First Grade News: It's ALL GOOD in 1st Grade!!!

What an amazing group of 1st graders we have here!!!

We worked soooo hard this week and accomplished a lot! Everyone is settling in very nicely to our routine and it is showing with the beautiful work they are turning in and the respectful, caring actions we have seen. So, take a look below at all this wonderfulness going on in our class and be PROUD, VERY PROUD of your awesome first grader!

In math this week we introduced number line math and are reviewing equations. Mrs. Waller read "Ready Set Hop". This book shows how frogs hop from one rock to another to solve math equations. Then, the children were given a froggie number line to use to hop from one number to another while adding numbers together. Students will use these number lines throughout the year when they need something to help them with addition and subtraction. We also introduced problem solving using word problems. The children were introduced to a strategy called "logical reasoning". They identified how to look for clues and use their common sense thinking to help them solve a mathematical word problem.

Carter using the froggie number line to solve an equation on the white board.

Awesome addition solvers using the number line!

Moving froggie from one number to another to show the sum.

We used the human number line to show equations as well. Mrs. Waller gave an equation and 2 students had to hop from one number to the other and then end on the sum. The other children then showed the sum on their froggie number lines.

Elizabeth is using dice in a bottle to shake and add the 2 numbers together to find the sum.

In social studies Ms. Lorfing introduced a Venn Diagram to the children. A Venn Diagram is a graphic organizer used to show how 2 things are alike and different. We used the hula hoops to compare and contrast kindergarten and first grade. We couldn't believe how many things they already know about first grade! Then, we read a book called, "We are All Alike, We are All Different". After that, the children were paired up and asked to do their own Venn Diagrams comparing and contrasting themselves. Everyone agreed that it is important to have differences and if we didn't the world would be a pretty boring place to be! We had fun discovering all the wonderful things that made us different in our own class.

Jake and Carter working together on their Venn Diagrams

Look at this great team work! Discussing similarities and differences.

After brainstorming all the ways our class is important, the 4 ways pictured above were the MOST important, voted on by the children. Mrs. Waller and Ms. Lorfing couldn't agree more!!

Mrs. Waller read, "Eek, There's A Mouse in the House!" a book about rhyming.

After hearing a rhyming story students read words and categorized them in the correct group according to their rhyming sounds.

During our language arts block we introduced tic-tac-toe boards. We started this week with 2 boards: word work and writing. On each board there are 6 different squares with activities to complete. One square is a "must do" activity. Once this is completed the children move on to the others of their choice. It is NOT required that they finish all 6 squares each day as long as the work being completed is their BEST QUALITY work and they are staying on task throughout the morning. These boards are an excellent way for us as teachers to differentiate learning. It also gives the children opportunities to make choices in their learning which keeps their interest up and improves productivity.

Holden and Naomi put all the opposites card puzzles together. Great team work!!

Listening center: Oscar and Elizabeth reading "Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books".

Lamar is making short a words using magnetic letters.

DeLano is working in his "Myself, Others and a Caring Community" theme notebook.

In hands on science this week we learned about attributes. Each class had the chance to go outside and find things from nature to put into a bag. Once inside, everyone sorted the items into categories according to their Attributes. Some of these included smooth, rough, pointy, tiny, and light.