick up quickly on everything first grade! We also read, The Kissing Hand.  We made our own “kissing hand” which hopefully you got!  We also talked about how we felt on our first day of school.  You can see that most were a little nervous!  By lunch I assure you everyone had went from nervous to excited!  Here is our “hand” (and yes I am NOT an artistic person, but the kiddos assured me as long as I did my best it was ok!):

I am so blessed with such a wonderful group of kids!  I just can’t stop smiling!  To top off this great day it is finally RAINING!!!  Yes, as I type, I can hear the pitter-patter of rain!  Thanks for sharing your darlings with me!! 

Mrs. Richardson
 

Team First Grade

Our AWESOME 1st Grade Team!  Mrs. Veitch, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Richardson, and Mrs. Barton

It's All about...First Grade!

Wow!!!!  What a great turn out for Meet the Teacher!  I was so excited to meet the kiddos and their families.  I have to admit I was pretty excited before meeting everyone, but now I can say I am SUPER DUPER excited!  We are going to do everything BIG this year!!  We have a total of 20 friends in our class this year!!! Yep, 20!!!  The best part is I have the most AWESOME 20 kids in First Grade!!! 

Rest up dudes and dudettes!!!  Monday will come bright and early!  Let the good times begin.........

Meet the Teacher

This year Ore City Elementary is having Meet the Teacher on Friday August 19th.  The grade level schedule is as follows:

3rd-5th: 10:30-12:00

1st -2nd: 12:30-2:00

Pre-K and Kindergarten:  2:30-4:00

Please bring your child's school supplies with you to Meet the Teacher.  This just helps to make the first day of school go a little smoother.  I can't wait to see you all on August 19th!!!