Happy Thanksgiving!

I was so happy that we had school today. I really enjoy sharing in the holidays with the students and today was no exception. 

At Mass today, we were reminded to give thanks for all that we had. I am truly thankful for all of the students who work so hard each day learning and for all of the parents who help foster their child's learning. 

Back in the classroom, we did some Thanksgiving activities. We created a story booklet about the first Thanksgiving. We colored harvest vegetables and then made a pattern with them. We also took a survey to see which foods are our favorites at Thanksgiving. According to our graph, most of us like mashed potatoes while the least like stuffing. In addition, we created our own thankful booklet. 

Let me take this time to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy your time with your families. I look forward to hearing about the celebrations on Tuesday. 

Snowy Tuesday

Greetings, everyone! I hope everyone made it home safe and sound today. It is hard to believe that another winter is upon us already. The students were quite excited to leave early today. I think many of them wanted to go home and play in the snow. 

Before leaving, we were able to do some learning. In Religion class, we continued our discussion on Advent. We made our own Advent wreaths using our hand prints. I sent home four flames. The students are to glue one flame on each week during Advent. 

In Math today, we explored even numbers. 

Unfortunately, that was all we had time for today. Hopefully, I will see everyone tomorrow. Just a reminder that dismissal time for tomorrow is scheduled for 12:30. 

Have a safe night!

So Much to Share!

Happy Monday, everyone! I have so much exciting things to share with you today. First grade was one busy and exciting place to be today. 

During Religion class, we began our talk about Advent. It is hard to believe that Advent begins on Sunday. We talked about the Advent wreath and the candles on the wreath. 

In Language Arts class, we blended and read long o words and practiced reading long o words in a story. We talked about sequencing events in a story. In addition, we practiced writing days of the week, months, and holidays correctly. 

In Math class, we order containers based on their capacity. We filled four different containers with water counting the number of cups as we filled each one. It was exciting playing with water. 

Last week, as part of our study about Thanksgiving, we read two stories: Samuel Eaton's Day  and Sarah Morton's Day. Each story looked into the lives of young Pilgrim boys and girls. 

We then created charts listing the different activities these young children did. Today we completed a Venn Diagram comparing/contrasting the daily lives of Pilgrim boys and girls. Here are our charts. 

Following that, we created Pilgrims and wrote about what we would do if we were Pilgrim boys and girls. Take a look: 

Finally, as promised on Friday, here are pictures of our Indian corn art project: 

Have a great night everyone! 

Lots of Doings

Today was a fantastic day to end the week! We did some reviewing and worked on a few Thanksgiving projects. 

We began our day with Religion class where we talked about how Jesus taught in the Temple in Jerusalem. 

We continued our learning in Language Arts class. Today we reviewed long i and digraphs wh, ch, and tch and how to write special titles. We also took a test on our story. During writing, the students had to write the steps in how to cook a turkey. They did a great job sequencing the steps. Here are samples of their work: 

We have been working really hard on our penmanship the last few weeks. We are taking our time writing and remembering to put spaces between words. Today we copied a Thanksgiving poem and created a turkey to go with it. Here are some pictures. 

In Math class today we solved a problem by drawing a picture. We wrapped up our study of habitats in Science class. To end the week, the students created paintings of Indian corn using either their fingerprints or stamps. I'll post pictures of those next week once the paint has dried. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay warm! 

A Thanksgiving Feast!

What a wonderful day today was! It was our annual Thanksgiving meal. It is always so nice to eat with everyone and share a delicious lunch. The students were so excited for this. They loved the fifth grade play too. Here are pictures of our table decorations. One is of our turkey centerpiece and one is of the place mat the students made. 

In the classroom today we reviewed long a and the sounds of c and g in Language Arts. We also practiced our sight words as well as worked on our fluency by reading our story again. In addition, we worked in literacy centers. In Math class we learned the subtracting 0 and subtracting a number from itself facts. 

Have a great night! 

On the Mayflower

Today was a good day in first grade. We are getting excited for the Thanksgiving holiday next week. 

Today in Religion class we talked about why Jesus is called the Good Shepherd. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed long i and digraphs wh, ch, and tch. We also practiced our sight words before we read our story Who Works Here? The students enjoyed reading about the people who work in our community. 

We did take a little break before lunch to make our centerpieces for our Thanksgiving Luncheon tomorrow. We are all excited to eat a Thanksgiving meal with our friends. 

During Math class today, we practiced reading time to the hour. 

In Social Studies class, we talked about the Mayflower. We read the book On the Mayflower and then wrote facts we learned from the book. Next, we used those facts to create our own little story booklet about the Mayflower. Here are pictures of the facts we wrote and a finished booklet. 

Reading More Words

Today was another great day of learning in first grade. We began our day by attending Eucharistic Adoration. Spending some quiet time with Jesus is a great way to start a day! 

Back in the classroom, we went to work learning new phonics skills. Today we practiced reading words with the digraphs wh, ch, and tch. We also practiced our sight words. In addition, we worked in literacy centers and finished writing the steps in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

During Math class today, we practiced counting by 2's. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is gym day. It is also the last day to turn in book orders. 

Long i Words

Welcome back, everyone! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. We are off to a rockin' start this week. 

To start our week, we finished our Religion chapter on Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. Today, using strips with phrases of the Our Father on it, we clued the prayer together and added a few decorations around the paper. This proved to be an easy task for the students. 

In Language Arts class, we learned how to read long i words. The students are becoming so good and recognizing magic e at the end of words. We also talked about why an author writes a piece, whether to inform or entertain. In addition, we wrote wrote some of the steps in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

During Math class, we practiced counting dimes. 

Have a great night! 

Turkey Time!

Greetings, friends! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Friday was a fantastic day in first grade. 

We began our with Mass where we were told to always make time for Jesus in our day. 

During Language Arts class, we wrapped up our story The Farmer in the Hat. We reviewed long a and the different sounds of c and g. We took our test on our story too. During the writing portion of class, we wrote the steps in planting a seed. 

In Math class, we sorted pictures of designs and identified the identical ones. 

In Science class, we went on a trip around the world looking at different habitats. Using a PowerPoint presentation, we visited the desert, forest, and ocean. To end class, students drew various plants and animals that live in these habitats. 

We ended our day with Art class. Today we made turkeys. Students had a choice in using either a pattern or tracing their foot for the body. Students then traced their hands on different colors of construction paper for the feathers. They turned out tur-iffic. Have a look! 

On the 14th Day of November

Greetings! Happy Thursday! We had quite a busy day in first grade! 

Yesterday in Religion we learned about the prayer that Jesus taught his followers. Today we looked at the meaning behind the Our Father. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed the difference between short a and long a by completing a word sort. We also worked in literacy centers. In addition, we reviewed how to write proper nouns. We finished class by writing the steps in how to brush our teeth. 

In Math class today we continued to practice the subtracting 1 facts. 

Tomorrow should be an exciting day as we  have Art class. 

Back to Normal

Happy Wednesday, everyone! It is hard to believe that the week is half way over.

Today in Religion class we learned that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray the Our Father. The students were amazed that we are pray the same pray that Jesus taught his friends.

In Language Arts class today, we worked in literacy centers where we practiced reading our sight words and long a words. We also practiced our writing skills. We also reviewed digraph sh and th and the vowel sound al.

In Math class we learned some new facts. We switched gears a bit and learned the minus 1 facts. It is exciting learning all of these new facts.

During Social Studies class we talked about the difference between a city, town, and suburb.

We ended our day with Gym class. This week we again used the parachute as we exercised. We really enjoyed our selves.

A 2 Hour Delay Day

Welcome back everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend and the extra two hours the students got this morning. It just seems to be a little early for snow delays. One thing the students learned today is that when we have two hour delays the days go by fast. They could hardly believe that it was time to go home. 

We were quite busy learners today though. In Language Arts, we reviewed long a and the different sounds of c and g. We also reviewed our sight words. Then it was time to put our knowledge to the test as we read The Farmer in the Hat. The students laughed at the end when the cat became the farmer. I hope you enjoy the story tonight. 

In Math class, we practiced counting by 10's to 100 both forwards and backwards. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Wednesday and gym day. Have a good night! 

Review Day

Today was a nice day to end a short week. The students are really looking forward to their long weekend. 

In Language Arts class today we reviewed the various sounds of c and g. Students worked in groups to sort words based on the sound either the c or g said. We then all filled in a chart. We also practiced our sight words for this story. In addition, we reviewed proper nouns. We are working hard at remembering that proper nouns need capital letters. 

In Math class today we solved a problem by using logical reasoning. 

I am looking forward to meeting with everyone tomorrow. 

Learning More Words to Read

Today was a good day in first grade. We continue to learn and explore new concepts. 

Today in Language Arts we learned how to read words when the c makes an s sound and when g makes a j sound. We are loving all the new words that we can read. We also reviewed sight words by playing tic-tac-toe. Students wrote words on a grid and then played tic-tac-toe with a partner. This was a great way to practice our words while at the same time having fun. 

In Math class today, we used pattern blocks to cover designs with pattern blocks. We then traced the shapes and colored in the designs. 

During Social Studies class we discussed weather and the seasons including the various activities we do during each season. 

We ended our day with gym class. Today we exercised with the parachute. 

Please remember to bring library books to school tomorrow. 

More of Magic "e"

Today was another fabulous day in first grade. We really enjoyed our Box Tops jean day today. Thank you so very much for sending in box tops. Please keep collecting and sending them in. Hopefully, we can have another Box Tops jean day in January. 

We continued our study of long a today in Language Arts. We practiced reading words and spelling words. We are feeling much more confident today than yesterday. We know that to become good readers we need to practice every night. 

We also talked about proper nouns today. We gave many examples of proper nouns and used those examples to create "Proper Noun Pizza." Don't they look yummy. 

In Math class, we learned the adding 0 facts. 

With no school on Friday, we held Science class today. We talked about the difference between living and nonliving things. Students worked in groups to classify pictures as either living or nonliving. They then drew an example of a living thing and a nonliving thing. 

Remember that tomorrow is gym class day!

Magic e

Greetings, everyone! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and enjoyed the sunshine! 

Today was a big day in first grade. Today we learned how to read long vowel a words. We learned that when there is an e (I call it a magic e) at the end of  word, that e make the vowel say its name. It is taking us sometime to get use to this change but we are excited to learn new words. 

Before learning about long vowels, we reviewed our short vowels by playing build-a-bug. Students selected a word and if read correctly they could color a line on the bug. This was a good review before learning long vowels. 

In Math class today we learned how to count on from a number. Students worked with a partner to roll dice. Then together, they counted to see how much they rolled and filled in a chart. The students loved this activity. 

Remember that tomorrow is a Box Tops Jean Day!!

A Parade of Saints

Today was an exciting day in first grade. It was a wonderful day to begin a new month. It is so hard to believe that it is already November. 

The students did such an amazing job today during the prayer service. They looked absolutely beautiful and wore their costumes with such pride. They were so excited that everyone came to see them;I hope you enjoyed it. I want to thank everyone who came today and helped make this day extra special for them. 

We did do some learning today too. We took our Spelling test and finished our Science unit on animals. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!