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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Ordinal Numbers

I was creating SMART lessons for our math program for the next chapter which is focusing on Ordinal Numbers.  I always love preparing activities that include games, partner work, and practice.  So I put my mind to work and came up with these cute "freebie" for you.  Yes, there is a complete packet but here is a little sample of what it includes.  Enjoy!  Michele




This is a sample of the complete packet.  It contains a word search, scrambled words, vocab cards and several games and activities for centers or partner work.



Thursday, September 26, 2013

10 Apples Up On Top ...

Love apples and love this wonderful story.  This has been a terrific week with apples and goodies.
Here is a little goodie for you.  We did 10 Apples Up On Top and followed it with this cute activity.  I have attached the apples for you.  All you need is a student picture or have them draw a self portrait.  Great for sequencing and number word practice. Enjoy!!



Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Field Trip freebie

What a perfect day we had for a field trip to the apple orchard.  This is the trip we created our apple print shirts for.  Funny story...all day adults kept calling the kids by name.  They kept wondering "Hey how do you know my name?"  Funny thing their names were on their shirts.  LOL 
I wanted to create some activities for the students to complete following our trip.  Some you may be able to use...others??? 







Sunday, September 22, 2013

Getting All My Pumpkins in a Row...

I know it is only the middle of September but I am a "plan ahead" kinda teacher.  That being said I spent part of the weekend outlining and pulling materials for October. As I was completing all of this work I thought it might lighten some of your loads if I shared with you.
First, I will begin by saying that the biggest reason I am required to go to such detail is that our district considers the Daily Five as our reading program.  Please do not misunderstand here...I think the Daily Five is a wonderful "format" and shares awesome ways to teach kiddos how to read.  It is a terrific support for every teacher and the format "although I have tweaked it to work for me" is outstanding.  The part missing for me is that I love teaching by themes and one of the most important times of my day is when my kiddos and I sit down with a Guiding Reading Story.  I often follow this up with a quick video connection about the topic or a website they can explore while on computers.  Book in hand...kiddos sitting and listening...we enjoy the story together.  That is followed by a comprehension activity.  It might be recall, sequencing, comparing and contrasting, True or False, Fact or Opinion, story to experiences, predictions...the list goes on.  This more or less sets the scene for our day.  My theme is then followed by a Guided Skill Period which includes either writing or phonics.  From there we move to what in my room is the Fabulous Four...Writing, Working with Words, Computer, and Teacher guided sessions with leveled texts from Reading A to Z.  The packets that I produce have activities for each and every one of these areas and are topped off with a craft, and mini book for students.  The mini books contain vocabulary building and are often interactive.
Now let's begin with a look at October...(Note that most of these products have just been posted.  Enjoy the tour.  Michele)

We celebrate Red Ribbon Week In October as well as Fire Safety.  I also like to include a mini Columbus Day and we also have a Camp Out where we write stories, make smores and sing around a "campfire".  
I begin each day with an "eye opener" on the kiddos desk.  This gives me time to collect notes, answer questions, and get ready to begin the day.  Each sheet contains a review in phonics, math, writing.  It is the perfect formative assessment for me!


Week One focuses on Leaves and Fall or Autumn...you in the warmer climates will not find this useful UNLESS you are interested in sharing about other parts of our country and making connections. this unit also has a "Leafy Freebie".
This week also is "fire safety" week in Ohio so we spend two days on Fire Safety and invite the Firefighters for a visit.  The kiddos love it!!
Week Two will focus on a Scarecrow Theme.  These stories are some of my favorite and perfect for teaching character studies and personification.
Week Three of October has Columbus Day, Camping and another one of my favorite themes...Pumpkins.  The pumpkin packet covers informational text and the life cycle of a pumpkin as well as a great lead in to Halloween.  Really fun stuff!!
Christopher Columbus has a mini book for students as well as describing items from today to Chris!
The final two weeks of October include a training day for teachers, a record day and Red Ribbon but we make time for fun with some Halloween favorites.  For me my favorite is Room on the Broom.



Also each day we use an interactive calendar for mathematics.  I have designed it to enhance math strategies and date, weather, temperature.  
This has a wonderful freebie which includes an Anchor Chart and Vocabulary cards for your writing center.


And what could be better than topping October off with Poems and Activities.  I know you will love this!
It is accompanied by a delightful little freebie.











Friday, September 20, 2013

Gotta luv 1st Graders...

Need I say more!!

Mouse Pattern

For those of you that tried to get the mouse pattern try again.  Not sure what happened!! Michele
Click Here

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Apple Printing

Today was messy business but hopefully worth the effort.  Each child brought in a solid color sweatshirt or tshirt and then we had fun putting apple prints on them. We will all wear them to the apple orchard next Tuesday for name tags and to highlight the pictures taken that day.  It is always so much fun.
Thought you might like to see how we did them.
You will need:
apples
knife
fabric paint
shirts
sponge

First cut an apple in half from top to bottom.  Use sandpaper to be sure the apple is flat. (Just rub the apple on the paper)  You can test the print out on paper first.  If the apple is flat you will have a nice print.  An uneven apple will leave blank spots.  Some people put craft sticks in the apple to pick it up and down.  You can also use a bowl for paint BUT be careful.  Too much paint will smear your print.

Use the sponge to cut out a leaf shape.
Next put a piece of paper inside the shirt to be sure your prints do not bleed through.
Print your apples.  We use yellow, red, or green.  Some people allow the students to do multiple colors BUT it can cause a problem if you are not careful.

Next add the stems and the seeds using brown.

Finally using the sponge add the leaves.

I then put the students name at the top.
Okay you are ready to go!!  Let the shirts dry overnight.
Parents should wash them inside out for best results.
Enjoy!!




Wednesday, September 18, 2013

House, Home, Shelter...

This week we moved from neighborhoods to communities and the helpers in them.  We really focused on the words rural, suburban and urban.  It was fun just listening to the kiddos try to pronounce them.  We wrote opinion pieces about which was the best and had to give details supporting this opinion.  They couldn't just say...I like the country.  It is cool. It is really really cool.  People will like the country.  LOL I know you have heard those repeats before.  Kiddos can fill whole pages with those types of comments and go...Who look how much I wrote.  So to accompany this topic we read two fabulous books that are really cute and a great "just listen" to and relax.
A New House for Mouse and Livingston Mouse.
We then made these little mice.
I am including the patterns for you if you would like to read the stories and make them some time.
Enjoy, Michele


Friday, September 13, 2013

Finally Friday..."freebie"

I don't know about you but I am annoyed by kiddos who ask every two minutes to sharpen a pencil (just to sharpen a pencil) and admit it even you have those kiddos who break the pencil on purpose just to sharpen. Soooooooooo...This is my "best effort" to solve the problem and to date it is working!!  Not as much fun to trade a broken pencil for a sharpened on and only the teacher can sharpen pencils.So if you would like the cute little signs I made (different sizes are in the download) just click on the sign.  Enjoy your weekend everyone!  



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Houses and Homes...

Well our family unit is complete and we are now moving into our community.
Yesterday we read Me On the Map.  I found a fantastic interactive site that shared about the author.
Of course that was amazing for us because she group up minutes from us here in Sylvania, Ohio.
Me On The Map
This site is great for building vocabulary.
After reading me on the map and discovering all the different places (Earth, continent, country, state, community) we moved to today where we are focusing on our house and neighborhood.
The lesson began with a homework page students were given to find out about their house.
This sheet was used to prepare our pre write.  It is amazing how with a little research students have so much information to share.
They then created a final copy after some editing and "ooo la la" check out our houses.  Colorful and perfect for displaying.
Next year I hope to type out the students names to put on them BUT a little late.
Enjoy!! Michele