Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Today was such a magical day in first grade. I truly enjoy spending the holidays with the children. I love seeing and hearing their excitement. It brings me so much joy. I truly am blessed to be doing what I love where I love it. 

We began our day by reading Where Jesus Slept, a story about that first Christmas so long ago. After a quick Math Meeting, we wrote in our elf journals one last time. Today, Jingles left us stickers. We really did enjoy having Jingles in our classroom this year. 

Then it was time for Christmas fun. Each student was given a math problem to solve. After solving it, they got to punch out a cup to get a prize. They really enjoyed this. After that we watched Charlie Brown Christmas. 

I am truly overwhelmed tonight be your generosity. I was taken back by all the gifts that I received today. Thank you just doesn't seem enough. I am blessed to be working with such wonderful parents and children. Thank you for thinking about me this Christmas. 

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas. I hope everyone finds something special under the Christmas tree, eats lots of good food, laughs with family, and finds time to relax. I'll see you 2020! God Bless! 

Happy Friday!

Greetings! Happy Friday! This week has been one busy and tiring week. Even Jingles is happy that today is Friday! 

We began our day with Mass. Today Fr. Kelt talked to the children about how God made each one of us special and how he loves each and every one of us. 

With Library and an afternoon concert, our morning was very short. For Language Arts today we read one of my favorite books, The Polar Express. After reading the story, we sequenced the events in it. 

After Language Arts, we jumped right to Art class. Today we made a Santa Claus. They look so adorable. I hope you are able to find a spot to hang it up for the holidays! 

This afternoon we headed back over to church to listen to the choir perform their Christmas Eve program. The singing was just beautiful. It really got us more excited for Christmas. 

Just a reminder that Monday is a jean day. It will also be a noon dismissal. Have a great weekend! 

Christmas Fun!

Greetings on this chilly day. I know it is December but boy is it cold outside. To me, it felt like January today. Anyways, we did not let the cold weather stop us from having Christmas fun! 

In Religion class today, the students created their own Nativity scene. I just love seeing their creativity as they color and arrange everyone. They all looked so nice: 

This morning in Language Arts, we read Mooseltoe. After reading the story, we wrote the problem and solution from the story. We then added that to a moose craft. The students used sequins (along with messy glue) to decorate Moose's mustache. Needless to say, they all had fun. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we wrote about being an elf. They wrote about what job they would have and what their favorite part would be. Again, their creativity was awesome to see. 

In Math class today, we practiced solving addition problems. The problems centered around the doubles plus 1 facts. The students used linking cubes, number lines, drew pictures, or just counted up to solve the problems. 

In Social Studies today we talked about cities, suburbs, and towns. 

Finally, Jingles is really enjoying the students. Today he left them a book. 

Have a great night! 

Santa's Stuck!

Greetings on this blustery night! I hope everyone made it home safely. The snow squall sure came at a bad time. 

Today was another fun-filled Christmas theme day in first grade! 

We began our day with Religion. Today we read the Christmas story. We talked about how we can do something special for others this Christmas season. 

We began Language Arts class by finishing up our Grinch activities from yesterday. The students wrote about how they would make the Grinch grin. We then worked in our literacy centers. Finally, we read Santa's Stuck, one of my favorite Christmas stories about Santa getting stuck in the chimney. After reading the story we wrote about what we would do if Santa got stuck in our chimney. We added that to a craft. Have a look: 

We ended our morning with Math class. Today we practiced adding a two digit number and a one digit number. We said that we could count on to find the answer or break the two digit number into tens and ones and add from there. After working with both strategies, the students picked their favorite one to solve problems. 

This afternoon we were treated to our annual Handbell concert. The students in 4-8 grade performed Christmas songs for us to enjoy and did a beautiful job. After the concert, we returned to school and watched the end of the movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas. 

Stay warm! 

Grinch Day Fun!

Greetings! Happy Grinch Day! The students had so much fun today. I just enjoyed watching them have fun. Thank you for helping make this day special. 

The day was even more fun since we had a two hour delay. We did work in the morning and Grinch activities in the afternoon. 

This morning we had Math class. Today we practiced adding by making 10. We did this by using number bonds. The students did very well with this strategy. 

We ended our morning by taking our Spelling test. 

Then the fun began after lunch. The students rotated between the classrooms on the primary floor to participate in various Grinch related activities. They found hidden Grinch words hidden around a classroom, measured hearts using different objects, reviewed story details while completing an interactive quiz on the computer, and made a Grinch headband. We ended our activities by beginning to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas; we will finish it tomorrow. As the students enjoyed the movie, they also enjoyed a cup of popcorn. 

Just a reminder that we will not have Gym class tomorrow because of the Handbell concert. Have a great night! 

A Week Before Christmas!

Greetings! Today was a fun day in first grade. The Christmas excitement is in the air. We are all looking forward to next week. And to top of that excitement today, Santa came to visit. Each student was able to tell Santa one thing he/she would like for Christmas. 

And now for the learning part of our day: 

We began our day with Religion. Today we wrapped up our chapter on the Easter story. We will revisit this story closer to the holiday. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our centers. Then we wrapped up another week of learning. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read soft c and soft g words, spelled and read words with the inflectional endings when the final e is dropped, and wrote sentences using our sight words. We ended the morning by partner reading a story in our decodable reader booklets. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we partner read The Gingerbread Man. We also idenitfied rhyming words as we read Mother goose poems and completed pages in our close reading companion. Finally, we took our weekly assessment and identified past and future tense verbs. 

In Penmanship class this week, we will practice writing Q and q. 

In Spanish class today, we learned two more greetings: buenos tardes (good afternoon) and por favor (please). 

We began a new Math chapter today which will focus on addition and subtraction strategies for the numbers to 20. Today we focused on addition. We practiced making 10 and then counting on. We began by using our linking cubes and then switched to pictures. Hopefully the homework went well tonight. 

And now for some pictures. Here is what Jingles got into over the weekend: 

 And here is our Art project from Friday: 

Tomorrow is our Grinch Day. If we do not have school, then we will have Grinch Day on Wednesday. Please let me know if you have any questions. Stay warm! 

Gingerbread Man Fun!

Greetings! Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great day to end their week. We had a busy day in first grade to end ours. 

We began our day with Mass. Today, Brother Matthew talked to us about always being ready for Jesus to come. 

In Language Arts class we focused on reading -dge words; to do this, we read a decodable reader. After a visit to the library, our focus switched to Grammar. We sorted verbs based on their tense (past, present, and future). We also reviewed adding commas in a series. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we did some creative writing. The students wrote the steps they would take to catch the Gingerbread Man. We then added our writing to a gingerbread man craft. Have a look: 

In Math class today we took a test on the numbers to 20. Next week we will learn addition strategies. 

In Science class today we wrapped up our chapter on matter. We reviewed the three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) and how objects can change states. 

Finally it was time for Art class. Today we made Christmas ornaments. The students used pom-pom ball stampers to create theirs. I'll post pictures on Monday once all of the paint has dried. 

I leave you this week with a picture of Jingles, our classroom elf. Today he left the students pencils. They were so excited to pick one! Have a great weekend! 

People of Integrity!

Greetings! I hope everyone had a fantastic day! We sure did in first grade! 

We began our day by meeting with our Faith Families. Today we focused on the word integrity. With their Faith Families students learned about St. Juan Diego and about what it means to be a person of integrity. 

We began Language Arts class by reviewing our oral vocabulary words. Then we practiced reading soft c and soft g words as well as spelling words with inflectional endings when the final e is dropped. After that we practiced our sight words. Our focus then switched to reading. We partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. Next we read The Gingerbread Man. After reading that story we completed pages in our close reading companion to help build our comprehension. 

In Math class today we reviewed concepts related to the numbers to 20. The students did very well with this. We will be taking our test tomorrow. 

We ended our day with Social Studies. Today we talked about the seasons and the different activities we do in each season. 

Tomorrow will be a busy, fun day to end the week. We will begin with a faith family Mass; students can wear their red Christ is RICH in me shirt to school. We also have Library, Art, and much more! 

A Christmas Concert!

Greetings on this chilly night! It is hard to believe that only two days ago it was 50 degrees outside. This up and down weather is quite strange. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus died and rose to new life. Yes, we know that it is almost Christmas, so it is strange to be talking about the Easter story this time of year. However, it fits perfectly into our Religion curriculum. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned on Monday and then learned three new words (eventually, timid, and foolish). Next, we worked on making predictions as we read a folktale about a foolish rabbit. Following that we practiced segmenting words into sounds by using our sound boxes. Then we used our letter tiles to spell and read soft c and soft g words. After that we learned how to spell words with inflectional endings when the final e is dropped. Finally, we practiced using our sight words in sentences. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we reread The Nice Mitten and wrote cause and effect examples from the story. We did the same thing as we read our decodable reader. 

In Math class today we used our critical thinking skills to solve problems. 

This afternoon was spent enjoying beautiful Christmas music performed by our very own Holy Name School band. We were then entertained by a wonderful play presented by the Intermediate department. Job well done to everyone involved! It was excellent! 

Tomorrow is now a jean day. Students may wear jeans, sneakers, and an appropriate shirt to school! 

Decorating a Christmas Tree!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! It was another dark, rainy day today. All I kept thinking about is that I am glad this wasn't snow. Hopefully, the sun will come out tomorrow (sorry for the pun). 

Our day started off a little funny. Jingles, our classroom elf, decided to use the tissue box as a bed. He does look comfortable, doesn't he?

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus taught in the Temple in Jerusalem. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. We then picked up where we left off yesterday. We practiced reading soft c and g words. Next, we sorted words based on their g sound. After that we learned how to blend and read words with -dge. Following that we learned our new sight words. Finally, we read the folktale The Nice Mitten. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we learned about past and future tense verbs; we practiced writing verbs in past and future tense. Next, we wrote the final steps in how to decorate a tree. 

In Math class today we put numbers in order from least to greatest and from greatest to least. We also identified one more, two more, one less, and two less of a given number. 

After working hard all day, it was time to have some Christmas fun. Today, the students got to decorate our classroom tree. I gave them the ornaments and they all got to put them on. We also added the star and manger. Doesn't it look pretty? 

And, as promised, here is a picture of the Christmas trees we made in Art class on Friday. 

Have a great night! 

A Rainy Monday!

Greetings on this dark, rainy Monday. I will admit that the weather affected us in first grade today. It took us longer than usual to wake up and get going today. It was a great day to stay in bed a little longer. However, once we got the juices following we were off and running. 

In Religion class we talked about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. We talked about how the people waved Palm branches and shouted "Hosanna" as he rode into the city. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. Then we began a new week of learning. Due to the Christmas programs and difficult concepts this week, we will be stretching this week into next week. We learned two new oral vocabulary words (hero and tale). We then worked on making predictions as we read Interrupting Chicken. After that we learned how to blend and read words where the c says s and the g says j (also known as soft c and g words). After reading many words, we then completed a word sort where we sorted words based on their c sound. We ended the morning by reading a decodable reader. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we wrote the first two steps in decorating a Christmas tree. 

In Penmanship class this week we will be practicing J and j. 

In Spanish class today we learned that Spanish words for thank you (gracias), you're welcome (de nada) and good morning (buenos dias). 

In Math class today we worked with number patterns. We identified the missing numbers in a pattern. 

Have a dry night! 

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Greetings! Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a fantastic Friday! We had a busy, awesome day in first grade. We kept going from one thing to the next. Before you knew it, it was time to go home. 

Jingles was quite kind today. Inspired by St. Nicholas, he brought the students candy canes. Needless to say, the students were very excited. Many of them thanked him! 

At Mass this morning, Fr. Brian reminded us that the greatest gift we ever received was Jesus. He reminded us to always be kind and helpful. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read long i words and plurals, and wrote sentences using our sight words. We ended our morning by taking our weekly assessment. 

This afternoon, Language Arts class was devoted to writing. We wrote about what we can give Jesus this Christmas. 

In Math class today, we continued to talk about greater and less numbers in a set. We were able to complete workbook pages with ease! 

In Science class today we talked about how water is a liquid but can change to a solid and a gas. We learned that water evaporates when it becomes a gas. 

After working hard all day, it was time for Art class. Today we made Christmas trees. The students stamped out a tree and then used special stampers to decorate it. I'll post pictures on Monday once everything has dried. 

Have a fabulous weekend! 

Our Advent Prayer!

Greetings! Happy Thursday! I hope everyone made it to work safely this morning. I will admit that it took me longer than I expected today. I was praying really hard this morning! 

We began our day with Religion. Today we watched a video on the life of St. Nicholas. After watching it, we talked about why we remember him and why he is one of the more popular saints. 

Also, in Religion class this week, we have been looking at the Corporal Works of Mercy which is correlating to our Advent theme. Each day we take a work of mercy and talk about what we can do to live it. When we a finished talking, we color a page in our coloring books to help us remember it. 

We began Language Arts class by reviewing our oral vocabulary words. After that we practiced spelling and reading long i words and plurals. Following that we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets along with the play we read yesterday. Then we read a nonfiction piece about plants growing and completed pages in our close reading companion. 

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

In Math class today, we identified the greater and least numbers in a given set. We also practiced ordering them from greatest to least or from least to greatest. 

We ended our day with Social Studies. Today we learned that natural resources are things we use that are found in nature. 

Tomorrow will be a busy day to end our week. We have Mass, Library, and Art! Get some rest! 

Shopping Fun!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! Today was an exciting day in first grade. We got to buy presents for our families at the Secret Santa shop. The students had tons of fun picking out items and helping wrap them. I do hope that everything made it home in one piece! 

In Religion class today we learned that Jesus is called the Good Shepherd. We talked about how he takes care of us and loves us just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. 

In Language Arts class, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We also practiced reading long i words and plurals. In addition we used our sound boxes to segment words into their sounds. Finally, we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklet. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we reviewed our sight words. We also read and discussed the play The Big Yuca Plant. After reading the story we sequenced the events in it. Finally, we wrote the first two steps in planting a seed. 

No surprise, we had fun in Gym class today. We played a game where students ran to hula hoops spread across the gym floor. 

In Math class today we practiced identifying how many more are in one group compared to another. We used our linking cubes to help us do this. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is a $1.00 jean day. If students wear jeans please send in your donation to school. Stay warm! 

Hello, December!

Greetings! Happy December! It is hard to believe that the final month of 2019 is here. This month is always one of my favorites. I love celebrating all of the holidays with the children. 

We were greeted in our classroom today by our classroom elf. His name is Jingles. Each day he will report to Santa on how everyone did and whether or not everyone was a good listener. I'll have to remember to post pictures of Jingles each week too. 

We began our day by going to Adoration. We spent some quiet time in prayer asking God to help those who are sick and those who are in need of special prayers. 

After Adoration, we stopped at the Secret Santa shop. We were able to preview the items and make a list of the things we would like to buy tomorrow. If you wish for your child to purchase gifts, please return their shopping list along with money to school tomorrow. 

We picked up in Language Arts were we left off last week. We reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned last week before learning three new words (assist, grasped, and spied). After that we worked on making predictions as we read a folktale about a giant turnip. Following that we used our letter tiles to spell and read long i words. Then we learned how to make "magic e" words plural by adding an s. Finally, we practiced using our sight words in sentences. 

This afternoon we reread Time to Plant and sequenced the events in the story. We also sequenced the events in our decodable reader after reading it. Finally, we practiced using present tense verbs in sentences. 

In Penmanship this week we will be practicing writing G and g. 

In Math class today we focused on place value. The students used place value blocks to show the numbers to 20. They found this to be very easy! 

Have a great night! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings on this Wednesday before Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is ready to celebrate the holiday tomorrow. 

We had a short but action-packed day in first grade. After starting our day with Music class, we reviewed the season of Advent in Religion class by coloring an Advent wreath and reviewing the order that the candles are lit. 

For Math class today the students created a pattern using pictures of harvest vegetables. 

For Language Arts class today we read Turkey Trouble. After reading the story, we sequenced the different disguises Turkey used in the story. The students then created their own disguise for Turkey. 

Finally, it was time for a break. We enjoyed watching Peanuts Thanksgiving. 

May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving. Enjoy time together, good food, and laughter. See you on Tuesday! 

The First Thanksgiving!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! Today was another day filled with Thanksgiving fun! We also did some regular learning, too. 

Today in Religion class we made our own Advent wreath. Before we did that we reviewed what we learned about Advent yesterday including the importance of the Advent wreath. Each student was given paper flames to cut and glue onto their wreath at home during the Advent season. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. From there we returned to our weekly learning. We practiced reading long i words. After that we learned our six new sight words. Following that we read a play titled Time to Grow. The students really did a nice job reading the play. Next we practiced using present tense verbs in sentences. Finally we wrote the final two steps in how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

Today's Thanksgiving activities focused on the first Thanksgiving. We read about how Squanto helped the Pilgrims that first year, how bountiful their harvest was, and how the first Thanksgiving lasted three days. We created our own Thanksgiving story booklets, compared and contrasted Thanksgiving today to Thanksgiving back then, and wrote about what foods we like to eat on Thanksgiving. We added that writing to a pumpkin pie craft. 

In Math class today we practiced counting the numbers 11 to 20. First we identify a group of ten and then count on. The students are very good at this. 

Just a reminder that dismissal tomorrow is at 12:00! 

Pilgrim Fun!

Greetings on this Monday! I hope everyone is doing well. It seemed that everyone had a great weekend! 

In Religion class today, we talked about Advent. We learned that this church season is a time for waiting, waiting for Jesus to come. We talked about the Advent wreath and how we can be light to others during this season. 

We began Language Arts by working in our literacy centers. We then 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. After that we blended and read long i words. 

With this being Thanksgiving week, we will be taking time to learn and celebrate Thanksgiving. Today we focused on the Pilgrims. We read stories about the life of Pilgrim boys and girls. We sorted activities based on whether they happen now or then. Finally, we wrote about something we would do if we were a Pilgrim. We added that writing to a craft. Have a look: 

In Math class today we began a new chapter. This chapter focuses on the numbers 11-20. Today we took a close look at how to build these numbers by identifying how many tens and extra ones we need. For example, we said that 13 is the same as 10 and 3 more. 

Have a great night! 

Mayflower Fun!

Greetings! Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great day to end their week. As I was preparing the room at the end of the day for next week, I realized that this was our last full week of November. Where has the time gone? 

We began our day with Mass. Today Fr. Brian talked to us about always being thankful for what we have and to show that thanks to God. 

We wrapped up yet another week of learning in Language Arts today. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read long a words, spelled and read words with the contraction for not, and wrote sentences using our sight words. Finally, we took our weekly assessment. 

Library class was extra special today. The students picked their first colored dot book of the year. They know that they are to read their book and bring it back to school to take a test on it. They are quite excited to do this. Thank you for helping them with this. 

In Math class today we took our test on shapes. Next week we will begin looking at the numbers 11-20. 

In Science class today we talked about how objects can be grouped into solids, liquids, and gases. We took pictures and classified them based on their state. 

We finished up our Social Studies lesson from yesterday. We are learning about Thanksgiving and focused yesterday and today on the Mayflower. We read a story about the Mayflower. Then, using what we learned from yesterday and today, wrote about that voyage. We took our writing and added it to a craft. They look so awesome: 

In Art today, we created Indian corn. The students used Q-tips dipped into paint to design their corn. They did a great job. They were so quiet while doing this. Have a look: 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Thanksgiving Feast!

Greetings! Today was quite an exciting day in first grade. We had our annual Thanksgiving Feast. The students waited all morning for the special lunch. And they were not disappointed! 

We began our day with a program from Prince Gallitizin State Park. The presenters talked to the students about woodpeckers. Afterwards, the students were able to create a woodpecker pecking away for bugs. Thank you to the Home and School Association for providing this awesome program for us. 

In Language Arts, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words, read long a words, read and spelled contractions for not, and practiced reading our sight words and using them in sentences. We then partner read a story from our decodable reader booklet and our story from yesterday. After that we read a nonfiction piece about time and completed pages in our close reading companion. Finally, we identified verbs in sentences.  

In Math class today we reviewed shapes. Tomorrow we will take our test. 

Because we did not get to Science last Friday, we had a special Science class today. Today, we learned that we can sort objects into groups. We then conducted an experiment to see which classroom objects floated and which ones sank when placed in water. 

We began our study of Thanksgiving today in Social Studies. We watched Peanuts: Voyage on the Mayflower to learn about the Pilgrims trip and first year in America. 

Tomorrow is a Faith Family Mass. The students can wear their red Christ is RICH in me shirts to school. 

Gym Class Fun!

Greetings! I hope everyone is having a great week. This week is surely flying by. 

In Religion class today we wrapped up our chapter on Jesus teaching his followers. We recalled the story of Jesus calming the water and how Jesus taught his followers the Our Father. 

In Language Arts, we reviewed our oral vocabulary words. We then practiced reading long a words and contractions for not. After that we practiced our sight words. We then switched our focus to fluency. We read a story in our decodable reader booklets. We ended our morning by reading On My Way To School, a fantasy story about what makes a boy late to school. 

This afternoon we wrote about the characters, setting, and plot in the story. We also practiced inserting commas into a list. 

For Gym class today we talked about how we need to exercise to break down fats. The students were divided into teams. Each team was given beans bags (which represented healthy foods) and balls (which represented unhealthy foods). They had to run to another group's area and exchange a ball for a bean bag. They had lots of fun doing this! 

In Math class today we used our critical thinking skills to solve problems. The students also created their own patterns by cutting and gluing shapes. 

Tomorrow will be quite an exciting day. It is our annual Thanksgiving Feast. We also have a special program tomorrow morning! 

Awesome Day!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone enjoyed the sunshine today! We had an awesome day in first grade. The students really worked hard and learned lots today.

In Religion class we took a close look at the Our Father. We took each verse and discussed what it means when we pray it.

We began Language Arts by working in our literacy centers. We then jumped back into our week of learning. We reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned yesterday and then learned three new words (calendar, occasion, and weekend). We then worked on making predictions as we read a nonfiction piece about measuring time. Following that we used our letter tiles to spell and read long a words. Next, we practiced writing contractions for the word not. After that we practiced using our sight words in sentences. Finally, we reread Nate the Snake is Late and wrote about the events in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

This afternoon in Language Arts we read our decodable reader and discussed the characters, setting, and plot in that story. We then created a superhero. Around our superhero we wrote action verbs of all the things he/she can do.

In Math class today we worked with patterns. The students used pattern blocks to create several patterns. They are quite good with this.

Just a reminder that tomorrow is a Jean Day. Students can wear jeans and sneakers to school. They do not need to wear a uniform shirt but can wear a shirt that is appropriate for school. Tomorrow is also Gym day!

Have a great night!

Magic E!

Greetings! Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. My weekend was really busy and went by way too fast. I was joking with my parents that I came to school today for a break. 

We began our day with Religion. Today we talked about how Jesus taught his followers how to pray. We learned that Jesus taught them the Our Father. We also wrapped up our ARISE lessons. Today we talked about how everyone has the right to work. 

We began Language Arts by working in our literacy centers. We then began a new week of learning. Today we learned two new oral vocabulary words (immediately and schedule). We also worked on making predictions as we read A Second is a Hiccup. After that we learned how to blend and read long a words. We learned that if "magic e" is at the end then the a says its name. Following that we learned our six new sight words. We ended the morning by reading Nate the Snake is Late. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we learned about action verbs. We came up with 22 verbs that we then acted out. After that we practiced finding the verbs in sentences. 

In Penmanship class this week we will be practicing F and f. 

New today . . . There has been a change in the Spanish schedule. For the foreseeable future, I will be teaching the first grade Spanish. Today we completed a flip book of things we are thankful for. We read the Spanish and wrote what it means in English. 

In Math class today we worked in groups to create a design using three dimensional shapes. We also looked around our room and identified the various shapes, both two and three dimensional, that we saw. 

Have a great night! 

A Different Day!

Greetings! Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great day. It was a bit of a different day in first grade. I was at a professional development workshop this morning and returned right before lunch. I think the students were quite excited to see me! 

This morning the students attended Mass. Today we welcome Fr. Voytek as our guest celebrant. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts today. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph and words with the inflectional ending -es. We also wrote sentences using our sight words. Finally we took our weekly assessment. 

In Math class today talked about how we can use shapes to make a design. We looked at designs and identified the number of circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles were used. We then used those same shapes to create our very own design. The students loved this, and I loved seeing their creativity. Everyone did something different by imaginative. 

Finally, it was time for Art. Today we made our centerpieces that will decorate our Thanksgiving table during our feast next week. We made turkeys using cups and paper. They turned out great! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

More Fun With Shapes!

Greetings! Today was a hoppin' day in first grade. 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus' followers believed that he was the Son of God. We read (and acted out) the story of Jesus calming the stormy seas. 

As usual, Language Arts was full of learning. We began by reviewing our oral vocabulary words. Next we wrote and read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph and words with the inflectional ending -es. After a break for Guidance class, we resumed with our learning. We practiced reading our sight words. We also partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. Following that we read a nonfiction piece about the directions on the map; we then completed pages in our close reading companion. Finally, we reviewed spelling those irregular plural nouns. 

In Math class today our focus was on three-dimensional shapes. We named the shapes (rectangular prism, cube, cone, cylinder, sphere, and pyramid) and then talked about whether you can stack, roll, or slide each one. 

We ended our day with Social Studies. Today we talked about landforms and bodies of water. We made a little booklet that showcased a lake, plain, and mountain. 

Just reminder that we will be going to the library tomorrow. Don't forget your book! 

Shape Fun!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone made it home safely yesterday. It just seems too early to be worrying about brushing snow off cars. Maybe this will be the worst of the winter. Time will tell! 

In Religion class today we talked about how Jesus invited people to be his followers. We also learned that the 12 Apostles were very close friends and followers of Jesus. Finally, we completed this week's ARISE lesson. Today we talked about how it is our right to make sure that people have things that they need like food and water. 

Language Arts class was busy as usual. We practiced our oral vocabulary words by answering questions with them. Then we used our sound boxes to help us segment words by sounds. After that we practiced reading words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph, words with the inflectional ending -es, and our sight words. Following that, we switched to building our fluency. We partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets. We then read our weekly story, Fun With Maps, a nonfiction story all about different kinds of maps. 

This afternoon, we completed pages in our close reading companion related to our story. We also practiced writing sentences correctly remembering capital letters and periods. 

In Gym today we competed in several relay races. Students worked as a team to either run, walk, skip, or hop to complete various tasks. Even though we all might not have won, we had fun working together. 

Math class was lots of fun today. Our focus today was on dividing shapes into halves and fourths. The students were given squares. Together we talked about how to divide a square into halves to get rectangles and triangles and how to divide a square into fourths to get squares and triangles. We also talked about how each part is either one half or one fourth. 

Have a wonderful night! 

Happy Veteran's Day!

Greetings! Welcome back after that long four day weekend. I hope everyone had time to enjoy family and get some rest. I can tell the students enjoyed their break. They were ready and eager to learn today. 

I hope all of our veterans had a Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you for your service! 

We began our day with Adoration. We spent some quiet time with Jesus praying for those who are sick and for him to help guide us through our day. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. Then we jumped back into our week of learning. We reviewed the oral vocabulary words we learned last Thursday and then learned three new words (height, model, and separate). From there we worked on rereading for understanding as we listened to a story about maps. After that we used our letter tiles to spell and read words with the digraphs ch, tch, wh, and ph. We then learned about the inflectional ending -es and how we us it to make plurals when a word ends in an s, ss, z, sh, ch, tch, or x. Next we practiced using our sight words in sentences. We then switched our focus to reading. We reread Which Way on the Map and wrote about the main topic and key details from the story. We did the same thing as we reread our decodable reader. Finally, we practiced spelling irregular plural words. 

This week in Penmanship we are practicing E and e. 

In Math class, we reviewed the shapes of circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles. We found this to be very easy. 

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

Fun With Maps!

Greetings! Happy Thursday (Friday for us)! The students are quite excited about their four day weekend. They have worked so hard and will enjoy this time off. 

In Religion class today we focused on Ordinary Time. We talked about the stories we hear and special days that we celebrate during this season. 

We began Language Arts by working in our literacy centers. From there, we started a new week of learning. We learned two new oral vocabulary words (locate and route). We worked on rereading for understanding as we read Me on the Map. After that 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 our morning by reading Which Way on the Map?, a nonfiction story about children using a map. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we practiced writing plurals for irregular words like men, children, mice, etc. 

In Math class today we began our chapter on geometry. Today we reviewed characteristics of squares, triangles, circles, and rectangles. We then worked in groups to sort shapes based on color, size, shape, number of sides, and number of corners. 

We ended our day with Social Studies. Today we began our unit on geography. We learned the difference between continents and oceans. We created a small map of the world showing all of the continents and oceans. 

Have a fabulous weekend. See you on Tuesday! 

A Brighter Day!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone enjoyed the sunshine today. We had a great day in first grade. 

In Religion class we continued our talk about the church seasons. We reviewed each one along with their colors. 

We wrapped up another week of learning in Language Arts. We used our oral vocabulary words in sentences, read words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng along with closed syllable words. Following that we wrote sentences using our sight words. We took our weekly assessment and practiced writing proper nouns correctly. We wrapped up our morning by writing about things we are thankful for. We added that to a turkey craft. 

For Gym today we headed downstairs to the Gym. Today we played "Good Ship Spark." It is a fun game that combines running, skipping, and jumping to various commands. They were quite tired by the end of class. 

In Math class today, we took our chapter test on subtraction. Tomorrow we will begin our chapter on shapes. 

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

A Gray Day!

Greetings! Happy Tuesday! Today was a good day in first grade. I think the gray day outside did affect us inside a bit. It was hard to stay motivated all day. We tried our best and succeeded with what we did! 

In Religion class today we looked at the different seasons of the church year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Three Days, Easter, and Ordinary Time. We talked about what we celebrate in each one and what the colors are for the seasons. 

We began Language Arts by working in our literacy centers. We then went back to work with our weekly learning. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words, spelled and read words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng, segment closed syllable words into their syllables, and read our word wall to review all of the words we have learned this year. Following that we partner read a story in our decodable reader booklets along with the story we read yesterday. Finally, we read a nonfiction piece about kids helping in their neighborhood. 

This afternoon we completed pages in our close reading companion that went along with the nonfiction story we went. We ended the day with some creative writing. We wrote about where a turkey could go on vacation on Thanksgiving. 

In Math class today we spent time reviewing. We reviewed what we learned about subtraction. Tomorrow we will take our subtraction test. 

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Gym day. Please wear your sneakers to school. Also, it is the first night of Parent-Teacher Conferences. I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow after school! 

Welcome to November!

Greetings! Happy November! I know this is technically my second post in November, but it feels like the first one. Friday was such a special day in first grade. I forgot that it was a new month. November is one of my favorite months of the year. I love celebrating Thanksgiving with the students and do all the activities associated with it. It will surely be a fun month! 

In Religion class today we talked about safety. We talked about safe adults and strangers and what to do when a stranger comes near. We then talked about safe and unsafe touches and what to do if someone does something to us that we do not like. We all know that we need to run, yell, and tell. 

We began Language Arts class by working in our literacy centers. We then jumped back into the week of learning we began last week. We reviewed our oral vocabulary words. Next, we used sound boxes to segment words into sounds. After that we practice reading words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng. We divided closed syllable words into their syllables, read the word, and identified the closed syllables. Next, we practiced reading our sight words. We finished our morning by reading the fantasy story Nell's Books. 

This afternoon in Language Arts we completed pages in our close reading companion that went along with the story. We also practiced writing proper nouns correctly. 

In Penmanship this week we will be practicing the letters C and c. 

In Math class today we reviewed determining whether a sentence was true or false. We then used our thinking skills to solve problems. 

Have a great night! 

Honoring the Saints!

Greetings on this special day. Today was All Saints' Day, a day where the church honors all of the men and women who became saints. We took time today to share in this special celebration. 

At Mass this morning, Fr. Brian reminded us that we, too, are called to be saints. He encouraged us to always come to Jesus when we need help. 

This afternoon was our annual All Saints' Day prayer service., a time when we remember certain saints. And, as you know, first grade played a major role in the prayer service. The students were so excited to dress up as their given saint. They all looked so nice. They were very prayerful and reverent during the service. Our eighth grade friends did great reading the short biographies. Thank you to everyone who came and thank you for helping to put the costumes together. It was a beautiful service. 

In between Mass and our prayer service, we did do work. In Math, we reviewed writing fact families. In Language Arts, we reviewed the difference between common and proper nouns. We sorted words based on whether it was a common or proper noun. Then in Science class we reviewed habitats. And finally, in Art, we made a giant turkey. They look awesome hanging in our room: 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Happy Halloween!

Greetings! Happy Halloween! Today was a spooktacular day in first grade. We really enjoyed our Halloween celebration! 

We began our day by practicing with our eighth grade friends for tomorrow's prayer service. The prayer service will begin at 1:15 in the church. We are quite excited to dress as our given saints as a reminder to live as they did. 

After a Guidance class, we had some Halloween fun. We read Go Away Big Green Monster. We then created our own green monsters. I loved seeing their creativity come alive as they designed their monster. We ended our project by writing about something our monster can do. 

After lunch, it was time to celebrate Halloween. We got into our costumes and paraded around the cafeteria for all to see. Back in our classroom, we played games and made a spider web craft. Thank you to all of the parents who came today to help. The students really enjoyed it. I am sure they will fall asleep fast tonight. 

Happy Halloween! 

Pumpkin Fun!

Greetings! Happy Wednesday! Today was a great day! We worked hard this morning and celebrated this afternoon. 

In Religion class today, we wrapped up our chapter on the Great Commandment. We reviewed what it was and how we can love God, ourselves, and others. 

In Language Arts class, we reread Thump Thump Helps Out and identified the characters, setting, and events in the story. After talking about them, we wrote them in a graphic organizer. We then read our decodable reader and discussed those same literary elements in them. 

In Math class today we examined a number sentence to see if it was true or false. We used linking cubes to help us to do that. 

For Gym class today, we went outside to the playground. I enjoyed watching a group of students trying to catch leaves as they fell from the tree. They had so much fun doing that. 

After Gym, Mrs. McMullen came to read to us two Halloween stories. She also gave the students masks to wear as she read. Needless to say, they loved them. 

Then it was time to carve a pumpkin. We took turns pulling out the seeds. We then worked together to determine what the eyes, nose, and mouth should look like. After a few minutes of waiting we had our pumpkin just in time for our Halloween party tomorrow. We ended our day by writing the steps in the process of carving a pumpkin. 

Tomorrow is our Halloween party. Please don't forget your costume. Also, tomorrow is a jean day! 

Creepy Learning!

Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying their week and the beautiful weather. We had a tough time coming inside from recess today. On my way home the sun was shining through a stretch of trees. It was just so beautiful. 

Also, on my way home, I pass a Brethren church. They always have neat signs. Today there was a question. I'll answer the question at the end of this post. How does Moses make tea? 

In Religion class today we talked about how everyone is our neighbor. We read the story of the Good Samaritan and then acted it out. We talked about how Jesus told this story to show that everyone is our neighbor.  

We began Language Arts by reading Creepy Carrots. After that we illustrated and wrote about what we would do if creepy carrots followed us. Here is what they did: 

 We then jumped back into our week of learning by reviewing our oral vocabulary words we learned yesterday and then learned three new words (connections, enjoy, and rely). After that we worked on rereading for understanding as we read about a man and his biblioburro, a library carried by donkeys. Following that we used our letter tiles to spell and read words with the digraphs sh, th, and ng. After that we learned how to read closed syllable words like rabbit and picnic. We ended class by using our sight words in sentences. 

Before lunch, we had some pumpkin from. Today we talked about the life cycle of a pumpkin. We read a story to help illustrate how a pumpkin goes from a seed to and orange pumpkin. We created a life cycle pumpkin wheel to help us remember the stages. 

Before Math class today we headed over to church to practice for the All Saints' Day prayer service. The students are getting excited about it. 

We ended our day with Math class. Today we learned how to solve a number sentence when a part is missing. 

Just a reminder that Gym is tomorrow. Wear your sneakers to school. Also, please send in all Halloween treats. They will be bagged tomorrow. 

Here's the answer to my riddle: Hebrews it!