Quantcast
Channel: First Grade Wow
Viewing all 276 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

What's Your Seed Story?

October 15, 2013, 4:28 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
We are working hard during our writer's workshop. Our current focus is writing "small moment" stories.  If you have read any of Lucy Calkins' books, she encourages kids to write about small moments from their lives.  First graders tend to write about very broad topics and just skim the surface of those ideas.  In our classroom we call those "Pumpkin Stories." Great and wonderful, but not many details.  We are now working on zooming in on some of those wonderful memories and picking out one little seed.  Those seeds (small moment memories from our lives) are pretty important and interesting too! Learning how to pick out that seed can be tricky for our littles!  I put together  a little unit to help me help them.  I hope it will help you as well!
Here are a few pics from the unit and from out workings so far.





Pumpkin or seed?




Sorting ideas with a friend!
 Of course I had to bring in the real thing!!! :)
Brainstorming!





I think I want to write about that jar of spaghetti sauce!! :) 

The kids will now work on adding details to their seed stories---because even those seeds are special and important!
If you would like a free printable packet to help with small moment "seed" stories, click HERE!!
14 pages! :)

Writing can be so much fun.  Showing kids how their own small seeds can make great stories is amazing!!  I can't wait for tomorrow!!

Til next time, have a wonderful evening! Keep saving those seeds for writing ideas!!
Joyfully!
Nancy


↧
Search

Pumpkin Munchin

October 17, 2013, 6:33 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
This week we are working hard on comparing numbers. This is an important skill as it helps kids develop number sense and build number relationships. We  use a ton of counters, base-ten blocks, number lines, hundred charts, and place value charts to help with the understand of how numbers are ordered. We talk about the fact that in math, an inequality is a statement about the relative size or order of two objects, numbers, or values. This week I introduced the three basic symbols used in inequalities: greater than (>), less than (<), and equal to (=).  We, of course, had to break out the shower curtain for a life sized work mat!  I used this same idea last year, but for some reason couldn't find the mat and had to remake it! 
The kids each got a paper plate with a single digit on it.  We took turns placing our plates on the work mat. Then the kids had to figure out the symbol ("Pumpkin Muncher") to use to make a true number sentence. We checked it with base ten blocks and wrote it on mini whiteboards as well.  
The next day, the kids got to make their own muncher using popsicle sticks. 







For a couple of the printables, click HERE!   

OKEE DOKEE!  Gotta run! Report cards are calling, along with a gazillion assessment reports and conferences to get ready for! Busy time of year! But I love it!!
Joyfully!
Nancy


↧
↧

Marvelous Magnets

October 19, 2013, 8:05 am
$
0
0
Hello Everyone,
Just a quick post today!  Taking my son suit shopping.  Yes, it's interview time!!  He will soon graduate with a double major, computer science and software engineering!  Believe me when I say he has helped me out of some technical situations more times than I can count!!  
Anyway, I know some of you (my teacher friends) will be teaching about magnets soon.  We will hit our little unit next week.  I put together a little mini unit with a final activity where the kids are combining what they know about force and motion with what they just learned about magnets. I also tried to fit in a hint of spelling!! Here's a preview!


Add caption



Inspired by AIMS science!



Hope you're "attracted" to this unit! :) If so, click HERE for your free printable unit!

Okay!  Off to spend some quality and probably quantity time with my baby!!

Stay tuned!  I want to share our "Tell Me Towers" with you!! Remember our retelling ropes?  I put a new fun twist on them!!
Till then!
Have a great weekend!
Joyfully!
Nancy

↧

Retelling With a "Tell Me Tower"

October 20, 2013, 12:10 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
Story retelling is an effective way to improve children's reading comprehension. For our kiddos who are just starting to develop their reading skills, this practice can be extremely helpful.
Studies on story recall have found that extended use of the technique of story retelling leads to large improvements in story comprehension, making inferences, and understanding of story structure. Rather than having children answer specific questions about story details, story retelling requires children to focus on the bigger picture of the story and allows me to see how well a child understands the story as a whole.
 The goal should be to encourage students to think critically about the story and to improve their comprehension and vocabulary by having them tell their thoughts. As children become more comfortable with retelling stories, their language and listening skills will improve.
I have previously posted about using a retelling rope to aid in the retelling of stories. This year I introduced a "Tell Me Tower." In the middle of our fairy tale unit, it was a great fit!
I reviewed the important story elements and introduced some little icons to help them remember the elements.  The kids made "Tell Me Towers" from paper towel tubes, construction paper and the icons.  Then they got together with a friend and told each other about a story they had read, or heard.  In this case, it was Cinderella. Some of the kids used the little puppets to also aid in the retelling.
Here are a couple of pics.





 For your own set of "Tell Me Tower" icons, click HERE! :)
(They are part of my Cinderella Unit!)
The kids will keep their "Tell Me Towers" in their book baskets to use consistently with each book they read!
Hope you can use this!  Let me know!!
Until then!
Have a great weekend!
Joyfully!
Nancy  
↧

Short Vowel Shenanigans

October 21, 2013, 5:57 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!!
We are working hard this week on reading and writing short vowel words with accuracy, but somebody came and stole all the vowels!! What???? Then they came and mixed up all the letters!!  Huh?  What's going on?  Such shenanigans!! 
This little packet will have the kids trying to fix all the silliness! Here are a few pics!





Have fun with this packet!!
For your free 15 page packet of shenanigans, click HERE!! :)

Short and sweet tonight!  20 parent conferences in the next 3 days! Can't wait to brag on my little cuties!!


 
↧
↧

I traveled through some fairy tales and found...

October 24, 2013, 7:28 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
We are wrapping up our two week long Reading/Social Studies integrated unit on fairy/folk tales.  We have read so many different Cinderella stories from all over the world, compared, retold, mapped, learned about different cultures, and so much more!  Today we brainstormed some of the different things we found in fairy tales and responded through writing an acrostic and a hands on visual connection.  I love how hard the kids worked on these and the amazing connections they made!! Way to go, kiddos!!















This reader's response activity is included in my Cinderella unit. 
 You can get your activities and patterns HERE!!! Bibbity Bobbity Boo! :) Click! (free!)

Stay tuned for some fun reader's theater clips!!
We are having a ball in first grade!!
Thanks for stopping by for a peek!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

↧

Reader's Theater and that Little Old Lady noun verb pack

October 26, 2013, 8:51 am
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
As promised I am back with a couple of little videos showing our mini reader's theater. Oh so fun, simple and sweet! Parents, I took video of all the kids, so stay tuned for future reveals!! :)
These little mini reader's theater scripts are in the Cinderella unit.  Scroll down for the link posted earlier this week.  Reader's Theater is great for building that confidence, fluency, teamwork, risk taking, stepping outside of the comfort zone, and so much more!!!

This coming week we will enjoy a discovery about nouns and verbs.  I've shared two packs before using the book The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything. I bundled them together and added a bit of extra practice on nouns and verbs.  Here are a few pics from the bundle.






For your free 20 page bundle, don't be afraid, chick HERE!!

Have a great weekend!!  As always, thanks for stopping by for a peek!!  And don't forget to leave a comment!!  
Joyfully!
Nancy

↧

Math in the Patch!

October 27, 2013, 2:38 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
This coming week in math we will be introducing estimating using "friendly numbers." Introducing our little learners to this concept helps them make sense of the different things they will be doing in math in the next few weeks.  It will help them make sense of quantities and will help them decide if computations (composing, decomposing, partitioning) are reasonable and accurate. In first grade we work on friendly numbers  0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. I have posted about this important skill before but have beefed up the unit a bit.  
I have also included an activity for kids to practice the difference in the teen numbers and the numbers that are often mixed up with teens. More number sense!! :) 
Here are a few pics from the 47 page printable download.















Hope you can use a few of these ideas. I'll be back later this week with some visuals for you!
If you think you'd like to have fun with our
 Math in the Patch, click HERE for your free download! :)

Now, off to get my "fairy tale day" costume ready!! I can't wait to see the kids' costumes on Thursday as well!!
As always, thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments, the positives as well as the constructive ones, so don't just read and run! :)  
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Joyfully!
Nancy 







↧
Search

Veterans Day mini unit

November 2, 2013, 8:43 am
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
Oh My! What a week!!  We packed so much in, my head is spinning!! I'll be back in a bit to give you a peek into our amazing week.  But for now I just wanted to share a quick mini. Veterans Day is coming up on the 11th, so we'll be doing some work to prepare for our celebration. (We invite all the Veterans from the area to be honored.)
Along with learning about the history (a light version for first graders), we also want our kids to know why and for whom we set this day aside in honor. 




For your free printable, click here! :)

Mini unit includes information mini poster, thinking map, poetry, a book for kids to read and illustrate, and a quick hands on visual. 
Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back in a bit.  I muuuuuust get caught up on the homefront!!
Till then, have a great day!!
Joyfully!
Nancy
  
↧
↧

Friendly Numbers, Number Vines, and Fairy Tale Day!

November 3, 2013, 5:20 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
My apologies for the lack of posting this week.  Wow!! Still reeling after the amazingly full week!  Yes, I did grab a few pics!  In math we were learning about estimating using "Friendly Numbers." We started off on the life size ten frame. We talked about how some numbers are easier with which to work and when it comes to estimating, we naturally go to those numbers. All the work we had done on subitizing came in handy.  We worked initially with 0, 5, and 10. Then later in the week added 15 and 20. 
After working on the ten frame, we discovered how estimating looked on a number line.  Except, it wasn't just a number line, it was a "Number Vine!" Large pumpkins were the friendly numbers. It was easy for the kids to see how close the friendly numbers were to the numbers we were working with!!

Show how many and then what "friendly number" it is closest to.




Knowing about those friendly number estimates will help these little ones understand reasonableness when we delve into addition and subtraction strategies. So stay tuned!!
For a whole unit on estimating with friendly numbers, click HERE! :)


We had a blast on our annual Story Book Character Day. We had our first graders dress up as Fairy Tale Characters because that is what we were studying.  They looked amazing!! Here are a few pics.  I wish I would have gotten everyone!!
Peter X 3

Princesses- from several countries!!

Witch, Dorothy, Little Red, and More!

Jack!

The Wolf!

Puss in Boots :)

And of course my fabulous team got into the spirit by dressing as characters from Cinderella!


The Not so Ugly Stepsisters, Cinderella (Pre-Princess), and The Fairly Fairy Godmother! :)

I have the best team!!!  Thanks for giving your all, Sistas!
I'll be back soon with pics from our Pumpkin Math and Science Day!! OH MY! Such fun!

Thanks for stopping by for a peek!!  I love to read your comments!! Let me know how you teach estimating!
Stay tuned for more fun!
Joyfully!
Nancy

↧

Composing and Decomposing Numbers and Pumpkins!! :)

November 4, 2013, 6:52 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
It finally feels like Fall here!! Yippee! I do love some good fall related activities in the classroom!  Today in math we worked on different ways to compose 10. Of course we started off on another life size board.  This time a stretched out 10 frame. 10 is a “friendly” number.  While introducing different strategies for addition and subtraction, growing  number sense to use  friendly  10  and understanding the relationship numbers  have to 10 will benefit our littles in many ways. We used giant candy corn to show different ways to fill the spaces to 10. 
The kids could easily see the relationships each side of the equation shows as we make 10. 










For your own printables for making 10, click HERE!

I also wanted to show you that we are composing and decomposing pumpkins in the classroom as well!  After our pumpkin investigations last week, we saved some of the pieces that were cut, and put them in a jar.  We are watching it decompose!! We also are trying to compose (grow) some pumpkin plants.  We cut the tops off some mini pumpkins and filled the cavity with potting soil, leaving all the seeds and pulp inside.  We can't wait to watch what happens!!
A good book to enjoy as you make observations is Pumpkin Jack By Will Russell.




 Stay tuned for more fall fun!!
Thanks for stopping by for a peek!  
Joyfully!
Nancy


↧

Addition Math Tub Activities with a Fall Theme

November 5, 2013, 4:15 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
Super Speedy Post tonight...It's Book Club night!! I love my book club gals and look forward to getting together every month.  Sadly I didn't get the book finished, but I love to go anyway!!
I'm sharing a quick unit filled with addition math tub activities. I decided to enjoy a fall/acorn theme when creating these. I have a sweet friend who gave me a basket full of acorns that I can use for manipulatives.  I also found some acorn shaped table scatters at Target. Love the Dollar Spot!!
Here are a few pics from the 42 page (9 games)doc.












CLICK HERE for your free download! 

Hope this helps with practicing addition!!
Now, off to see my girls!!
Have a wonderful night!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

↧

Counting On!

November 10, 2013, 10:12 am
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
This coming week we will add to our addition strategy tool box by learning about "counting on." My friend and teammate, Mary has such great ideas for teaching different strategies and this little unit was inspired by her! Thanks, Mary!
When adding two numbers together, we will put the larger number in our pocket and count on.  The number in your pocket doesn't change. Say that number and count on with the smaller number.
This little unit includes some whole group and math tub activities to introduce and practice this strategy. Here are some pics:





  If you can use this,click HERE for your free printable unit. (20 pages)

I can't wait to share this with my kiddos!  Let me know if it will work for you!!
Thanks for stopping by for a peek!  Stay tuned for some pics from our week.
Have a great day!
Joyfully!
Nancy
↧
↧

Sarah Morton's Day and Pilgrims' Matter

November 11, 2013, 7:21 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
Just a quick share tonight.  We will of course be working on integrating social studies and reading these next two weeks by enjoying the characters in some of our favorite Thanksgiving/Pilgrim/Turkey books.  Sarah Morton's Day By Kate Waters is one of those. Here's a quick mini unit with an emphasis on character analysis.





For your mini unit on Sarah Morton, click HERE!! :)

The unit comes with patterns for  hands on visuals of a pilgrim boy and girl.
My second offering is an integration of science and social studies.  We are studying the states of matter this week and next and we thought it would be fun to make both pancakes and butter pilgrim style. Both activities have opportunities to compare the states of matter before and after you complete the recipe.  




For your free copy of this matter unit, click here! :)

I know this was short, but hopefully it was sweet!  Stay tuned for more Thanksgiving fun! Thanks for stopping by!!
Joyfully!
Nancy




↧

"Tree" mendously Thankful and Samuel Eaton's Day

November 12, 2013, 7:35 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
It's that time of year!! We are thankful for so much!  I'm not sure why we wait until this month to express our thanks, it seems as though we should be thankful every day! In first grade we are "tree"mendously thankful and tonight I want to share three things!
I know everyone does something similar around this time of year, but I still wanted to share! The kids wrote what they were thankful for on a leaf shape, cut it out, glued it to a piece of fall colored scrapbook paper and then trimmed around leaving a colored border.  We had our sweet room moms make trees for us out of scrunched paper and we attached the kids' leaves.
Simple and Sweet!





Here's a free treemendous sign and a leaf pattern ...CLICK HERE!

The kids also started the placemats that they will use at our annual Thanksgiving feast next week  Again, being thankful is the focus.  I am so thankful for kids who work hard, never give up, and always give their best! After writing the little poem, they made the cute little turkeys from hands and feet! Darling!!!







The last thing tonight is a response to the "Sara Morton's Day" unit I posted last night.  Almost immediately I got e-mails about the companion book, "Samuel Eaton's Day" and whether or not I had anything on that.  Well, here it is!  A very similar mini unit on character analysis for Samuel Eaton. Hope this helps round out your studies!!

For your 15 page Samuel Eaton's Day Unit, click HERE!!

Before I close down tonight, I do want to say how thankful I am for the many blessings in my life. I am so blessed to have a sweet husband and two amazing sons. They are constantly teaching me how to be my best! Thank you to my guys!!

I am also so blessed to have my mom so close by!  She is such an inspiration to me! My first teacher!
 Thanks, mom!!

Thanks for hanging with me tonight as I rambled
 on and on. 
Stay tuned for more Fall fun!
Don't forget to let those around you know how much you appreciate and are thankful for them!!

Joyfully!
Nancy









↧
Search

Retelling Thanksgiving

November 16, 2013, 7:47 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
I hope you're having a great weekend!  I wanted to share a couple of quick but very special things. First off, we will be doing so many wonderful Thanksgiving related learning activities this coming week. One of my favs is our Thanksgiving Retelling Story Bracelet.  As the kids are reading a poem about the first Thanksgiving, they are creating a bracelet with beads on a fuzzystick. You've probably seen this idea floating around for a while.  I think it originated with the infamous Dr. Jean. I just love it so much. I updated the poem a tiny bit and can't wait to share it with my kids this coming week.













































You can get your copy of the poem and directions HERE!


I wanted to share one other quick thing.  We did a lot of work this week comparing different cultures, customs, traditions and making a lot of text connections by reading a lot about the first Thanksgiving.  I shared this little hands on visual connection last year, but they turned out so cute again this year. So, here's another peek!!


I love how this little cutie's visual looks just like her!! 
Love that smile!!

You can get your patterns here! CLICK!

Oh...My...Goodness...I am so thankful for these kids and the gifts they give me every day!!
Thankful for you, as well!! Your encouragement has kept me on this joyful journey!!
Nancy
↧

Turkey Trouble!! Just serve...

November 19, 2013, 7:03 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!!
One of my favorite books to read this time of year is Turkey Trouble by Wendy Silvano.  In the story, the troubled turkey finds different way to disguise himself so as not to get eaten on Thanksgiving.  At the end of the story he decides to dress a a pizza delivery guy and brings pizza to the family he is trying to avoid! The kids looove the story and the illustrations.  You have to get this one! Great book to use for problem and solution!
We did a quick Readers' Response to the story.  We brainstormed many different things that could be eaten on Thanksgiving instead of turkey and created a chart.  We picked out our favs and wrote a quick little poem. Then created a fun little turkey to hold our writing.









For your free little activity including patterns, click HERE!! (as if you have time for more turkey!) :)
Okee Dokee!! Gotta run! Fun Feast Day tomorrow!!  Stay tuned!!

As always, thanks for stopping by!! 
Joyfully!
Nancy

↧
↧

OH! NO! Santa's Stuck Again!

November 25, 2013, 10:45 am
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
I want to share a few quick pics from our very busy week before Thanksgiving and an updated ramped up version of my "Oh No! Santa's Stuck" pack.
We had an amazing week with fun activities, our first grade feast and Grandparents/VIP day which for us always comes on the Friday before Thanksgiving break.
Making Butter!!!  
Shake it high!  Shake it low!

                              Celebrating Friendship!
Little Pilgrim Cutie!

Little Pilgrim boy ready for the feast!

                               What a sight!! Our 9th annual feast!!

So Thankful for this team!!! 
We love dressing the part!!

Now I want to quickly share a pack that I created last year using "Santa's Stuck" by Rhonda Greene.
I added a few more written expression opportunities, some comprehension (setting, problem, solution), an oral reading opportunity, a fun song, some rhyming center activities, a word search, another hands on visual connection, and some extra math tub activities.
Here are a few pics from the 55 page unit!











Hands on visual connection comes with patterns











For your free printable (55 pages), don't get stuck...click here!!

Hope this little pack gets you in the mood for the
 next big wonder!!
As always, thanks for stopping by for a peek. Let me know if you can use this pack, if you want to see anything added and of course, if you spy any typos!!
I count on you to keep me in line and accurate!! I read every comment and take all suggestions to heart!
Now, off to get going on my Thanksgiving dinner!! Friends and fam coming here!! So excited!
Have an awesome week!!
And Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
Joyfully Yours!!
Nancy






↧

Double Mint Math

November 30, 2013, 8:04 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful week. Mine was filled with cooking, cleaning, laughing, more cooking, some Christmas decorating, and more laughing!!  It has been great having company here all week!!  So thankful!
I finally had a minute to put together a little math lesson or two.  We will be working hard on different addition and subtraction strategies when we get back. Learning about doubles is a great strategy for kids to have in their repertoire. Knowing doubles and then doubles plus one or minus one gives them another edge with number sense, patterns, number relationships, etc.
Here's a fun way to cement those doubles facts!






For your 15 page mini unit click here!!

Well, this was short and sweet, but more cooking and fun awaits!!! Have a great rest of the weekend!! 
I'll be back soon with an updated "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies" unit!! :)
Joyfully!
Nancy



↧

What will you leave for Santa? And an updated "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies" unit

December 3, 2013, 4:31 pm
$
0
0
Hello Everyone!
What a fun day!  Yesterday we began a little study on the sweet story, "Santa's Stuck" by Rhonda Greene. We followed that reading with another treasure, "Santa Claus is on a Diet" by Nancy Scott-Cameron. Today the whole problem in the first story (Santa eats too many sweet treats and gets stuck going back up the chimney) and the second book (Santa gets slim by eating healthy and exercising) tumbled into our math lesson on balanced equations. The kids had to balance our round and roly Santa's diet while balancing equations. Kids got paper cookies, broccoli, and carrots with number sentences written on them.  We worked hard to balance a cookie with a healthy snack!  Writing out the balanced equations on mini whiteboards was key!





 We will continue to work on balanced equations! The kids are getting it!! 
We then of course as a quick reader's response, had to write about what we were going to leave Santa on Christmas Eve. 


I love that the kids are thinking healthy!!
Click here for the Santa's Stuck Unit!

Now I wanted to quickly share an updated, revamped version of my "If You Take A Mouse To the Movies" unit. I added some sensory detail pages, a fun circle story retelling bracelet activity, abc order, word search, needs and wants, goods and services, compound word activity and more! Even if you have this unit already, please re-download from the following link.  
Here are a few pics:










Click HERE for the new unit "If You Take A Mouse To The Movies"
Warning ! Unit is 69 pages long! It includes patterns and directions for everything!
Phew! This post was longer than I intended!! Sorry! Just too much to share!  First grade is the place to be this time of year!!  Stay tuned for more fun learning experiences later this week!!
Thanks for stopping by our little blog. We appreciate you!! We hope our learning will spark some learning somewhere else!! Let us know if it did!!
Have a great rest of the week!
Joyfully!
Nancy
↧
Viewing all 276 articles
Browse latest View live
Search