Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Season of Giving

One of our expected Learner Outcomes for students is that they learn to become Community Contributors and in this time of hardship for so many, our school has elected to choose ways to give back to others during this season.

Our class chose to participate by donating needed supplies to CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm. It is a non-profit organization of volunteers where they rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce animals to the community while also promoting compassionate animal care.

Currently, they have in-need animals residing including horses, goats, cats, chickens, pigs and ducks. These animals have non-ideal pasts ranging from abuse, abandonment, neglect or as a result of catastrophic disasters such as hurricanes, floods or fires.

The animals not only benefit from cash donations and volunteers but they are also helped by donating supplies. Our class donated dry dog food, dry cat food, dog treats, small stainless steel food and water bowls, paper towels, wet wipes, towels, disinfectant wipes, horse equipment and gift cards to Lowe’s and Home Depot.

For more information, please visit http://www.cjacres.org/.


How do you give back to your community?

Friday, December 17, 2010

Last Flag Raising...

Our last flag raising ceremony for the year 2010.
Have a fun and safe winter break.

Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Polar Express Day

What a day!!!
While waiting for the express, we enjoyed read alouds...


... holiday crafts...

...and a safe trip to the North Pole.

How was your day?

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Listening for Silent E

Today, we did part of Skills Block with a twist! This week's homework includes going onto the website Destination Math and Reading. Although I wish we had a tablet or a remote control mouse, we still find ways to incorporate technology in the classroom. Here's a snipet of us working on an activity available online. Check it out...


Listening for 'Silent E' Words from Patricia Wallace on Vimeo.

Do you know the sound the vowel will make when there's a silent e (like in the word tape)?

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

What animals would you see?

We reviewed that a habitat is a place where plants and animals live. We then worked in groups and listed what animals can be found in our backyard at home, around our school and at the beach.

Group 1 - Animals in my backyard: dogs, snakes, lizards, cats, birds, chickens.
Group 2 - Animals around my school: squirrels, snakes, birds, worms, ants.
Group 3 - Animals at the beach: crabs, starfisch, seahorse, fish, stingray, whales, sharks.
Group 4 - Animals at the beach: catfish, starfish, sharks, crabs, birds, fish.

During our closing, a discussion ensued regarding what animals would be found at a beach. Some felt a whale would not be found on a beach. Reasons were given as to why. In the end, it was agreed that a beach is the place where the sea meets the land. This was followed by a short video clip to reinforce the definition of beach.

Can you list any animals that you would find at the beach?

Monday, December 13, 2010

Making Predictions

Good readers make predictions even before reading. Today, book club members were asked to make a prediction based on the cover of a book. Predictions can be maded based on the title, cover, and illustrations/pictures.Then, each group was assigned the same question: "What do you think will happen in this book?" Then each group presented to the class their predictions.


What do you think will happen in this story?

Friday, December 10, 2010

Caroling with High-Frequency Words

'Farm-tastic' first graders love it when I give them a new song. One of the songs this week was a high-frequency word song to the tune of Jingle Bells. Check them out:

High-Frequency Words Song (to tune of Jingle Bells) from Patricia Wallace on Vimeo.

What other songs do you know that help you learn your words in a snap?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

BINGO! I Know My Sight Words!

First graders are expected to know their high-frequency words in a snap. Wow! High-frequency words are sometimes referred to as sight words, snap words, or wow words.

Today, the class played in groups a Bingo game made up of high-frequency words. (Students do not all have the same card. There are different versions of the student Bingo cards.) One student called the word. If a student had the word on his/her Bingo card, then it's marked on the card using cubes. When five in a row is marked on the card... BINGO!


What games do you play using your snap words?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

How Many Toy Cars?

There are many ways to solve a story problem. Some first graders use pictures/numbers and count all, or count on, or use an open number line, or know their basic math facts.

What strategies would you use to solve a story problem?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Finding Combinations

Today, we played again Dot Addition during Math Workshop.

How would you find different combinations for a given number?

Monday, December 6, 2010

Editing our Writing

Last Friday, we ended our day writing about our favorite part of the day. We had two choices: computer lab or Cookies with Auntie Claus. Good writers reread their work and make necessary edits. Today, we did it as a group.
First, the writer read to us her piece. Then the class complimented the writer...

"I liked what she wrote." "I liked the way she wrote neatly." "I really liked her picture."

Here are the words to the writer's original piece:

My Favrt prt is wen
sate clos came red us
a story and I liket it
was a fun BOOK
it was a fueNy Book

On the board, students then selected which edits to make and explained their reasons why. The writer made the edits on her paper as suggested.


Here is the edited version by the class:

My favorite part is when
Auntie Claus came and read to us
a story and I liket it.
It was a fun book.
It was a funny book.

What suggestions would you give the writer?

Friday, December 3, 2010

Techie First Graders!

Today, everyone had a personal laptop available to work on in the Technology Lab. Yee-Haw!!
Wireless network connections... Every child with a computer... If only this was our permanent classroom. What work do you like to do on a computer?

Thursday, December 2, 2010

It's a Cover Up!

Working on combinations with a math game.


We are playing with 8 counters. Time to cover up!


Started with 8 counters. Now only 2 are outside the cup.
How many are in the cup?


Yes! It was 6 counters under the cup. (2 + 6 = 8)


What strategies would you use to solve the problem?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Holiday Traditions

One of our holiday traditions is for each class to help decorate the tree in the school's front lobby with an ornament for each child.
Thank you, Mr. Boyd, for volunteering your time to setup the tree and help us hang our class' ornaments. We truly appreciate all you do for us!

What holiday traditions do you have with your family?