Merry Christmas!

Greetings for the final time in 2018! Today was a short but action-filled day with the students. 

We began our day at Mass. Today Msgr. Lockard reminded us to be like Mary was in the Gospel. As she went in hast to visit Elizabeth, may we, too, be kind and compassionate toward others. 

Following Mass we had a birthday party for Jesus. The students enjoyed a cookie treat! 

When we got back to our classroom, we wrote in our elf journal for the final time. The students were quite excited to bring them home and share with you where Jingles hid each day. And for the final time, here is what Jingles was up to this week: 

After that, we opened presents. Thank you to everyone for everything. I am truly appreciative and overwhelmed by your generosity. The students even had presents to open. I can only imagine the excitement at your houses Christmas morning. 

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Enjoy time together with your friends and family. Enjoy some yummy foods. I'll see you back on January 2nd! 

More Christmas Fun!

Greetings! Happy Thursday! Today was another day filled with fun Christmas activities! 

We actually began our day with Math. Today we wrapped up our chapter on the numbers to 20 by taking our chapter test. 

Then, following the test, we had Religion class. Today we talked about the importance of giving and how giving is better than getting. We talked about different things we could do for others this Christmas season. We added our writing to a craft. Have a look: 

After that we read the story Mooseltoe, a story about a Moose who forgets to get a Christmas tree and then turns himself into a tree. After reading the story we wrote about the problem and solution. Then using foam stickers, we made our own Mooseltoe. The students loved the stickers! 

This afternoon the students enjoyed the Choir's Christmas program. Christmas music once again filled the church! 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is an early dismissal. Enjoy your night! 

Christmas Fun!

Greetings! Today was an amazing, wonderful, fantastic day all put into one. We spent most of the day working on Christmas projects. The students were so excited to do everything and could not wait for the next activity. I just loved the joy today. It was one of those days that when they left, I counted my blessings. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today, we reviewed the Christmas story. Then, the students colored pictures and created their own Nativity scene. I loved watching them arrange the people and move them around to make it just right. Here is one finished scene: 

We began Language Arts by working in centers. We then devoted the rest of the morning to Christmas stories and activities. First, we read a classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Afterwards we talked about how to make a grinch grin. Students either wrote or illustrate what they would do. This became a Grinch. Have a look: 

Next we read Santa's Stuck, a story about what happens when Santa gets stuck in a chimney. We talked about what we would do if we found Santa stuck in our chimney. We added our writing to a craft. Here are some examples: 

This afternoon we did get back to learning. In Math we reviewed concepts related to the numbers to 20. We are getting better at identifying patterns that don't count by 1's. 

Then it was back to Christmas. We spent time talking about all of our blessings and how we need to count our blessings especially during this time. Students wrote their blessings on candy canes, and we placed our blessings in a stocking. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of these. 

However, as promised, here is a picture of a Santa Claus made on Friday: 

Just a reminder, that we will not have Gym class tomorrow because of the Choir show. Have a magical night! 

Ringing Christmas Bells!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! Today was another fun day in first grade filled with learning and laughter. 

In Religion class, we read the Christmas story. We talked about why Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem and where Jesus was born. We also talked about that when we do something nice for others we are giving them a gift. 

In Language Arts we worked in our literacy centers. We also took time to make some Christmas presents! 

And in Math class we used our critical thinking skills to solve problems. The students did a great job using their thinking caps today. 

This afternoon we went over to church for the annual Handbell Concert. It always amazes me to hear the students play. They did such a nice job. And, as a surprise, even the teachers played a song this year. I will admit that I had fun playing the handbells. 

Enjoy your night! 

All Aboard!

Greetings! Happy Monday! Today was a fantastic day to start our week. It was our first ever Polar Express Day! The students were so excited and were not disappointed with the days' events. 

But, before we hoped aboard the Polar Express, there was work to be done. In Religion class today we talked about how the people greeted Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. We learned that they waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna". 

In Math class today we learned several new skills. We completed number patterns by either counting forward or backward. We also identified the number that is one more, one less, two more, or two less than a given number. Finally we put numbers in order from least to greatest and greatest to least. 

Then it was time to begin our journey. We began by reading The Polar Express. Next, students were given their golden ticket and off they went. They visited each classroom on the primary floor and completed various activities. They wrote about what they would choose for the first gift of Christmas, designed their own pajamas, play BINGO, used jingle bells to measure objects, and drew pictures to sequence the events in the story. As they journeyed to each room, they followed the train tracks on the floor! 

This afternoon we gathered to watch the movie. The students enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate as they watched it. To say that today was a success is an understatement. Everyone left with smiles. It was so fun to see! 

A Week Closer to Christmas!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a fantastic week. The excitement of Christmas is building. The students are getting very excited; I do love it! 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we talked about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. We learned that just like a shepherd cares for his flock, Jesus cares for us. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in first grade. Today we used our oral vocabulary words in sentences. We also read long i words and plural words. We then wrote sentences using our sight words. After that we took our weekly assessment and practiced using present tense verbs in sentences. 

In Math class today we practiced comparing numbers. The students did a fantastic job identifying the greater and least number in a set as well as telling how much greater/fewer a number is. 

Our focus today switched in Science. We will now begin studying matter. Today we learned that we can group objects by like characteristics. For our experiment, we grouped objects on whether or not they can float. The students loved this. 

Finally it was time for Art. Today we made Santa Claus using cotton balls and messy glue. The students were very creative in their artwork! I'll post pictures on Monday once all of the glue has dried! 

Here are the pictures of Jingle's happenings this week:

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Having Fun with Plays!

Greetings! Happy Thursday! I don't know about you but this week is just flying by. It is hard to believe that tomorrow is Friday and that the weekend is upon us. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we wrapped up our chapter on Jesus teaching his disciples. We reviewed how they came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God and the prayer Jesus taught them. 

Then, the students had a special Music class today. The enjoyed their time with one of their favorite teachers! 

Upon returning from Music, we began Language Arts class. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words, read long i words, and spelled words to make them plural. We then reviewed all of our sight words by reading our word wall. After that, we partner read a story in our decodable reader. We ended the morning by writing the final two steps in how to plant a seed. 

This afternoon in Language Arts, we partner read The Big Yuca Tree with each student getting a part in the play. They really enjoyed reading plays this week. Then we read a nonfiction piece about plants and completed pages in our close reading companion. 

For Gym class today we played kickball which is becoming a favorite in first grade. The students are getting much better at fielding the ball! 

In Math class today we identified the greater and least number in a given set. We also identified how many more one set had over the other. 

We ended our day with Social Studies. Today we talked about mountains, plains, rivers, and lakes. 

Tomorrow will be a fun day! We have Art and Library! 

Busy from Start to Finish!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful day! Our day was busy from start to finish! 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we looked at the meaning of the Our Father. We took each phrase and discussed what it means when we pray it. We also talked about praying the prayer meaningfully and not rushing through it. 

In Language Arts, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also practiced reading long i words and plurals. After that we practiced our sight words for the week. Following that, our focus switched to building our fluency and comprehension. We partner read a story in our decodable reader. We also read the play The Big Yuca Plant. After reading that we completed pages in our close reading companion. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we practiced using present tense verbs in sentences by completing an online activity. We also practiced writing the titles of plays correctly. 

In Math class today we talked about place value. We identified the number of tens and ones in a number. We used our base ten blocks to help show numbers. The students are very good at place value. 

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

Christmas Concert and Play Day!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! Today was a busy morning and a relaxing afternoon. We worked hard all morning learning new things so that this afternoon we could enjoy our Christmas Concert and Play! 

We began our day by going to Adoration. We spent quiet time talking with Jesus asking him to help others and to get ready to welcome him at Christmas time. 

Once we got back to the classroom, we had Math class. Today we continued practicing counting to 20 by making 10 and then counting on. The students are great with this; they really understand how to count on. 

Then we jumped into Language Arts class. We began by working in our literacy centers. Then we reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned yesterday and learned three new words (grasped, spied, and assist). After that we worked on making predictions as we read a fable about a man and a giant turnip. Then we practiced reading and spelling long i words by using our letter tiles. We followed that up by learning about plurals when a word ends in an e; all we need to do is add an -s. Next we practiced our sight words by using them in sentences. We finished the morning by rereading Time to Plant and sequencing the events in the story. After lunch we read our decodable reader and answered questions about it. 

Then it was time to enjoy some Christmas music. Our beginner, intermediate, and advanced bands entertained us first. They did a wonderful job playing some Christmas favorites. I was amazed at how great they sounded for being such a young age. Then the Junior High department performed The Christmas Carol. And what a show that was! From the singing to the acting to everything it was a fantastic show. Kudos to everyone involved in today's performances. It truly was a magical afternoon! 

O Christmas Tree!

Greetings! Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! Those days just seem to go by so quickly especially with the holidays approaching. 

We began our day with Religion. Today we learned that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray the Our Father. We were amazed that we still pray this same prayer today taught over 2,000 years ago. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. After that we began a new week of learning. We learned two new oral vocabulary words (bloom and sprout). We then worked on making predictions as we read Mystery Vine. Following that we learned how to blend and read long i words. Finally, we learned our new sight words. With all of this new knowledge, we read a play titled Time to Grow. The students really enjoyed reading this play. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we learned about present tense verbs and practiced using them in sentences. We also wrote the first two steps in how to plant a seed. 

We began a new chapter in Math class today. This chapter will focus on the numbers to 20. We identified these numbers and practiced counting to 20. To do this, we identified a group of 10 and then counted on. The students did very well with this. 

After all of this hard work, it was time to take a break. We ended the day by decorating our classroom Christmas tree. The students put the ornaments on the tree, helped place the star on top and the manger below. Here is our tree: 

Have a wonderful night! 

Christmas Wreaths!

Greetings! Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that this was our first full week of school since the end of October. And we had a fantastic Friday to end our week of learning! 

We began our day with Mass. Today at Mass, Msgr. Lockard talked to us about St. Ambrose and how he answered God's call. He reminded us to always be open to what God is calling us to do. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts today. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read long a words and words with the contractions not. We wrote sentences using our sight words. Then we took our weekly assessment and practiced finding verbs in sentences. 

In Math class we took our test on ordinal position. Next week we will be learning the numbers to 20. 

In Science class we wrapped up our chapter on living things. We reviewed the terms living and nonliving. We also reviewed different habitats and the plants and animals that live there. 

Finally, it was time for Art. Today we made Christmas wreaths by adding shredded scrapbook paper around our painted green paper plates. They look so good! I can't wait to display them in the classroom! 

And finally, here is what Jingles has been up to this week! 

Have a great weekend! 

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Greetings! Happy St. Nicholas Day! In honor of St. Nicholas, Jingles left the students candy canes. He also reminded the students to always be kind and helpful just like St. Nicholas was. 

We began our day by meeting with our Faith Families. With our families, we talked about what it means to be people of integrity. We used the life of St. Nicholas to lead the discussion. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also practiced reading long a words, contractions with not, and our sight words. We worked on our fluency as we partner read a story in our decodable reader and our story from yesterday. We then read a nonfiction piece about telling time and completed pages in our close reading companion that went along with that story. 

For Gym class today we played kickball. The students just loved this. They had fun striking the ball, running the bases, and running after the ball. 

In Math class today we used our critical thinking skills to solve problems. We also reviewed concepts related to ordinal position. The students do quite well with these words. 

Unfortunately, we ran out of time for Social Studies class today. However, on Monday, we had a special Social Studies class. There we created a map of the world showing the seven continents and four oceans. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow we have Mass, Library, and Art! 

"Be Good"

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone made it home safely tonight. As pretty as the snow looked falling, it is not always pretty to drive in. 

Jingles left the students a special message today. He reminded them to be good by spelling those words using our letter tiles. And, yes, the students had a great day today! 

Today for Religion class we watched a movie on the life of St. Nicholas. We learned about how he helped many people and how he had strong faith. Tomorrow we will meet with our Faith Families to talk about how we can live a life on integrity just like St. Nicholas. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We then practiced reading long a words and contractions with not. Finally, we practiced reading our sight words. We then switched gears to focus on fluency and comprehension. We partner read a story in our decodable reader before reading On My Way to School, a fantasy story about why a boy is late for story. Following that we completed pages in our close reading companion to build our comprehension skills. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we wrote the final two steps in decorating a Christmas tree. We also practiced putting commas in a series. Finally, we created our own superhero. Around our superhero we wrote six action verbs telling what he/she can do. 

We ended the morning with Science class since we missed class on Friday because of the delay. Today we took a trip around the world to visit different habitats. We went to the desert, forest, and ocean. At each place we learned about different animals and plants that live there. 

In Math class today we explored the words up, down, near, far, under, below, in front of, and behind. We did not have any troubles with these words! 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym. Please wear your sneakers to school. Also, please have your child wear his/her Christ is RICH in me t-shirt over his/her uniform tomorrow. 

A Typical Tuesday!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! Today was a good day in first grade. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we read the story about Jesus calming the stormy water and how his disciples came to believe that he is the Son of God. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. Then we jumped into our week of learning. We reviewed the oral vocabulary words from yesterday and learned three new words (calendar, weekend, and occasion). Next we worked on making predictions as we read a nonfiction story about things we use to tell time. After that we used our letter tiles to spell and read long a words. Following that we learned how to spell and read contractions for not; the students remembered the contractions for is so this came quite easy to them. Next we practiced using our sight words in sentences. We wrapped up the morning by rereading Nate the Snake is Late and writing details about what happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we read our decodable reader and sequenced events in that story. We then practiced using action verbs in sentences. 

In Math class we continued our study of ordinal position. Today we worked with the terms before, after, between, left, right, and next to. The trick for us is to tell the difference between left and right. 

Have a great night!  

Welcome to December!

Greetings! Welcome to December! I just love this month. I know things are crazy with the holidays around the corner and that there is so much to do. But I just love seeing the excitement in the children's eyes as they wait for that magic of Christmas. It feels my heart with joy. Let the good times begin! 

We began our day with our extra Gym class. Thanks to Mr. Bishop for taking us to the Gym. There he taught them how to play kickball. 

We began our learning day with Religion. Today we wrapped up our study of Advent. We reviewed the meaning of the season (waiting for Jesus), the Advent wreath, and the season's color (purple). After that we began our chapter on Jesus calling people to be his followers. Today we learned that Jesus' close followers were called Apostles. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers to build our fluency and comprehension skills. After that we started a new week of learning. We learned two new oral vocabulary words (immediately and schedule). Then we worked on making predictions as we read A Second is a Hiccup. Following that we learned how to blend and read long a words. This was our first day with long vowels and the students did quite well. They know that they need to look for the 'magic e' to help them decide whether the vowel says its name or not. We ended the morning by learning our 6 new sight words. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we read Nate the Snake is Late, a fantasy story about a snake. Then we talked about verbs; we know that they are the action words in a sentence. We ended our class by writing the first two steps in decorating a Christmas tree. 

In Math class today we began a new chapter. This chapter focuses on ordinal position. Today we identified the position of various objects and people. The students did quite well with this. 

Have a good night! 

"Tree"mendoues Day!

Greetings! Happy Friday! I hope everyone enjoyed their extra time at home this morning. The students seemed to enjoy their time relaxing. 

Because of the delay, our schedule was a bit disjointed today. We began our day with Math class. Today we took a test on shapes. Next week we will begin a short chapter on ordinal position. 

That lead us to lunch and recess; our mornings do go quick when we have a delay. After recess, we began Language Arts. Today we wrapped up yet another week of learning. We practiced using our oral vocabulary words in sentences. When then read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph and words with the inflectional ending -es. After that we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. Next we wrote sentences using our sight words. Following that we completed pages in our close reading companion which helped us practice our map skills. We ended class by taking our weekly assessment and writing irregular plural nouns. 

We ended our  week with Art class. Today we made Christmas trees. The students used a square stamp to make the tree. They then used special cut-out stamps to decorate them. Finally, they added snow around their trees. They look so good! I can't wait to put them in the hallway for all to see. Here are two of the trees: 

As promised, here are pictures of Jingles, our classroom elf, and all of his doings this week. The students especially loved the chair he made using linking cubes! 

Because of the delay today we had to postpone our extra gym class. We will now have our class on Monday. Please remember to wear your sneakers to school! 

Have a great weekend! 

A Great Busy Day!

Greetings! Happy Thursday! I will admit that it was nice waking up to no snow blowing around today. It made the drive to school much more enjoyable. I am hoping for the same for tomorrow. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we learned about the season of Advent. We learned that during this season we wait and prepare for Jesus' birth. We do this by sharing his light with others. When we help others, are kind, and share we bring Jesus' light into our world. We will be working very hard this Advent to be light for others. 

Language Arts was a busy class today. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also practiced reading words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph along with words with the inflectional ending -es. After that we practiced reading our sight words. Then we switched gears. We partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets before reading Fun with Maps, a nonfiction piece all about maps. After reading that story we completed pages in our close reading companion. We ended the morning by reviewing irregular plural nouns. 

The students were quite excited about Gym today; it has been several weeks since our last class. Today we went to the Gym and played 'Good Ship Spark'. The students performed various loco-motor activities based on the command given. They got a lot of energy out today. 

Math class was action packed. We began by reviewing patterns; the students are excellent with them. Then we used our thinking caps to solve problems. Finally, we reviewed all that we learned about shapes. 

That took us to the end of another great day. Just a reminder that tomorrow is our extra Gym class. We also have library and Art! 

Christmas Shopping!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a wonderful Wednesday! The highlight of our day was the Secret Santa shop. They were so excited this morning and a little disappointed that we had to wait a little bit before going shopping. I am happy to say that everyone was able to buy all the gifts they wanted. They were so happy leaving school today with their presents. I just loved seeing the Christmas spirit in their eyes! 

In Religion class today we talked about Ordinary Time. We learned that during this church season we will hear stories about Jesus helping others, teaching others, and forgiving others. 

We began Language Arts class by reviewing the oral vocabulary words we learned yesterday and learning three new words (height, model, and separate).  Next we worked on rereading for understanding as we read a nonfiction piece about different kinds of maps. After that we used our letter tiles to spell and read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph. Then we learned to add -es to words that end in ch, sh, tch, and zz to make the word plural. We ended our morning by using our sight words in sentences. 

This afternoon we reread Which Way on the Map and wrote the main idea and key details from the story. We then read our decodable reader and answered questions about it. We ended our day by writing in our Elf Journal. 

In Math class today we worked with patterns. We practiced identifying the next shape in a pattern. We also used pattern blocks to make our own patterns. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day! 

Thankful for Learning!

Greetings and Welcome Back after our Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone had a wonderful time with family, ate lots of good foods, found a bargain or two (someone had fun Cyber Monday shopping), and maybe had luck in the woods. The students were quite excited to tell me about their break. 

When we walked in today, we had a special visitor. Jingles, our elf, has come! Every day the students will be writing in a journal detailing where Jingles is hiding or what he has been up to. I'll post pictures of Jingles every Friday for all to see. 

Our Religion class today turned out in to be Secret Santa previewing. The eighth grade students helped us make our lists. Tomorrow we will be going shopping. Please remember to send all money in an envelope with your child's name on it. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. Then we began a new week of learning. Today we learned two new oral vocabulary words (locate and route). We practiced rereading for understanding as we read Me on the Map. Next we learned how to blend and read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph. Following that we learned our new sight words. We ended the morning by reading Which Way on the Map, a nonfiction story about students using a map to locate places in their town. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we learned about irregular plural nouns like men, feet, and children. 

We did several things in Math class today. We created a picture using plane shapes and then identified how many circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles we used. Next, we talked about how shapes are all around us. Looking around our classroom we found examples of both plane and solid shapes. 

Enjoy your night! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today was a short day in first grade, but it was filled with Thanksgiving activities. 

We began our day with Mass. Today Msgr. Lockard reminded us to take time not only tomorrow but everyday to thank God for all that we have. 

After Mass we worked on several Thanksgiving themed projects. First we finished the Pilgrims we started yesterday. The students wrote about something they would do if they were a Pilgrim. I just loved how they turned out: 

Next, we read This is the Feast about the First Thanksgiving. We learned that the first Thanksgiving lasted for three days. The Pilgrims and Indians danced, sang, and ate not only turkey but fish. We also learned that they did not have mashed potatoes, stuffing, or cranberry sauce back then. 

Then, we read Turkey Trouble a funny story about a turkey who disguises himself in various costumes to avoid being eaten at Thanksgiving. After we read the story, we sequenced the costumes he used. We then created our own disguise for the turkey. The students were quite clever with their creations. 

Before you knew it it was time for lunch and then dismissal. It was one quick day. 

May you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving! Have fun shopping and stay safe hunting. See you on Tuesday! 

Thankful Tuesday!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! It is hard to believe that today was our last full day of the week. It seems like we just got started. Nonetheless, today was a busy day! 

We began our day by going to Eucharistic Adoration. We spent quiet time praying to God, asking Him to help people, and thanking Him for all of the things we have. 

When we returned from Adoration, we began our Language Arts lessons. First we worked in our literacy centers to build our fluency and comprehension skills. Then we wrapped up our week of learning. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read words with the digraphs th, sh, and ng, read closed syllable words and identified the closed syllables, and wrote sentences using our sight words. We ended the morning by taking our weekly assessment and writing proper nouns correctly. 

Because of the snow day on Friday, we missed our weekly visit to the Library. However, we were able to go this afternoon. All of the students came home with a library book. They will need to read their book over the next week and be prepared to take an AR test on the story. If you have any questions, please let me know. 

In Math class today, we learned that shapes can be used to make designs. We looked at various designs using plane and solid shapes and identified the number of shapes in each one. Next week, we will create our own designs using shapes. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is an Early Dismissal day. 

Snow Days in November?!

Greetings! Welcome back after that impromptu four day weekend. I know it has snowed in November before. I just can't remember having snow days before Thanksgiving. Maybe this was our only blast of winter. One can hope! 

We began our day with Religion. Today we talked about the church seasons. We learned their names, colors for the seasons, and what we celebrate. No matter what season in the church it is, we know that we will always praise Jesus. 

We picked up were we left off at last week in Language Arts. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words, practiced reading words with digraphs th, sh, and ng, and segemented words into syllables. We also reviewed our sight words. After that we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. Finally, we practiced writing proper nouns correctly. 

Today we had our annual Thanksgiving luncheon. We got to eat a wonderful turkey meal with all of our friends. Msgr. Lockard joined us for our lunch. When we finished, we got to see the fifth grade perform a Thanksgiving play. They did such a wonderful job! 

After our extended lunch, it was time to get back to work. We began our afternoon with Math class. Today we learned the names of solid shapes: sphere, cone, cylinder, cube, pyramid, and rectangular prism. We then experimented with them to see which ones can slide, roll, and stack. 

We ended our day by learning about the first Thanksgiving. We watched The Peanuts: Mayflower to learn about the Pilgrims trip on the Mayflower and their first winter here in America. 

Just a reminder that book orders are due tomorrow! 

Dividing Shapes!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone had a good day. We had one busy day in first grade. 

We began our day with Religion class. Today we wrapped up our chapter on the Great Commandment. We reviewed ways we love God, love ourselves, and love others. 

We began Language Arts class by reviewing our oral vocabulary words. Then we practiced reading words with the digraphs th, sh, and ng along with closed syllable words. After that we practiced our sight words. Our focus then switched to reading. We partner read a story in our decodable reader before reading a story in our literature anthology book. Today we read Nell's Books. This afternoon we completed pages in our close reading companion that went along with the story. We also practiced writing proper nouns with capital letters. 

In Math class today we learned how to divide shapes into halves and quarters. We divided squares into halves to different ways and did the same thing as we divided squares into fourths. As one student said, "This is fun!" 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day. Please remember your sneakers. Also, in the event of bad weather, our spelling test will still be on Friday. 

Stay warm! 

Fun with Shapes!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. The students really seemed to enjoy their four days off. From playing with friends to crafts with grandma to pizza night to football games it seemed that everyone did something special. I really enjoyed hearing all of the stories this morning. 

We began our day with Religion. Today we completed our final magazine of the ARISE season. We talked about how St. Paul changed his ways and helped people grow closer to God. That led into a discussion on how we love others going back to the Great Commandment we learned last week. To help us understand who are neighbors are, we read the Good Samaritan story where Jesus told us that everyone is our neighbor. We ended class by talking about ways we can love others. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers where we worked on our fluency and comprehension skills. Then we got back to our weekly learning. We reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned last Thursday and then learned three new words (connections, enjoy, and rely). After that we worked on rereading for understanding as we read a nonfiction piece about a man and his biblioburro. Following that we reviewed the digraphs th, sh, and ng by using our letter tiles to spell and read words. Next we learned how to blend and read closed syllable words by first dividing the word into syllables, reading each syllable, and finally putting them together. In addition to that we practiced using our sight words in sentences. We ended the morning by rereading Thump Thump Helps Out and writing about the characters, setting, and events in the story. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we read our decodable reader and answered questions about the story. We also reviewed common and proper nouns by sorting the nouns into each group. Finally, we practiced for AR. We read Curious George and took an AR test. We learned that it is not to hard, and we are quite excited to begin using this program. 

In Math class today we began a new chapter; this chapter will focus on shapes. Today we learned properties (sides and corners) of the following shapes: circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles. We then practiced sorting these shapes into various groups. This came very easy to the students. In addition to beginning a new chapter we also began working with new Math facts. Today we began learning the subtracting 0 and subtracting 1 facts. 

Tomorrow will be a busy day. We will be getting ready for our Thanksgiving luncheon on Thursday. 

Love is All Around!

Greetings! Today was the end of our learning week. We had a great day to end our week! 

We began our day with Religion. Today we continued our focus on the Great Commandment. Today we talked about ways we love ourselves. Also, to help us remember the Great Commandment we created a giant heart. Here are some of our creations: 

In Language Arts, we began a new week of learning. We learned two new oral vocabulary words (leadership and admire). We then worked on rereading for understanding as we read The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Next we learned how to blend and read words with the digraphs th, sh, and ng. Then we learned our new sight words. 

This afternoon we read Thump Thump Helps Out. We also learned about common and proper nouns. 

For Gym class today we headed outside to the playground. Yes, it was not hot but the weather was just nice to play outside one more time before the cold weather comes. 

In Math class today we took our chapter test on subtraction. Next week we will switch our focus to shapes. 

We ended our week with Social Studies. Today we wrapped up our chapter on communities and talked about Veteran's Day. 

I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow! Have a great weekend! See you on Tuesday! 

The Great Commandment!

Greetings and Happy Wednesday! It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the last teaching day of the week. 

In Religion class today we learned the Great Commandment. Jesus told us that we must love God, love others, and love ourselves. We then spent time talking about ways we show God love. We said that when we help others, are kind, pray, and go to Mass we show God our love. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts today. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read words with end blends and inflectional ending -ing, and wrote sentences using our sight words. We then took our weekly assessment. We ended the morning by using possessive nouns in sentences. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we wrote the final two steps in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We then wrote the names of six things/people we are thankful for. We will turn that writing into a thankful turkey for all to see on Friday. 

In Math class today we reviewed subtraction. We practiced solving subtraction problems, writing subtraction number sentences, and writing fact families. Tomorrow we will take our chapter test. 

As promised, here is a picture of the turkeys we made last Friday in Art: 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day. Don't forget your sneakers. 

A Typical Tuesday!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is having a great week! 

We began our day today with Religion. Today we talked about how many people followed Jesus. They came to hear Jesus teach them how to pray, to learn about God's love, and to help them. 

In Language Arts, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, practiced reading words with end blends and inflectional endings -ing, and read our sight words. Following our review and practice, we switched our focus to building our fluency and comprehension. We partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets and our story from yesterday, At a Pond. After that we read and discussed a poem and completed pages in our close reading companion that correlated to the poem. 

This afternoon was devoted to writing. We wrote the first two steps in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We then wrote about why we love Thanksgiving. This writing will be on display for everyone to read at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday. 

In Math class today we used our critical thinking skills to solve problems. We also spent time reviewing how to solve subtraction problems. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our Spelling test. Have a good night! 

Short Weeks Ahead!

Greetings! Happy Monday! Today began a string of short weeks for us. Even though they may be short in length, none of the days will be short on learning. 

We began our day with Religion class and our ARISE magazine. Today we learned the names of the four Gospels as well as the importance on calling upon the Holy Spirit to help us in times of need. After that, we had our good touch/bad touch lesson. We gave examples of good touches (hugs, high fives) and bad touches (hitting, pushing) and talked about what to do when someone touches us in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable. 

In Language Arts we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We then practiced reading words with end blends and the inflectional ending -ing. In addition, we practiced reading our sight words and using them in sentences. Following that we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets before reading a story from our literature anthology. Today we read a nonfiction piece titled At a Pond. The students sure like reading about animals. This afternoon in class we completed pages in our close reading companion that went along with this story. We ended the day by writing possessive nouns correctly in sentences. 

We began Math class today by practicing writing fact families. Next, we reviewed how to tell if a number sentence is true or false. We did some together, and then students worked with a partner to solve problems. Finally we practiced our adding 0 and 1 facts. 

Have a good night! 

A Crazy Day!

Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Friday was a busy, crazy day to end our week. 

We began our day with Mass. At Mass, Msgr. Lcokard reminded us to pray for all of those who have died as Friday was All Soul's Day. He also reminded us to be kind and helpful so that one day we too may join everyone in heaven. 

After Mass, we got back into a saint costumes to get pictures with our faith families. I cannot express who well behaved the students were during this period. I am so proud of them. 

In Language Arts, we learned how to read words with the inflectional ending -ing and how to use those words in sentences. Next, we practiced using our sight words in sentences. After that, we reread The Best Spot and wrote the main idea and key details from the story. Then we read our decodable reader and answered questions about it. We ended class by using possessive nouns in sentences. 

In Math class today we determined whether a number sentence was true or false. The students really enjoyed solving these problems. 

In Science class, we classified things as living or nonliving. The students worked in groups to sort pictures into these two categories. 

Finally, after a long day, it was time for Art. Our focus today switched to Thanksgiving. We made giant turkeys. I will post pictures on Monday once I have them hung up in our classroom. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Honoring the Saints!

Greetings! Today was such a special day in first grade. I will admit that today is my favorite day of the year. I just love seeing the students in the saint outfits and the reverence they show. 

We began our day with Mass. Today Msgr. Lockard reminded us that saints aren't people who lived long ago but are people who live today. They don't have to be recognized to be saints. He told us two stories about people who lived their lives by helping others and who he considers saints. 

In Language Arts class today we learned three new oral vocabulary words (hibernate, tranquil, and tolerate). We worked on rereading for details as we heard about animals in the desert. Finally, we practiced spelling and reading words with end blends. 

In Math class we practiced writing fact families. We also used our knowledge of fact families to help us solve problems. 

This afternoon was dedicated to our All Saints' Day prayer service. The students looked amazing in their costumes. Thank you for helping with that. The prayer service was beautiful; the eighth grade did such a nice job reading about the saints. It truly was a special afternoon. 

Tomorrow will be busy in first grade. We have Mass, Library, and Art. We also will be getting back into our saint costumes to get pictures with our faith families. 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Today was such a fun day in first grade. It was a day where we took a break from the day-to-day learning and had some Halloween fun! 

We began our day by practicing for the All Saints' Day prayer service with our eighth grade friends. The students are quite excited for tomorrow. They can't wait for everyone to see them as their saint. 

The rest of the morning was dedicated to Halloween fun. We finished Halloween patterns. We labeled the parts of the pumpkin and read about spiders. We listened to the story The Ghost's Dinner, a funny story about how the ghosts changed colors based on what they ate. After reading the story we wrote about what our ghost ate and what color it turned. We added a colorful ghost t our writing. This was such a fun project; I wish I would have remembered to take pictures. 

After lunch, we got dressed in our Halloween costumes. We paraded outside for everyone to see us. Then it was time to party. We played BINGO, danced to Halloween songs, played basketball, and participated in spider relay races. Thank you to all of the parents who helped make our party so much fun! 

Our prayer service is at 1:15 tomorrow. We hope to see you there! 

Pumpkin Fun!

Greetings! Twas the day before Halloween in first grade, and all are excited for the party tomorrow! One could not pass by our room and hear the excitement today! 

We began are day by going to Adoration. We spent quiet time praying to Jesus asking him to help other, help us have a good day, and help us be kind to everyone. 

We began Language Arts by working in our literacy centers to build our fluency and comprehension skills. Next, we practiced reading words with end blends. After that we learned our new sight words. Following that, we read The Best Spot about animals in the forest. We ended class by reviewing possessive nouns. 

In Math class, we learned how to write fact families. The key is to remember that a part and a part make a whole when writing addition sentences and that a whole minus a part equals a part when writing subtraction sentences. We will be practicing this more tomorrow. 

This afternoon we had pumpkin fun in first grade. We learned about the parts of a pumpkin and then got to carve it. The students helped take out the seeds and then worked together to help design the face. While I carved the pumpkin, the students wrote the steps in the process. Here is our pumpkin: 

Tomorrow is our Halloween party. Please send all costumes in a bag. We will have a spooktacular day! 

Ironic Learning!

Greetings! Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a nice three day weekend. I loved hearing all about trick or treat this morning. By the sounds of it, they came home with lots of candy! 

We began our day by practicing for our All Saints' Day prayer service which is on Thursday. They remembered everything we did last week and did well with some new things added today. 

After that we worked on our ARISE magazine for the week. It ironic, but the theme this week is how Jesus welcomed and loved everyone. We talked about ways to welcome and include others. In the wake of the events this past weekend, let us pray that love will continue to be triumph in our world. 

We will be slowing things down in Language Arts this week; there is a lot going on. So, today we began by working in our literacy centers. Then we learned two new oral vocabulary words (habitat and depend). After that we worked on rereading for details as we read Babies on the Bayou. We ended class by learning how to blend and read words with end blends. 

In Math class today, we solved word problems by subtracting. We also began our fact practice. Beginning today, we will be working on mastering both addition and subtraction facts. We are starting with adding 0 and adding 1 facts. The students did quite well with them. 

In honor of Halloween, we began our study of pumpkins today. We read a story on the life cycle of a pumpkin and created our own diagram to show the steps. 

Please remember to send in all Halloween treats tomorrow. They will be bagged by parent volunteers after school for easy distribution on Wednesday.