Merry Christmas!

Holiday Greetings! We were quite excited in first grade today! 

We began our day with Mass. Msgr. Lockard reminded us to listen when we need to need and always use kind words. After Mass, we completed our Advent calendar that we have been using in the classroom. Here is a picture of how our Nativity scene turned out: 

Today we read The Polar Express. It is one of my favorite holiday books. The students loved the pictures in the book. After we read it, we sequenced the events in the story. We then decorated our own bells. Needless to say, joyous sounds were coming from Room 102 all day. 

May all of you have a blessed, Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year. Enjoy the time with your family and friends. I'll see you in 2015. 

P.S. Here is one final picture of Jingles:

Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus!

Happy Thursday! I hope everyone had a fantastic day just like we did in first grade! 

In Religion class today, we heard the story of the legend of the candy cane. We then made a candy cane ornament to help remind us of the legend. They turned out awesome: 

In Language Arts today, we worked in our literacy centers to build our fluency and comprehension. We also read the story How Santa Got His Job. Afterwards, we completed an elf application and attached it to an elf craft. 

During Math class today we used linking cubes to measure objects in the classroom. Students worked in pairs when measuring the objects. Eventually, we will be using rulers to measure objects. 

This afternoon we attended the choir's Christmas Eve musical. They did such a wonderful job. I got chills listening to the music. The students enjoyed the drums during Carol of the Bells. 

Since tomorrow is our last day of school before Christmas vacation, we had a special Art class today. We made a Santa Claus. They will be bringing them home tomorrow. 

Finally, Jingles left us a surprise today. We gave us a book from Santa. Santa told us that we did a great job during our play last night! 

Have a great night! 

Christmas Play, Part 2

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas play tonight. The students worked so hard and did such a fabulous job! 

We had one busy day in first grade before the excitement of tonight. In Religion class today, we read the story The Christmas Baby and then designed our own Nativity scenes. They did a great job on them. Here is a sample: 

In Language Arts class, we wrapped up our story Honey Bees. We reviewed long e: ee, syllables VCCV, and our sight words. We then took a test on the story. We also practiced finding nouns in sentences. 

During Math class today we practiced the adding 2 facts. We used a wrap-up to help us do this. 

We finally had gym class today! The students were so excited and waited all morning for this. Today we played a game where we talked about healthy foods and unhealthy foods. We learned the importance of exercising and eating healthy. 

For Social Studies class today we talked about weather in the different seasons. Students illustrated activities they do in each season. 

Now, for some Christmas fun. Yesterday we read the story Santa's Stuck and wrote about what we would do if we found Santa stuck in our chimney. Here is how that project turned out: 

Today we read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We then illustrated or wrote how we would make the Grinch grin. Here are some pictures: 

Finally, we made Christmas ornaments out of clay and painted them. They came home today. And here is how they turned out: 

Making Sunshine by Learning

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone was able to find some sunshine on this dreary day. We were able to make our own sunshine in first grade today. 

In Religion class, we again reviewed the Christmas story. We also talked about ways to share God's love during the season. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed our sight words, long e, long u, and inflected endings. We partner read our story to build our fluency skills. We then wrote two sentences telling what we learned about bees. We made a bee to add to our writing. Finally, we practiced finding nouns in sentences. 

In Math class today we covered a design using pattern blocks. We then sorted them and recorded the number of each different block we used on a chart. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is now a Jean Day. Also, tomorrow night is our Christmas play. Please have your child wear his/her outfit to school tomorrow night. All students will need to be in their classrooms by 6:00. If you have any questions, please let me know. 

A Busy Monday!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a nice weekend. It is hard to believe that we are only a week and a half away from Christmas. Today was a busy start to our week. 

In Religion class, we began our study on Christmas. We have been reading a part of the Christmas story each day as part of our Advent prayer. Today we reviewed why Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem and where they stayed when they got there. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long e: ee, VCCV syllables, and our sight words before reading our story Honey Bees. They really enjoyed learning about the different honey bees and each job that they do. 

Math class was full of learning today. We identified the odd numbers to 100. We then practiced adding 2 to odd numbers. Finally, to review all of the adding 2 facts, we made our fact cards. Please begin to practice the adding 2 facts with your child. 

As promised, here are pictures of the gingerbread houses the students made on Friday. 

Also, look at Jingles. Someone was sleepy today. 

O Christmas Tree

Greetings! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I have been busy getting ready for Christmas by baking cookies. It is hard to believe that we have only one more week of school before Christmas break. Where has the time gone? 

In Religion class on Friday, we wrapped up our our study of the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus' friends. The students illustrated what happened at Pentecost. 

During Language Arts class, we learned to blend and read VCCV syllable words. To do this, we break the word into two small parts (between the double consonants), read each small word, and then put it together to read the whole word. We also practiced our sight words. In addition, we identified nouns in sentences. 

Finally, we wrote about how to decorate a Christmas tree. Then it was time to decorate one! Here is our classroom Christmas tree: 

Next, we made a Christmas tree using strips of green paper. We added white fingerprints around the tree as snow. They turned out awesome. 

In Math class today, we solved a problem by looking for a pattern. 

During Science class, we wrapped up our study of the properties of matter. We reviewed characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases. 

Finally, for art class, we made gingerbread houses. Students were given a gingerbread house and they decorated it using foam shapes, buttons, and sequins. They turned out wonderful! I'll post pictures tomorrow. 

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend! 

Christmas Play, Part 1

Greetings! I hope everyone had a nice day. We had a great day in school. As you know, the evening performance of our Christmas play has been postponed. It is rescheduled for Wednesday, December 17 at 6:30 PM. 

In Religion class today, we reviewed what happened on Pentecost. We also learned the Glory Be prayer. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long e: ee by reading our decodable reader, We also compared and contrasted pictures. In addition, we practiced finding nouns in sentences. Finally, we wrote the final steps in how to plant a seed. 

For a change, we had science class today. We talked about the three phases of water. We learned that ice is a solid which will change to a liquid when it melts. That water will become part of the air when it evaporates. 

We did have fun performing our play this afternoon. We can't wait for you to see the entire play next week. Even Jingles was excited for us. Look what he did today: 

Have a safe and warm evening!

Christmas Music in the Air!

Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying their week. It is hard to believe that it is half way over. 

In Religion class today, we talked about what happened at Pentecost. We learned that the Holy Spirit came to Jesus' followers. We also talked about how his followers felt before and after the Holy Spirit came. 

In Language Arts class, we learned to blend and read long e: ee words. We also wrote the first two steps in how to plant a seed. 

During Math class, we practiced adding 2 to an even number. We then identified all of the even numbers to 100 and practiced counting by evens to 100. We discovered that all even numbers end in a 0, 2,4,6, or 8. 

This afternoon we attended the Band's Christmas Concert. We enjoyed hearing all of the music. I am always amazed at how well the children sound. They all put in so much practice time. It truly was a great show! 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our performance day. Students must wear the dress pants to school. For the evening performance, students must be in their classrooms by 6:00. Please have them wear their outfit back to school. After the show, students will return to the classroom and be dismissed from there. If you have any questions, please let me know! 

To end with, here is a picture of Jingles, our elf. The students loved his spot today! 

Have a great night!

Dress Rehearsal!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a nice day. We were quite excited to see the sun shine for a little while this afternoon. That made everyone happy!

We began our day by attending Adoration. It was nice to spend some quiet time with Jesus before beginning our day. 

In Language Arts class, we wrapped up our story Life in the Forest. We reviewed long e, long u, inflected endings, and our sight words. We then took our test on the story. In addition, we practiced identifying plurals and using plurals in sentences. Finally, we worked in our literacy centers. We enjoyed this time of practicing our phonics, fluency, and comprehension skills. 

During Math class today, we learned how to number a clock face. We then practiced showing various times on the clocks. 

This morning we had our dress rehearsal for our Christmas play. We were quite excited to put on our costumes for this practice. Everyone did such a fabulous job. We can't wait for you to see it on Thursday. 

Just a reminder that because of the Band Concert tomorrow, we will not have gym class. 

Have a great night!

An Exciting Week!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone was able to enjoy their weekend and perhaps get some holiday stuff done. We had a busy start to this exciting week. 

With today being the feast of the Immaculate Conception we went to Mass this morning. Msgr. Lockard reminded us to always say 'yes' to God just like Mary did. 

For Language Arts class today, we focused on building our fluency and comprehension. We partner read Life in the Forest and then wrote three facts we learned from the story. We also worked on identifying plurals in sentences. 

In Math class today we identified the odd numbers to 21 and then practiced counting by odds to 21. Beginning tomorrow, we will be counting by odds during our Math Meeting. 

As promised, here is a picture of the carolers we made on Friday. 

Just a reminder that play shirts are due tomorrow. Please place them in a labeled bag! If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Season of Advent

Greetings, everyone! I hope you had a fantastic week like we did in first grade! 

We began our day with Mass. After Mass, we talked about St. Nicholas (whose feast day is December 6th) and watched a movie on his life. While doing this, we placed a shoe in the hallway because legend says that if you leave your shoes out, St. Nicholas will fill them. Well, as it turns out, St. Nicholas did come and fill our shoes with a candy cane and pencil! 

I forgot to mention what first grade is doing to celebrate the season of Advent. We have an Advent calendar in the room. Each day, we pull out a picture which relates to the Christmas story. We then read that part of the story before adding the picture around our manger bulletin board.  For example, today we read how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem on a donkey. We added a donkey around our manger. Here is a picture of our Advent calendar. I'll post a picture of the manger bulletin board next week. 

During Language Arts class today, we reviewed our sight words, long o words, and contractions. We choral read our story Life in the Forest too. 

In Math class today, we again practiced identifying lines of symmetry.We also talked about fractions and identifying one half of a whole. We even wrote the fraction one half. 

In Science class, we talked about the differences between a solid, liquid, and gas. We then sorted pictures based on whether they were a solid, liquid, or gas. 

Finally, it was time for Art class. Today we made Christmas carolers. They are so cute. I'll post pictures next week once they are hanging in the hallway for everyone to see. 

Below you will see a picture of a small project we did on Thursday. Students made Christmas ornaments using tissue paper. They are hanging in our classroom. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Wonderful Day of Learning

Greetings and Happy Thursday! Today was a wonderful day full of learning in first grade! 

In Religion class, we talked about how Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his followers. We also talked about how the Holy Spirit would help his followers teach others about Jesus, help others, and love one another. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long u, long e, and inflected ending -ed. We also reviewed our sight words. Then, it was time to read our story Life in the Forest. The students loved reading about the animals and plants in the forest. After reading the story, we practiced identifying one and more than one. 

In Math class today, we studied lines of symmetry. We first looked at what a line of symmetry is and how both sides are symmetrical. We then made Christmas trees and identified the line of symmetry on them. You should have seen their faces when they opened up their trees after cutting them. The awe and amazement was something else. 

Tomorrow will be a busy and exciting end to the week. 

Back to the Gym

Greetings! Today was such a normal, calm day compared to yesterday. It was nice getting back into our routine. 

In Religion class today, we switched our focus from Advent back to the life of Jesus. In the chapter we began today, we will study the life of Jesus after he rose from the dead. Today we learned how Jesus visited his followers to let them know that he is alive. 

In Language Arts class, we learned to blended and read words with the inflected ending -ed. We also learned that when we add -ed to a word, it makes the word past tense. In addition, we learned and practiced reading our new sight words. We talked about plural nouns. For writing, we began an elf journal. Each day the students will write where Jingles is hiding and then draw a picture. Today, Jingles was hiding on the bookshelf. Here is a picture: 

In Math class, we learned how to count dimes and pennies together. We used our coins to help us practice this skill. 

Finally, we made it back to the gym for gym class. We were quite excited about this. Today we played a favorite game 'Alligator, Alligator.' 

Have a great night! 

Welcome December!

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Today was a busy, crazy, action-packed day for us to begin the month of December. 

The students were greeted today with an Elf on the Shelf. We named him Jingles. We talked about how Jingles will be watching us in school and will report to Santa whether or not we were fantastic first graders. I'll post pictures tomorrow of Jingles. 

In Religion class today, we continued our discussion about Advent. We talked about ways we can be light for others this Advent and reviewed the Advent wreath. 

During Language Arts class, we learned to blend and read long u and long e words. We practiced spelling these words using our letter tiles and reading these words by reading our decodable reader. We also talked about the author's purpose for writing a story. 

That was all we managed to get in before going home because of the weather. Please remember that tomorrow is Wednesday and we will have gym class. Also, we will be visiting the Secret Santa shop where students can make their purchases tomorrow. Please send in any money in an envelope. 

Have a safe and warm evening!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a great day and made it to and  from safely today. We had an action packed day in first grade. 

We began our day by attending Mass. Msgr. reminded us to thank God every day for all that we have. 

Back in the classroom, we did many Thanksgiving activities. First, we reviewed the life of Pilgrim boys and girls by completing a Venn Diagram. We listed all the ways Pilgrim boys and girls are the same and how they are different. We then wrote a sentence describing something we would do if we were a Pilgrim boy or girl. Next, we added that sentence to a Pilgrim craft. Here are two samples: 

Next we read the story This is the Feast and talked about the first Thanksgiving. We made a small booklet to help us remember this event. 

We followed that up by reading Turkey Trouble. In this hilarious book, a turkey tries to disguise himself as different animals so that the farmer doesn't catch him. We then reviewed the different disguises and made our own disguise for the turkey. 

Finally, we created a bar graph which shows our favorite Thanksgiving foods. As you can see from the graph below, turkey and corn are our favorites while stuffing is least liked. 

I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time with your families and friends! See you on Tuesday! 

Preparing for Advent

Greetings! I hope everyone had a wonderful day. It was a busy day in first grade. 

In Religion class, we reviewed the season of Advent. We then made an Advent wreath using our handprints. I sent home flames and encourage you to add them to the wreath during each week of Advent. Here is a picture: 

During Language Arts class, we again worked in literacy centers where we practiced our fluency and comprehension skills. We also wrote the steps in cooking a turkey. I always love reading how the students think you cook a turkey. Finally we read Sarah Morton's Day. We learned about the life of a Pilgrim girl. 

In Math class today we practiced finding numbers on a 100 number chart. Students worked with a partner for some of the lesson. One person used linking cubes to cover numbers and the other person had to guess the number being hidden. The students loved this guessing game. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is an early dismissal day. We will begin dismissal at 12:15. Also, we will have lunch tomorrow. 

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday! What a difference a week makes. Last week it was cold and snowy; today it was warm and sunny. It was a nice day for the students to get outside and release some of their energy! 

Today in Religion class we talked about the season of Advent which begins on Sunday. We talked about how this season is spent waiting for Jesus' birth at Christmas. We also talked about the Advent wreath and the candles. 

In Language Arts today, we worked in our literacy centers. We have not worked in them for awhile so it was nice to practice everything we learned over the last few weeks. We also read the story Samuel Eaton's Day about a Pilgrim boy living in Plymouth. We learned all about what he did during the day like gathering firewood, serving his parents, and helping with the harvest. 

During Math class today, we learned about the even numbers. We identified the even numbers to 20 and practiced counting by 2's to 20. 

Have a great night! 

Indian Corn!

Greetings! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Friday was a busy and exciting day in first grade. 

We began our day by attending Mass. We heard the story about Jesus getting mad in the Temple. Fr. Brian reminded us to always respect the church and ourselves. 

In Language Arts class, we wrapped up our story The Big Circle. We reviewed long o words and contractions. We also practiced our sight words. We then took a test on the story. Finally, we practiced writing days, months, and holidays correctly. 

In Math class we practiced solving a problem by drawing pictures. 

Our focus switched in Science class. We began our study of physical science by looking at different ways to group objects. We said that we could group objects by color, size, what they do, and if they float. We then did an experiment to see which objects floated and which objects sank. We learned that the pattern block, linking cube, and the link floated while the paper clip, Army man, and dime sank. 

We finished our day with Art class. Today we made Indian corn using paint. Students took sponges and stamped them on their corn. They turned out great! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Building Fluency

Greetings! Today was a terrific day in first grade! 

In Religion class today we wrapped up our chapter. We reviewed why we call Jesus the Good Shepherd, how the people greeted him when he entered Jerusalem, where Jesus taught in Jerusalem, and why he died and rose for us. 

Our focus today in Language Arts class was building fluency and comprehension. We partner read our story and then illustrated what happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. We also reviewed and practiced writing days, months, and holidays correctly. Finally, we wrote the final steps in brushing our teeth. 

In Math class today we talked about capacity. We filled 4 containers with water to determine their volume and then put the containers in order from smallest to largest. 

This morning we finished our Mayflower booklets. This is one of my favorite projects to do with the students. Didn't they turn out great? 

Singing and Learning

Happy Wednesday! Today was a wonderful day in first grade. The students did such a wonderful job singing their song for the Christmas CD. It was beautiful to listen to. 

In Religion class, we talked about how Jesus died on the cross for us and rose to new life on Easter Sunday. We talked briefly about these days but will cover them more in depth when it is Easter time. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long i words and the digraphs wh, ch, and tch. We also choral read our story The Big Circle. Tonight the students will be reading it with you. I hope you enjoy it! 

In Math class today we learned two new sets of facts: subtracting a number from itself (4-4, etc.) and subtracting 0 facts (4-0). The students discovered that these new facts are quite easy. 

For Social Studies class today, we talked about the Mayflower by reading the book On the Mayflower. We then wrote facts about the Mayflower and created a small booklet. We will be finishing these booklets up and sending them home tomorrow. 

Wintry November Day!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a good day and were able to stay warm. I like the change in seasons but it just seems awful early for winter weather. The students love the snow. They all are exited to play in it. 

We began our day by going to Adoration. It was nice to spend some quiet time with Jesus to start our day. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed contractions by completing a contraction flip book. We wrote contractions and then used those contractions in sentences. We also reviewed our sight words before reading the story The Big Circle. The students really enjoyed this story about how the triceratops scared away the Big T. Rex. Finally, we wrote the first two steps in how we brush our teeth. 

During Math class today, we learned about time. We learned to tell time to the nearest hour. We also practiced showing various times on our small clocks. 

Tomorrow will be an exciting day. We are going to record a song for the school's Christmas CD. Because of this, we will not have gym class. 

It's a Monday!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and a great start to the day. We had a wonderful start to our week in first grade today. 

We began our day with play practice. Thank you so much for helping the students learn their lines. They did great today without their papers. Please keep going over their lines each night. 

In Religion class today, we talked about how Jesus taught in the Temple in Jerusalem. We also reviewed good touch/bad touch. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long o words and contractions. We also reviewed our sight words. We then listened to our story The Big Circle. We are going to read it tomorrow. Finally, we wrote the final steps in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

In Math class today, we practiced counting by two to 10. We are going to continue to practice counting by 2 daily. Eventually we will be learning the adding 2 facts. 

Have a great night! 

The First Day of Snow!

Happy Friday! Today was a crazy yet fun day of learning in first grade. One of the highlights was being able to put a snow tag on our weather graph. The students were so excited about it! 

A special thank you goes out to the Home and School Association for providing our special program today. We learned about Internet Safety from Faux Paw the Cat. We learned not to tell anyone our name or address online and to always have a parent around when we are on the Internet. 

In Religion class today, we talked about how the people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. We learned that they waved palm branches and shouted 'hosanna'. 

During Language Arts class today, we blended and read the contractions n't, 'm, and 'll. The students did a fabulous job reading these words. We also sorted words based on their contractions; here is how our chart turned out: 

Finally in Language Arts, we practiced reading our new sight words. 

In Math class today we practiced counting dimes. We also practiced showing various amounts using the dimes. 

For Science class today, we wrapped up our study of living and nonliving things and habitats by reviewing what we learned. 

Finally, in art, we made scarecrows. I think they turned out adorable. 

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay warm! 

Thanksgiving Luncheon!

Happy Thursday! Today was a special day in school; it was our annual Thanksgiving feast. We enjoyed a delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more. The fifth graders did an excellent job with their play. It was truly an enjoyable event. 

Before and after the meal we did lots of work in the classroom. In Religion class, we talked about why Jesus is called the Good Shepherd. We discussed how Jesus always watches over us and loves us just like a shepherd watches and cares for his sheep. 

In Language Arts class, we practiced reading long o words by reading our decodable reader. We talked about sequence of events in a story and practiced writing days, months, and holidays correctly. Finally, we began writing steps in a process. Today we wrote the first two steps in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

During Math class today we practiced our subtracting 1 facts by using a wrap-up. We just need to remember that subtracting is just like counting backwards! 

Tomorrow will be a crazy and fun day to end the week! 

Back at It!

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing weekend. It was great talking with everyone on Monday. Thank you for taking the time to come to conferences. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we wrapped up our chapter of Jesus teaching his disciples. We reviewed the stories of Jesus calling the Apostles and of Jesus calming the stormy sea. We also recalled the prayer Jesus taught his followers. 

In Language Arts class, we blended and read long o words. We also used our letter tiles to spell long o words. Finally, we talked about how to write days of the week, months of the year, and holidays correctly. 

For gym class today, we used the parachute. Using the parachute always brings smiles to the students' faces and today was no exception. We played some games with it and practiced keeping a ball on it while shaking it. 

In Math class today, we learned our minus 1 facts. To solve these facts, we first used linking cubes. We soon discovered that subtracting 1 is just like counting backwards by one. 

Finally, for Social Studies, we talked about Veterans' Day by reading our Scholastic News magazine. We also talked about natural resources. 

Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving luncheon, so today we made table decorations for our table. Didn't these turkeys turn out cute? 

Have a great night!

End of the First Week of November!

Greetings! Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that the first week of November has come and gone. 

We began our day by attending Mass. We were reminded through the readings to be Christ like for others through our words and actions. 

We wrapped up our story in Language Arts class. We reviewed long i and digraphs wh, ch, and tch; we also practiced our sight words. We then took a test on the story. Finally, we practiced writing special titles correctly. 

In Math class, we used the designs we created on Wednesday to identify those that we identical. Students worked great in groups sorting and identifying identical designs. 

For Science class today, we looked at different habitats around the world. We looked at deserts, forests, and oceans. Students were then asked to draw animals or plants found in each one. 

Finally, for art class today, we made Thanksgiving turkeys. On each feather, students wrote something they are thankful for. They turned out great! 

Just a reminder that Monday is Parent-Teacher Conferences. The students are off on Tuesday as well. See you on Wednesday! 

Reading and Counting!

Happy Thursday! Today was yet another busy day in first grade. 

In Religion class today, we looked at the meaning of the words to the Our Father. Then, students were given strips with parts of the prayer written on them. They had to glue the strips in order. Afterwards, students decorated the paper. 

During Language Arts class today, we worked on fluency and comprehension. We partner read our story and then worked in literacy centers. We also practiced writing names with special titles. 

In Math class today, we counted by 10's to 100. 

This afternoon we had Computer class followed by play practice. 

Have a great night! 

A Busy Learning Day!

Today was a very busy learning day in first grade. 

In Religion class today, we learned that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. I loved seeing the students' reaction as I read the story of Jesus teaching his followers the Our Father. There was wonder and awe. It truly was a blessing to see. 

Today, also, we attended an Hour of Devotion for prayers to the priesthood. Fr. Matt Reese, the director of vocations for the diocese, led us in prayer. He reminded us to always ask God what He wants us to be. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long a and c/s/ and g/j/ words. Students were asked to sort words based on the c and g sounds. We also practiced our sight words and worked on our fluency by choral reading our story. 

In Math class today, we practiced our new adding 0 facts and covered a design using pattern blocks. We covered the same design four different ways. In a few days, we are going to look at all the ways we covered the design. 

Have a great night! 

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy the nice weather we had today. The students enjoyed it at recess. 

In Religion class today we learned how the disciples trusted Jesus. We read the story of Jesus calming the stormy waters. After reading, we acted it out. We were reminded that in times of troubles to trust Jesus and call upon him. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed short and long i words by sorting word cards. We also reviewed our sight words before reading our story Who Works Here? We enjoyed reading this story about community helpers. 

In Math class, we learned new addition facts. Today we learned the adding 0 facts. The students quickly discovered how easy these facts are. 

We had an awesome first day of play practice using the microphones. Please keep practicing those lines! 

The First School Day of November!

Happy November! I don't know about you but the month of October just flew by. It is hard to believe that it is November and the holidays are right around the corner. I actually saw two Christmas commercials yesterday; they come on earlier and earlier each year. 

Anyways, November is off to a great start in first grade. In Religion class today, we learned how Jesus called his followers. We read the story about Peter and Andrew leaving their nets and following Jesus. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long i words and the digraphs wh, ch, and tch. We listened to our story Who Works Here?. We also worked in literacy centers. 

In Math class, we practiced counting on from a number. Using dice and working with a partner, each student rolled a cube and then worked together to find the sum. They made a bar graph to show which sum they rolled the most. 

Beginning today, we will be practicing for our Christmas play on a daily basis. There will be changes to our routine but we are excited to put this play on. Please keep practicing your child's lines each night! 

Here's to a great month ahead! 

Happy Halloween!

Today was a spooktacular day in first grade. The excitement from yesterday carried over to today as we celebrated Halloween. But, before we could party, we had some work to do. 

In Religion class, we finished our study of Ordinary Time. We talked about the people who help us to grow closer to Jesus. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed the digraphs ch, tch, and wh by reading our decodable reader. We practiced our sight words and practiced writing words with special titles. Our sixth grade buddies also joined us today. They helped us review phonics skills by playing connect four with the students. And for some Halloween fun, we played Bingo together. 

In Math class, we learned how to use a problem by using logical reasoning. The students were great detectives as we solved the problems. 

Finally, it was time to party. Everyone looked great in their costumes. Thanks to parent volunteers we played games and did a craft project. Everyone had smiles on their faces and enjoyed this festive time with their friends.

Just a reminder that the students do not have school tomorrow. Have a wonderful weekend! 

Parade of Saints

Today was truly a blessed day in first grade. This day has really turned into one of my favorite days of the year with the students. I love seeing their smiles as they walk down the aisle; they are so proud of their saint. 

Thank you all for attending our All Saints' Day Prayer Service. It was great having so many parents, grandparents, and other relatives there. The students were so excited to take part in this special event. Thank you for making it special for them. 

Before the prayer service, we did do learning in first grade. It was hard for them to stay focused; they wanted to get into their outfits first thing this morning. But we pushed through and accomplished a lot today. 

In Religion, we focused on the church season of Ordinary Time. We learned that during this season, we hear stories about Jesus' healings and teachings. 

During Language Arts class, we blended and read the digraphs wh, ch, and tch. We also read our Scholastic News on bats. They were quite fascinating by them. Finally, we finished our haunted house writing by adding some artwork to it. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our Halloween celebration. Please remember to send in costumes tomorrow. Tomorrow is also a jean day for the students. 

Long I Spiders!

Greetings! What an absolute gorgeous day it was! It was nice to feel the warmth again before the cold air arrives. The students really enjoyed the weather today at recess. 

In Religion class today we wrapped up our study of the church seasons. We again reviewed each one and the colors associated with each season. We decorated a poster with the different seasons on it. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed long i words. We practiced reading them by reading our decodable reader. We then created long i spiders. On each leg, we wrote a long i word. Here is a picture: 

We then talked about the author's purpose for writing a story. We also discussed how to write special titles. Finally, we wrote about a haunted house. We used our senses to describe what we see, hear, smell, and touch in a haunted house. 

In Math class today, we used a balance to determine the weight of various objects. We used pennies to balance the scale when measuring a crayon, pencil, eraser, and marker. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our All Saints' Prayer Service. The prayer service begins at 1:00 in the church. Because of the prayer service, we will not have gym class. Students are to wear their dress shoes tomorrow. 

Quick Monday

Greetings! I hope everyone had a great weekend. From the stories I heard today, it sounds like everyone had fun trick-or-treating. 

Our day began with practice for the All Saints' Day prayer service. We joined with our eighth grade friends for practice today. We are getting excited for this special event. 

In Language Arts class, we blended and read long i words. We also sorted nouns according to whether they named a person, place, or thing. Finally, we completed a graphic organizer for our writing project this week. We are writing about haunted houses. 

During Math class, we sorted and graphed pattern blocks. We then analyzed the information on our graphs. 

Have a great night! 

Pumpkins!

Happy Friday! And yet another week has come and gone. 

Today for Religion we went over to church to practice for our All Saints' Prayer Service. The students are getting excited for this. Just a reminder that all saint costumes are due on Monday! We also finished praying the Glorious Mysteries today. The students brought their rosaries home so that they can continue to pray the rosary with you. 

We wrapped up our health lessons today by talking about household cleaners. We again were reminded not to drink something if we don't know what it is. 

In Language Arts class we wrapped up our story The Farmer in the Hat. We reviewed our sight words, long a and c/s/ and g/j/ words. We also practiced identifying and writing proper nouns. 

During Math class today, we used linking cubes to measure. We measured the length and width of our desks. Eventually, we will be using rulers to measure objects. 

In Science class today, we talked about living and nonliving things. Working in groups, students sorted pictures as whether they were living or nonliving. 

Finally in Art class we made pumpkins, a perfect fit to wrap up our study of pumpkins. They turned out great.

Have a fantastic weekend! 

From Pumpkin to Jack-O-Lantern

Today was quite an exciting day in first grade. When the students walked in the quickly discovered a pumpkin sitting on the back table. It did not take them long to figure out that we were going to carve it. However, they had to wait to the end of the day. Patience is hard sometimes. 

In Religion class today we talked about the different seasons in the church year. We learned about each one including the colors we see during the different seasons. 

To continue our health education lessons, today's focus was on drugs. We learned that some drugs can be good for us like antibiotics and immunizations. We talked about making sure that we get medicine from a grown up and never take medicine from strangers. We then talked about the importance of staying away from cigarettes and alcohol. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our sight words, the digraphs sh and th and the vowel sound al. We partner read our story and reviewed the details in the story. We then practiced writing proper nouns remembering that they begin with a capital letter. Finally, we worked in literacy centers. 

During Math class today, we again practiced the adding 1 facts. Today we used a wrap up to do so. 

Finally, it was time to carve the pumpkin. The students from Room 101 joined us for this activity. Everyone got to help pull the seeds out of the pumpkin. Together we decided that our pumpkin would have triangle eyes, a diamond nose, and a vampire mouth. As Mrs. Steberger read them a book about the life cycle of the pumpkin, I carved it. And before you knew it, we had a jack-o-lantern. 

To wrap up this activity, we wrote the steps we took in carving it. I think it looks cute! 

Practicing our Learning

Greetings! Today was another exciting day of learning in first grade! 

In Religion class today, we wrapped up our chapter on Jesus' teachings. We reviewed the Great Commandment and the Good Samaritan story. 

We then continued our health lessons on being drug free. Yesterday we talked about the different functions of the brain; today we talked about ways to keep our brains and bodies healthy. We talked about eating the right foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, brushing our teeth, etc. 

In Language Arts class we read our story The Farmer in the Hat. Before doing so, we reviewed long a and c/s/ and g/j/ words. The students are doing an excellent job reading long a words. 

Tis the seasons for pumpkins! With this in mind, today we talked about the life cycle of a pumpkin and created a flow chart diagram showing each step. 

During Math class today we learned the adding 1 facts. To find the answer, we count by 1's. Please continue to practice these new facts along with the double facts each night. 

For gym class today, we played an old favorite "Alligator, Alligator." The students love playing this game. 

Finally, in Social Studies, we talked about landforms including mountains, plains, rivers, and lakes. We made a shape booklet to help us remember these new words.