Happy Halloween!

Well...Halloween is off to a different start this year at HR. We have postponed our Field Day/Halloween Fun until Friday since we were off Monday & Tuesday because of Hurricane Sandy! We kept those affected by the storm in our thoughts and prayers today and hope you will do the same.

 

We had a to play a bit of catch up today since we had 2 unexpected "hurricane" days! It is always nice to sleep in but I love routine and was happy to see my 21 smiling faces this morning!

 

 

Please be sure to check Edline for the weekly letter! The children will be bringing home a "rainbow words" spelling practice sheet. The spelling words were also included in an email sent out earlier today. The spelling test will be on Monday morning!

 

 

Today, we started to discuss Nouns! To introduce the kids to nouns, we watched the SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK video. Please feel free to view this video. It is a catchy tune that reminds the kids that a Noun is a person, place, or thing! :)

 

Be sure to check back next week for Field Day/Halloween Fun pictures! :)

 

 

Again, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

There is NO HOMEWORK tonight!

Enjoy Trick or Treating!

BE SAFE!

 

Don't forget my favorite candy! :)

 

 



S-P-I-R-I-T SPIRIT!! :)

We've got spirit...YES WE DO!

We've got spirit...HOW BOUT YOU?

 

It is spirit week here at HR! The kids have been having a blast all week with the daily themes.

 

There are a lot of great pictures (below) from this week. See the kids in their theme outfits, out at recess, and during center time/partner work!

 

Hope to see everyone at HOMECOMING tonight!

 

GO CARDINALS! :)

 

 

I had to be next to the Yankee Fans! :)

GO YANKEES! :)

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER...already??

As I wrote the title of this post...I had to look again! Can it really be October already?? There are days that I feel we started the school year  months ago but most of the time, I feel like the kids just walked in the door.

 

On Friday, we wrapped up the month of September (and our 24th day of school) and I am so pleased with how well the kids have adjusted. As mentioned in a previous post, the first three weeks consisted of a lot of kindergarten review, routines, and WELCOME to 1st grade things! :) Today, we started our 3rd week of our hard back reader. The first week (Pam & Sam) we took really slow. There was a lot of whole group instruction. The kids rotated around center activities as I monitored the class progress and finished up some beginning of the year assessments. Last week, we went for it! I introduced all skills as a whole group on Monday. Tuesday-Thursday we worked in our small reading groups & centers. We have 4 rotations, which is perfect for my reading block. The kids did AWESOME! They needed very few reminders as to what was going on during center time. I was so happy with them! So again, today starts week 3 and the kids are already asking if they get to do centers again! This week, the kids will be working at a science/spelling center! We will be focusing on our spelling words, high frequency words, statements, and sequencing in small groups!

 

Each month, we create a craft project to hang from my ceiling. Last month, we created an apple person art project. This month is one of my favorites! The kids are creating BOO socks. I will post pictures this week once they are hanging up! For now, you can see pictures of the kids working on their BOO socks. I even have some video of the kids singing along with our Bible songs! (Most didn't know that I was recording but a few caught on!) I

t is one of the cutest things! :)

 

 

Each month, I decorate our classroom door with the kids pictures!

This month, "1A is BOO'TIFUL!"

 

 

For those that can't make it into the building we have 2 different things hanging in the hall. The kids still have their creation posters in the hall. On Thursday, the kids created a step by step drawing of Johnny Appleseed.  They look awesome! :)

 

 

Have a great Monday! :)

 



 

Finally...we are getting back to normal! :)

Well...this year was definitely off to a different start than other school years! :) As I mentioned in my previous post, we haven't had AC since the start of the 2012-2013 school year. The kids have been such troopers! We worked in our classroom throughout the AM while it was still cool. In the afternoon, we shuffled around the school building to open classrooms to try and stay a little cooler. This past week, we were out of our classroom for 2 whole days. On Wednesday, I set up classroom in the music portable. Thank GOD Ms. B is amazing and allowed us to be in her classroom all day. On Thursday, I created a classroom in the auditorium. I wish I took a picture because our make shift classroom wasn't too shabby! :) My coworkers have been AMAZING: offering their rooms, combining classes to give us a break from the heat, and loaning items for my make shift classrooms! I truly have the greatest coworkers! :)

 

Again, it has been amazing to watch how my kiddos have been able to work through all this craziness!! Moving up from kindergarten to first grade is a transition in itself. Throw all the other craziness and I was expecting a zoo. The kiddos suprised me and were SO awesome! :)

 

So, apologies about my lack of posts since the first grade year has started. With being shuffled around, the last thing on my mind was the blog! We have finished out Start Smart book and have now entered into our hardback reader! The kids are loving their "big kid" books! Next week, be on the look out for pictures of the kids in action and updates as to what is going on in 1A! :)

 

Thanks again for all the CONGRATS!

I am happy to share that I am expecting a baby BOY this February!! :)

 

Take a look at some of the class name suggestions:

 

 

 

 

Off to a great start...

Well...the first grade year is off to a great start! Last week, I welcomed 21 smiling kiddos into my classroom. It is so much fun to see how much they have grown since Kindergarten. I was worried the kids wouldn't be smiling for long because in my classsroom...we are dealing with a little "situation!" My classroom is the ONLY classroom with a broken AC unit. It is quite hot in here! It is noisy too since I have 2 portable AC units, 3 fans, and 2 dehumidifiers running! The kids (and myself) are being real troopers as they are trying to adjust to a new classroom, new year, new desks, etc. We are being shuffled around the building to find various cool spots. Thankfully, I work with AWESOME people who have welcomed my class with open arms to get a break from the hot room. We decided that 1A is offering up any complaints we might have to Jesus! :)

 

So...back to the beginning of the year! The kids have been working very hard reviewing some Kindergarten work and taking various assessments. We have been practicing various letters (both sounds and handwriting). We are also reviewing different sight words. Here is a list of the words we have covered so far in 1st grade:

 

I                  can                     we                      like

see                  the                   go                      to 

and                  have                  a                     he 

is                 she             and           said            are

 

Be sure to practice these words at home. Also, re-read the mini books that come home. The sight words are used throughout the mini books!

These are our "Chester the Raccoon" art projects. We always read

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn during the first few days of school.

The children wrote about something they

wanted to learn this school year.

The kids worked in groups to create their memories

of the "first week of first grade" posters.

 

 

I will begin posting more pictures next week once I receive all blog permission slips from the parents. Be sure to check back for work samples or the kids in action! :)

 

 Below you will find some new additions to my classroom.

 

 Welcome Door...of course...have to represent NKOTB in some way!

Yes, if you are new to my blog...I still LOVE New Kids on the Block! :)

Sorry! HAHA!

 This is  my new classroom wreath. My mom and I made it over the summer!

 Thank you Pinterest for the idea!

Here is another Pinterest idea. These are the most common parts of the day that I am asked about.

 I decided to set up these clocks so that I can direct the kids to look at the classroom clock!

They will definitely be more helpful once we review time.

  

 

 

Now...on to planning for Back to School Night!

 

 

2012-2013 Sneak a Peek

Well...another sneak a peek is over! Today, I met my newest batch of first graders. I am so excited for another school year to get started. There will be lots of fun things this coming year. Be sure to signup for Edline because all important information, weekly letters, spelling lists, & homework will be posted on my class homepage! If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!

 

 Welcome to 1A! :)

Happy Summer!

After some much needed R&R, I am now getting myself back into school mode. Summer has been great so far. I decided not to work this summer, for the first time since I started teaching. There have been plenty of LAZY days but I have filled my time reading, catching up with friends, and visiting family in Buffalo. I still have one more trip home planned and my main summer event happens to be the last weekend of my summer vacation. It'll be bittersweet knowing summer is ending but I am counting down until that weekend where I will FINALLY meet NKOTB/see TONS of other amazing artists! I will share my highly anticipated summer event when I return! So, the wheels are turning and I am beginning to hunt around for some new ideas...with the help of Pinterest, of course! Every year I try to tweak things from the year before, throw out what didn't work, or pull out activities that were a hit! I am looking forward to meeting my new batch of kiddos! Since we have 2 first grade classes, it is mostly a surprise as to which children will be in my class. I can't wait to get back into the classroom, get things set up, & organized. If you know me...you KNOW I am highly OCD and LOVE to be organized and ahead of the game! Not knowing my students is a planners nightmare because I can't quite put the finishing touches on things! I hope summer is treating you well! :) Back to the grind...