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!