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!
