Math Centers - Giving time to work with numbers

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. 

Albert Einstein
 Math Centers is the time when children are invited to work on varying math games. Students use this time to practice math skills and concepts. These skills may include: Math fact fluency (sorting - equal to, less than or greater than 10); (Number sprints- How many math facts in a minute?); Addition/subtraction bingo; Addition facts; Reflex Math (computer); Combo's of numbers from 5 to 10; and "Start with Get To" using a number line. Giving students time to work with numbers helps greatly in acquiring the Number Sense they need for a strong foundation. This is also a time when children pulled for small group instruction either on remediation and/or enrichment activities.

 Is the equation more than, less than, or equal to 10?

 Plus or minus one bingo.

 Number combinations - finding 10.

Number sprints - how many in a minute?  Can you improve on your next game?

Start with - get to...using a number line.

Making Writing Special

With space at a premium in our classroom, we felt it very important to devote one small round table for writing supplies. At this table, students can find anything they may need to "fancy up" their writing. There are sharpened colored pencils, editing pens, a date stamp, stapler, tape, editing strips, post it notes, crayons and freshly run writing booklets for all of our young authors. With such an inviting table, who wouldn't want to be writing during Writer's Workshop...or for any other subject during the day!

Literacy Centers Make It All Come Together

Our weekly hands on experiences with letters, words, digraphs and punctuation take the Skills Block lessons from the week full circle. Children use this time to make sense of all that was taught throughout the week. It is time when they get to share what they have learned with each other and have the opportunity to show us what they now understand..

 In this center, students are recognizing capital letters and ending punctuation by trying to rewrite the sentence correctly.

More practice with digraphs (sh, wh, th and ch).

Partner Reading is Everyone's Favorite

Partner reading is when children are invited to share their books with a friend.  Students are paired up with a child who can read on the same general level. There are a few rules for a successful partner reading session. They have to be sitting side by side (or if on the floor - knee to knee) . They can take turns reading a page or one person can read a book, then the other.  They are there to support each other on their reading journey. Asking questions is very important and serves as a great way to get conversations started about the books that are read. For example, questions that start with "Why do you think..?"; "What is happening ...?"; "Do you think the characters...?" may be used. It is also a time to make predictions, learn new vocabulary and become a more fluent reader. Partner reading is a time to share new learning through the simple pleasure of reading a book with a friend.

Writer's Museum - Rounding the First Bend

 

Today we celebrated as writers for completing the first bend in our "Small Moments" Lucy Calkins' writing series. Children were invited to put their best piece of writing on top of their folder at their table so that other students could admire their work. They moved around in our "Writing Museum" and read other students work. Afterwards, we came back as a group and listed what we noticed about the writing and what they want to bring back and use in their pieces. It was the perfect time to reflect and grow in our writing community.

Students were surprised to see how much each has grown as a writer since the first day of school.

By reading other children's writing, students got lots of ideas on how to make their writing even better.

Class Promise - Our classroom rules

Our Class Promise is very important in how our classroom runs. It is recited every day so that the children know what is expected of them. It is also important that they help create the promise so that they have ownership in it. They know that if they follow these rules, they will be a good school citizen. Each child was invited to be their favorite Wizard of Oz character so we have Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Lion represented. What a great way to have classroom rules displayed and followed.

Science Notebooks/Journals

 Science notebooks are frequently used to record student thoughts and discoveries in Science.The lessons of  "What is a Scientist?" and "What do Scientists look like?" were brainstormed with the class. They soon found out that a scientist looks just like do and a scientist is each one them.  In their notebooks, they attached a smock and added various tools and instruments.  Inside the pocket, they wrote what a scientist can do and what tools a scientist uses. 

"I can investigate."  "I can make volcanoes."
"I use a ruler."     "I use goggles."

Welcome Back Bulletin Board

 Our "Welcome Back" bulletin board boasts the Wizard of Oz characters, a hot air balloon, and welcome back messages to each of our students. Thanks to Kim (Libby's mom) for the great dolls and hot air balloon. It is Oz-some indeed!!

First Day Art Work

What is first grade without some art work?  Children chose the character from "The Wizard of Oz" that they wanted to make. These are hanging in our classroom for all to enjoy. What an Oz-some job!!

First Day of First Grade 2014

This is the first day of First Grade and how happy everyone is to be back with old friends and meeting new ones.  We started the day with a word search but it was mostly about talking about their summer and getting to know each other.

 Seems like yesterday they were Kindergarten students. Look how grown up and relaxed they are ...there is no place like home!!

 What a difference a year makes!!
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There was way more to come on this special first day of first grade.  At 9:30, we were invited to the playground for a BIG surprise. Mrs Phillips (our principal) arranged for a hot air balloon for all the students to see. It was amazing and something they are still talking about...what a great first day!!

 Waiting for the man to get to the hot air balloon.

 It was a little hot and sunny.

Mrs. Phillips and Dorothy in the hot air balloon!  It was a great first day!!

Almost Time to Follow the Yellow Brick Road

The entryway to school will look a little bit different this year. Our theme is evident in this picture because there is "No Place Like Home" when it comes to Chets Creek!  We can't wait to see and feel the children's excitement as they enter school on the first day of first grade.  We have been busy this week preparing the classroom for Monday and all the days that ahead. It will be another adventure into learning and growing with lots of awesome memories! So get ready to click your heels into another great year!!

The "Wonderful Land of Chets" New Theme 2014-2015

In a week, the children will return to school with their new backpacks, sneakers, and lunch boxes. Our Kindergarten students are coming back as big "First Graders" ready to take on the challenges of a new school year. Our theme this year is "There's No Place Like Home" because there really is no place like our school. The children will be welcomed back with a school lobby that looks like something out of a movie set. The Wonderful Land of Chets will be preparing all this week for a grand "welcome back" celebration and a year full of wonder, delight, learning and of course, fun...because there is no place like Chets!

Chets Creek Elementary - No Place Like Home 14-15 from Once Upon a Teacher on Vimeo.

Show & Tell - Closing out a great year

 Everyone loved bringing in a prized possession and sharing it with the class today.  We had baseballs, trophies, pictures, and toys that were shared with the class. We even had "B" dressed as her favorite American Doll...adorable!!

A Visit from Miss River City

 This week we had a visit from Miss River City (Jacksonville is called "The River City" and she read one of her favorite books to the class "I Knew You Could".

 The children could not take their eyes off of Miss River City and our very own "River City Princess" who accompanies Miss River City to various pageants and events.

"K" did not know that she would be getting crowned today by Miss River City and was very happy and surprised.

P.E. is Teamwork

The children had loads of fun in P.E. stacking cups by working together.  The standard (PE.K.R.5.1) says to "Identify ways to cooperate with a partner during physical activity."  Looks like they had a lot of fun utilizing teamwork...go girls!!

Work Over Time Bulletin Board 2013-2014

At the end of every school year, we are invited to celebrate student achievement by doing a "Work Over Time" bulletin board. This board showcases children's academic development from the beginning of the school year until the end.  On this board, Math is on the top limb with "J." writing his numbers in September (1-12), in January working on a 4-part math journal, and by the end of April, completing word problems. The bottom limb represents "L" drawing pictures coming into Kindergarten, writing a "How To" in November, and then writing a persuasive piece by the end of April.  It is amazing to see the growth in these and all of our students throughout the year.  With Kindergarten quickly coming to an end, the growth in First Grade will be even more amazing.  Time really does fly when you are having fun!!

Writers Learning the Power of their Words

 For the past month, students have been very busy looking around their school and the world around them and trying to make it a better place. They have learned how powerful their words are when they write them in letters,  signs and petitions. They have learned how they can convince people when they see a problem by telling their opinion with a story, giving lots of reasons for why they feel a certain way, giving a "fix-it" idea, being polite, including important information and writing a  "How To" piece to help them explain their solution. (These are lessons from "Persuasive Writing of All Kinds-Lucy Calkins".) The following is a completed letter that a child wrote to his brother. He explained his thoughts before he wrote the letter. EZ wrote that he was at a golf tournament this weekend and noticed a problem. People were putting recyclable trash into the regular trash can. He wrote the following letter to his little brother:

 May 12th, 2014

Dear Chi,
How are you? I am kind of proud for you throwing your trash away so it is not on the ground but I don't...

 ...like that it is in the trash can because it takes 100 years to dispose (decompose) and my recycling (reasons) are:  1) I do not want the world to be stinky. 2) I want my kids to be happy.  3) The world looks better with recycling. 

"Let's Recycle"
I hope this helps you recycle.
1) First find a recycling can.
2) Next put the recycling in the recycling can.
3) Finally fill the recycling can.
There - you have recycled.
Love EZ
Thanks EZ -- this helps us all to remember to recycle to preserve the Earth for future generations.

Firefighters Visit

We had a surprise visit from a very special firefighter this week who just happens to have his daughter in our class. Piper's dad surprised us with two of his firemen friends and taught the class about fire safety.  They brought the fire truck and the students had the opportunity to see it up close and walk through the front of the truck. It was a great experience for children to learn about this first hand.  Thank you Robert and fellow firefighters for your visit.

Walking through the huge fire engine truck.

Dressing in fire gear for children to see what they may look like so they won't be afraid if they are ever in a fire.

Spring Egg Hunt 2014

 A few weeks ago we had our Spring egg hunt and it was so much fun for our kindergarten students. Parents were busy hiding over 650 eggs...not an easy task but so worth it.

There was a lot of concentration counting their eggs.

It was a very windy day but that didn't stop our egg hunters.

The eggs were hid all over the softball field.

Looking for some treasures inside of each egg.