Mr. Mo Willems

We have really been enjoying the works of author/illustrator Mo Willems.
Mo is the creator of Knuffle Bunny, Pigeon, and Elephant & Piggie (to name a few).

Here's a link to his site.  http://www.mowillems.com/

Here's a YouTube video we watched.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY9EhZ6rqjI 
It is entitled Don't Let the Pigeon be the Principal.

What's New?

Here's what's going on in our first grade class...

1.  In math, we have started unit 2.  Here are the targets for the end of the unit.
     a.  write numbers 7, 8, 9, 0.
     b.  solve number stories.
     c.  count pennies.
     d.  count nickels.
     e.  tell time to the hour.
     f.  read a tally chart.

2.  The class has chosen and voted on their first reward!  Ask them about our marble jar and how we earn marbles.  The reward is PAJAMA DAY with a stuffie!  I'll keep you posted on the date.  We are awfully close to filling the jar.

3.  Generating writing topics is one of the most difficult steps of writing for most.  As you go through your daily routine and events happen for your family, please help them by "feeding" them topics.  Say, "Oh!  You could write about this!"  "How would it go?"  (and rehearse it orally) I like to say we catch ideas and put them in our pockets to write about later.

4.  I am aware that there is lice in other classrooms here at school.  Please remind your children to not share hats, combs, coats, etc.  Other fabulous preventative measures are to put hair UP and do head checks.  I know my hair is up!

5.  Oh, and have you heard any details about the Hoboken Chicken Emergency that we are reading?

Happy October!  (already?)

Math, Unit ONE Skills

Here are the expected skills at the end of unit one.
1.  Count by 1's
2.  Count by 2's
3.  Count by 5's
4.  Make tally marks
5.  Find numbers before and after
6.  Count on a number line

Counting by 2 and 5 could use some practice.  I am soliciting for your help.
Maybe driving in the car, waiting for dinner to cook, skipping down the driveway... (???)

See you Wednesday for the Ice Cream Social. 
6:15-6:45 in the classroom. 
6:45-7:15 on the playground for ICE CREAM!  (yum!)

Busy Beavers

Here's the skinny...

Each reading/writing workshop is comprised of a mini-lesson each day.  Within the mini-lesson there is a teaching point that we discuss and try to put into practice. Here's what the class has heard thus far...

Writing
- Writers get started right away, stay in 1 spot, do their best and keep on going, write the whole time.
- Writers write true stories (small moments) from their lives. 
  They rewind the event like a movie to help them retell what happened.
- Writers walk around the world catching stories from their lives, to write about.
- Writers include action, talk and feelings in their stories.
- Writers use pictures and words to tell the story.  Labels, thought bubbles, speech bubbles help.
- Writers know the saying "When you're done, you've just begun."  (ask them...)
- Writers PLAN their story, then SKETCH the pictures, then WRITE the story...in that order.

Reading
- Readers get started right away, stay in 1 spot, do their best and keep on going, read the whole time.
- Readers warm up before they read (cover, back, think what it's about and what words we'll see)
- Readers choose just-right books for their book boxes.
- Readers make a plan (stack up the books we want to read)...they set goal and work hard to reach it.
- Readers know when they've stopped thinking about the book and pull themselves together!
- Readers reread (like we listen to favorite songs) to try our storytelling voice, notice things we didn't the first time, and focus on the story.

We've read a TON of books.  Some of which are... 
(Many messages about being yourself and it's okay to be different.)
Big Mean Mike                                   Oliver Button is a Sissy                     The Big Orange Splot
The Sandwich Swap                           Charlie the Caterpillar
Dex: The Heart of a Hero                   Bad Case of the Stripes
Odd Velvet                                          Elmer

Hope this helps you ENVISION our recent discussions.  :)

Let's Get Started!

Greetings New Families,
Here is our special schedule!

Monday         Learning Commons
Tuesday         (pack sneakers...just in case)  No special
Wednesday    Art
Thursday       PE (sneaker day)
Friday            Music

We have been...
...reviewing letter formation.
...settling into classroom expectations and routines.
...writing small moment stories during writing workshop.
...working on establishing good reading habits & building our reading stamina.
...having math choice time.
...reviewing whole body listening.
...exploring the new playground equipment.
...learning about one another.

The Final Stretch

As we approach the end of the year...

1.  Grassheads - just put water in the yogurt container.
The nylon will wick up the water and keep the grasshead moist.
Or at least that's the theory.
Feel free to trim and style as needed or desired.

2.  Last Day - is Tuesday, June 18.
It's a half day, release is at 11:30.
Students WILL be served lunch on this day.

3.  We'll spend our final days enjoying one another.
We are working on writing our own reader's theater.
We will create puppets to perform the reader's theater.

4.  I have scheduled a walk to DQ on Friday at 12:30.
Please send NO MORE than $3.00 with your child that day.
Wear sneakers.  Any and All chaperones are welcome.
In case of rain, we'll try again on Monday, June 17, same time.

Thank you.

Field Day

Tuesday, June 4 is our FIELD DAY

Planned for the morning are DRY activities, the afternoon has WATER activities planned.

Here are some things you and your child will need to pack...
--bug spray (applied at home in the morning would be great)
--sunscreen
--hat or visor
--our BLUE team shirt.  We are the DOLPHINS!
--water bottle (no glass) labeled with student name
--plastic bag for wet clothes
--towel (or two, if it's chilly)
--may wear bathing suits
(over swimsuits, boys need shirts and girls need to wear shorts)
--sneakers or water shoes for water activities (no Crocs, flip flops or open toes)
--a change of shoes for the bus ride home
--an extra set of dry clothes for the bus ride home (a must)

Thanks.
Please LABEL everything with your child's name.