Holiday Crafts

It is my first day of winter break and I am enjoying every lazy minute of it!  I left the house only to walk the dogs.  I, of course, am still in my PJ's because with this rainy cold weather, I simply layer all of my rain gear on top of my PJ's and nobody knows (except you) that I haven't gotten dressed for the day! :)  It really is a win-win situation!

Anyhow, we spent the last two days of school finishing up our Christmas ornaments for our parents.  It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed themselves!  One student continually came up to give me a hug and say "Thank you for letting us make...."  He did this for each project, including decorating cookies.  The funny thing about this is he is one of my littlest kids and if I am standing, he often grabs my butt as he hugs me because his arms don't make it around me.  He has NO idea this happens, but I think it is kind of funny.

The first project we made were photo puzzle wreaths.  We simply used all of the puzzles we have missing pieces and then hit up the Goodwill for additional puzzles.  The kids glued the puzzle pieces in a circle then painted them green.  Once they were dry, we added their photo, a bow and some little pom poms for berries.  They turned out quite cute in the end!

Just imagine a cute little face in the middle of that wreath!

Next up was our candy cane ornament.  The students used their patterning skills to create an AABB (red, red, white, white) candy cane for their parents to hang on the tree!  Here is what it looks like.

Our final ornament was a snowflake.  The kids love this one because it includes glitter - LOTS of it!  They simply start by making a blob of glue on a piece of wax paper and then using q-tips that have been cut in half to make the 6 points of a snowflake, making sure to role the cotton end in the glue too!  Once it is all laid out, they sprinkle away!  It takes quite a bit of time to dry, but once it is dry you simply peel it off and then add a paper clip and your done.  We add an additional piece of paper so the kids can write their name and the year on it for their parents.  It also provides extra support!  Here is what the finished product looks like...

The final job is for the students to write a card to their parents.  We talked about how cards are personal and should be meaningful.  Therefore, I do not dictate what they should write.  I simply tell them to start with "Dear."  We talked about how we all have different names (mama, mommy, mother, mom, etc) for our parents and you should use what is appropriate.  In the past my students have kept things very simple - Merry Christmas or I love you's.  This year, I was SOOO impressed with my students.  Here are a few samples of what they wrote to their parents.  

Dear Mom and Dad,  This Christmas is going to be the best Christmas ever and ...

Dear Mommy & Daddy, Merry Christmas.  I hope you have a great time.  I  am having a great time.  I am too...

Dear Mommy and Daddy, I am so happy to spend the day with you.  From L

 We also decorated the front of the card with a cute little tree and then stapled them to the front of their bag for their parents.  Here is what one of the final present looked like.

To say the least, the students and I had tons of fun! 

However, it wasn't just the students that were in the Christmas spirit this year!  Every year a talented 5th grade and Kindergarten teacher create an amazing holiday video that no other school comes close to creating!  I hope you enjoy!

 Merry Christmas to everyone!!

Heavy Heart

Looking back on the past few weeks, I am not really sure how we have stayed so positive.  I am sure it comes down to family and friends.  We are all so blessed to have such loving people in our lives!

For those of us at Sacajawea, it all started a week ago from last Thursday.  During lunch, we went into lockdown.  It was precautionary, but there was a very angry parent trying to get in our school.  It was a long 2 hours with very little information.  Looking back on it, the kids and staff handled it with grace!  My first graders were split between the cafeteria and playground when I heard an announcement to secure the playground.  Of course, we all jumped up from our lunches and quickly ran to our kids and shuffled them into the cafeteria!  Once everyone was off the playground, we had 8 classes in the cafeteria! We were there on secure lock down for about forty-five minutes. We then moved into modified lockdown which means you can now move throughout the building, but no one is allowed to come or go. It is amazing how well teachers and staff can pull it together and keep it calm when in crisis!

A few short days later, the shooting at Clackamas took place. It's just crazy how close to home this is. I typically meet a friend for lunch here and will occasionally stroll through the mall. It's not very often, but often enough!

Then the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting took place. I found out about this while I was with my students in library. I immediately thought of my cousins in Connecticut. Fortunately, it was not their school. However, they know families that have been impacted. It just saddens and shocks me that this could happen in what we strive to keep as one of the safest places for children!!

My prayers and thoughts go out to those families in Newtown, CT.

Being Silly

This year has been great!  My students are wonderful! They all get along for the most part and actually work together!  I know this sounds like a dream, but I have felt a lack of fun silly engaging times with my students.  In the past, I have sung and danced, joined in games, gone to recess, colored and had individualized time with my students allowing me to really understand and connect with them.  Don't get me wrong, I have personal relationships with my students, but it is just not as fun and goofy.  

Last night, I was talking with Nate about this and he basically said he thinks I still have my guard up from last year.  It was my hardest year of teaching yet!  I had 29 students who kicked, punched, choked, threatened and any other negative interactions possible.  One student was suspended 4 times prior to winter break.  It was tough.  I was never able to let down my guard and be silly with my students.  Nate thinks I am still in that mentality.  So, my goal for today was to be silly!

I made it!  Throughout the entire day, we had a blast!  It started off with a wonderful self manager assembly including music and great energy.  Later, my students and I danced around the classroom to the doubles song.  We laughed and tried to be as goofy as possible.  We continued to work on our holiday presents while listening to Christmas music.  One student was so pumped on his dance moves, he was telling everyone how he is the best breakdancer out there.  He told me that if I am lucky he might teach me a move some day.  HAHA!  I can't wait for that day to come. It was a great day and I look forward to more like these!

Now, I am off to finish report cards!

What's the main idea?

My reading group has been working on identifying the main idea and three supporting details for the past week or two. Tuesday was my formal observation and my students rocked it!

While sitting at the airport waiting for my flight home after Thanksgiving, I stumbled upon a website suggesting the use of The Important Book to teach main idea to young students. So, I went to our librarian and asked if we had it. Her immediate response was how great the book was for teaching main idea and supporting details. This made me wonder how I had never come across it in 8 years of teaching. Either way, it worked out great for my observation.

We first read the poem on rain and then completed a chart outlining the main idea and 3 supporting details. My students did an amazing job sharing text to self connections in relation the the details they selected. I was impressed with their dialogue.

I then shared the snow poem with them and asked the students to individually complete a graphic organizer. This was done with ease. I had told the kids we could share them at the end if time permitted, but we were only able to get through a handful. As we were beginning to transition to a new activity and my principal is beginning to gather his things, a student called out "Do we get to finish tomorrow?" Before I could even respond my principal says out loud, "that's a good sign" and then he smiled my way and walked out the door.

Not that I have ever doubted my teaching, but it sure is nice to be complimented during an observation!

Fire Visit and Volleyball

What a week we had!  

Wednesday the Fire Department paid a late visit to Sacajawea to celebrate fire safety - October is fire safety month.  The kids had a blast listening to Fireman Mike while he read a story about having a dragon for a pet, who started a fire when he sneezed. (Is is bad I can't remember the name??)  Either way, I remember the story as do the kids.  They learned several wonderful tips...

• Get low and go
• Crawl towards a door or window
• Yell "I'm over here," instead of "help!"
• Have a meeting place away from the building
• NEVER go back in

While the story was a great success, the highlight was definitely going outside and learning about the fire truck.  The students specifically loved when the fireman made them guess which knob to pull for water to start flowing.  They didn't have any hoses hooked up.  So, when they guessed the correct color knob, water suddenly started pouring out at them.  It was great watching the kids reactions.  This visit is always a highlight with the students!

In other news...I concluded coaching of our 4th and 5th grade students in volleyball this week.  While they do not participate in actual games, we work through the traditional skills needed to play and then wrap up the season with a "Skill-er-ee" against other schools.  Our players were not the most athletic, but they all had the best attitude and tons of fun throughout the season.  At the girls skill-er-ee, I was so impressed with their positive sportsmanship!  Our girls cheered not only for our school, but also for the competing schools.  Don't get me wrong, we did earn several points, but we definitely were not the top dog!

Next week will be a whirlwind with an early release school day for students Monday and then a full day Tuesday, but I am very much looking forward to heading south for Thanksgiving!!  LA here I come!

Number of the Day

Hi there!

As we started into November, I finally got on board with using a number of the day packet.  I was hesitant to use these before because I never felt that they properly reflected what I was teaching and didn't want to give my kids busy work.  So, I went off and made my own :)

Now that I have been using these, I have no idea why I didn't start sooner!!  As it works now, we are simply counting our days up.  Had I started on the 1st day of school, today's number would have been 47 (if my count is right) and tomorrow would be 48.  Since I didn't start until November 1st, we just completed 8 today (8 school days in November).  Once November comes to an end, we will simply continue to count up.  Next year, I will start on day one and this will align much better.  My plan is to change out the Number of the Day packet each month.  This will make their work meaningful and a little less prep for me :)  Here is what December will look like...

or maybe this one...

Either way, I plan to change it up to keep my students engaged!  Let's hope it works!  If you use number of the day in your classroom, I would love to know how it works!

Have a great night all!

Stick People

Hi there!

Each week we honor a student from the class.  During this week, they are our SUPER KID!  They complete a poster to share about their lives outside of school, the class asks questions of the student to dig a bit deeper, they share an item a day and the class completes a book for this student to keep. Yesterday, while we were working on our super kid writing for the week, a student brought his paper up to me and asked if he had to draw a picture.  I reminded him how we always draw a picture to match our words.  On these very special super kid books, our picture should be even more detailed.  Our goal for any picture is to make it a 4-point picture, which means color in all areas in the picture space touching each corner, but first drawing the details.  Often students will draw the entire picture space blue for the sky and then try to go back and add people and other details.  Due to this, I have been pushing my students on their people and details.  I have never allowed stick people, but it also hasn't been a big deal until yesterday.  

The same boy continued to ask and moan a bit about his picture, but really let loose when he realized he couldn't draw stick people.  "What do you mean I can't draw stick people?  I don't know how to draw full people?"  I reminded him of ways he could make a stick figure into a full person by adding clothes, hair, etc. but he couldn't get passed the no stick people comment.  I offered to help him, but he wouldn't take any, so off he went to his seat.  When he returned, I heard him say to his peers, "Can you believe it?  We can't draw stick people anymore.  What does she want me to do?"  He continued on and on about how he can't draw full people, but in the end drew an amazing little person.  I am realizing now that I should have taken a picture of it!  I was truly impressed with this little guy!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Parent Teacher Conferences and Halloween

It has been a busy 2 weeks! 

A week ago, I spent several hours/days meeting with parents and discussing the progress and success of their children.  Fortunately, all but one of my parents showed up to conferences!  I don't think I have ever had this turn out!  The parents were very eager to hear about everything we were working on.  It was great meeting with them all and gaining a better insight to my students!

Our first grade team decided to take our fall field trip to the pumpkin patch on Halloween itself.  It was a great trip and the students had a blast in the rainy muddy weather.  Not sure the chaperones were quite as thrilled.

Prior to attending our field trip, we completed a writing assignment predicting what we would see when at the farm.  I found this freebie writing on Oceans of First Grade Fun's blog. 

She also provided a wonderful follow up writing.  The students did a wonderful job on this writing.  Next time, I will try to remember to take photos of their work.

While it has been a fun week, it was also very exhausting.  I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend!  Hope you have one too!

BUILD

Hi there!

Well, these past few days we have implemented BUILD Math centers and what a blast the kids are having!  I first learned about BUILD Math reading one of the many blogs I have become a bit addicted to - Adventures in Teaching.  I have always LOVED using math centers and really struggled with our new enVisions math curriculum last year.  It is simply way too much paper pencil and not enough discovery for my little 1st graders!  

So, here is my understanding and implementation of BUILD...

B - Buddy Games
U - Using Manipulatives
I - Independent Work (usually math books)
L - Learn about numbers
D - Do math

I have chosen to implement these work stations like I used to implement Kindergarten Workplaces from Bridges in Mathematics.  I have a bucket for each letter which has a designated area within the classroom.  In each tub, I have placed only what the students will need - no extras!  At this point, I am assigning and moving students through their BUILD work stations, but I imagine within another week or two, they will be ready to do this independently!  Here is how I organize it...

Students wrote their names on the notecards.  Gave them ownership!

In this past week, I have witnessed a new energy in my students during math time.  We are still working through our core curriculum, but spending about half our time daily working through BUILD work stations.  Since it is my job to teach to the Common Core Math Standards, I have chosen for this to be my guide when developing and implementing BUILD.  I am using the standards we are addressing in enVisions and finding engaging hands on activities for the students to participate in. 

At this point, here is what I have in my buckets...

B = Bugs in the Garden Addition from Bridges in Mathematics
U = Polydron exploration
I = Counting and number books
L = Spin and write from Bridges in Mathematics
D = Haunted Fact Families (self created)

The students are loving it!  Here is some proof!

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am I found this inspiration!!  Math is back to the fun it used to be!!

Thanks for reading!!

The Daily 5

Where did the week go?  We have been up to all sorts of wonderful learning!  

I have been implementing The Daily 5 with my advanced literacy group!  It has been so fun!  If you haven't heard about The Daily Five, you should check it out!  I first read about it on A Teeny Tiny Teacher's blog, but have seen several ideas on Pinterest.  So, I decided to give it a try.  Although there is a lot on-line, it doesn't do it justice.  So be sure to read the book!!  

At this point, we have introduced Read to Self, Work on Writing, and Read to Someone.  My biggest challenge it that I have this advanced group of students for a short 30 minutes until we break into small Read Well groups for an additional 30 minutes.  The best solution I have come up with is to implement the Weekly 5 instead.  I want to make sure my students truly get the most out of the activity they are participating in so they are not rushing through all 5 activities daily.  What would they really gain from that?  If anyone else out there has a better idea, please share it!  

Anyhow, my students and I have been extremely happy with the outcome!  They enjoyed filling their book bags with good fit books (in place of book boxes) and cracking into their writing notebooks.  One of the most enjoyed lesson my students refer back to often is determining what a good fit book is.  They love to remind me of how Nate's shoes were WAY to big and not a good fit for me.  Thanks to the 2 sisters, I now have a wonderful analogy that very clearly illustrates how to pick appropriate books! 

During our work on writing time, students have really flourished! On the first few days, I heard things like, "but I'm not done" and "I finished my whole story."  At another point throughout the day, one of my home room students asked, "Can I please work on writing?  I want to finish my story."  Unfortunately, it was math time and I had to say no.  One of the other first grade teachers came by and shared how she is seeing some of the skills like underline the words you don't know how to spell fall into other learning areas.  That my efforts and instruction in The Daily 5 have been impactful!  I am just so happy my students are this motivated to write!

Pictures will come soon!

My Diploma!

After a VERY long day yesterday, I came home to a very wonderful surprise!  My diploma from graduate school!  I completed my program in the middle of August and chose not to walk in the December ceremony.  While I had already received my official transcripts and submitted them to the district, there was something wonderful about receiving my diploma!  

Thinking back, it was a long year for Nate, my husband, and I!  We had just got married and a month later I decided to start an advanced one year graduate program while working full time.  Nate was the most amazing support system, even on my crankiest of all days!  Now that it is over, we are both adjusting back to having more time and freedom to get out and explore without feeling the need to set aside time for school work.  I can happily say that I am thrilled to be finished and owe so very much to you Nate!

Apples Galore!

In honor of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, we just completed our apple unit.  During this unit, we learned about the growth cycle of an apple.  Very few of my students actually knew an apple grew from flowers.  They did however, know they grew on trees!

After discussing this process, we explored the taste of red delicious, golden delicious and granny smith apples.  As we tasted each apple, we took time to describe their taste.  My students came up with great ideas such as juicy, crisp, sweet and sour.

We carried our apple tasting into math and graphed our favorite apples.  First, we created a class graph together.  We discussed the difference between the various colors talking about how many more and how many less we had.  In our classroom, the red delicious apple was the most favored with the green granny smith close behind.  Below are pictures of our fun work!

Not only did we taste apples, but the students participated in making applesauce!  The students were amazed to see the process of making applesauce.  Only one or two had ever helped with this before.  It cooked down just in time for a warm afternoon snack.  Those who were adventurous chose to add a little cinnamon to their snack.  It was a blast to see how much they enjoyed this activity.

One of our final projects throughout this unit was a journal writing.  Each student wrote and illustrated about their favorite apple.  They shared why they favored whichever apple they chose.  It was great fun seeing their ideas!

Rocks, Curriculum Night and Mileage Club

It was a busy week!  Tuesday afternoon a student came back from lunch recess reporting that his ear hurt.  As I began to question him, here is what we shared...

Student: "My ear hurts."

Me:  "Ok, where does it hurt?"

Student: "Inside.  I have a rock in there."

Me: "What do you mean you have a rock in your ear?"

Student: "Well, I pushed it a little too far."

Me: "Let me take a look.  Ok, let's go to the office and call mom!"

Luckily, this is a family I know well!  Mom immediately came back to school as she had just left after volunteering for me.  According to mom, she called her husband (a dentist) for advice.  He wasn't with a patient, so mom took him there.  Dad was able to safely get the rock out of his son's ear.  They shared it was about the size of a dime.  My student was VERY embarrassed and would not let mom keep the rock.  She thought it was hysterical!  When he returned to school he wouldn't give up much information about the removal and I hadn't talked with mom yet. In hopes of getting him to open up, I shared how my sisters put things like pennies and marbles up their noses when they were young.  He thought this was very funny!  I made sure to tell him this was not a good idea and not to try it!

With the rock incident behind me, it was time to prepare for curriculum night!  This is always a long day and requires much preparation.  My team decided to present together this year to ensure that we are all on the same page and consistant in 1st grade.  We managed to get our parent packs completed with daily schedules, reading and math standards, sample letter and number writing paper, and a favorite poem of mine entitled "Let me be a child." 

I have always loved this poem and shared it with families.  With the pressure and high standards placed on our students, I take responsibility in reminding parents that their child is simply just that, a child.  Especially my little ones, they need to be playing outside and with friends.  They need to learn that it is ok to be wrong and how to bounce back.  As I say over and over again, "All I ask is that you do your best!"  The ultimate goal is for these little ones is to make academic and social growth while in my class.  Some students may grow leaps and bounds, while other move along slow and steady.  With all said and done, curriculum night was a success!

Mileage club is a running program our students participate in during recess.  It is well loved by our students.  A few years ago I ran twice a week with my little ones.  Last year, I was too overwhelmed and pushed it to the side only running a handful of times all year.  I always regretted not having this time with my students.  It was a great way to learn more about them.  We often talked while "running" about life outside of school.  So this year, I have committed to "running" at least once a week on my recess duty day (Don't worry, I won't run while on duty, rather at another recess).  I will already be dressed down and feel that this will allow for some great bonding time.  

Yet again, it was a great week!

Success!!

We wrapped up our first full week of school.  I am happy to report that it was a complete success!  The kids were tired and whining by the end, but they really pulled through and impressed me to no end!  During this first week and a half, I pushed them on expectations, behavior and academics.  By the end of the day on Friday, there were some melt downs (of course)!  One little girl got frustrated because "you make us do too much!  We have to do reading and math and writing.  Then you want us to clean up our mess."  Oh, how I forget they are such babies at the start of each year!  This little melt down reminded me that I need to challenge my students, but also allow them time to transition from a half day kinder to an all day 1st grade.  I have always concluded my newsletters with the quote, "Childhood is a journey, not a race" (author unknown), which more than ever reminds me this is the time to remember these little ones need space to explore and grow.  With that said, I am thrilled with my new group of students!  They are unique and we will have hiccups along the way, but all and all I think we are going to grow well together!