No joke today - computer issues ...

Today, after the usual morning goings-on, we had Reader’s Workshop.  Today we started by learning about our newest Author Study subject and Writing Mentor, Vera B. Williams.  Ask your child and see if they can remember any facts about her!  We also talked about a couple more reading strategies for figuring out tricky words – using pictures clues and looking for a word inside a tricky words (like seeing the words ‘sun’ and ‘glass’ inside ‘sunglasses’).  As the kids were off reading independently, they practiced using those strategies.  Our end-of-workshop share was each child telling about the strategy that they used the most as they were reading.

After reading, it was time for Writer’s Workshop.  Today we looked at one student’s writing who did a really nice job yesterday of organizing his writing of a small moment in several pages – and then all of the kids went off to write their own small moments, stretched across 4 or more pages.  At the end, we shared the last thing that each writer added to his/her story today.

After writing, it was time to head down for lunch and out for recess.  When we got back up to our classroom, we read some more of The Wind in the Willows – we got so close to the end that it was pretty disappointing to have to stop to go to gym! But stop we did, and went back downstairs for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson.

When we got back up to the room, we read more of The Wind in the Willows – and finished the book.  For those of you who remember the ending, it’s a bit violent, so I did some judicious editing and “re-wording” (okay, I flat-out changed some of it).  It was really fun to read a longer chapter book with the kids.

After we finished our book, we moved directly to Science Lab.  We had an experiment today that needed a bit more time, so we borrowed it from Math Workshop.  Our young scientists were looking at the same set of rocks as yesterday, and trying to ‘discover’ as much as they could, and today we also added in the dimension of making scientific observations, with both words and pictures.  Our goal was to be as precise in describing the rocks as possible.  We reviewed some good “rock vocabulary” for them to use in the written descriptions, and we also talked about how scientists do “scientific drawings,” which strive to be as accurate as possible.  They really took it to heart, with many of them testing colors and mixes of colors on scratch paper to make sure that they had it just right.  Really fun science!

After that, it was time to pack up and head home!

Still trying

I also wanted to post that I am still trying to get the photos and video off of the camera (technological issues with my computer) to put up some images of the Writer's Celebration that we had last Friday.  Hopefully I'll be able to do it soon!

What kind of phone does the ocean have?

Another great day in Room 240!

After out usual morning festivities, we had Reader's Workshop.  Today the mini-lesson focused upon a strategy that readers use to figure out tricky words that we come across.  We have already talked about sounding out words (we use the stretching method – drawing out the sounds as they sweep their finger across the words – as opposed to using short, choppy sounds; it works better for most kids).  Today we practiced using context clues (the words around the tricky word) to figure out what the meaning is.  When the kids went off to do their independent reading for the day, they had books that were purposely a little bit too hard for them, and they had to practice using the strategy to figure out the words that they did not know.  At our end-of-workshop share, each child told about the strategy/ies that they used today in their reading to figure out tricky words.

After reading, we moved on to Writer’s Workshop.  I taught the kids about how authors like them “zoom in” on a small moment that is a part of a larger event to write about, and then they take that small moment and stretch is out with great details (like Vera B. Williams does in A Chair for My Mother).  All of them went off to practice zooming and stretching.  I also showed them a series of slides that illustrates the “zooming in” principle.  It’s cool – zooming in on planer Earth from space.  Check it out here, if you like.

After writing, we went to lunch and recess, and then back up to our room for more of The Wind and the Willows.  After a chapter, we headed upstairs for art class with Mr. Fairbanks.

When we got back down to our room, we had Math Workshop.  We worked on solving math problems with addition – using number bonds and number sentences.  The kids are really starting to get the concept of addition down – pretty soon we’ll be on to subtraction!

After math, we had Science Lab.  Our young scientists today started experiments with rocks – they had a collection of six rocks, a magnifying glass, and black and white paper and they had to ‘discover’ as much about those rocks as they could.  They made some really interesting discoveries – ask them about the different senses they used (every one except for taste…J) and what they found out (as well as the conclusions that they drew!)

After clean up it was time to pack up and head home!

What is the longest word in the world?

You may have noticed the title above - each day during Morning Meeting, we read the Morning MEssage, which I write on the board for the kids to read as they come in.It always includes a joke (some better than others, of course).  I'll try to remember to put the joke in the title of the post each day - ask your child for the answer when they get home!

After Morning Work Time and Morning Meeting today, we had Reader's Workshop.  During Reader’s Workshop today our piece of shared reading was the ‘poem’ “Purple People Eaters.”  Yes, the same one that you remember your parents playing on a vinyl record.  We read it, talked about how it was organized (in verses) and then I had the kids listen to it (if you want to hear it and relive old memories, here’s a website that has it for free).  We also began our first Author Study in earnest – Vera B. Williams.  After the kids had Independent Reading time, we gathered for our end-of-workshop share, in which the kids all talked about how the books that they read were organized (in pages, chapters, verses, etc.), and also they gave themselves a rating of how they did during reading time (1= ‘uh-oh’ day; 3 = ‘pretty good’ day; 5 = ‘superstar 5’ day).

After reading, we went on to Writer’s Workshop.  We began our second writing unit of the year today – it is a personal narrative unit, in which the kids will be writing what we call “small moments.”  Today I taught them how authors take a small moment (part of a larger event) and stretch it across pages to make it a book.  We looked specifically at a couple of pages from our friend Vera’s (Vera B. Williams, that is) book A Chair for my Mother that uses lovely details and descriptions. The kids went out to try to write their own small moments like Vera did.  Once again, great stories coming out of these writers!

After writing, we headed down to the lunchroom and then out to recess.  After recess, we went back up to our room for Read Aloud – another chapter of The Wind in the Willows – Mr. Toad makes it back home – or does he?  Ask your child all about it!  After Read Aloud, it was down the hall for Media with Mrs. Hennen.

When we got back to our room, we had Math Workshop.  Today the kids made connections between the number bonds that we have been studying and the ten frames that we have also been using.  The pages that they worked on will be coming home tomorrow.

After Math, we moved on to Science Lab.  Today we started a new unit (quite a day for new units, I guess) – Pebbles, Sand, and Silt.  Mainly, it’s an Earth Science unit, with a focus on geology.  We’ll start some cool experiments tomorrow.  For today we made a class list of all of the things that we already know about rocks, and started to think about big questions that we would like to answer about rocks.

After all of that, it was time to pack up and head home!

After our Morning Work Time and Morning Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop.  Today we talked about how I will be running reading groups during the work time in Reader's Workshop - while some kids are working on independent reading, buddy reading, or the Listening Center, I will be pulling others to work in small groups with me.  We also began our first Author Study of the year - we will be studying Vera B. Williams to begin.  She will also be one of our writing mentors throughout the year.  We read one of Vera's more famous books, A Chair for my Mother.  We'll start to analyze it tomorrow.

After reading, we moved on to writing.  Today we finished wrapping up our first writing unit.  The kids sorted through their writing, did a little organization, and then decorated a folder to take it all home in.  We ran out of time, so we had to continue writing in the afternoon.  Before we knew it, it was time to head down for lunch and out for recess.  When we got back up to our room, we read another chapter in The Wind in the Willows (you'll be happy to know that Mr. Toad got out of prison today).  After a chapter, it was time for us to head back downstairs to the gym for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson.

When we got back up to our classroom, we finished up our writing - the kids each wrote a little bit about why they chose the piece that they did to publish.  This will get them thinking, hopefully, a little deeper about themselves as writers.  They also selected a piece for me to store in my files for a middle- and end-of-year comparison.  They will bring home their folders full of their writing tomorrow.

After writing (part deux), we headed down to the computer lab for Math Workshop.  The kids worked on a number of math games on the computer.  They worked off this website - if you're interested and/or would like them to practice some more at home, here's the link:  http://comp240.blogspot.com/

After our time in the lab, it was time to pack up and head home!

We had kind of a goofy morning - I managed to convince the picture-taking people to take our pictures first thing in the morning, as opposed to the end of the day, which is when we were signed up (which would have been after lunch, recess, and gym).  So we headed down to get our class picture and individual pictures taken in the Atrium.  When we got back up to our room, we had an abbreviated morning meeting, and Reader's Workshop.  Today in reading we continued our discussion of genre, and all of our kids got to think about and talk about their favorite genres of books to read.  We read a book from one of my favorite genres, mysteries - it was from the High Rise Private Eyes series by Cynthia Rylant.  We read #7, which is The Case of the Baffled Bear.

After reading, we moved on to Writer's Workshop.  This was our last day of fixing and fancying - the kids are ready to read their stories to each other tomorrow at our Writer's Celebration (I'l try to post pics tomorrow afternoon).  The stories are really coming along - they, as you all well know, have plenty of stories to tell!

After writing, we went down to the cafeteria for lunch, and then back up to the room for indoor recess (this rain has got to stop at some point, right?).  When we got indoor recess all cleaned up, we read another chapter in The Wind in the Willows, in which we realized the gruff old badger isn't so gruff at all...

When we finished Read Aloud, we went back downstairs to the gym for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson.  

After we got back up to our room, we had Math Workshop.  We are still working on what we call "missing addend" problems in addition (like 5+__=9).  Today we used a number line to help our kids visualize the hopping up to a number from another number.  Then we played a game in which they worked in partners with 6 cubes, and one partner hid some of the six, and the other had to figure out how many they had hidden by looking at how many were left.  our end-of-workshop share was about the strategies that they used to solve the problems.

After math, we worked on Social Studies.  We had a nice discussion about ways that first graders are share and take turns at school, and then each kid wrote and illustrated pages in a book about sharing and taking turns (putting examples from school on each page).

After all of that, it was time to pack up and head home!

Here's how our super day in Room 240 shook out:

Like usual, we had Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting (I may just skip these two things tomorrow because we do them every day and I'm getting a little tired of typing them all the time J). After that, it was time for Reader’s Workshop. Today the mini-lesson was on the long /e/ sound versus the short /e/ sound. Although our kids already know the sounds, we made lists of words that have each so that we could start to ‘discover’ why some es make a long sound (like the e in keep) or a short e sound (like the e in bed). Our kids went off to read independently from their Just-Right books, with the task to find a few words with the long /e/ sound and a few words with the short /e/ sound. When we gathered for our end-of-workshop share, we added the words that our kids found to our lists, and tomorrow we will try to find some rules for knowing whether an e makes a long or short sound (yes, there are rules, actually, but nearly as many exceptions as not – love English!)

After writing, we moved on to Writer’s Workshop. Today we extended the mini-lesson about “Fixing and Fancying” our writing. I showed the kids that authors (such as Don Freeman, Richard not-so-Scarry, and Mo Willems, not mention themselves) always make sure that what is in their pictures is also in their words, and what is in their words is also in their pictures. Our young writers went off to write and add to their stories that they have selected to publish. At our end-of-workshop share, each kid shared how they added to their piece.

After writing, we headed on down to the lunchroom to eat, and then out for recess. When we got back up to our room, we read another chapter of The Wind in the Willows. One thing that I am encouraging our kids to try is to make a “mind movie” in their heads as I am reading – I don’t show them the pictures until after I have read the chapter, in an attempt to get them to more fully immerse themselves in the text. After Read Aloud, it was up to the art room for class with Mr. Fairbanks.

When we got back to our classroom, we had Math Workshop. Today we played a game called “Roll and Record” – ask your child all about what s/he and his/her partner did! After work time, we talked about, and our kids shared the strategies that they used during the game.

After math, we had a combo platter of a period – Science Lab and Social Studies. We observed our monarch caterpillars – at least one of them is very ready for a chrysalis. We also began a social studies project of making a “Nice Book” – an illustrated book of ways that first graders can be nice to each other at school. We came up woith a ton of ideas, and tomorrow we will start on the books.

After all of that (whew!), it was time to clean up, pack up, and head home!

Another great day in Room 240 - here's how it went down:

Like usual, after Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop. Today we talked about a reading strategy that the kids can use as they are reading - looking for a pattern in the book. For instance, they can look for sentences, phrases, or words that are repeated throughout the book to help them read more easily. We also spent some more time talking about genre, and the kids picked their favorite genre out of several, and then talked abut why they chose that genre. We also had reading time, of course - and I had a nice chance to have reading conferences with several of the kids.

After reading, it was on to Writer's Workshop. Today I taught the kids about "Fixing and Fancying" their writing - ask them about the clothes I put on to demonstrate - I actually got a round of spontaneous applause!! When they went off to write, their job was to add to their stories by fixing and fancying - adding details and words. We also practiced how our Writer's Celebration (planned for Friday) will go. [The celebration is low-key, since we're just getting started - only an intimate gathering of first graders and one teacher. They will get progressively bigger and more public as the year goes on.] The end-of-workshop share today was for each writer to share the greatest single word that they wrote in their story. As you can imagine, there were some really, really interesting words!

After writing, we were off to lunch and recess, and then back up to our room for Read Aloud. We read chapters 2 and 3 of The Wind in the Willows (as we left off, our friend Mole is in trouble in the Wild Wood...). After chapter 3, we ambled down the hall to the Media Center for class with Mrs. Hennen.

When we got back from Media, we had Math Workshop, in which we worked more in number bonds, trying to figure out a missing addend in an addition problem (i.e. If we have 7 apples altogether, and 5 of them are green, how many are red?). We wrapped up with special attention to problems with a sum of 10, since this is the foundation of much of the math that we will be doing for the rest of the year.

After math, we had Social Studies. The theme of this unit is Cooperation, so today the kids did an activity in which they had to work in partners to draw a picture - the catch was, though, that they had to both have their hands on the pencil, each have an idea of what to draw, but not talk to each other at all. After that, the same partners drew another picture, but this time they talked beforehand and agreed what they would draw. We had a nice discussion afterward about how this cooperation and conversation is something that we can do all day long, and that will make our classroom a much nicer place to be.

At the end of the day, we went outside for the last 10 minutes - it is a gorgeous day!

Here the low-down on another great day in room 240:

After Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop. Today the focus was on the concept of genre - the kids learned that genre means the kind of book that they are reading. We looked at several examples, and made a list of genres that we often see in first grade (ini no particular order), such as adventure, non-fiction, science, funny books, fiction, fairy tales, mystery, poetry, and biography. After the kids had a chance to do both independent and buddy reading, we gathered for the closing share, in which they each shared their favorite book from their bookbag and the genre to which it belongs.

After reading, we moved on to Writer's Workshop. Today was a fun day - the kids learned how to make a simple story into a book. We read a book by Dav Pilkey called The Paperboy. It's a really nice book, and I shared with them how Dav (another new writing mentor and friend) developed his book. We talked about stretching a story across five fingers to establish five pages of a book. The kids each then got a booklet to fill with their great ideas. With even more space to write, the stories are even better!

After writing, it was time to head downstairs for lunch and then back up for indoor recess. After recess, we began a new Read Aloud book - The Wind in the Willows (and old classic). We read one chapter and met Otter, Mole, Water Rat, and Badger.

By the time we finished with the chapter, it was time to head back downstairs for gym with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson.

When we got back up to our room, we had finished up our Writer's Workshop (we didn't have enough time to finish all of the writing that the kids wanted to do). Then we began Math Workshop. We had two main goals for the workshop - practice counting by 5s, 10s, and 2s, but using a hundreds chart so that the kids could more visually see what they process of counting by each number actually means, versus learning the words by rote. We also further worked on number bonds, and began the process of relating the number bonds to word stories. The kids worked on white boards and they practiced making number bonds to represent the stories that I read to them (such as one child has 2 apples and her friend has 3 apples - how many apples do they have together). The point, again, to get them to see the conceptual base for adding.

After math, we had only a little bit of time to get ourselves organized and cleaned up to go home!

The good times keep rolling in first grade - here's the lowdown:

After Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we began Reader's Workshop. Today we had a 'guest teacher' - Mrs. Pershica, who is the Literacy Specialist for Burroughs, came in to teach the kids a mini-lesson about Independent Reading, and develop with the kids a rubric that they will use to evaluate their reading learning. They practiced reading, and then used the scores on the rubric to check in with themselves about their performance during work time in Reader's Workshop.

After reading, we had our song, which we had to not do before reading because of the schedule. Today we sang Down by the Bay, and the verses that the kids make up just get better and better, not to mention more creative, every time we sing that song. After the song, we had Writer's Workshop, in which the mini-lesson was a revisiting of the concept of writing stamina, and what writers do during their work time (write, plan their writing, or read their writing). The task during work time, then, was, of course, to write, but also to make sure that one of those 3 things was happening at all times during workshop. That was also our discussion at the end of the time.

After writing, we were off to lunch and recess, and then back up for Read Aloud - another couple chapters of Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery - it's getting exciting! We just found out that money was stolen ... ask your child about it!

When we finally had to put the book down, we went down to the gym, and the kids went to the beach again with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson. They had a great time (how can you miss, really?).

After gym, we went back up to our room for Math Workshop. I showed the kids a couple of games on the interactive white board - one in which they had to identify the number on the side of one or two dice (to develop a sense of number) and on that is a greater than/less than game on a number line - they guess a number and I tell them greater than or less than, until they have narrowed in on the number. We then worked on number bonds and decomposing numbers again (a continuation of yesterday's lesson).

After Math we had Social Studies. Today we finished the goats on a bridge story (which is this story, but without the last two lines) , which led to a discussion of manners and cooperation, which is the focus of the first unit.

After all of that, it was time to pack up and head home!

Great day once again! Here's the update-

After Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we had REader's Workshop. Today the mini-lesson was about how to do "Buddy Reading" - reading with a partner, basically. After we learned Buddy Reading inside and out, the kids went off to practice - they read with a partner from their Just Right bookbags. After Buddy Reading, they also spent some time doing Independent Reading, and several got to visit the Listening Center. At the end of work time, we talked about the best thing that they did during Buddy Reading, to reinforce the lesson.

After reading, we moved on to Writer's Workshop. Today's mini-lesson was an extension of yesterday's - the kids learned that if they are stuck and don't have an idea to write about not only can they look back over their previous pieces for inspiration, but they a can also start a thought with "I just really want to tell you...." (like they come into my classroom, and probably home each day bursting with a story). We got some more really nice stories started that way today. After they had their work time, we gathered to talk about how they started their stories.

After writing, we went down to the lunchroom for lunch, and then back up to the room for indoor recess due to the rain. We had a short read aloud after that (we started a new mystery series - Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery). After about a chapter and a half, we had an accidental fire alarm, for which we didn't even get all the way outside before they called it off. With that excitement under our belts, we headed up to the art room for class with Mr. Fairbanks.

When we got back down to the room, we had Math Workshop. In math today we worked on number bonds (which are combinations or two numbers that total to another - in other words, the kids are working on 'decomposing'/breaking down a number like 6 into two others, like 2 and 4). We also spent some time working on writing numbers and letters (make sure that they all start at the top of the letter!).

After math we had Social Studies - we began a discussion of cooperation and sharing (which is the focus of our first unit). We got a bit of a story (a folktale about 2 goats on a bridge) read, and we'll read the end tomorrow and respond to it as well.

After all of that, it was time to clean up, pack up, and head home!

Good times in Room 240 - here's our day:

After Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop. Today the mini-lesson was about how to trade books in the kids' "Just Right" bookbag (the books that they read during their Independent Reading time during workshop). It took a bit of time to get everyone on board, but next week it should go quite smoothly. The kids also had independent reading time, and at the end of workshop closing we discussed the proper way to take care of books and our bookbags.

After reading, we had Writer's Workshop. Today I taught the kids about what they can do if they are 'stuck' and don't have an idea to write about. I showed them how I look back at the old pieces that I have already written to see if I can add pictures or words, or if one of those pieces gives me an idea for a new piece. Then, of course, the kids went off to write and practice that skill. After their work time, we talked about how (or if) they used the new strategy.

When we finished writing, it was time to head on down to the lunchroom for lunch and out to recess. When we got back up to our room, I told the kids about the "Star of the Week" in Room 240 - each week (I'll send home a schedule) one of the kids will be featured as Star of the Week, with all of the rights and privileges that entails (ask your child all about it). Look for more information about it in folders on Friday. We then read a couple of my favorite books (one of the perks of being Star of the Week - I took the liberty of making myself Star for this week). We read two books from the Mr. Putter and Tabby series (Pick the Pears and Walk the Dog). By the time we finished with that, it was time to head down the hallway to the Media Center for class with Mrs. Hennen.

When we got back from the library, we went to the computer lab for the first time. We spent some time learning computer lab etiquette and how to access the computers. Then we worked on math games that I listed for the kids on a website (another blog, actually - it's good and free). If your child would like do them at home, or if you'd like to see what we're up to, the address is http://comp240.blogspot.com/. They are pretty fun games, and reflect what we have been working on in math.

After the computer lab, we went back to our room for Science Lab. Today we read a book about Monarch caterpillars and then spent some time observing the caterpillars that we have in our room. They are really growing. The question that we were debating today was about which end of the caterpillar is the head (it's not as obvious as you think - take a look - it is this end or this end?).

After all of that, it was time to clean up, pack up, and head home.

Another great day in Room 240 - here's how it all went down:

After Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop. We began today with a writing/reading assessment - one that I will use to cust

omize a spelling/vocabulary list for each student each week. Look for these words to start in about 2 weeks, after I have all of the assessments done and lists developed. Then I showed the kids our 'new' Listening Center. They are pretty exc

ited about it - and two groups got to use it during work time today. After the demo/intro to the center, we used it to

read a book. Then each of the kids had Independen

t Reading time for work time.

After reading, we moved on to Writer's Workshop. Today the mini-lesson was about "stamina" - the kids learned about pushing themselves to develop what we call "writing stamina" - in other words, to be able to write for longer and longer periods each day. We'll talk about the same in reading - being able to sustain reading for longer and longer periods each day. Then, of course, the kids went off to write.

After writing, it was time for lunch and recess, and then back up for Read Aloud (today we read another Nate the Great mystery). Then we headed down to the gym to get ready for Beachcomber Day - we all either scootered or jogged over to t

he beach at Lake Harriet for playing in the sand (and water up to our knees). It was really fun - the kids had a ball.

When we got back to school, we were all a little bushed, so we skipped Math Workshop and did a literacy project instead. The kids looked through old magazines and cut out the letters of their names, and pasted them onto a page. We talked about finding upper- and lower-case letters, and also about the spelling of both their first and last names.

After that, it was already time to pack up and head home (after cleaning up a ton of little magazine scraps...).

Hope to see you tonight at Curriculum Night (7:15 - 8:00 in Room 240)!

The great days in Room 240 just keep on rolling. Here's how today went down:

After Independent Literacy Time, we had Morning Meeting. When we finished with meeting, I taught the kids a new song (that many of them already knew, thanks to Raffi) - "The More We Get Together." We did a slow version, and then a slightly more rockin' version (faster and with more dramatic expression).

Then it was on to Reader's Workshop. We worked again with our big book called Crabby Cat's Shopping. The book is filled with opposites, which the starter lesson of the workshop. The main mini-lesson was about reading with epxression, and we practiced reading about Crabby Cat with expression - it was pretty entertaining. Then the kids got their book bags and practiced reading with expression with their just-right books. At the end of workshop, we all had a chance to share (if they wanted) a short passage from one of their texts that they could read with expression.

After reading, we did Writer's Workshop, in which the mini-lesson was about using speech bubbles (like in cartoons) to add dialogue to the stories that the kids are working on. I read them a book by Mo Willems (our newest writing mentor) in the Elephant and Piggie series called There's a Bird on Your Head. It's a really funny book, easy to read with expression (which we had just worked on in reading), and the book is written entirely in speech bubbles, but not like a cartoon. Many of the kids decided to try to write like Mo Willems as they went out to work on their stories. When we gathered to share at the end of workshop, each kid described how they decided to write (not what, but how) - either like Don Freeman, Richard (no-so)Scarry, or Mo Willems. Many of them actually ended up using the examples of all three today!

After writing, it was time for lunch and recess, and then back up to the room for read aloud - happily we could finish the Nate the Great that we started yesterday, and we even had time to read a new one (the original). Then it was down to the gym for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson. I know that they went over to Lynnhurst Park for class today.

When we got back up to the room, we had Math Workshop. We continued our study of basic numbers by focusing on the words that go with the numbers, and how to spell them. It was also a chance for me to assess their letter formation, and make sure that they are starting all of the letters at the top, and working downwards (we'll talk more about that on Curriculum Night).

At the end of the day, we looked at the three monarch caterpillars that we have in our classroom - the kids learned how to use a magnifying glass, and then most of them got a chance to look at the little guys up close. Those that didn't get a chance today will see them tomorrow.

After all of that, it was time to pack up and head home!

A great Wednesday in Room 240 - read on to hear all about it!

After Independent Literacy Time (reading, writing, or drawing), we had Morning Meeting. Today, after the usual business of Morning Meeting, we had our first "Problem Solving" session in meeting. During this time, we talk about an issue that is happening in class and help the class solve it with suggestions from the group. Today I brought up the issue of some kids not having people to play with during recess and free time. We, as a group, brainstormed ideas of what each of the kids could do if they saw one of our class (or someone else) on the playground with no one to play with. The kids came up with some really nice ideas, and 'scripts' of what they could say, including "Would you like to play with us?" and "We are playing ___. Would you like to play?" and "My name is _____. What's your name?" After recess we revisited our list to see if anyone used the ideas at recess - and many did! We'll continue to use this forum to help the kids solve issues that arise throughout the year.

After Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop. Our meeting took a bit longer than I had thought (but in a very positive way), so we had a limited amount of time for reading practice before Mrs. Straub came in to do a literature lesson with the kids again, and I got some valuable assessment time with several of the kids.

After Mrs. Straub's lesson, we had Writer's Workshop. Today the mini-lesson that I taught the kids was about what writers do during writing time - writers, including our friends Don and Richard, do only three things during their writing time. They (1) write (of course!); (2) Plan their writing (thinking about what they are going to write); and (3) read their writing (to make sure that it makes sense and is correct. After the kids wrote, we gathered to talk about which of the three they did today.

After all of that, it was time for lunch and recess, then back up to our room for another lesson from Mrs. Straub, and then up to the art room for class with Mr. Fairbanks.

When we got back down to our room, we had Math Workshop, in which the mini-lesson that I taught was about small adding (sums less than 20), and the kids played a game called "Making 20" - rolling a die and adding counters to a pile to add the numbers that they rolled. After work time, we gathered to discuss the various strategies that the kids used to add the numbers to each other - and there were a variety of strategies.

After all that work today, and because the weather is fantastic, and also because I'm a believer in physical activity, and also so that we could put our problem solving discussion from this morning into practice, we went outside for a short recess. After that, it was back inside to pack up and head home.

Today we had a bit of a goofy day, schedule-wise, but the kids adapted to it beautifully. Here's the low-down:

After Independent Literacy Time and Morning Meeting, we had Reader's Workshop. The focus of the mini-lesson today was to talk about our favorite books. I brought in some of my favorites to share and many of the kids shared theirs as well. We also read a big book (which is just a normal book, but in a larger size for the class to be able to see better) called Crabby Cat's Shopping. We'l continue our study of that book tomorrow.

After Reader's Workshop, we had a guest teacher - Mrs. Straub, who is our Reading Specialist, came in to do a lesson on handwriting (and I got the chance to do some beginning-of-the-year literacy assessments). After Mrs. Straub's lesson, we had Writer's Workshop.

Today in Writer's Workshop, we talked about how writers write - I showed them the book Corduroy by Don Freeman and The Best First Book Ever by Richard Scarry (ask your child what we actually call Richard Scarry). Don Freeman writes the words first, and then puts the pictures above the words, and Richard Scarry does the pictures first, and then adds the words to match. The point was that kids can write like either of the very successful writers and be just fine. The kids all went off to write their own stories, choosing to write either like Don or Richard (they are like old friends by now). Lunch and recess interrupted our writing time, so we had to continue it later.

When we got back up from recess, Mrs. Straub came back for a continuation of her lesson from the AM. After that, the kids finished their writing for the day, and then we all shared who we decided to write like today - this concept of a writing mentor is a crucial one, and we will continue to develop it throughout the year.

After writing, we had an organizational period. The kids are organized into teams, and each team has all of their materials on a shelf (this is how we can get away with having tables instead of desks). We had to practice and work a bit to get it, but I think we're mostly on board now.

When we were all (mostly) organized, we had a short math workshop - the kids worked on number words, and connecting them to the number ('one' to '1', for instance, and 'eight' to '8').

After all of that, it was time to clean up and pack up, and then head home!

We have had a great week in Room 240 - our year is definitely off and running, as I'm sure you've heard at home! here's what we were up to today:

After Independent :Literacy Time (the kids can choose from reading, writing, or drawing), we had Morning Meeting. When we finished with meeting, we moved on to Reader's Workshop. Today, after we read two books by Robert Munsch (Mmm, Cookies and The Paper Bag Princess) to practice the Read Aloud skills that we learned yesterday, we had our mini-lesson. The mini-lesson today was about how to read the books from their bookbags, as well as taking care of books. The kids all went to practice, and then we came back together at the end of workshop to share what they had tried as they were reading.

After reading, we had writing workshop. Today the mini-lesson was an extension of the one from yesterday - that writers do the best they can and keep on going. Yesterday we learned about doing the best we can with pictures, and today we learned about words. The kids learned the strategy of 'stretching out' words - ask them how it works!

After writing, we went down for lunch and recess, and then back up for Read Aloud (we finished the Jigsaw Jones mystery - thank goodness - the suspense was killing some of us...). After that, it was up to the music room for class with Mr. Hofmann.

When we got back down to our room, we played a math game called "it's Mine, It's Yours" with cards. (the game looks an awful lot like the card game "War," except that it's a kindlier, gentler first grade version...). The kids got their first taste of partner work, and it went very nicely.

After Math Workshop, we made another class book, based upon the Nancy Carlson book How to Lose All your Friends that we read yesterday. Each kid wrote and illustrated a page for "How to Keep All Your Friends." It's pretty cute.

At the end of the day we had free choice time (aka Friday Fun), and then packed up to go home!

The great days in Room 240 just keep on rolling! Here's what we were up to today:

After Independent Reading Time, we had Morning Meeting. After our meeting, we began Reader's Workshop. Today we worked on developing a rubric that we will use together to evaluate the kids' work as the are being read to. For instance, we talked about what it would look like if they had their eyes on the reader and were sitting still. After we read a book (Moira's Birthday by Robert Munsch), the kids rated their performance as a 1 (an "uh-oh day"), and 3 (a "pretty good day") or a 5 (a "superstar 5" day - "superstar 5" of course said in a dramatic whisper -- it is first grade, after all...). The kids also got their independent reading book bags today, and chose "just-right books" to fill them with.

(As an aside, if there are any moms, dads, or other adults who like to sew, and wouldn't mind sewing permanent bookbags for us, please email me. I have a pattern, and it's nothing fancy - a square bag with a drawstring top. If you'd like to donate a yard or so of cool fabric, please email me also. Thanks!)

After reading, we moved on to Writer's Workshop. Today we expanded on the mini-lesson from yesterday. I modeled what writers do when they come across something tricky - the do the best they can and keep going. Then the writers all went off to practice that skill by adding to a previous writing or by starting a new piece. At the end-of-workshop share, the kids talked about how they tried the best they could when they got to a tricky part of their work.

After writing, it was time for lunch and recess. When we got back up from recess, we had read aloud. We kept going with Jigsaw Jones and the Case of the Hermie the Missing Hamster - the book is really getting good - hopefully we'll find out tomorrow what happened to the hamster!

After read aloud, it was down to the gym for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson.

When we got back up to our room, we had Math Workshop. Today we worked on writing numbers onto a September calendar, and then worked once again on the number books from Tuesday.

At the end of the day, we read a funny book by Nancy Carlson called How to Lose all Your Friends, which led to a discussion of what a good friend is. We re-wrote much of the book as How to Keep all Your Friends, and we will take all of our ideas and make them into a class book tomorrow.

After all of that, we had a couple of extra minutes, in which the kids convinced me to read a little bit more of our Jigsaw Jones mystery, and then we packed up to head on home!

Another great day in Room 240 - here's the low-down.

When the kids got here this morning, they had Independent Reading Time, and then we had Morning Meeting. During Morning Meeting we read the morning message, talked about the calendar, and learned two new ways to keep track of how many days we've been in school - ten frames (.pdf) and a little number sign that we post on the wall each day. We also had another birthday celebration (happy birthday, Caroline!!), which means singing and instrument playing.

After Meeting, we started Reader's Workshop. The workshop format in one that we follow in Reading, Writing, and Math. The structure in the same - first, a whole group meeting, which we cal the opening, in which I give a mini-lesson for the day; second, work time, in which the kids go off to practice the skill that I just taught them; and third, a closing, in which we all gather to share and discuss the work that they have done during the workshop that day. We spent today in Reader's Workshop learning the format for workshops - that was the mini-lesson. Work time was independent reading.

For Writer's Workshop, the mini-lesson that I taught was about adding to writing. the kids learned about adding to pictures, to words, or beginning a new piece (all things that writers do when they write). The main focus of this first unit is to get the kids to see themselves as writers (and, of course, to write). The kids then went off to practice that skill by revising the writing that they started yesterday. We then gathered for the kids to share "what they worked on as a writer" today - whether they added words, pictures, or began a new piece (or all three!).

After writing, it was down to the cafeteria for lunch and then out for recess. When we got back up to our room, we had Read Aloud - we started a book called Jigsaw Jones and the Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster (I'm trying to get them hooked on series books). Then we headed upstairs for art class with Mr. Fairbanks.

When we got back down to our room, we had Math Workshop. the mini-lesson today was about making tens (figuring out the combinations of numbers that add to ten). During work time the kids used unifix cubes in two colors to make sticks of ten blocks, and then recorded their combinations on a paper. We'll revisit it tomorrow to make number sentences (3+7=10, for instance) out of their drawings.

After math, we had an art project. We have been talking a lot about how each of them is special and unique, so today each child created a 'doll' that looks like him/her out of paper, dressed them, and added yarn hair. We'll hang them in our room as a reminder of the fact that we are all different, but all equally wonderful.

We had just enough time for Caroline's birthday snack before we packed up to head home.