Writer's Checklist

We are just beginning month two of first grade and I think things are going pretty well.   In a previous entry I mentioned that I use a gift box when I am introducing new tools to my students.  I grabbed an empty box from recycling.  I really scored because the box I grabbed was a copy paper box.  I found some fun gift wrap and wrapped the top and bottom separately so I could use it again and again.

Today's big reveal was our Writer's Checklist and a dry erase marker to use with it!  The students and I went over the checklist that they will use.  I explained that they will be responsible for checking these aspects of their writing before turning in their work. 

Each student will check their writing for uppercase letters at the beginning of each sentence, neatness, punctuation, and spelling word wall words correctly.  As they check each item on the checklist, they use their dry erase marker to put a check in the box.  As the year progresses our checklist will change and become more sophisticated to include staying on topic, commas in a series, interesting word choices, etc.  For now, I want to help students build good habits which include checking their own work and reading what they have written. 

Making the checklist was easy.  I found pencil accents at Dollar Tree (I bet you're surprised I was there!) and glued them on the checklists which were mounted on colored paper.  Last, they were laminated so they would last and the children could use a dry erase marker.  One swipe of a dry paper towel and the markings are gone! 

I have a few things in the works that I will post soon! 

Enjoy!

Beginning of the Year!

Oh, dear friends, what a rush!  The past few weeks have been great and exhausting!  I started the school year with an apple unit because it's a lot of fun and eases the children into the first grade schedule.  Transitioning little ones from a kindergarten routine to the first grade routine can be tricky, but with lots of songs, movement breaks, and fun activities, they will make the transition a bit easier.  We read Gail Gibbons book Apples and had our own apple taste test.  We tasted Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and McIntosh apples.  Then we created a bar graph and a pictograph to represent our favorite apples.  Granny Smith won!  I saw this as an opportunity to bring my fabulous purple crock pot into school!  My mother bought it for me a few years ago.   Mom is a great gift giver!

We made super easy apple sauce, yummy!

The classroom smelled delicious!  Suddenly, our first grade classroom was so cozy and smelled like autumn.  Just wonderful!  It was super easy.  Here's what we did:

washed and cored 1/2 peck of McIntosh apples,

1/2 cup of sugar,

eyeballed the cinnamon and nutmeg,

1 cup of water. 

We layered the ingredients; half the apples, half the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, then the rest of the apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Lastly, we poured in the water.  We cooked it on high in the crock pot for 5 hours.  We did not peel the apples which gave the apple sauce a lovely color.  So scrumptious and smelled heavenly!  

While we were getting settled in, we completed a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting first grade and kindergarten.  The children shared similarities and differences and I scribed.  Great way to start using terms like similar and compare.  Also, a great way to find out what concerns or anxieties children have so I can reassure them.  Mostly, I discovered the children were really excited about first grade!

I just love fall in New England; apples, foliage, pumpkins, brisk weather, the smell of sharpened pencils and a whole new class to get to know!  Hope your start is going well!
Be well!

Construction Kids Hard At Word

I am thrilled to be back to school with the kiddos!  We had a really busy, productive first day!  I am so excited to work with this bunch!  I wanted to show you the bulletin board outside my first grade classroom. 

I always start the year with the "first grade is very different than kindergarten" talk.  Our kindergarten has rest time, which is not continued in first grade.  I know from experience that the children complain about rest time in kindergarten, but will complain that they are tired and need a nap in first grade.  While we are talking about all the hard work we will do in first grade, I bring out a large gift wrapped box.  I tell the students that if they are going to be working hard, they will need a few things to get started.  Then I open the gift box and pass out yellow plastic hard hats that have "I'm An Official First Grader" stickers on them.

Then I remind the students that every hard worker needs a tool box.  Now this is very different from kindergarten because the students have community tools in kindergarten.  In first grade they have their own tools kept in their own toolboxes!  This is very exciting to them!  We begin the year with a pencil, eraser, and small pack of crayons.  As the year progresses they will receive a glue stick, scissors, highlighter, small pack of post-its, and a black sharpie.  Each tool is introduced in the gift box for a bit of added suspense!  I love first grade!

Alrighty, that is it for today!  I have to get to bed early to be ready to do it all over again!  Aren't we the luckiest bunch!
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The Saga Continues

Perhaps you read my earlier post sharing my quest for Post-It Multicolor Word Strips.  I found one site that accepted a purchase for the word strips.  I was excited, but also guarded.  Today came the inevitable email.  The site is unable to fill my order because the product has been discontinued.  They say denial is the first step in healing.  I guess it is.  I have been in denial for a few days, but I have high-tailed it to anger.  How could they discontinue my Post-It Multicolor Word Strips?  Those tyrants!  Each time I see a post-it, I will remember all that Post-It Multicolor Word Strips did for me.  Well, we all have crosses to bear. 

Be well!

Post-It Multicolor Word Strips

I happily drove to Staples today to pick up one last purchase before the school year begins.  I was excited because I was about to buy 4 packs of Post-it Multicolor Word Strips.   My plan was to make my purchase, go to school and construct my job board to post here tonight.  As I cheerfully jaunted through Staples I stopped to pick up a sparkly purple 3 ring binder for my lesson plans and a pack of Crayola thick markers ($1.).  I was thrilled to get to the teachers' aisle to get my word strips.  Then, hmmm, something was amiss.  Where are my word strips?  I looked and looked and then I looked again.  No word strips?  Well, no need to panic; they just moved them.  I walked with purpose to the service desk and asked for my precious Post-It Multicolor Word Strips.  The woman there was more than happy to go look in the teachers' aisle with me.  I followed her there and she took a cursory look.  Then she said, "Oh, right.  We moved them for clearance."  She started off to another area of the store and I took off after her.  When we arrived she said, "Nope, I guess we're out."  I asked, "When will you get a delivery."  Now, hold onto your socks, she said, "We aren't." 

"What?" I cried, but she did not relent in spewing her hateful message. 

"We aren't carrying them anymore,"  she said. 

I tried to compose myself as quickly as possible and left the store.  I said to myself, "It's okay.  I can go online and get some sent right to my house.  That will be perfect.  My wonderful Post-It Multicolor Word Strips will come right to my door."  

Now, really, this is what kept me going today.  Finally at 3:00 I had a moment to go online and order the word strips.  Okay, bravery is needed here.  The 3-M company is not making them anymore.  (They do make the white ones but they are not very interesting!)  I wrote a desperate plea to them, but honestly, I don't hold much hope.  Thank you, friends for letting me tell my tale of woe.  What will a year be like with out Post-It Multicolor Word Strips?  Perhaps I will have to use the white ones.  Ugh.

Good Night, Irene

Well, like Elvis, Irene has left the building.  In her wake Western Massachusetts has some rising, raging rivers (love the alliteration). 

I don't know if I mentioned that my grandmother's name was Irene.  Of course, to me she was Nana.  My mother and I have been joking that my Nana would have loved a terrifying hurricane sharing her name! 

I am off to put the finishing touches on my classroom tomorrow before my little ones join me on Thursday!  Hope you have  weathered the storm well! 

Hmmm...

Well, the rain has diminished to a drizzle.  There is not much wind at all.  Irene is near/over Pittsfield at this point.  I'm not sure what the impact will be here.  Yesterday the reports indicated it would be quite close to my town, but that changed in the early, early morning.  Anyway, I still have electricity and will check in periodically.  Thoughts and prayers with those who are struggling with this storm!