The First Week (and then some)

In first grade, we have been...

• getting underway with reading workshop.  Lessons have included building our reading muscles, warming up before we read, getting organized to read, finding just right books, and what to do when readers stop thinking about their books.
• getting underway with writing workshop.  Lessons have included routines, what to do when  you don't know how to draw a _______, being a writer of TRUE stories about our lives (think what you did, play the movie in your mind, tell it as you touch the pages, sketch, then write the words to match)
• learning the routines and expectations of first grade...when to talk and when not to talk...:)
• interviewing our friends and writing about them
• dancing around the room for motor breaks
• reading a ton of good books, like...Dex, Chrysanthemum, Chester's Way, Charlie the Caterpillar, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, and Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon.
• learning new math games (or old familiar ones) like number squeeze, top it, bunny hop and penny dice game.
• learning how tallies come in groups of 5. Practice writing and reading them.
• thinking about how to write (formation) letters (t, b, f, m, n, c, a) and numbers.

I realize homework expectation may have changed since kindergarten.  Here's the scoop!  Books that go home, come back the next day, so we can use them during our reading workshop (even if you have not read all of them).  These books are the ones we are reading, rereading, retelling and feeling so proud to read.

We are off to a great start!  Will post again soon.  Thanks.