Merry Christmas!

Today was the end of an exciting week. Christmas time is finally here. We are all excited for Santa to come and can't wait to play with our new toys. 

We began our day with Mass. Msgr. challenged us to not drive our parents crazy, to be nice to our brothers and sisters, share, stay safe, and have fun. He also said that when we need help to do those things then we need to turn to Jesus. 

Back in the classroom, we wrote the final entry in our elf journal. Today Jingles left us a note and a book. We did take time to read the book Jingles gave us. 

Then it was time to open presents. I can only imagine the excitement in your houses on Christmas morning! Before we knew it, it was time to go home. 

May you and your family have a blessed, Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year! See you in 2017!

~Miss Chalich 

Christmas Concert!

Greetings on this third day of Christmas week! The students are really getting excited for Christmas. They tell me about baking cookies, wrapping presents, and what they do on Christmas. 

In Religion class today we recalled the Christmas story. The students then created their own Nativity scenes. They colored pictures of the people and animals in the story. They then arranged their own Nativity scene on construction paper. They turned out really nice. 

Our Christmas story today was The Polar Express. After reading it, we sequenced the events in the story. We then made Christmas bells. The students decorated them with foam stickers. The bells could be heard ringing throughout the primary floor! 

Since we were not able to get to Social Studies last week because of the delay, we had it today instead. Today we talked about natural resources. We learned what they are, where they are found, and why we need to save them. 

This afternoon we headed to church for the Christmas Choir Concert. The students sang so beautifully. It was so enjoyable hearing the Christmas music. Our favorite song was the "Carol of the Bells". 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is an early dismissal. 

Ringing of the Bells!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday of Christmas week. Excitement was definitely in the air today in first grade. This morning we had a special delivery. A few weeks ago, I had the students write a letter to Santa Claus. I then mailed them to him and today we received letters back from him. The students were so excited to receive a letter from Santa. 

In Religion class today we continued to learn the Christmas story. Today we read about how shepherds and kings came to see the baby Jesus. We also learned that the kings brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We also talked about the legend of the candy cane. We made candy cane ornaments and attached the legend of the candy cane to them. 

Our Christmas story today was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After reading the story, we talked about ways to make the Grinch grin. We then wrote or illustrated a way and made a Grinch with our writing. 

This afternoon we attended the annual Handbell Concert. We were treated to Christmas carols performed by students in third through eighth grade. The music was beautiful and really got us into the Christmas spirit. 

Tomorrow is a jean day. Students can wear jeans and a Christmas shirt/sweater to school. 

It's Christmas Week!

Greetings! Happy Christmas Week! All week we will be doing some Christmas activities. The students are so excited for Christmas. I love their energy!

In Religion class today, we read the Christmas story. We talked about how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem and how Jesus was born in a manger. We will continue to talk about the Christmas story this week. 

In Language Arts class today, we read Santa's Stuck. We then brainstormed ways we would help Santa if he got stuck in our chimney. We then wrote about what we would do and added it to a craft project. Here are a few examples: 

Our Language Arts class was interrupted by a special visitor. Santa Claus himself stopped by. Everyone got to sit on his lap and tell him the one thing they are hoping for for Christmas. 

Math class today focused on measurement. Together we used linking cubes to measure a pencil, paper clip, marker crayon, and ruler. The students then worked with  partner to measure 4 things in the classroom using the linking cubes. We will soon be using rulers to measure objects. 

This afternoon the students were treated to a surprise. Because they have worked hard all year, the primary teachers decided to reward the students with an afternoon movie. The students got together and we watched Finding Dory. 

Here is a picture of the Santa's from Friday's Art class: 

Have a wonderful evening! 

Brrr . . . It's Cold!

Greetings! It was another cold day on Friday. But we did not let that stop us from learning in first grade. 

After getting settled, we jumped into Language Arts. We first wrote the final step in decorating a Christmas tree. Then we reviewed our oral vocabulary words for the week by using them in sentences. We also practiced reading long i words and plurals. Next we practiced our sight words by writing sentences with them. After that we took our weekly assessment. And before we knew it, it was time for lunch! 

After lunch and recess, we reviewed present tense verbs by using them in sentences. Finally, we did some Christmas writing. The students pretended that they had a pet reindeer and answered questions about their pet. They were so creative in their responses; I love how they turned out. Here are a few examples: 

Then it was time for Science class. We talked about the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases. We also completed a picture sort sorting pictures based on whether they showed a solid, liquid, or gas. 

Finally, it was Art time. We began by painting a few things we will be doing next week. We then made a Santa Claus today. They are drying, and I'll post pictures of them next week. 

I'll leave you with a picture of Jingles. He is really enjoying our classroom! Have a great weekend! Stay warm! 

A Productive Short Day!

Greetings on this chilly December night! It certainly does have a Christmas fill in the air tonight. Just like on Monday, we had a productive day even with two less hours. 

In Religion class today we wrapped up our chapter on the Holy Spirit. We reviewed what happened on Pentecost and the prayers to the Holy Spirit. 

In Language Arts class today, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, used letter tiles to spell long i words, practiced spelling plurals and using them in sentences, and reviewed our sight words by reading the word wall. Then we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets and read a nonfiction pieces about plants. We also talked about diagrams. 

In Math class today we practiced our adding 2 facts. We used a wrap-up to help us. 

We think Jingles was bored this morning without us. He used the linking cubes to make a Christmas tree. Here he is: 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is another 2 hour delay day. We will still be going to the library and having Art. 

Christmas Music in the Air!

Greetings! Today was a busy morning and relaxing afternoon in first grade. We began our day with Religion class. Today we talked about how the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Blessed Trinity. We also learned that the Glory Be prayer is a prayer to the Holy Spirit. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, long i words, plurals, and sight words. After all that reviewing it was time to put our skills to work. We partner read a story in our decodable readers. We then read our story The Big Yuca Plant which was a play about a big yuca plant and how a family worked together to pull it out. Finally, we learned how to write the title of a play. 

This afternoon we went to the annual Christmas Band Concert and Christmas play. It was an afternoon filled with Christmas music and songs. The band students and intermediate students are to be commended for a job well done. The music was absolutely beautiful and performed from the heart. Congratulations to all! 

As promised, here are the pictures from yesterday's gingerbread man writing project: 

Enjoy your night! 

A Full Day of Learning!

Greetings! It was nice to be back to a full day today. Just like yesterday, though, it was filled with learning. 

We began our day by going to Adoration. I reminded the students that it is always nice to spend some quiet time with Jesus especially as we prepare to celebrate his birth. That quiet time talking to him really starts the day off well. 

We had a busy morning in Language Arts class. We learned three new oral vocabulary words. Next, we practiced reading long i words by using our letter tiles to spell and read long i words. Then we learned about plurals and practiced using plurals in sentences. After that we reviewed our sight words before rereading Time to Plant. After rereading the story, we wrote what happened first, next, then, and last in the story. We continued to practice our reading skills by reading our decodable reader. We then switched our focus to grammar and writing. We wrote the second step in decorating a Christmas tree and practiced using present tense verbs in sentences. 

This afternoon for Language Arts we worked in literacy centers. We then did a Christmas activity. We read The Gingerbread Man and then wrote the steps we would take to catch the Gingerbread man. We added a gingerbread craft to our writing. I'll post pictures of it tomorrow. 

In Math class today, we used pattern blocks to cover a design. After covering the design, we sorted the blocks, counted how many of each one we used, and recorded those numbers on a chart. 

Christmas music will be in the air tomorrow; we will be going to the Christmas Band Concert and Christmas play. We are looking forward to it! 

The First Delay!

Greetings on this first two hour delay of the school year. I am hoping that we get the winter weather out of our system sooner rather than later. But I have a feeling that we will make up for last winter this year ☺

Despite starting our day late, we were quite productive today. We learned two new oral vocabulary words and worked on making predictions as we listened to Mystery Vine. We then practiced blending and reading long i words. Next we learned our new sight words for the week. We put our phonics skills to work as we read Time to Plant. The students really enjoyed reading this play. We switched our focus to grammar where we talked about present tense verbs; we practiced finding them in sentences. Finally we wrote the first step in decorating a Christmas tree. 

After all that Language Arts, we switched our focus to Math. Today we identified the odd numbers to 100. We also practiced determining whether a number was odd or even. Finally, we made our own fact cards for the adding 2 facts. 

As you can see, we did a lot today. I know that Jingles is going to give Santa a good report tonight!

As promised, here are pictures of the elves we made in Art on Friday. Enjoy! 

Elves and A Christmas Tree

Happy Friday! Another week has come and gone. This week just flew by for us in first grade. I am sure the students are looking forward to a relaxing weekend! 

We began our Religion class with a prayer service. We had several friends read during it and did such an amazing job. We then returned to the classroom where we learned about Pentecost. On that day, Jesus' followers were filled with the Holy Spirit! 

We wrapped up our week of learning in Language Arts. We practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences and reading long a words and contractions. We then wrote sentences using our sight words. We took our weekly assessment and reviewed verbs by finding them in sentences. 

In Math class today we practiced solving a problem by looking for a pattern. As one student pointed out the one pattern used Christmas colors! 

Then it was time for Science class. We began our study of physical science today. Today we discussed various ways to sort objects. We said that objects could be sorted b size, shape, color, and hardness. We then did an experiment where we sorted objects by whether they floated or sank. We discovered that a linking cube and pattern block float while an Army man, paper clip, piece of chalk, and dice sank. The students really enjoyed this! 

To help make our room festive for Christmas, we took some time to decorate a Christmas tree. The students put the ornaments on the tree and help set up the manger. It looks so pretty: 

And then it was Art class. Today we made elves. They look really adorable. I"ll post pictures of them on Monday once they are dried. 

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay warm!

A Special Mass Day!

Greetings on this cold, snowy night. I was surprised how quickly the weather turned this evening. When I went into Walmart it was fine; by the time I came out, it was snowing. I guess winter is coming. 

To celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we went to Mass this morning. Msgr. reminded us to remember Mary's answer to God and say yes when he asks us to do something. 

As usual, Language Arts was full of learning. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words, used our letter tiles to build long a words, and practiced spelling contractions. We worked on our fluency and comprehension by reading a story in our decodable reader booklets, partner reading On My Way to School, and reading a nonfiction story about time and answering questions in our close reading companion. We then practiced adding commas between a series of verbs. Finally, we wrote the final step in planting a seed. 

For gym class today, we played a game called "I Want a Home." Every student but one had a hula hoop home. On my mark, the student without a 'home' yelled "I Want a Home" and then everyone had to run to find a new home. They loved it! 

In Math class today, we practiced adding 2 to an even numbers; we used our linking cubes to help us solve these problems. We then colored all of the even numbers on a hundred number chart. Finally, we practiced identifying even numbers. We will work with odd numbers on Monday. 

There is a big surprise awaiting first grade tomorrow! 

Telling Time!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I don't know about you but this week is surely flying by for us in first grade. We are working hard, learning lots, and smiling. It has been a blast working with the students this week! 

In Religion today we talked about how Jesus promised to send his followers the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help his followers remember him, love others as he did, and help them tell others about God. We will be learning about Pentecost on Friday. 

Language Arts class was full of learning today. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words, long a words, contractions with not, and our sight words. We practiced reading these words and using them in sentences. Then it was time to read On My Way to School, a fantasy story about a boy who is late to school and all of the animals that make him late. To help us build our comprehension skills, we completed pages in our close reading companion. These pages focused on the plot of the story. This afternoon we wrote the next step in planting a seed. We also reviewed verbs. We acted out various action words and practiced putting commas in a series of verbs. 

Math class centered around time today. We learned how to number a clockface and then show the time on the clock. We are getting very good at telling time. 

Tomorrow will be another busy day. We have Mass in the morning and Gym in the afternoon. Enjoy your night! 

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

The students found a surprise on their desk this morning. St. Nick visited our classroom and left everyone a candy cane. He even gave Jingles one. Jingles must have enjoyed it. He played with some small blocks and made a snow angel. 

In honor of the feast of St. Nicholas we watched a video on his life today in Religion. We learned about how we always prayed to God and trusted him. 

During Language Arts class we reviewed our oral vocabulary words and learned some new ones. We also reviewed long a words by using our letter tiles to spell words. We then learned how to blend, read, and spell contractions with not; we even practiced using them in sentences. We then switched our focus to reading. We read our decodable reader and reread Nate the Snake is Late. After reading them, we talked about the plot in each one and wrote about the beginning, middle, and end of the story. For Grammar today we practiced using action verbs in sentences and created a superhero. Around the superhero we wrote actions he/she can do. Finally for writing, we wrote the first two steps in planting a seed. 

In Math class today we identified the odd numbers to 23 and practiced counting by odd numbers. We will continue to practice counting by odd numbers during our Math Meeting. 

Have a wonderful night!

Busy and Fast Day!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a nice start to their week. As one student said at the end of the day, our day sure went fast. We were quite busy in first grade today! 

In Religion class today we read about how Jesus surprised his followers after he rose from the dead. Peter was so excited that he jumped out of the boat to swim to shore just to see Jesus. We loved Peter's reaction! 

A new week brings us new reading stories and skills in Language Arts. Today we learned new oral vocabulary words. We also learned how to blend and read long a words. We watched a video on Magic e which helped us when we read the words. In addition we learned new sight words. We put our new skills to the test when we read Nate the Snake is Late. We ended the morning by working in our literacy centers. This afternoon we talked about action verbs and practiced identifying them and using them in sentences. 

In Math class today we continued our talk about symmetry. Today we divided a shape in half, traced the line of symmetry, and wrote the fraction one half. 

Enjoy your night! 

A Message from Jingles!

Greetings and Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that it is December already. Where has this year gone? 

The day started with excitement. It seemed that Jingles got into our Play-doh and had a little fun with it. Check it out: 

We began our school day with Mass. Today Msgr. Lockard reminded us that we need to light to others. We do this when we follow Jesus and be Jesus for others. 

We had one busy day in Language Arts. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words, digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph, inflected ending -es, and our sight words. We partner read a story in our decodable story booklets, partner read Fun with Maps, and read a nonfiction selection about compass direction. After reading, we reviewed irregular plural nouns by fixing them in sentences. 

After all that Language Arts it was time for Math class. Today we learned about symmetry. We created a Christmas tree with a line of symmetry. To do this we folded a piece of paper in half, drew half of a tree, and then cut it out. Next week we will continue to talk about lines of symmetry. 

We reviewed in Science class today. We gave examples of living and nonliving things and reviewed the different habitats around the world and the various plants and animals found in them. 

Finally, it was time for Art class. Today we made Christmas trees using strips of paper. We then used white paint to add some snow. Here are some examples: 

Enjoy your weekend! 

Secret Santa Day!

Today was quite an exciting day in first grade. We were quite excited to visit the Secret Santa shop to buy small gifts for our families to put under the tree. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus died and rose to new life, which is what we celebrate on Easter. We also learned that Alleluia is a word of praise. 

We continued learning new skills in Language Arts as well as reviewing old ones. We learned new oral vocabulary words, reviewed words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph, and practiced reading words with the inflectional ending -es. We reread our story from yesterday and worked on identifying the main topic and key details from it. We then read our decodable reader. We ended class by reviewing irregular plural nouns. 

In Math class today we practiced counting dimes and pennies. The students did very good with this skill. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym class! 

Welcome Jingles!

Greetings! Welcome back from Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday spending time with family and friends, eating good foods, and maybe doing a little shopping. It seems that the excitement for the students was the return of the elf. As it turns out, an elf made an appearance in our room today. His name his Jingles and he will be watching us until Christmas. The students are quite excited about this. 

It was a crazy morning filled with Music and Guidance. But once we got started and settled, we were off and running. 

In Religion class today we reviewed the season of Advent. We know that during this time we wait for Jesus. We light candles on an Advent wreath to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World. 

We started a new story today in Language Arts. With that came new oral vocabulary words and new phonics skills. Today we blended and read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph. We also learned new sight words. Our strategy this week is rereading. We read and reread Which Way on the Map? We ended class by talking about irregular plural nouns (i.e. men, children, mice, etc.)

In Math class today we learned to count by 2's to 20. We will continue to practice this skill every morning during our Math Meeting. 

Finally, we visited the Secret Santa shop to make our lists. We will return tomorrow to make our purchases. Please remember to return the shopping list with money tomorrow. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving (a day early)! The students were so excited to leave early today. They are ready for their turkey and some down time! 

We started our day by going to Mass. Msgr. Lockard reminded us to always thank God not just tomorrow but everyday. 

When we returned to class, we read Turkey Trouble. It is a story about a turkey who tries different disguises to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner. After reading the story, we reviewed the disguises he tried and then designed our own disguise for the turkey. The students were quite creative at this. 

Next, we made a harvest pattern. Students colored pictures of pumpkins, apples, and corn. Then they used those pictures to make a pattern. 

And that was that. May you and your family have a blessed, happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy time with family and friends. Enjoy any shopping or football watching. I'll see you next Tuesday! 

Almost Thanksgiving!

Happy Tuesday! Excitement is building in the air for Thanksgiving. The students are excited for the food, play time with friends and family, and some time off. We have only one more day to go. 

We went to Adoration this morning. We enjoyed spending some quiet time with Jesus telling him all that we are thankful for. 

We wrapped up our story today in Language Arts. We practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences and practiced reading digraphs sh, th, and ng and closed syllable words. Then we wrote sentences with our sight words before reading a story in our decodable reader booklets. We ended our Language Arts class by working in literacy centers. 

Math class was quite simple today; we took a fact test. We'll resume the math learning after the break. 

Then it was time to celebrate Thanksgiving. We read about the first Thanksgiving and created a story booklet about it. Then we compared and contrasted the First Thanksgiving with Thanksgiving today. To celebrate all the good food we will eat on Thanksgiving, we made a piece of pumpkin pie. 

Here are some pictures. One picture shows our Pilgrim project from yesterday; one shows a penmanship project we worked on today, and one shows our pumpkin pie. 

Just a reminder that the students will be dismissed early tomorrow! 

Pilgrims! Pilgrims!

Greetings and Happy Monday! It sounded like all of the children loved seeing the snow yesterday. Many were so excited to tell me about their adventures playing in it. I wish I could say that my enthusiasm was as great as theirs. 

In Religion class today we talked about the season of Advent. We learned that Advent is a time waiting for Jesus to come. We light candles on an Advent wreath; those candles help us remember that Jesus is the Light of the World. We then made our own paper Advent wreath. We used our handprints for the leaves and added the purple and pink candles. I sent home the flames. I encourage you to glue them on each week during the season. In my rush at the end of the day, I forgot to take pictures of the finished ones. :(

In Language Arts class we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also reviewed words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng by using our letter tiles to spell words. Next we reviewed closed syllable words. We practiced dividing the word into syllables, identifying the closed syllables, reading the word, and using the word in a sentence. Lastly, we reviewed our sight words by reading the word wall. Then it was time to read. We partner read our decodable reader story. We then read a nonfiction selection in our anthologies about kids helping in the community. Finally, we practiced writing proper nouns correctly. 

In Math class today we learned new math facts: the subtracting 0 facts and subtracting a number from itself facts. Once we discovered the pattern to each set of facts, we found these facts to be simple to learn. 

We ended our day by talking about the Pilgrims. We sorted activities Pilgrim children did to activities children today do. We then created a Pilgrim and wrote about something we would do if we lived back then. 

Just a reminder that book orders are due tomorrow. Stay warm! 

Action-Packed Friday!

Happy Friday! I don't know about you but this week just flew by. I hope the weekend doesn't go as quick! 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus taught in the Temple. We learned that the Temple is a place where people go and pray. We also talked about why the city of Jerusalem is important. 

Language Arts class was full of learning today. We began by reviewing our oral vocabulary words, digraphs sh, th, and ng, closed syllables, and our sight words. After all that reviewing it was time to read. Today we read Nell's Books. After reading we worked on our comprehension skills by completing questions in our close reading companion workbook. 

The students were quite excited to visit the library today and get a colored dot book. We are all excited to take our first AR test next week! 

In Math class today we solved a problem by drawing a picture. Science class took us around the world as we explored different habitats. We went to the desert, forest, and ocean. In each habitat, we talked about different plants and animals that live there. 

We ended our day with Art class. Today we made giant turkeys. They will look great on your refrigerator for Thanksgiving. Have a look: 

Enjoy your weekend! Hopefully the snow will miss us! 

A Thanksgiving Feast!

Greetings! Happy Thanksgiving Luncheon day! We really enjoyed our feast today. The students loved everything from decorating the table, to the meal, to the play. 

In between the feast, we had work to do in first grade. In Religion class today, we talked about how the people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. We learned that they waved palm branches and shouted 'Hosanna!'

In Language Arts class today, we learned new oral vocabulary words. We then practiced blending and reading words with digraphs sh, th, and -ng; we even used our letter tiles to spell words. Next, we learned how to blend and read words with closed syllables. After practicing our phonics skills, we switched our focus to reading. We reread Thump Thump Helps Out and discussed the characters, setting, and events in the story. We then read our decodable reader. We ended class by practicing finding common and proper nouns in sentences. 

In Math class today we learned how to tell time to the hour. We used our clocks to practice showing various times. 

We ended our day with Social Studies class. Today we focused on the Pilgrims. We read two stories about the life of a Pilgrim girl and a Pilgrim boy. We will continue our talk about Pilgrims next week. 

Here are some pictures. One is from our Mayflower lesson yesterday. The other shows our Thanksgiving table decorations. Enjoy! 

On the Mayflower!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I don't know about you but this week is flying by. It is hard to believe that we are only one week away from Thanksgiving. 

In Religion class this morning, we talked about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We call Jesus this because he watches over us and loves us just like a shepherd watches over and cares for his sheep. 

We began a new story today in Language Arts. With that came new oral vocabulary words and new phonics skills. Today we blended and read words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng. We worked on the skill of rereading as we read The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. We also learned new sight words. We put our knowledge to work as we read Thump Thump Helps Out. After all that work in reading, we switched our focus to grammar where we talked about the difference between common and proper nouns. 

In Math class today we learned to count by 2's. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we read a story about the Mayflower. We then wrote facts that we learned from the story. We will add them to a Mayflower craft tomorrow. I'll post pictures then. 

Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving luncheon. Because of our feast, we will not have gym class! 

Wrapping Up the Learning!

Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is going well. We are having a busy week in first grade. 

Today in Religion we wrapped up our chapter on Jesus and his followers. We reviewed how Jesus called his followers and taught them how to pray. We also recalled how His followers came to believe that he is the Son of God. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts class today. We practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences and reviewed reading words with end blends and inflected ending -ing. In addition we practiced using possessives in sentences. We then switched gears and talked about AR. We read Curious George and together took a test on it. We are all excited to begin this program in first grade. 

In Math class today, we learned how to count dimes. Counting dimes is just like counting by 10's. Pretty soon we will be counting dimes and pennies together! 

Picking Up from Last Week!

Greetings! Welcome Back! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Thank you so much for coming in last Thursday. I really enjoyed talking with everyone and sharing your child's progress. If you ever need anything, please let me know. 

We started our day in Religion class. Today we talked about friendship and how we can be good friends. We then talked about good touches and bad touches. Finally, we reviewed the Our Father by putting the words in order. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words from last week as well as end blends and inflected ending -ing. We used our letter tiles to build end blend words and used the -ing words in sentences. We also reviewed our sight words by reading the word wall. Then it was time to read. We read a decodable reader story, a poem, and partner read At a Pond. This afternoon we reviewed possessives by using them in sentences. 

During Math class today we practiced our subtracting 1 facts by using a wrap-up. 

Just a reminder that our Spelling test is tomorrow! 

The End of a Short Week!

Happy Wednesday which is really our Friday. The students are looking forward to their four day weekend. They deserve some time to relax, play, and hang out. They have worked so hard this week; I am so proud of them! 

In Religion class today, we took a look at the Our Father and explored the meaning behind the prayer. He know that when we pray we need to say each word and reflect on its meaning. 

In Language Arts class today, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, words with end blends, words with inflected ending -ing, and our sight words. Once we did that, it was time to read. We partner read our decodable reader story. We also read our story for the week, At A Pond. Here we explored all of the animals at a pond. Next, we practiced using possessives in sentences. Finally, we wrote the last step in brushing our teeth. We did have an extra treat today; we got to use the iPads to practice our phonics skills. 

During Math class today, we learned what the word identical means. We looked at the designs we made last week with pattern blocks and found designs that were identical. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Parent-Teacher Conferences. I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. 

A Fast, Busy Day of Learning!

Happy Tuesday! Today was another busy day of learning in first grade. We kept moving from one thing to another. Before we knew it, it was lunchtime. The afternoon went just as quick. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus taught his followers how to prayed. The students were surprised that Jesus taught his followers the Our Father. We found it amazing that we are still praying this prayer all these years later. 

In Language Arts class, we learned new oral vocabulary words. We also learned how to blend and read words with the inflected ending -ing. We then practiced reading words with end blends by using our letter tiles to spell and read words; we also practiced our sight words. Then it was time to read. We reread The Best Spot and wrote about the main topic and key details in the story. We also read our decodable reader. Finally, we wrote the second step in brushing our teeth. 

During Math class today we learned new math facts. We switched gears from addition to subtraction today and learned the subtracting 1 facts. We discovered that subtracting 1 is just like counting backwards by 1. 

Here is the Art picture I have been promising you: 

Enjoy your night!

Beautiful Fall Day!

Greetings! Happy Monday! What a beautiful fall day it was today! I was surprised at how much it warmed up this morning. We really enjoyed our recess on the playground today. 

In Religion class we talked about how Jesus' followers believed he was the Son of God. We read the story of how Jesus calmed the stormy water and even acted it out too. We talked about how we can follow Jesus in our every day lives. 

In Language Arts class today, we learned new oral vocabulary words and how to blend and read words with end blends. We also learned new sight words. We put our knowledge to the practice by reading The Best Spot and by working in our literacy centers. Taking a break from reading, we wrote the first step in brushing our teeth. We also talked about possessives. 

During Math class today, we learned how to count by 10's to 100. We then practiced counting forward and backwards by 10's to 100. 

I have to apologize. I forgot to take pictures of our Indian corn. I will take them first thing in the morning and post them tomorrow. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our Box Top jean day. Thank you so much for sending them in during the first marking period. 

An Exciting End to a Week!

Greetings! Happy Friday! Today was quite an exciting day in first grade. The students were full of excitement and energy today. That enthusiasm really made the day go fast. 

We began our day by going to Mass. Today Msgr. talked about St. Charles and how we helped found the seminaries. We continue to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. 

When we returned to the classroom, we began with Language Arts class. We wrapped up our week of learning. We reviewed short u, contractions, and our sight words. We wrote sentences with our sight words and took our weekly assessment. We also reviewed singular and plural nouns and practiced using them in sentences. Finally, in conjunction with our essential questions for the week, the students drew a building and labeled all the materials they would need to build it. 

In Math class today we practiced solving a problem by using logical reasoning. And in Science class, we talked about the difference between living and nonliving things. The students worked in groups to sort picture cards into the two groups. They also drew pictures of living and nonliving things. 

We ended our day with Art class. I have been waiting a year to do this one ever since I found it on Pinterest last December. Today we made Indian corn using candy corn. The students glued corn ears and husks to construction paper. They then filled in the corn with candy corn. They turned out awesome. I'll post pictures on Monday once all of the messy glue has dried. 

Enjoy your weekend! 

Learning Around the World!

Greetings! Today was a busy day in first grade. We began with Religion class. Today we talked about how Jesus invited people to be his followers. We read the story about how Jesus called Andrew and Peter. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, short u words, contractions, and our sight words. We talked about captions and the information they tell. When then practiced our fluency and comprehension skills. We read a story in our decodable reader book, partner read The Pigs, the Wolf, and the Mud, and read a story about homes around the world. We also sorted nouns based on whether they are singular or plural and wrote the final two steps in our how to paper on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

We used pattern blocks during Math class today. We covered designs with them and then traced the shapes to show our design. Next week, we will be sorting our designs. 

Because of the rain today, we went to the gym for Gym class. We played 'Good Ship Spark.' This game worked on listening skills and locomoter skills. We left the gym sweaty and tired. 

We ended our day with Social Studies class. Today we talked about continents and oceans. We made a map of the world. Have a look: 

Tomorrow will be a busy and exciting day in first grade! 

On the Second Day of November . . .

On the second day of November, we had a blast learning in first grade. I love seeing the students' enthusiasm to learn each day; they are so eager to learn new things. It is so wonderful! 

In Religion class today we wrapped up our study of Ordinary Time. We talked about the people who help us grow closer to Jesus during this church season. 

During Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, short u, contractions, and our sight words. After all that reviewing we read our story The Pigs, the Wolf, and the Mud. This story is really cute and the students loved it. They especially enjoyed yelling 'yuck'. I hope you enjoy the story tonight. Then after reading, we answered compression questions in our close reading companion workbook. We also reviewed singular and plural nouns and began writing a how-to paper on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

In Math class today, we learned new addition facts: the adding 0 facts. We found that these facts are really easy. We did make our own set of fact cards for these problems and added them to the growing bag of facts we already know. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day. Enjoy your night! 

Welcome November!

Welcome to November in first grade! This month will be full of learning. We will devote time to learning about Thanksgiving and take part in special activities that focus around the holiday! 

We began our day with Mass in honor of All Saints' Day. Msgr. Lockard reminded us that the saints lived holy lives by following the Beatitudes. We prayed that we may follow the Beatitudes and one day fulfill our mission of being called a saint. 

In Language Arts class today we learned three new oral vocabulary words. We also practiced making predictions as we read "The Three Little Pigs." We then reviewed short u words by using our letter tiles to spell words. Next, we learned about contractions. We learned that a contraction is a short way to write two words and that an apostrophe takes the place of missing letters. Our focus this week will just be 's contractions. After that, we worked on our fluency and comprehension skills by reading our decodable reader and rereading Cubs in a Hut and by writing answers to questions that focused on character, setting, and plot. 

In Math class today we learned how to count on. First we rolled two dice, then we found the bigger number, and last we counted on. We worked with a partner to practice this skill and created a bar graph to show the numbers we rolled. 

Enjoy your night! 

The End of October!

Greetings! Happy Halloween! I hope everyone had fun trick or treating this weekend. The students were so excited to tell me about their adventures. I loved every story. 

In Religion class today we finished praying the Glorious Mysteries. The students brought their rosaries home with them today. I encouraged them to continue to pray the rosary at home with you. We also talked about Ordinary Time; we discussed how during this church season, we hear stories about Jesus. 

In Language Arts class, we learned new oral vocabulary words. We also worked on making predictions as we read 3 Little Dassies. Next, we practiced blending and reading short u words. Then, we practiced our sight words for the week. Finally, we worked in our literacy centers to end the morning. This afternoon we talked about singular and plural nouns. 

During Math class today we used a balance to weigh objects. To help us weigh objects we used pennies. We discovered that an eraser is 102 pennies! We also weighed a crayon, pencil, and marker! 

Happy Halloween! 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween (a few days early)! Today was our Halloween parade/party. The students were so excited for this today; they could hardly wait until after lunch. 

But, before we had our festivities, we did some learning. In Religion class today we reviewed the seasons of the Church year. We talked about how we praise God and thank him all year long. 

For Math class today, we completed some Halloween patterns. In Language Arts class, we read a Scholastic News magazine. We even had a special Art class this morning. Today, we made candy corn men. They are awesome! 

After lunch, it was time to celebrate. We enjoyed going up on stage in the cafeteria so that everyone could see our costumes. Thank you to the parents who helped with our party. We enjoyed bowling, playing Halloween Head-Bands, and touching icky Halloween foods. Everyone left with a smile on their face! 

Here are some pictures from the activities we did yesterday and today: 

Parade of Saints!

Today was quite an exciting day in first grade. But before we had our All Saints' Day prayer service, we had some learning to do. 

In Religion class today, we talked about the seasons in the church year. We learned a little bit about each one and talked about the colors for each season. 

Our Language Arts learning centered around Halloween. Yesterday we wrote about how to fly a magic broom. Today we added our writing to a witch craft. Then we read Creepy Carrots. After reading the story, we talked about how we would have solved the problem of the creepy carrots. We drew and wrote how we would solve this problem. We added a creepy carrot to our writing. 

In Math class today, we graphed pattern blocks. Each student took a handful of block, sorted them, and then graphed them. We then answered questions about our graphs. 

Finally it was time for our All Saints' prayer service. The students were so excited to dress as their patron saint and walked so proudly in church. They all looked so amazing. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day special for the students. 

Tomorrow is our Halloween parade/party. Please remember to send in your child's costume in a marked bag. Also, tomorrow is a jean day. It will be another exciting day. 

A Cozy Day!

Greetings! Today was the perfect day for our sweatshirt/sweatpants day. The students were so comfy and cozy all day long. We didn't sweat it; we just said NO! Tomorrow is sunglasses day because we are too bright for drugs! 

Our focus today in Religion class was on the All Saints' Day prayer service. We are so excited for tomorrow. The first graders did such a good job practicing with our eighth grade buddies. Our eighth grade buddies did an awesome job writing their speech. Please come and join us tomorrow at 1:00 for our prayer service. 

In Language Arts class we practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences. We also practiced reading short e words and words with inflected ending. Then we reviewed nouns especially putting commas between them when there are three or more in a row. Finally, we took our weekly assessment. 

In Math class we practiced our adding 1 facts by using a wrap up. These facts are easy for us since it is just like counting by 1's. 

Please don't forget to send in the Halloween trinkets tomorrow. They will be bagged after school. Also, because of the prayer service, we will not have gym class tomorrow. 

Crazy Sock Day!

Greetings on this chilly Tuesday. Unfortunately I think our Indian summer has come and gone; it looks like fall weather is here to stay. It didn't seem to bother the students, though. They enjoyed their recess today. 

In Religion class, we wrapped up our chapter on the Great Commandment. We reviewed ways to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves. 

In Language Arts class we used the Smartboard to review words with inflected endings and to practice using nouns in sentences. We also used our letter tiles to build short e words. Then we read our word wall to review all of the sight words we have learned. After a short break to practice for All Saints' Day, we returned to partner read our story The Red Hat and then reviewed the details in the story. 

During Math class today, we learned new addition facts: the adding 1 facts. We first used linking cubes to help us solve the problems; then we completed our own set of fact cards. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in crazy sock/tie day. The students really enjoyed it. Tomorrow's theme is Don't Sweat It: Just Say NO! Students can wear sweatshirts/sweatpants to school. 

Enjoy your night! 

Red Ribbon Week!

Greetings! Welcome Back! I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. I really missed seeing the students on Friday. From the sounds of it, the students enjoyed their day off. 

Today we kicked off Red Ribbon Week. Our focus today was talking about how we feel when we say no to drugs. We 'Emojin' the Possibilities.' Tomorrow we sock it to drugs; the students can wear crazy socks and/or ties to school. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we talked about who are neighbors are. We read the Good Samaritan story and learned that Jesus said that everyone is our neighbor. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words and our sight words. Then we practiced reading short e words and words with inflected endings. We put our skills to the test as we read The Red Hat. As we read the story we worked on making predictions and on identifying characters, setting, and events in the story. We wrapped up class by reviewing nouns. 

During Math class today we identified activities we do in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night. We placed pictures on a collage that identified these activities. 

Enjoy your night!

Pumpkin Fun!

Today was quite an exciting day in first grade. It was the culmination of our pumpkin study. After learning about pumpkins all week, it was time to carve a pumpkin. We cleaned out the gooey stuff, decided on a face, and waited patiently until I carved it. Here is our pumpkin: 

In addition to carving it, we wrote the steps in the process. Here is an example of our writing process. 

Besides the pumpkin, we did do other learning today in first grade. In Religion class today, we continued learning the Great Commandment. Today we focused on ways to love ourselves and love others. To help us remember the Great Commandment, we created a heart poster. Here is one sample: 

In Language Arts, we reviewed our vocabulary words and our sight words. We also reread Good Job, Ben and wrote about the characters, setting, and events in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Finally, we read our decodable reader. 

It is no surprise that we went outside for gym class today. We just had to take advantage of the beautiful, warm weather. 

In Math class today we used linking cubes to measure the length and width of our desks. This is the first measuring lesson we did. We will soon be using rulers to measure. 

Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend! See you on Monday! 

The Great Commandment

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a fantastic week like we are in first grade. 

In Religion class today, we learned the Great Commandment. Jesus told us to love God, love others, and love ourselves. We will continue our discussion of the Great Commandment tomorrow. 

In Language Arts class, we learned three new oral vocabulary words and practiced making predictions while listening to a story. Then we practiced reading short e words by using our letter tiles to spell and read words. Next, we learned how to blend and read words with inflected ending -ed; we also talked about how the meaning of the word changes when -ed is added to a word. This afternoon, we reviewed nouns by creating a piece of pizza. Under each pepperoni we wrote an example of a person, place, and thing. 

During Math class today we learned how to count backwards from 10 by 1's. We also practiced adding one to a number; we used pennies and a hundred number chart to help us. 

We continued our discussion about pumpkins today. Our focus today was on the life cycle of a pumpkin. We made a flow chart to show the stages. Here is an example: 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day!