Apple Picking and a Challenge!

I received many permission slips from parents willing to chaperone on Friday and unfortunately each teacher could only take 2. I drew names and have already contacted those parents. If anything changes I will be in touch with others. Thank you so much, and we usually have a walking field trip in the spring which is a nice one and I can take many more chaperones. :) 

Please make sure your child packs a lunch for Friday as we will not be back in time to eat in the cafeteria.

Ok time for our first challenge! Whenever I post challenge opportunities it is entirely optional but it is a nice way to talk about what they are learning in the classroom. This challenge opportunity expires this weekend so ask your children!

In Reading Workshop we have been talking about becoming strong readers and how we can do that. Please ask your child the following question:

What are you building every time you are reading your books in Reading Workshop?

I am looking for two specific words. Please email me the answers that your child says and they will receive a little prize if he or she can name at least one out of the two. Thank you! (A hint for one of the words is to tell them "milkshake smooth")

3 Ways To Read A Book

This past week in Reader's Workshop the students have been learning about the three ways to read a book. They learned you can read a book by reading the pictures, the words, or retelling the story. I modeled each of these ways with the same story this week and the students were able to go off and try with their independent book bags. I let students know that even if they do know how to read all of the words, reading the pictures is still something they can try during their reading time. I encouraged them to try more than one way on Friday and gave them a little magnifying glass with the three ways to read a book on it to refer to. 

 

 

 

Open House

You're visiting this because of my magnet, aren't you? :)

It was so nice to meet many of you last night! I apologize if I appeared to be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I just had to make sure I had a chance to visit with all the families. It was a fun night. Congrats to Anna for having the closest estimate of 150 for the candy jar! There were actually 133 hershey kisses in there.

Homework will begin soon with Math homework starting first and then we will move onto sight word homework and reading homework. More information and a specific letter addressing the homework expectations will come home soon.

I would like to start any literacy center volunteers as soon as next week so please return the forms if you are interested.

We have our apple picking field trip next Friday. I know that I will have some parents willing to chaperone. I need to find out how many I can bring and then will need to probably pull names out of a hat. (We will have another field trip in the spring as well.)

We are missing many parent handbook sign off pages (these you can print online from the plymouth schools website). Please return if you haven't done so.

Soon I will send home password/log on cards for our Everyday Math curriculum site. Students can log on at home and play games that focus on the skills we are teaching in class.

If you check this tonight, don't forget that tomorrow is rainbow day!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Writing Workshop and Other Random Happenings!

The students are getting introduced to our Writing Workshop routines. They are learning about choosing topics that have to do with their own lives, how to carry on independently as writers, and how to put effort into their illustrations. Students learned that "When you're done, you've just begun!". They know that they never need to say "I'm done!" because they can add to the pictures, add to the words, or start a new piece of writing. Here are some pictures of some charts we made related to Writing. We refer to these charts often and you will see many of them in my classroom!

 

Open House is Wednesday night from 6-7:30 (you do not need to be here this entire time). I look forward to meeting you!
A HUGE thank you to Nate and Patrick's moms for volunteering their time in response to my Help Wanted!
This Wednesday is a half day. We do not have snack on half days as our lunch is at 10:45.

Help Wanted!

Hi everyone!
Even though I am not starting in class volunteers for a couple of weeks, I am looking for someone to come in and put together some center materials for me. This would consist of cutting and laminating. If you are familiar with the laminator (it's easy to learn if not!) and could come in for 2 hours to work on this, that would be wonderful! Ideally I can get two parents and then it would make the job easier. If you are interested, please send me an email. (This week or early next week would be wonderful.)

Reader's Workshop

One of our first lessons in Reader's Workshop is to talk about what makes a good reader. As a class we came up with several ways in which we can be good readers. We also made connections today when students talked about their favorite book from home. They had a chance to talk about their books in partnerships as well.

Color Week!

Don't forget, if your child could try to wear something (anything!) red tomorrow that would be great! We will read some stories and do some activities related to this color, along with other colors this week. Thank you!

First Day Pictures!

Here are some of the student pictures that I took on the first day! What a great class we have!

 

If you did return the permission slip but your child is not on here it is because you did not check off the part stating you allow the pictures on here. If you would like you can just send me an email and I can add it in at anytime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Day!

It was so great to meet my new students! This day was a busy one and I am sure that the students are exhausted! I know that I am. Students were introduced to their new classroom and cubbies. They learned routines of how to put their backpacks away and got to look through their OWL binders and learn how we will use them. We read The Night Before First Grade and then started a class book about things the students did the night before to prepare. Each student came up to the chart and wrote their name and then I wrote what it was that they wanted to say. (Mrs. Morgan got her school bag ready.)This was a great way for the students to get to see each of their classmates and learn their names. Students also began a writing booklet that I will keep all year to show writing/illustration progress. We also read Wemberly Worried and then students charted how they felt about starting first grade with a sticky note.

 The next few weeks will really be a lot of practice of routine, routine, routine! Thank you for remembering a peanut free snack! I also have a student with a peanut allergy so this is extremely important.

Please return any forms back into the yellow folder as this will help me to access them faster in the morning. Any specific notes about dismissal should go into that plastic pouch. I appreciate all of your help. Again, do not hestitate to send me an email should you have a question!

Lastly, I encourage you to become a follower of this blog as you will receive an email to let you know when I have added a new blog post. Thank you so much for your support!

OWL Binders

OWL Binders

Each student will receive their very own organizational binder on the first day of school. OWL stands for Organized While Learning. This binder helps students establish good organizational skills in their first years of school. First Grade is a big step from Kindergarten and a very formative year.

What is an OWL binder? This binder is a binder put together by Mrs. Morgan that houses everything the students and parents need to stay informed about what is going on at school. There is a place for money, a place for words their way sorts, a place for sight word cards and more. I will send home an instruction sheet that lets you know more specifically about the parts to the OWL binder.

Please note that these are put together with my own time and money so it is very important to take good care of the OWL binders. If over time folders get ripped or something is ruined, it is your responsibility to replace them.

There should be no reason for any missing money, crumpled homework, or lost spelling lists. Everything has a spot in the OWL binders! (Students will be taught specifically about each spot in their binder and should be able to tell you!)