Monday 3/31

Each student drew their dream room... Roller coasters, cotton candy machines and secret doors are just a few of their creative ideas.  They will be on display in the hallway with their actual room maps soon. 

Our class and the first graders from Mrs. Frost's shared their collection writing with each other. 

To find their buddy today for Readers Workshop, the kids found their Disney match.  I love how the kids are open to working with any other student! 

For Math, the kids worked on showing their math thinking on Explain Everything. Ask your child why it's important they save their work on Google Drive. 

Wed 3/26

Our morning started with a new routine- Morning Work Choice.  There were six choices of activities to start the morning with.  Many first graders explored a new app- Spelling City.  So far I have only 2 lists available on my account, but there are many sample lists the kids could try.  One of my lists is about contractions... Check it out! You could use the app- go to more lists and type in mrsmelnik or visit online:  www.spellingcity.com/mrsmelnik

We are continuing to focus on money during Math.

Check out another screencasting. Way to go, Anacamila!
(If you are reading this blog post in your email and you can't see the video, be sure to visit our blog!)

On Thursday and Friday of this week, I will be helping out with fifth grade MCAS.  Mr. L will be my sub.  Mr. Olson will be leading the class.

Tuesday 3/25

For science today, we read the first 2 chapters of Leif Catches the Wind.
We learned that an engineer helps create something to solve a problem.

Working together on money story problems on Explain Everything. 

Here's Gianna screencasting.  Check out her great math thinking!

Isabelle caught a picture of our leopard gecko in motion! 

Monday, 3/24

Hopefully all of the pictures and videos today make up for last week :)

I haven't received back many homework sheets over the past few weeks.  Please remind your child to put their homework in the "in mailbox" on Friday or Monday. Thanks!

I'm testing out Vine, an app that records a 6 second video clip.  Here are 2 from today:

Vine: Indoor Recess

Vine: What is Technology? Padlet
Our new Science unit is about technology and engineering.  Today the kids wrote what they think of when they hear 'technology."
Here's what they came up with:

Contractions were introduced today. Two little words that combine into one word.. The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter or letters.

Math- Money story problems

Open Circle- Continuing to talk about the traffic light for problem solving. Today we focused on the green light.  Home link below..

The kids came up with some ideas of names for our leopard gecko!













Open Circle Home Link

Dear Family:

In Open Circle, we are learning and practicing more problem-solving steps. The problem-solving steps correspond to the lights on a traffic signal. Red = Stop. Yellow = Think. Green = Go.

Recently, we talked about the green light step: Make a plan and try it. After we calm down, say the problem in words, think of many different ways to solve it, and think of what might happen next if we tried each solution, then it’s time to try out one of the solutions.

We talked about what might happen if we try a solution and it doesn’t work. We could try a different solution, try to figure out why it didn’t work, or ask for help. In problem solving, it’s important not to give up.

At home, use the problem-solving process with your child as often as you can. You might also check out a few of the following books on problem solving from the library to read with your child.

Literature Connections

Keller, Holly. That’s Mine, Horace. Greenwillow Books, 2000.
Horace finds and keeps a toy racing car, and then he feels terrible about it. His friend, the owner of the toy car, helps Horace do the right thing.

Kelley, True. Blabber Mouse. Dutton Children’s Books, 2001.
When a mouse can’t stop gossiping, his friends come up with a way to solve the “Blabber Mouse” problem.

Lionni, Leo. Swimmy. Pantheon Books, 1963.
A little black fish helps a school of red fish solve the problem of the threat of
bigger fish.

Munson, Derek. Enemy Pie. Chronicle Books, 2000.

A father helps his son solve the problem of being teased by an “enemy.”

Friday 3/21

Open Circle:

With their 5th grade buddies, the kids made birds eyes view maps of different rooms at Thompson. 

Mixed-Up Math was a big hit!  All of the first graders were mixed up and put into 4 groups based on their working number.  

Hope you have a nice weekend! 

Early release on Tuesday.

Happy 1st day of spring!

Our schedule was all flipped around.  I'm so impressed with how flexible the kids were.

The kids made birds eye view maps of their bedroom. They loved sharing about a space that's special to them.  The finished projects are hanging up in the hallway.

We celebrated The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day. Eric Carle reading

Math Stations today... All about counting coins!  Great story problems- Thanks to Mr. Olson!

Wednesday 3/19

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures today! 

The kids started their morning with an activity about the calendar.  It was tricky for many kids!  We will continue to practice the days of the week (If today is Wednesday, then what day was yesterday? What day will tomorrow be?)

Our read aloud was Me On The Map.  The kids worked on a book of their world!  We kept getting confused about the difference between our town, state and country! Ask your child if they know their home address :)

Tuesday 3/18

The kids did a fun math tens and ones project.  Stop by and see them! 

A new math game.  You could practice at home with a deck of cards. 

Exploring! 

Monday 3/17

We started our morning with the regular Monday morning routine. Please check out Kidblog for today's posts.

Fundations- Ask your child which is a closed syllable- cat or hi. 

Math- We focused on counting by 5s and adding 5 more to a number.  Ask your child- When you count by 5s, the numbers end with a 0 or a what?

Count by 5s video

Open Circle Home Link

Dear Family:

We’re continuing to learn and practice the steps of problem solving in Open Circle. The problem-solving steps correspond to the lights on a traffic signal. Red = Stop. Yellow = Think. Green = Go.

We talked about the yellow light steps. First, think of many different ways to solve
a problem. This is called brainstorming. When we brainstorm in class, we think of as many ideas as we can, and we do not say if we like an idea or if it is a good or bad idea until all the ideas have been said.

After we have brainstormed many ways to solve the problem, we go on to the next problem-solving step: Think of what might happen next if you tried the solution.
For each possible solution, we need to ask if it would be safe and fair. In our discussion, we discovered that there are often several solutions to a problem.

At home, continue to use the problem-solving process with your child. You might also get a few of the following books on problem solving from the library to read with your child. As you read, discuss how the characters solve their problems. Do they think of many possible solutions? Do they think about what might happen next if they tried each solution?

Literature Connections

Here are some books that relate to the topics we discussed in Open Circle. You might want to check out one or two at the library and read with your child:

Howe, James. Horace and Morris, but Mostly Dolores. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1999.
Three friends solve the problem of finding a club to which they can all belong.

Jonell, Lynne. When Mommy Was Mad. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002.
A little boy figures out how to solve the problem of dealing with his mother’s bad mood. 

Jones, Rebecca C. Matthew and Tilly. Dutton Children’s Books, 1991.
Matthew and Tilly are good friends who sometimes experience conflicts.

Katz, Avner. Tortoise Solves a Problem. Willa Perlman Books, 1993.
Tortoise follows the problem-solving steps to figure out how to design a house for his fellow tortoises.

Koster, Gloria. The Peanut-Free Café. Albert Whitman & Co., 2006.

Grant, a new student at the Nutley School, must eat at a table by himself in the cafeteria because he is allergic to peanut butter. The Nutley School community tries to find a way to make him feel included.

Poydar, Nancy. Zip, Zip...Homework. Holiday House, 2008.

Violet’s excitement about her new backpack turns to anxiety about losing her homework. She learns a tough lesson about telling the truth.

Upcoming Dates

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, March 18 
PTO Meeting 7-9pm 
Last day to make donations for the 1st grade Antarctica basket for the International Fest.  Sign up here

Saturday, March 22 
International Festival 11-3: International Cafe, Fashion Show, Book Fair, Museum... All are welcome! 

Tuesday, March 25 
1pm dismissal 

*Save the date*
Friday, June 6th- Field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo... The more chaperones we have, the more animals the kids get to see!

Thursday and Friday

It sure was a busy week!!  I've updated our Shelfari (at the top of the blog) to share some of the books we have read recently.

The kids worked SO hard on writing their opinion about their collection every day this week.  We'll continue opinion writing for the next few weeks but about different topics.  The first graders can't wait to have an Author Celebration to share their work with you :)

A dance party during the credits of Happy Feet.  What a fun way to end our 20 point celebration!

American flags- then and now. 

Mr. Olson led a fun activity with a map of the first floor of our school. 

A peek into the crazy productiveness you see each afternoon!  

Wednesday 3/12

In Math, we focused on dimes.  

Dime, dime 

Little and thin

I remember 

You're worth ten.  

We count dimes by a touch at the top (5) and touch at the bottom (10). Counting by 5s for all coins helps us count coins at the beginning. 

Everyone worked on their opinion book today.

The kids reached 20 points so they celebrated with a relaxing afternoon watching Happy Feet!  I'm so proud of their hard work and how kind each and every child is to each other.  

Open Circle: red light

Dear Family:

In Open Circle, we are continuing to learn and practice the problem-solving steps that correspond to a traffic signal. Red = Stop. Yellow = Think. Green = Go. 

Recently we talked about the red light steps. First, before we can solve a problem, we need to calm down. We discussed several ways to calm down, such as deep breathing, counting to 10, going to another place, or asking an adult to help. Then we discussed the importance of being able to use words to say how you feel and what the problem is. One way to put a problem into words is to say, “I feel _____ because _____.” For example, “I feel frustrated because I cannot cut a circle out of construction paper.” Or, “I feel upset because someone knocked over the block tower I was building.” Saying how you feel and what the problem is helps you to solve the problem.

Following is a list of books that deal with problem solving. You might want to get a few from the library and read them with your child. While you’re reading, talk with your child about how the characters in the books solve their problems. Do they follow the problem-solving steps that we use in Open Circle? Have your child suggest other ways that the character could have solved the problem. Continue to use problem solving at home.

Literature Connections

Bluthenthal, Diana. I’m Not Invited? Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003.
Minnie thinks that she has been left out of her friend’s party plans. What should she do? Should she just come right out and ask her friend about it, or wait and see what happens on the day of the party?

Carlsson-Paige, Nancy. Best Day of the Week. Redleaf Press, 1998.
Because Calvin wants to play pirates and Angela wants to play store with an old card table that they found in the trash, they must find a way to resolve their conflict.

Elliott, Laura Malone. Hunter’s Best Friend at School. HarperCollins, 2002.
Hunter figures out how to help his best friend, Stripe, who is annoying everyone
at school.

Havill, Juanita. Jamaica’s Find. Houghton Mifflin, 1987.
When Jamaica finds a stuffed bear on the playground, she must decide whether to keep it or find its rightful owner.

Monday 3/10 & Tuesday 3/11

We started a math unit on money. So far we have focused on pennies and nickels.  Practice at home--Ask your child to count out nickels and pennies.

Look at the engagement during Reader's Workshop! 

Judging our collections- third place!  Ask your child to tell you how many reasons they are writing about in each of their opinion pieces.  

Thursday 3/6

I put in for a grant through Pets in the Classroom and I'm so excited that we were granted a free habitat and half price on a leopard gecko and his/her food!! :)  

Our new classroom friend will be joining us soon..  

Working on researching American symbols.

Total of 10- with recording the number sentences.  

Tuesday & Wednesday

The kids are loving our study of America!  They have so many facts in their America book.

Yesterday we focused on songs and words that honor America.  The kids each made a book all about America, The Beautiful.

Today we focused on the White House.  The kids were amazed that there are 132 rooms in the White House and George Washington never lived in the house--before it was even named the White House!
Interesting facts about the White House: video

In Writers Workshop, they judged their collection and gave out the second place prize.  So far they have filled out their planner with 4 reasons why that item should get second place.

Three new iPad math apps were pushed out: 10 Frame Fill, Number Flash & Math Bugs.  The kids were busily exploring them today.

Look how engaged they are during Readers Workshop: 

I'll be at a tech workshop on Friday. Mr. Olson and a sub will be here.  Report cards will be going home on Friday after school.  Please look for it in your child's folder.

Monday 3/3

A new math game we played today:

The kids worked in their American symbol Book Creator book to add facts about the bald eagle.  

A clip we watched about the bald eagle from Discovery Education:

This afternoon the kids worked on a fun Statue of Liberty art project. Ask your child to tell you about it. 

In Open Circle, we talked about ways to solve problems.

To help us learn and remember the problem-solving steps, we use the colors of a traffic signal: Red = Stop. Yellow = Think. Green = Go. In problem solving, we do the same three things that a traffic signal tells us:

RED LIGHT:

• First, we have to STOP.
In problem solving, that means we have to calm down. Then we tell ourselves the problem and how we feel.

YELLOW LIGHT;

• Second, we have to THINK.
In problem solving, that means we have to be careful and think of many different ways to solve the problem and what would happen if we tried them.

GREEN LIGHT:

• Third, we can GO.
In problem solving, that means we make a plan and try it.