I love so many things about Daily 5, but the first 'Read to Someone' is my favorite!  This time it happened to fall on a Friday so we tried out our flashlights.

Saving Fred

We tried a team building activity today and learned it is sometimes hard to work with friends but if we listen, keep calm, use kind voices, and encourage each other we will figure out solutions to our problems.

Best Start Ever!!

Wow!! Only ten days in and your kids are amazing me every day!
We celebrated Zero the Hero today- forgot to take pictures!  Sorry!!

In math we are learning about addition and have been joining groups of goldfish crackers, fruit loops, marshmallows, and pretzels.  Math is delicious!

We have been building stamina in reading, math, and writing.  We practice working independenly in all these subjects so I can have one on one conferences with students or work with small groups.  Our goal in reading is 20 minutes of independent reading and usually it takes first graders well into October to complete that goal.  Your kiddos are already at 17 minutes!  So fantastic!!
They also now know when they can interrupt me during small groups or individual conferences...

  

STEM activities have been exciting as we learned about the states of matter and our brain.  We have shot off bottle rockets, built a 'skull' to protect our brain, learned about our dendrites, built tall towers out of index cards, and watched corn kernels dance.

Reading Journal Page

I sent home a new reading log that is now in journal form.  Keep reading every night, but instead of marking down what book they have read, have them write about what they are reading or what you are reading together.

First Grade Families,

Here is the new reading log for the second half of first grade.  Keep it in your child’s yellow folder or on the frig at home.  Just have your child answer one of the questions suggested at the top of the page or any other thoughts they would like to share about what they are reading.  When they have written three times, have them bring it back for a prize.  You can do this each week (best option) or take as long as your child needs. 

In class, we have been discussing how good readers think about what they are reading and great readers write about what they are reading.  This is a great habit for your young reader to develop.  Thank you for all your support and encouragement.  Also, modeling is a powerful learning tool.  If you are reading a book, show your child how you take notes on what you are reading.  I’ll include an extra journal page so your child can see you using this great tool too. J 

Happy reading!

Shannon Pavlik

Every Thursday we try to get in a STEM project or activity.  This Thursday we tried to build the tallest tower possible using only 50 index cards.  No tape, no glue, no staples, and lots of perseverance!!!!

Talent Show

What a talented group of first graders!!