Merry Christmas!

Holiday Greetings! Yesterday was such a joyous day in first grade. The students smiled all day, sang Christmas carols, and are so happy for Santa to come! I loved every minute with them! 

In Religion class today, we listened to the story about the legend of the candy cane. The candymaker made it a hard candy to remind us that Jesus is our rock. The white reminds us that Jesus never sinned; the red reminds us of the blood Jesus shed for us. It is shaped like a cane as a reminder that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. After the story, we made a candy cane ornament to remind us of this legend. Have a look: 

Then it was time to open presents. I am beyond grateful for everything and so taken back by everyone's generosity. Thank you so much! The students also had fun tearing into their presents. I would love to see your houses on Christmas morning! 

Before lunch, we played several games of Christmas Bingo. Everyone had fun! 

It was a bit of a sad day in first grade. It was the last time Jingles would be with us. We enjoyed having him in our classroom, and he enjoyed us too. He left us a book today. Here are the pictures of where Jingles was this week in our classroom: 

Over the next few weeks, may you and your family enjoy the holidays together. May you laugh, love, and eat together. May you find time to sit back and soak in the magic of the season and remember the reason for the season. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! See you in 2018! 

~Miss Chalich 

A Special Visitor!

Greetings! Today was another day filled with excitement in first grade. We had a special visitor this morning - Santa Claus! Santa stopped by and each student was able to tell Santa one thing that he/she wants for Christmas. The students were so excited to see him! 

We continued to talk about the Christmas story in Religion class today. Today we focused on how the shepherds and wise men came to see Jesus. Afterwards, the students created their own Nativity scene. I always love how they do this; they are always so creative. 

Our Christmas story in Language Arts today was The Polar Express, a classic. After reading the story, we put the story's events in order. We then decorated bells. The students had so much fun ringing their bells today. 

In Math class today we wrapped up our chapter on addition and subtraction facts to 20 by taking our test. After Christmas our focus will switch to measurement. 

This afternoon we attended the dress rehearsal for the Choir's Christmas Program. The music was so lovely; it filled you with the Christmas spirit. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is an early dismissal day. It is also a special jean day. Please remember to send in your donation to the school family whose house recently got on fire. Enjoy your night! 

Excitement is Building!

Greetings! Today was another day full of excitement in first grade. You could feel the students' excitement this morning. It is just wonderful to see. Like I said yesterday, it makes me want to be a kid again. 

Religion class was quite busy this morning. We wrapped up our chapter on the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus' followers by reviewing the story of Pentecost. We then switched gears and read the Christmas story. We talked about how Jesus was born in a stable so long ago. 

Each day this week in Language Arts, we will be reading favorite Christmas stories. Today we read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I just love this story and so did the students. After reading the story we talked about ways to make a Grinch grin. We then illustrated our ideas and added them in a Grinch craft. 

In Math class today we reviewed solving addition and subtraction problems. The students are quite good at these problems. 

As promised, here is a picture from yesterday's writing: 

Have a wonderful night! 

A Week Before Christmas!

Greetings! Excitement is building in first grade as we are just one week away from Christmas. I just love hearing the excitement; it makes me want to be a kid again! 

We began Religion class today by reviewing the story of the first Pentecost. We then reviewed the three persons in the Blessed Trinity. This lead to us learning a new prayer to the Holy Spirit: Glory Be. The students are already familiar with it since we prayed it when we prayed the rosary. 

We will not be starting a new week of learning this week in Language Arts, but we will be doing some fun Christmas activities. Today we worked in our literacy centers to practice our fluency and comprehension skills. We then did a little writing project. We talked about how at Christmas we don't always have to give gifts but how we can do something kind for someone. We wrote about one thing that we could do for someone at Christmas. I'll post pictures of the writing tomorrow. We finished class by reading Santa's Stuck, a cute story telling about how Santa got stuck in a chimney after eating too many cookies. After we read the story we wrote about what we would do if Santa was stuck in our chimney. 

In Math class today we put on our thinking cap to solve problems. The students really did a good job of applying what they have learned to solve the problems. 

This afternoon, as a Christmas treat, the students enjoyed a Christmas movie. They really enjoyed it! 

Have a great night! 

Snow Day!

Greetings! Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed their snow day on Thursday. As much as I missed the students, I did enjoy my day. I was able to get things done for Christmas. I also hope everyone is having a great weekend. It is hard to believe that we are only one week away from Christmas. 

Friday was such a wonderful day in first grade. We began our day with Mass. Today was our special Christmas Mass. 

In Language Arts we wrapped up another week of learning. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read long i words and plurals, used plural words in sentences, and wrote sentences using our sight words. We then took our weekly assessment and practiced using present-tense verbs in sentences. 

In Math class we solved word problems. We first identified whether it was a some, some more or some, some less problem. We then wrote the number sentence for each problem. The students did very well with this. 

In Science class today we talked about states of matter. We said objects can either be a solid, liquid, or gas. We gave examples of each and then sorted objects based on whether they were a solid, liquid, or gas. 

Finally, it was time for Art class. Today we made a Santa Claus using a paper plate and cotton balls. Here are a few of the finished product: 

Jingles has had fun in our room this week. Here is what he has been up to: 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

A Joyous Day!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! Today was such a joyous day in first grade. The students were so motivated to learn today. They worked so hard. It was such joy to help them grow in their learning today. 

In Religion class today we talked about the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus' followers on Pentecost. We learned that his followers were in a closed room when they heard a strong wind and saw flames of fire above their heads. 

Language Arts class was full of learning. We began by reviewing our oral vocabulary words. Next, we used our whiteboards to write and read long i words and plurals. To help us review our sight words, we played our dice game where students rolled a cube covered in sight words. Whatever word landed up, the students had to use it in a sentence. After that our focused switched to reading. We partner read a story in our decodable reader. We also read a nonfiction piece about plants and completed corresponding pages in our close reading companion. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we worked in our literacy centers. We also reviewed present tense verbs and learned how to write titles. Finally, we wrote the steps in how to plant a seed. 

In Math class today we reviewed subtraction. We worked with a partner to do this. One students picked a number card from 10-20 while the other student selected a card from 0-9. They then worked together to solve the subtraction sentence. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day! Have a great night! 

Our First Wintry Day!

Greetings! Today was quite an exciting day for the students in first grade; they were all excited to see the snow. It is neat to watch their amazement and awe as the snow fell. I'm not sure all the adults feel the same way though. 

For Religion today we went to church to spend quiet time with Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration. We spent time praying for others, asking Jesus to help us, and just talking to him. 

After that we returned to the classroom for Language Arts. We began by reviewing our oral vocabulary words, long i words, plurals, and our sight words. We partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. This afternoon we read the play The Big Yuca Plant and completed pages in our close reading companion. 

Our focus switched from addition to subtraction today in Math. To explore subtraction, we first used linking cubes to solve a problem. We then switched to our number lines. The key for us to remember is that subtraction means to take away. 

Enjoy the snow! 

Christmas Music!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a pleasant Monday to begin another week. We had a great day in first grade today. Our morning was busy, but our afternoon was relaxing. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his followers. We learned that the Holy Spirit would help his followers tell others about Jesus. We then talked about what we would tell others about Jesus. 

We began with a review in Language Arts by reviewing our oral vocabulary words and sight words. Our focus then switched to building our comprehension. We reread Time to Plant and talked about the events in the story. We then wrote the events in sequential order. Next we read and discussed our decodable reader. After that we practiced using present-tense verbs in sentences. 

Math class followed Language Arts today. We spent time reviewing the doubles facts and the doubles plus one facts. We really enjoyed saying our rap again. 

This afternoon we were entertained by two concerts: the Hand bell concert and the Christmas concert. Sounds of Christmas echoed throughout the cafeteria. All of the students did such a wonderful job! It sure got us excited for Christmas. 

Here are some photos for you to enjoy. There are pictures of Jingles and what he has been up to last week in our room. I also have a picture from Friday's Art class. 

Have a great night! 

Honoring Mary!

Greetings! I hope everyone is having a nice weekend! We had a great day on Friday to end our week. 

We began our day with Mass. Today was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a day where we honor Mary. Today we are reminded to follow Mary's example of listening to God. 

In Language Arts class we reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned on Thursday and learned three new words as well. Then we continued to work on making predictions as we read a short fantasy story about a gigantic turnip. Next, we reviewed blending and reading long i words; today we used our letter tiles to help us. After that, we discussed plurals. We practiced making a word plural by adding -s and used that word in a sentence. Finally, we reviewed our sight words. 

Math class was full of learning today. We began by exploring the doubles facts. To help us remember the answer we learned a nifty little rap. We will be saying this rap over the next few weeks to help us with these facts. We then explored the doubles plus 1 facts. 

As one student said "This was the best Science class!" Today we learned how to group objects in a variety of ways. One way was whether or not an object floats. We picked 7 objects around the classroom, predicted whether they would sink or float, and then actually did the experiment. It was a fun time! 

We ended our day with Art class. Today we made Christmas trees using paint. They look so pretty. I'll post pictures next week once everything has dried. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

O Christmas Tree!

Greetings! Happy Thursday! I hope everyone had a nice day at work and made it home safely. I know I was taken back by the burst of snow we had this afternoon. 

In Religion class today we learned that Jesus surprised his followers after he had risen from the dead. We read the story of Peter and the other disciples who were fishing and caught no fish. When Jesus told them to put their nets back in they got lots of fish. Peter was so excited that he jumped out of the boat to see Jesus. This story reminds us that Jesus is with us always. 

We began a new week of learning in Language Arts today. We learned two new oral vocabulary words (sprout and bloom). We also worked on making predictions as we read Mystery Vine. After that we practiced blending and reading long i words. That was followed by learning our new sight words. Our focus then switched to building our fluency. We read the play Time to Plant. Finally, we talked about present tense verbs. 

After all of that learning, we needed a break. So, we decorated our classroom Christmas tree. Everyone participated by adding the ornaments and setting up the manger. Doesn't it look great? 

This afternoon we wrote about the steps in how to decorate a Christmas tree. 

For Gym class today we headed to the gym. Today we bowled. The students were divided into groups and given a set of bowling pins and a ball. They worked together to arrange the pins and to knock them down. They had a blast! 

In Math class today we practiced adding a two digit number and a one digit number. We learned that it is easier o begin with the bigger number and count on. The students did great with this. 

We wrapped up our day with Social Studies. Today we identified the natural resources around us and ways to save them. 

Just a reminder that we have Library tomorrow. Please read your library book. And, as promised, here is a picture of the Gingerbread men from last Friday's Art class. Enjoy! 

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a pleasant week. I will admit that the cold air today was a bit of a shock. It always is after the warm weather we have been having. 

We began our with Religion class. Today, in honor of St. Nicholas' feast day, we watched a movie about his life. We learned about how he cared for those in need and gave presents to children. We learned that we should always try to do a good deed for others. 

We wrapped up a week of learning in Language Arts class today. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences. We read long a words and contractions with not. We wrote sentences using our sight. After that we took our weekly assessment and reviewed verbs by finding them in sentences. This afternoon we worked in our literacy centers. 

We continue to practice adding in Math class. Today we reviewed what we learned yesterday which was adding two single digit numbers. We again used our number lines to help. The students are doing quite well using their number lines. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym class! 

What a Night!

Greetings! I hope everyone enjoyed the show last night. The students did such a wonderful job and put their whole heart into it. It was so heart warming. I know the students really enjoyed themselves. Hopefully, they put you into the Christmas spirit! 

Today we returned to normal in first grade. We began our day with Religion. Today we reviewed our chapter about how much Jesus loves us. 

In Language Arts we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also practiced writing and reading long a words and contractions with not. After that we reviewed our sight words by reading the word wall. Our focus then switched to fluency and comprehension. We partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets as well as our story from yesterday. We read a nonfiction piece about time and completed pages in our close reading companion. We ended class by reviewing verbs; we practiced finding them in sentences. 

We began a new chapter in Math today; for the next several weeks our focus will be on adding and subtracting to 20. To help us learn these concepts we used linking cubes and a number line. We began with linking cubes. We made towers for each number and counted to see how many there were in all. Once the students got the hang of that, we switched to using the number line. We will continue to practice addition tomorrow. 

Just a reminder that our spelling test is tomorrow. Stay dry! 

Christmas Play!

Greetings! Today was quite an exciting day in first grade; it was the day of our Christmas play! The students were excited and ready from the moment they arrived. 

We did do some learning before our big show. In Religion class we talked about how Jesus died and rose from the dead. We learned that he did this because he loves us. We also learned that this is what we celebrate at Easter. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our sight words for the week. Then we read our story On Our Way to School. After reading this story we completed pages in our close reading companion. We ended class by using verbs in sentences. 

Then it was time for our big performance. The students did such a wonderful job! I hope to see everyone tonight! The students will need to be here by 6:00. Please use the main entrance doors. Also, don't forget your cameras! 

Happy December!

Greetings! Happy December! It is hard to believe that a new month is upon us. We had a fantastic day to end our week and start a new month. 

We began our day with Mass. Today Fr. Rizzo reminded us that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

In Language Arts today, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words we have learned this week. We also reviewed reading long a words and contractions with not. In addition, we practiced writing contractions and sentences using the contraction. After that we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. We ended class by reviewing action verbs; we identified them in sentences and used them in sentences. 

In Math class today we took a test on the numbers to 20. The students did quite well with this. We will begin adding and subtracting numbers to 20 next week. 

For Art class today our focus switched to Christmas. Today we made Gingerbread men. They look so cute. I'll post pictures next week. 

Here are pictures of our classroom elf, Jingles. I know the students have been telling you about him all week. Here is what he has been up to: 

Just a reminder that our Christmas play is on Monday. We will perform it at 1:00 and 6:30. The students are to wear their khaki pants and red or green shirt to school on Monday. The students will need to be back at school by 6:00 on Monday. If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Last Day of November!

Greetings! It is hard to believe that another month has come and gone. Time is flying by in first grade this year. 

We began our day with our final rehearsal for our play on Monday. The performance just melts my heart. I can't wait for everyone to see it on Monday! Don't forget your cameras! 

After practice, we started our learning day with Religion. Today we made an Advent week. I sent home four flames with the students. Each week during the season, glue a flame onto the wreath as we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth. 

Language Arts class was full of learning today. We reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned on Tuesday and learned three new words today: calendar, occasion, and weekend. We then practiced making predictions as we read a nonfiction piece about time. Next, we practiced reading long a words; today we used our letter tiles to spell and read words. 

This afternoon we learned about contractions for not. We practiced spelling and reading them. After that we reviewed our sight words. Then our focused switched to reading. We reread Nate the Snake is Late and wrote about what happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. We finished our day by reading our decodable reader and sequencing the events in the story. 

It has seem like forever since we have had Gym class. Today we finally returned to the gym. We used the parachute today. The students loved running under it and shaking it. Smiles were abound. 

In Math class today we reviewed the concepts related to place value and numbers to 20. We will be taking a test on these concepts tomorrow. 

Just a reminder that we have Library tomorrow! Enjoy your night!  

Secret Santa Shopping!

Greetings! Today was quite the day in first grade. We really enjoyed shopping for Christmas presents at the Secret Santa shop. They could not wait to get home and put them under the tree. I hope everyone enjoys their presents! 

After we were done shopping we had play practice. Things are coming together great. We are getting really excited about Monday. 

After all that was done, it was time to grow in learning. Advent continues to be our focus in Religion class this week. We began by reviewing what we learned yesterday. We then talked about things we can do during Advent to bring Jesus' light into the world. We said we could share, buy presents for someone, and use kind words. We are going to try to do all these things during Advent. 

In Language Arts class today, we learned about long a. When a word ends in e, that e makes the a say its name. We practiced blending and reading words and reading them in sentences. Then we learned our new sight words; this week we learned six new words. After that we put our skills to work as we read Nate the Snake is Late, a fantasy story about a snake doing different things. We ended class by learning about action verbs. We created a super action hero. Around our figure, we wrote six actions that he/she can do. 

In Math class today we put on our thinking caps to solve problems. The students worked very hard at solving the problems. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day! Remember your sneakers! 

The Day After Thanksgiving Vacation!

Greetings! Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving break. I was talking to the children today about all of the good food they ate as well as all of the activities they did. It sounded like everyone really enjoyed themselves! 

Today was a bit of a disjointed day in first grade. We began with Computer class and then headed to Guidance class. This afternoon we had play practice and previewed the Secret Santa shop. Despite all of those interruptions, we did manage to do some learning. 

In Religion class today we talked about the season of Advent. We discussed how this is a time of waiting for Jesus' birthday. We also talked about the candles on the Advent wreath. 

Language Arts was a short class today. We did kick off a new week of learning. We learned two new oral vocabulary words: immediately and schedule. We also talked about making predictions as we read A Second is a Hiccup. Finally, we looked at long a words. We will be reading more long a words tomorrow. 

In Math class today, we practiced four new skills. First, we learned how to carry on a number pattern to 20. Next we practiced identifying 1 more than and 1 less than a number. Once we were comfortable with that we did 2 more than and 2 less than a number. Finally, we practiced ordering numbers from least to greatest and from greatest to least. All of these skills came easy to the students. 

The highlight of the day came first thing this morning. When the students entered the room, they were greeted by our classroom elf, Jingles. Santa sent him to us for him to keep an eye on us during December. Each day we will be writing about where Jingles is hiding. 

Please remember that the students will be visiting the Secret Santa shop tomorrow. If you wish for your child to purchase Christmas gifts, please send money in a marked envelope to school tomorrow. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings! Today was a very short day in first grade. We were all excited for the early dismissal. 

We began our day with Mass. Today Msgr. Lockard reminded us to take time tomorrow to thank God for all of the blessings we have. He also reminded us that we need to do this everyday and not just one day a year. 

Back in the classroom, we did several Thanksgiving activities. We read This is the Feast which is about the First Thanksgiving. After reading the story we compared and contrasted the First Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving today. 

After that we created a slice of pumpkin pie. We glued squares of orange and brown construction paper onto a paper plate. We added a cotton ball for whip cream. This made us extra hungry for pumpkin pie. 

Then we read another story, Turkey Trouble. Afterwards we sequenced all of the disguises turkey used throughout the story. We then had the opportunity to design our own disguise for turkey. 

Before we knew it, it was time to go home. 

May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving day. Eat lots, laugh lots, and enjoy lots. See you on Tuesday! 

A Short Week!

Greetings! Welcome back! I sure did miss everyone yesterday. The students were quite excited to see me. They welcomed me back with smiles and hugs. 

For Religion class today, we went over to church for Adoration. We spent time praying to God and thanking God for all of the many blessings we have. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in first grade. We began by using our oral vocabulary words in sentences. We then read words with the digraphs ch, tch, ph, and wh. After that we practiced making words plural by adding the ending -es, reading the words, and using them in sentences. Then we wrote sentences using our sight. After taking our weekly assessment, we reviewed irregular plurals. In addition to all that, we read a short nonfiction piece about maps and completed pages in our close reading companion. 

In Math class today we practiced ordering numbers. We identified which one was the greatest and which one was the least. We also identified by how much. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is an early dismissal day. We will dismiss at noon. Have a great night! 

Turkey Time!

Greetings! Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a fantastic week. We had a good day in first grade to end our week. 

In Religion class today we talked about how the people of Jerusalem greeted Jesus. We learned that they waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna". 

In Language Arts class we read our story, Fun With Maps, and completed pages in our close reading companion. As we read this story, we learned how to use a map key and locate places on a map. Finally, we reviewed irregular plurals. 

In Math class today we reviewed place value. The students did an excellent job remembering what we learned yesterday. We also reviewed concepts related to shapes and ordinal position by completing a test. 

After that it was time for Science. Today we reviewed all that we learned about habitats. 

Finally, it was Art time. In honor of Thanksgiving, we made a turkey using a paper plate and feathers made from scrapbook paper. The students designed their own beak and waddle. They look really cute: 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

A Thanksgiving Luncheon!

Greetings! Today was another very exciting day in first grade. The highlight today was our Thanksgiving lunch. I loved seeing their excitement of sharing a Thanksgiving meal with their friends. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We call Jesus this because he is always with us and always watches over us. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We then reviewed words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph as well as words with the inflectional ending -es. To help us with this skill we partner read a story in our decodable reader. After that we reviewed our sight words by using them in sentences. Finally, we talked about the AR program. Together we read Curious George and took an AR test. We saw that this was easy and fun. We will be picking library books tomorrow so that we can all take an AR test. 

In Math class today we talked about place value. We used base ten blocks to show various numbers from 11-20. We do this everyday in our Math Meeting, so the students did great with this skill today. 

We ended our day with Social Studies. We reviewed Pilgrim life by separating things into two categories, things children do today and things Pilgrim children did. We then started to make a Pilgrim but ran out of time. We will finish them tomorrow. 

Unfortunately, our Thanksgiving Luncheon ran long so we did not make it to Gym class. We'll try again in two weeks! 

Stay warm! 

Midweek Marvels!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! Today was another great day in first grade. The highlight came at recess time as we were able to get outside. The students were able to spend some of the energy they have been saving up this week. 

In Religion class today we wrapped up another chapter. We reviewed how Jesus called his Apostles to follow him, how the Apostles came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and how Jesus taught his followers how to pray. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our sight words; we practiced using them in sentences. Then we worked on our fluency and comprehension. We reread Which Way on the Map?. After that we wrote about the main idea and key details in the story. Then we read and discussed our decodable reader. Finally, we reviewed irregular plurals. Given a list of words, we sorted them based on whether told about one or more than one. 

We began a new chapter of learning in Math class today. We learned how to count to 20. We did this by grouping objects into sets of 10 and then counting on. The students did an excellent job at counting on to find the total. 

Tomorrow will be quite an exciting day. It is our Thanksgiving Luncheon. It is also Gym day! Excitement will be abound in Room 102!

Learning About Thanksgiving!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! I hope all is well with you, and you are settling into the week. We had another busy day in first grade. 

In Religion class today we took a look at the meaning of the words in the Our Father. As we prayed each phrase we stopped to reflect on what the words mean. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned yesterday and learned three new words today (height, model, and separate). We then worked on rereading as we read a nonfiction piece about maps. After that we reviewed the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph as we used our letter tiles to spell and read words. Finally, we learned about the inflectional ending -es. We learned that we add this ending to certain words to make them plural. We practiced reading words with this ending and using the words in sentences. 

In Math class today we wrapped up our study of ordinal position by taking our test. 

Then it was time to celebrate Thanksgiving! We began by learning about the Mayflower. We read a story about it and wrote facts that we learned. We added those facts to our handprint that we turned into the Mayflower. Then we learned about the life of a young Pilgrim boy and girl. The students were amazed at all they did. 

Enjoy your night!

Back in Action!

Greetings! Welcome back! It was so good to see the students today. They seemed to enjoy their days off. I, too, did enjoy the extra time with my family. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we learned that when asked by his followers to teach them how to pray, Jesus taught his friends the Our Father. Many were amazed that this prayer that we still pray today was taught to us by Jesus. 

We began a new week of learning in Language Arts today. We began by learning two new oral vocabulary words (locate and route). We then worked on rereading for comprehension as we read Me on the Map. Next, we practiced blending and reading words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph. After that we learned our new sight words. It was then time to put our new skills to work as we read a nonfiction piece titled Which Way on the Map? This afternoon we learned about irregular plurals. 

In Math class today we reviewed all of the ordinal position words we have been studying. 

Have a great night!

The End of a Week!

Greetings! It is hard to believe that our school week is over. It was such a short and fast week. It is going to feel strange not to see the students until Monday. We had a good day to wrap up our week. 

In Religion class today we read the story of Jesus calming the stormy water. We talked about how that when he did this his Apostles believed that he was truly the Son of God. We also talked about how we can trust and rely on Jesus when things get rough for us. 

We wrapped up our week of learning today in Language Arts. We began by using our oral vocabulary words in sentences. Then we practiced reading words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng as well as closed syllable words. After that we wrote sentences using our sight words. We then took our reading assessment and reviewed writing proper nouns. This afternoon we worked in our literacy centers and wrote the steps in making a PBJ sandwich. 

Problem solving was the focus in Math class today. Together we solved several different problems involving ordinal position. The students did a great job applying their knowledge of position words. 

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

Have a great weekend! 

The First Snow!

Greetings on this snowy Tuesday in November. Needless to say, the snow was a big topic of conversation in our classroom today. We did take a few minutes to look and admire it. The wonder and amazement in their eyes is precious. I can't say I had the same reaction the students did though. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus invited people to be his followers. We read the story of Peter and Andrew leaving their nets and following Jesus. We also talked about how Jesus wants us to follow him. 

In Language Arts class today, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, words with digraphs th, sh, and ng, and closed syllable words. We also reviewed our sight words. After all of that reviewing it was time to work on our fluency and comprehension. We partner read a story from our decodable readers as well as the story Nell's Books. After that we read a short nonfiction piece about kids helping in their community and completed pages in our close reading companion. We finished the morning by reviewing how to write proper nouns in sentences. 

In Math class today we learned new position words: behind, in front of, above, below, up, down, near, and far. We looked at pictures and used these words to identify the place of the people in them. The students especially liked doing this for the circus picture. 

Just a reminder that our Spelling test is tomorrow. Have a great night! Enjoy the snow! 

A Short Week!

Greetings! Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic start to the week. We had a marvelous Monday in first grade! 

In Religion class today, we wrapped up our study of Ordinary Time. We reviewed the season's color and the stories of Jesus we hear. We then wrote the names of the people who help us grow closer to Jesus. 

Language Arts started as a review and ended with practice. We began by reviewing our oral vocabulary words, sight words, and words with digraphs th, sh, and ng. We then put our skills to work. We read Nell's Books and completed pages in our close reading companion. We finished the morning by writing proper nouns correctly. This afternoon we wrote about things we are thankful for and added them to a craft. 

In Math class we reviewed the position words left, right, next to, before, after, and between. The students are doing great with ordinal position. 

Please remember to keep practicing for our play! 

Friday Fun!

Greetings! Today was quite a busy and fun day to end the week. I know we all left tired and ready for a weekend. 

We began our day with Mass. Fr. Rizzo reminded us of Jesus great big love for us. 

After Mass, we practiced for our play. Please remember to practice the lines over the weekend! 

Then, it was back to the classroom for learning. In Language Arts, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also reviewed digraphs sh, th, and ng as well as closed syllable words. We ended class by partner reading a story from our decodable reader. 

In Math class today we reviewed ordinal position. We then talked about the words before, after, between and left, right, and next to. The students are quite good with this. 

In Science class today we talked about habitats around the world. We looked at desserts, forests, and oceans. For each one we idenitfied plants and animals that live there. 

Finally, it was time for Art class. Today we made Indian corn using candy corn. They look great: 

Have a great weekend! 

On the 2nd of November!

Greetings! Happy Thursday! Today was somewhat back to normal in first grade. We had our very first play practice today. The students did a great job listening and practicing their lines. Please continue to practice their lines each night. 

In Religion class today we talked about Ordinary Time. We learned that during this time we hear stories about Jesus healing and teaching the people. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our sight words. Next, we learned how to blend and read closed syllable words. We then reread Thump Thump Helps Out and wrote about the character, setting, and events of the story. After that we read our decodable reader. We finished class by reviewing common and proper nouns. 

In Math class today we learned about ordinal numbers. We identified places to the 10th. The students did quite well with this. 

We took a break from learning to attend a special program. The Altoona Curve and their mascot, Loco, came to talk to us about making healthy choices. These include eating the right foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising. 

We finished the day back in the classroom with Social Studies. Today we learned about mountains, plains, rivers, and lakes. 

Tomorrow is going to be an action-packed day! Stay tuned! 

Celebrating All Saints' Day!

Happy All Saints' Day! Today was a very special day in first grade! 

We began our day with Mass. At Mass, Msgr. Lockard reminded us that we do not need to be afraid in life; we have the saints to help us get through the scary times. 

After Mass, we did do some learning. We began with Math class where we took a Math test on shapes. Tomorrow we will begin learning something new. 

After that, we jumped into Language Arts. We began by learning the difference between common and proper nouns. We then reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned on Monday and learned three new words today. Next, we worked on rereading as we read a story about a man and his unique library. We followed that up with a review of the digraphs sh, th, and ng. We used our letter tiles to spell and read words. 

This afternoon we dressed up as our patron saint for the annual All Saints' Day prayer service. The students were so proud to dress as these holy men and women. During our prayer service, the eighth grade students did a great job reading about the saints. It truly was a special, faith-filled afternoon. 

Thank you to all of the parents who took the time to assemble the costumes for the students. Without you, this could not have been possible. 

Just a reminder, that because of a special program tomorrow, we will not have Gym class. Have a good night! 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Today was a spooktacular day in first grade. It was a great day for a party! 

But, before we partied, we had some things to do. We began by having Computer class. After that, we went to Adoration. We always finding Adoration peaceful and calming. Today, as I was praying, I could hear the students saying their prayers to Jesus. That just melted my heart. 

After Adoration and a quick restroom break, we went back to church to practice for the All Saints' Day prayer service which is tomorrow. Today our eighth grade friends joined us as we prepared for this special service. 

Before lunch, we read Creepy Carrots. After reading the story, we brainstormed ways that we would stop the creepy carrots. We illustrated our ideas and wrote about them. 

Our afternoon was a Halloween celebration. We paraded in the cafeteria for everyone to see our costumes. We then returned to our classroom to play games. Thank you to the parents who came today. This afternoon we played I Spy, Zingo, and cornhole. We had so much fun! 

Tomorrow will be another busy and special day in first grade. We have Mass at 9:30. The prayer service is at 1:15. We hope you can make it! 

Getting Ready for Halloween!

Greetings! The excitement is building in first grade for tomorrow and Wednesday! The students are ready to party tomorrow! 

We began our day with Religion class today. Today we reviewed the seasons of the church year. We talked about what we celebrate in each season and the colors associated with the season. We also finished praying the Glorious Mysteries thus marking the end of our classroom praying the rosary. The students brought their rosary home tonight. Please continue to pray with them using the rosary. 

We began another week of learning in Language Arts. Because of Halloween, All Saints' Day, and play practice, we will be stretching this week of learning. Today we learned two new oral vocabulary words. We also worked on rereading as we read a story about Martin Luther King Jr. Next we practiced blending and reading words with digraphs th, sh, and ng. Finally we learned our new sight words. We put our phonics skills to work as we read the fantasy story Thump Thump Helps Out. This afternoon we worked in our literacy centers and wrote about our favorite Halloween candy. 

In Math class today we reviewed shapes and patterns by solving problems. The students are quite good with these concepts. 

Please remember that tomorrow is our Halloween celebration. Please send costumes in a marked bag. It is also a Jean Day tomorrow! 

Celebrating Pumpkins!

Greetings! Happy Friday (Thursday)! The students are quite excited about being off tomorrow. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! 

We began our day by practicing for the All Saints' Day prayer service. The students are getting really excited about this. They can't wait for everyone to see them as their saint. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts. Today we practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences. Then we read words with end blends and words with inflected endings. After that we wrote sentences using our sight words. 

Then it was time to work on our fluency and comprehension. We partner read two stories: one in our decodable reader and the story from yesterday. We then read a poem and completed pages in our close reading companion. We ended class by taking our weekly assessment and reviewing possessive nouns. 

Gym class was a ton of fun today. We played a game called "Good Ship Spark". I would tell them a command and they had to do it. They might have to run, skip, walk, or do sit ups. They loved this game! 

In Math class today we continued working with patterns. Today the students used pattern blocks to create their own patterns. They were quite creative with this. 

To end our week, our friends from room 101 joined us and together we carved a pumpkin. We reviewed the steps in the process. We then had turns cleaning out the seeds and touching the innards. As I carved the pumpkin, Miss Bender read a story about the life cycle of a pumpkin. Here is our pumpkin: 

Have fun trick or treating! 

Crazy Hair Day!

Greetings! Today was quite an exciting day in First Grade. The students absolutely loved crazy hair day. Thank you for taking the time to make their hair crazy. As much as we enjoyed crazy hair day, we know that it is crazy to do drugs. 

In Religion class today we talked about the seasons of the church year. We learned their names, the colors associated with each season, and what we celebrate during those special times. No matter what season it is, we still praise Jesus. 

Language Arts was full of review and practice today. We began by reviewing our sight words. Next we reviewed end blends and inflectional ending -ing. After that we reviewed our sight words. Then it was time to practice those skills. We partner read a story in our decodable reader. In addition we read a story about animals at a pond and completed some close reading pages after reading that. Finally, we reviewed possessive nouns by writing them correctly in sentences. 

In Math class today we learned about patterns. To help us build patterns, students held shapes in a pattern and then we continued the pattern by adding more shapes. The students did enjoy making patterns today. 

Just a reminder that our Spelling test is tomorrow. Tomorrow is also another jean day. Students can wear jeans and a red shirt to school. Gym day is also tomorrow! We will definitely be smiling tomorrow! 

Red Ribbon Week, Day 2!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! Today was a fun and busy day in First Grade. The highlight came with our special program this morning. Two officers from the Johnstown Police Department brought their canine dogs to school. The officers talked to us about the importance of saying no to drugs. We also watched as the dogs found "drugs" hidden on the stage. Those dogs are absolutely amazing; they are so well trained. The students just loved this. 

Back in the classroom, we went to work. In Religion class today we wrapped up our chapter on the Great Commandment. We reviewed the Great Commandment and discussed ways to love God, others, and ourselves. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words from yesterday and learned three new words today. We then worked on rereading for understanding as we listened to a story about animals in the desert. Next we reviewed end blends; we used our letter tiles to spell and read words. After that we learned about the inflectional ending -ing. We learned how to read words with this ending and how to use these words in sentences. Then we reviewed our sight words. Our focused then switched. We reread The Best Spot and talked about the main idea and key details in the story. We ended our day by reading our decodable reader. 

In Math class today we learned that shapes are all around us. We took time to identify squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, spheres, cylinders, cubes, pyramids, rectangular prisms, and cones in our classroom. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is crazy hair and/or crazy sock day! Have a good night! 

Building with Shapes!

Greetings! Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a nice weekend! It was such beautiful weather! The students had a good time; they are looking forward to the long weekend! 

Today marked the beginning of Red Ribbon Week. Today we kicked off our week by teaming up to say no to drugs. The students loved wearing their team shirts. Don't forget your sneakers for tomorrow. 

We began our week with Religion class. Today we read the Good Samaritan story. After reading and acting out this story, we learned from Jesus that everyone is our neighbors. We ended class by praying the first decade of the Glorious Mysteries. 

In Language Arts class, we began another week of learning. We learned two new oral vocabulary words. We then worked on rereading as we read Babies in the Bayou. Next, we learned how to blend and read words with end blends. After that we learned our new sight words. We finished the morning by reading a nonfiction story about the forest titled The Best Spot. 

This afternoon we reviewed possessive nouns. We also worked in our literacy centers. We ended the day by doing some Halloween writing. The students wrote about things they like. We then added that writing to their picture being covered by a ghost. It is up to others to guess who is hiding under the sheet. They loved this!

In Math class today, the students worked in groups to make  design using spheres, cones, cylinders, cubes, rectangular prisms, and pyramids. Here are the designs: 

Have a good night! 

Candy Corn Men!

Greetings! Happy Friday! This went went by way too fast. We did have a great day to wrap up another week in first grade! 

We began our day by attending Mass. Today Fr. Rizzo reminded us that we are lovable, valuable, priceless, and the apple of God's eye. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts class today. We practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences, reading short u words and writing contractions with the word is and using the contractions in sentences. We also practiced writing sentences using our sight words. After that we took our weekly assessment. We ended the morning by reviewing singular and plural nouns. 

In Math class today we continued our study of shapes. Today we used shapes to make a design. Using squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles, the students created some awesome and unique designs; they were so creative! 

In Science class today we learned the difference between living and nonliving things. Students worked in groups to sort pictures into the two categories. Finally, they drew examples of living and nonliving things. 

Finally, it was time for Art class. Today we made Candy Corn Men! They look so wonderful! Have a look: 

Just a reminder that Monday is Red Ribbon Week! Students can wear jeans and a favorite team shirt to school! Enjoy your weekend!