First Day

Today was a great first day of school! The students were such great listeners, I was so impressed! We spent the day learning many classroom routines and expectations. We discussed our behavior plan and read a book about manners in school and signed our name to the classroom expectations. We read a wonderful story by Kevin Henkes called Wemberly Worried. We talked about our feelings on the first day of school. Students then used post-its to identify how they were feeling on the first day. We took a tour of the school and learned about our OWL Binders. (Just a note that I will be adding a "completed work" folder instead of using the homework folder for work to go home. This will come soon.) Most of the first week is spent going over the routines and rules. The students may state that they are tired, especially if they are used to the half day Kindergarten. This will be an adjustment. Not to worry if they come home saying they don't want to go back. It just takes some time! I had to apologize to the students for using my old name at times! I am also getting adjusted to a change. I can't wait to see them tomorrow! They are so great!

Snack

Hi Families!
Just wanted to let you know that the children will have a snack break each afternoon. Please make sure there is something peanut free (along with a drink) for them to have at snack time in the classroom. I will go over how to sign up for a snack milk with the children tomorrow. If they wish to purchase a snack milk, it is 50 cents and they need to send exact change in the morning. If possible, please wait until Wednesday to have your child get a milk for snack time so that I can go over this with them. Thank you!

Dismissal

Hi Families!
The first day of school can be very confusing at dismissal time for students if they are unsure how they are getting home. I do have a list of student bus numbers that I am putting together but wanted to ask that if you know that the first day of school is not going to be their regular bus but a car pick up or YMCA, please email me so that I can plan for that right now. Thank you!

Welcome!

Welcome First Graders!

Hi Families!
Welcome to my classroom blog. I am so excited to welcome a new group of First Graders on September 1. I can't wait to meet them all, as well as all of you! I try to update this blog at least once a week. I will also be starting a private classroom FaceBook page. This will be a quick way to notify you of events or important information as well as another place to post pictures of the great things happening in our class, and I will update that page more frequently. For now, if you would like, you can become  a "follower" of this blog and you should receive emails when I update with a new post. I look forward to hearing from you! If you have a chance, send me an email to say hello before school starts! jhargrave@plymouth.k12.ma.us. If it gets sent back to you, please try my old email jmorgan@plymouth.k12.ma.us. 

Supplies:
Below are some supplies that you might want to get your child. Please email me with any questions!
*You do not need to purchase any folders at this time as each child will be given a special (and important) O.W.L. Binder. There will be a post with detailed information about these OWL Binders on the blog in the next few days.
*1 backpack that can easily fit a 1 inch binder (non-rolling please)
*1 plastic pencil box ( I really like the plain colored plastic ones from Michael's that are $1!!!)
*pencils
*crayons (no more than 24 - the pencil box must be able to shut easily)
*glue sticks (2 or 3 to start)
*Child scissors are optional as I do have some for the classroom.

Please have all supplies already taken out of their wrapping/cardboard boxes and put right into the pencil box ready for use on the first day.

Keep in mind that some of these supplies will need to be replenished throughout the year. Each table group will also have community supplies (crayons, pencils, scissors, glue) that they are able to use should they run out of their own.

Hi Families!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful April vacation! I can't wait to see the kids tomorrow! We will be continuing to move right along in our opinion/review writing in Writer's Workshop (which the students are doing a wonderful job with), character book clubs in Reader's Workshop, as well as learn about Earth Day which was over the vacation. We will do a few different Earth Day activities. In Math we will begin to learn about Fact Families!

My last day will be Friday, May 8th as I am due the following week. I may be in and out during that week after my last scheduled work day but there will be a long term substitute taking over starting Monday, May 11.  Mr. Spencer will send home a letter to give detailed information regarding this. 

I would like to plan a little "Author's Celebration" for the students to have a chance to share a piece of their review writing from Writer's Workshop. I would like to plan this for Thursday, May 7th. Parents are invited. I will send home more information this week but for now, it will take place on this morning, roughly around 9:45am.

Please feel free to email me with any questions!!

Updates!

Two weeks ago we spent a lot of time learning about American symbols. The students did a great job working on their facts and projects. We learned about The American Flag, The Liberty Bell, The Statue of Liberty, and Bald Eagle. Last week we studied oviparous animals and learned all about chicks/eggs and animals that lay eggs. We wrote a how to on "how to dye an egg" and the students had a chance to dye one. We reviewed adjectives and designed an egg and listed adjectives to describe it. 

We have one last list for Sight Words and students will be getting new notebooks on Monday for their last list. Please remember to have your child highlight / color in the words that come home for the week. I am expecting more detailed, neat and complete sentences at this point in the year. If your child is not using proper letter formation, (reversals, using capital letters when not needed, etc.) please have them fix it! Thank you for your support!

We are beginning a new unit this week in Reader's Workshop on Character Book Clubs. The students will work in a group and read various books around a specific character. They will discuss the character and do some projects related to him/her. It's a fun unit!

Here are some pictures from the past weeks. Happy April!

Updates!

Hi Families!
Next week is a half day on Wednesday. This is a time that is set aside for conferences that need to be held. I do have some flexibility for this afternoon so if you would like to schedule a conference, please email me soon! If you would like to meet but would rather wait until end of April/beginning of May, I can do that as well. Please keep in mind, next Wednesday's time is before report cards are sent home. 

Now that Spring is here, we could use some classroom supplies as well as supplies for your own child. Many students have no crayons so please check with your child to see if they need to restock their pencil box! The classroom could use lysol wipes and paper towels!
 
Here are some pictures of the students working on forming and writing opinions about things in their "collection boxes". They are doing a great job! We will continue to work on writing opinions and persuasive letters for the next few weeks. Collection Boxes will come home soon though!

Here are a few pictures of some St. Patrick's Day projects! (Leprechaun adjectives and pot of gold writing)