READING STUDENT OF THE DAY!!!!!

FREE SLIDE!

Sorry the pic is so blurry!  Room 21 friends got to take a "free slide" in their socks today!

Valentine's!

We will be celebrating Valentine's Day!  If your child would like to make invitations, here is the class list.  Please be sure to make one for everyone!! :)  You can send them in whenever they are finished! 

1. Alana
2. Taylor
3. Hunter
4. Joselyn
5. Angelica
6. David
7. Sammy
8. Katie
9. Rebecca
10. Logan
11. Alexys
12. Braden
13. Josiah
14. Oyinkansola
15. Anya
16. Andrew
17. Jessica
18. Ryan
19. Cara

SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!

This morning we had a snowball fight to practice our sight words!!

SILLY SOCK DAY!!!!

Silly Sock Day Tomorrow!!!

Don't forget to wear your silliest socks tomorrow!  We're going to walk around in our cool socks all day!!  I can't wait!!!

CHECK OUT THE ZEBRA PRINT!!!!

Didn't recognize the blog??  A friend found this zebra background to go with our class theme!  I love it!  The page might be a little too busy for me though.  I'm going to give it a few days and see.  I might switch it back...  Feel free to share your thoughts as well! :)

Reading Student of the Day

GETTING ACTIVE!!!!

I kicked off my boots to participate in an active game of tag with the kiddos!! :)

OWNERSHIP ASSEMBLY

Today, we attended an assembly on ownership, presented by Mrs. Peter's and Mrs. Castleman.  Ask your child what it means to take ownership!

100th Day

Just a reminder that the 100th day of school is on February 6th!  I can't wait to see all of the "little old women and little old men."  I bet they will be sooo cute!!

Also, on a personal note, I just need to tell you that I FEEL YOUR PAIN on the 100 project.  (Where you are helping your kiddo make something out of 100 of something.)  My daughter and I worked on hers this weekend.  Although it turned out cute and was all her own idea, it was a little painful to sit there and glue 100 MARSHMELLOWS into a box to make a snowy scene and expect them to stay put!  Sorry!!!!!!! :)

Reading Homework Books

The kiddos keep reminding me that they have read the homework books over and over again.  I keep reminding them that I'm aware of that. :)  Repeated readings are one of the best ways to practice phonic skills and improve fluency.  I'll be putting out some new books in the next couple weeks.  In the meantime, encourage your kiddo to "hook the words" when reading  (They should know what that means.) so that they don't sound like a robot.

Thanks for your support!  Their reading is improving immensely! I enjoy listening to them read each and every day!!  I LOVE FIRST GRADE!!!!! :) :) :)

Spelling Words, Unit 2 Week 6

THANK YOU MRS. ESSIS FOR THE WEEKLY REMINDER TO POST THE SPELLING WORDS!!!!! :) :) :)

1. feet
2. he
3. see
4. we
5. green
6. me
7. she
8. tree
9. week
10. be
11. some
12. family

Attention All Scientists!!

Check out your little scientists investigating liquids today!

Reading Award for the day goes to....

Rebecca!!

Reading, reading reading!

The kiddos must have gotten a lot of rest yesterday!  They came back ready to read today!! :) YAY!

Just a reminder....

the 100th day of school is quickly approaching!  See previous post for directions on how we plan to celebrate!  Let me know if you are willing to donate anything! :)

Early Dismissal

There is an early dismissal today at 2:35 due to impending weather.

Warm-up Dance

Warming up the day with a little dance party! :)

Rule Boxes

Today, the kiddos learned about rule boxes.  For example, if the rule is +5 I would give the kids the following pattern and they would have to fill in the blanks.        25, 30, ___, 40, ___, 50

Some of them had a lot of trouble with this.  If you want to reinforce this skill at home, that'd be great.  Of course, we'll continue to practice here too.  Some other rules that I used were: +1, +2, +3, +5, +10 -1, -2, -3, -5, -10.

Thanks!
Mindy

Spelling Practice

Spelling Words Unit 2 Week 5

1. huge
2. June
3. rule
4. tube
5. use
6. cute
7. cube
8. flute
9. rude
10. mule
11. water
12. under

Science

We are observing the properties of materials in science!  

Learning Math on the Smartboard!

Look how nicely we are working in our centers today!

Reading Homework

Just a heads up-your kiddo might be bringing home the same books over and over for the next couple weeks.  That is okay!  Unless they are proficient at reading the book-meaning they can read with feeling and speed, repeated practice is good for their fluency.  The books that they are bringing home are a review of blends and magic e words that we've been working on in class.  These books are a great way to practice those words and practice for fluency.  So please don't worry if you see your child bringing home the same books over the next few weeks.  They have a spread of about 12 books to choose from.

Thanks!
Mindy

Get ready for the 100th day of school!!!!

The 100th day of school is quickly approaching!  (February 6th)

Here is some info about the fun things that I have planned for the 100th day of school:

1. Parents-Here's your chance to help your kiddo be creative!  Kiddos should dress up as though they are 100 years old for the 100th day of school!  I will take a picture of everyone for the blog, but someone will be awarded "Best Dressed" and have their own personal picture posted on the blog as well! 

2. A fun 100th day of school project-I would like kiddos to choose 100 of something (gumballs, paper clips, pretzels, etc) and make something out of them to bring to school to share with the class.  Be creative!  If your kiddo enjoys playing soccer, you could get 100 gumballs and attach them together to make a big soccer ball.  Whatever you/your child can come up with!  Be creative!  Kiddos will each get a chance to "show and tell" about their project on the 100th day!

3.  I would like to have the kids make a 100th day of school trail mix, with 100 pieces of mix each.  If you would be willing to send in any of the following, we would greatly appreciate it!  Just email and let me know!  M&M's, Cheez-its, chocolate chips, Cheerios, gummy bears, Fruit Loops, Hershey Kisses.  If you think of anything else fun and small to go in the mix, let me know!  (I already have pretzels and marshmellows, too!)

I'm sure we will have lots of pictures to share for the 100th day of school!  I have many other activities planned, such as "What can you do in 100 seconds?" and "Who can stack 100 blocks the fastest?"  I'm looking forward to a day full of fun!!

Thanks so much!
Mindy

Words of the Day :)

Is there a blizzard coming???!!!

I think there's a blizzard coming!! Usually when the kiddos get really hyper and crazy that means some sort of storm is brewing!!  I apologize for the lack of entries this week!  There wasn't much time to blog!  Are they just as energetic when they get home at night?  Please, please give me some of their energy!!! Can you imagine having that much energy all day and night long?  To be a kid again!!!  :)

One more pic...

Pics from the Cocoa Cafe!

Reading for Fluency!

Spelling Sight Words

We played a fun game to practice our sight words this morning!

Working hard.....

Reading Homework

The kiddos had questions about why I haven't given them new books to read at home.  I just wanted to let you know that the more they repeat the same spelling patterns, words, etc, the more fluent they become.  So I will be switching books up here shortly, but just wanted to let you know that there's a purpose to what I'm doing. :)

Spelling Words Unit 2 Week 4

1. home
2. hope
3. rose
4. woke
5. those
6. bone
7. hose
8. joke
9. rode
10. home
11. there
12. together

These kiddos make me smile!!

Had to share this one with you!! :)

One of my kiddos said "My niece's birthday is tomorrow" and another kiddo said, "You're an aunt? You don't even have gray hair!"

I love the things kids say....So sweet and innocent! :)

WANTED: WIPES

It's that time of year again!  If anyone would be willing to donate clorox/lysol wipes, I would greatly appreciate it!  Gotta keep us healthy! 

I have to pee....again!! :)

Okay...just thought I'd bring a smile to your face today!  So...The kiddos have LOTS of bathroom breaks!! LOTS!!  They are able to go in the morning when they first get to school (8:45), again at 10, 11:30, 12:35, 1:20, 2:00 and 3:20.  I recognize that first graders need to be very active so we play games, do jumping jacks, etc.  Starting today, the kiddos have "one free bathroom pass" to use throughout the day.  With all of the opportunities that I provide, I don't think they need to go more than 8 times a day!  They can use this freebie anytime throughout the day but if they need to go during class time more than that one time, they will owe me a go sign.  My hope is to cut down on the number of times they leave the room and miss instruction.  If your kiddo has a need to go more than that, please just send me an email to let me know!

Thanks!
Mindy :)

Adding Weight

Today, we practiced adding the weight of animals using base ten blocks.

STUFFED ANIMAL

Parents-Please help your kiddos remember to bring a stuffed animal for tomorrow's cafe! Thanks!

TWINS!

Comparing Numbers

We had fun using our hungry alligators to compare large numbers! :)

Base 10 Blocks

By the end of the second trimester, student should be proficient in counting to 120 and writing numbers to 120.  Today, we continued to practice counting base 10 blocks.

Reading with a buddy!

Cocoa Cafe

Just a reminder that our cafe is scheduled for Friday, January 11th at 2:00 pm.  The kiddos are getting out of special at 1:55 so I ask that you wait in the hallway for them to get back and escort you into the classroom.  They are excited for this fun event!!  Thank you to all who donated cookies!  If you could send them in with your child in the morning, that would be super!!!

Spelling words for the week

Unit 2 Week 3 Spelling Words
1. like
2. ride
3. smile
4. time
5. white
6. bike
7. dime
8. hide
9. ice
10. kite
11. who
12. work

Base Ten Blocks

Pictures are working again!!  We're using base ten blocks to count large numbers!

BLOG ISSUES

I haven't forgotten about you!  I'm having some issues putting pictures up on my blog!  I'll post some as soon as I can figure out what's going on!!

Change in Plan

Students were earning one sticker per go sign that they kept each day before the break.  When they got 10 stickers, they got free educational time with the ipad or ipod.

For this new year, I have changed the incentive.  Students are working to earn 50 tally marks on the pink sheet stapled to their red folder.  They earn one tally mark for each go sign that they keep each day.  When they reach 50, they get to eat lunch in the classroom.

Yiipppeee! :)

COCOA CAFE

Just a reminder that our Cocoa Cafe is scheduled for next Friday, January 11th at 2:00pm.  Parents and grandparents are encouraged to join us to hear the kiddos read stories that they worked really hard on, followed by a treat of hot cocoa and cookies.  Thank you to those of you that signed up to send in cookies!  Mrs. Gearhart will be sending a reminder out soon and asking for a few more volunteers.  Also, the kiddos should dress up if they wish to make our cafe a little more formal. 

I can't wait!
Love,
Mrs. Smith :)

EVERYONE MET THEIR GOAL!!!

Ask your child what goal they set for themselves in 2012.  They all met their goals so we had a special lunch in the classroom today!