Spelling Sidewalk Graffiti

Matthew was LOVING practicing his spelling words outside on the sidewalk today with chalk! Just doing something so small like this is so powerful. The kids are so motivated and can't wait to hear the next word! We wrote on our desks in EXPO markers last month for practice. Hmmm...? What could be next?


In Matthew's Words:
Hi world this is Matthew. I was using chock outside today.
We're writing word's out there. It was so much fun we have learned a lot of thing at
School. we learned the word firm and bird.

Sincerely Matthew

It's Raining in First Grade!

Today the students got to make it rain! They were so amazed to learn a great deal about rain while also having fun! I found this awesome idea on Pinterest, of course! That's where I get most of my cool lessons. And look how easy it was to create. Fill a plastic cup with some water, then add some shaving cream "clouds" on top. We explained to the students that when clouds get full of water (during condensation) that they must let it rain to release the water (as precipitation). We added blue food coloring to the "clouds" and let it drop through the "clouds" to symbolize rainfall.

Akunna the Weather Girl Reports:
I saw some COOl things today! I never knew that when to much water got to heavy into clouds that it turns into precipitation. That's so cool! You won't believe what I got to make ... I got to make it rain in a cup! But it went down very SLOW!

Story Time is Sharing Time! A "Family" Event

We were fortunate to have Adam's mother and ADORABLE little sister, Emily, visit us yesterday. They came to read one of their families' favorite books, "If... " by Sarah Perry. The book helped spark great imaginations in the students and they were excited to have a visitor read aloud to them. We are SO lucky to have such involved students and parents! Maybe YOU can be our next guest reader?

Adam's retake:
If... Is funny. my mom read it. it is Cool. I felt good inside. The end

Making a Book For The Class

Kaitlyn's excitement about this book was too much to not let her blog about it:

Today I made a book. It is about my cat. I'm almost done. It was cool doing it.
My frinds helped me with my book.
I'm going to finsh at my hous.
My mom will help me.

Kindness In The Classroom

In our classroom, we like to promote the students to show kindness to one another at all times. To promote great behavior and teaching math, we give each student ten-frames to collect their stickers. A sticker is given to students that are outstanding in the classroom by showing kindness and sharing with their peers. Stickers are also given for outstanding and over the top classwork. Our students strive to always do more than they have to do. Way to go First Graders!

Curtis' take on the event:

I am kind to others. I helped Alex get a new ten frame. I had 2+6 on my ten frame. I was like Martin Luther King Jr. When hebcouldn't find his tenframe, I had two tenframes. So I gave him 1 of my ten frames, and 8 of my stikers. And that's the way to be Kindness In The...CLASSROOM! GO KINDNESS IN THE CLASSROOM! YAY! Curtis will be there when...YOU NEED HELP! HOORAY!

Alex's take on the event:
HAPPY!:) Wen Curtis gav me the a new Tenframe! I felt HAPPY to!

Money, Money, Money!!!!

Comparing the coins was fun today! We made flip books to describe the features of each coin! Check out the awesome flip book that Cadence did! She always rocks assignments I give her!!!!

Here's Cadence's thoughts:
You now what I did a good job on this. Did you see those coins? I now all the coins. And in the in side I have the collars/ cent/ and the president . The coins we are learning about are penny's Nickel' Dime's and Quarter's and that was a fun job.

Fillin' the Piggy Bank in First Grade

Students were each given a domino. The 2 numbers on the domino would be the amount in their
Piggy Bank. The BIG dominos had to be broken out for these super thinkers! Jake got a 9/7 domino. That meant he could use it as 97 cents or flip it and use it to make 79 cents. He NEVER lets me down ... of course he chose the more challenging 97 cents! Awesome work as always, Jake!

Jake's Say on Money:
Counting money is just like adding. I like to count money. A quarter is worth 25 cents. A dime is worth 10 cents. A nickel is worth 5 cents. And a penny is worth 1 cent. I love money!

Target Math Thoughts From Our Perspectives

Macy's thoughts about Target Math:

I love math like it makes me smart my whole class and me does two target math in one day!when I do it by my self I felt like a 2nd grader!the more I do it the more I get smarter.

Adam's "Aha" Moment!

Adam came to me so excited about his "Short Cut" he found while filling out his hundreds chart! I never get tired of their excitement for learning!!!!

Here's how Adam sees it:
Hi it is me. I figoured it out I went Down. go down at the end of 1 and Put 1. go down at the end of 2 and put 2.

TRANSLATED... Adam came running up saying, "Wow, I figured it out! I see a 5 here and then all I have to do is put a five all the way down! Then I can do the same with the 4's, the 3's...!!!!

Acrostic Poems ... First Names!

It was so cute watching Gracie think of things for her Acrostic Poem! What a little sweetheart!

Grace's Response:
I like it because I wrote this good gril reads a lot awsome can't stop huging Ms.Sorbel excellent at math.

Rockin' Poetry in First Grade ... Haiku Style

These kids absolutely amaze me! Can you believe we are writing Haiku poems in first grade? Melanie was a natural at "playing with the words" to get it to just the right number of syllables.

Melanie's take on her first experience:
I got to show my AWSOME! haiku poetry to the Vice principal.
She said that 3rd graders might not even now what a haiku poem is.
I finished it in about 3 minute it's challenging

Social Studies (Martin Luther King, Jr.) All Star

Check out Marshall's heartfelt reflection below in our "I Have A Dream"... mobile! His dream for himself, he wishes that "he could be the difference."

Marshall's Reflection:
He was nice man he wanted people to be nice he is trying to tell them to be friends he was smart he wanted teamwork

Math Journal All Star

Brianna is a shining star! Look at this great explanation of how she attacked this problem! Amazing writing for a first grader!!! Way to go!

Brianna's Explanation:
Here are the step's to do great as me! Ok...1. You circle the number 2.you underline that question so you can see the question mark 3.you HAVE to PROVE IT cause in GT you have to tell how you did it.like you tell how do you know that! That's the 3 simple steps to move like ME!