Differentiation...

I recently read two great books that I highly recommend for a summer read! I'm always looking for a new strategy or idea that will spark creativity in my teaching. Even though I provide my students with different ways of learning and thinking, these 2 books reminded me and showed me how even though common core has dictated the classroom, learning and teaching can still be an enjoyable experience.
 

 

These books showed me how the power of choice can bring learning to a new dimension! I recently started a unit on weather. After a couple days, I introduced them to learning contracts. This is a new concept to me and I absolutely LOVE them! I created projects for my students to choose from to show me what they have learned over the course of our weather unit. It was SO neat to see what they each chose, it complimented their personality and learning style!

 

The energy level and excitement that explodes when I tell them it is time for our weather unit is mind blowing! They love to work in groups and the conversations they are having makes any teacher's heart smile. My kiddos have taken the ownership of learning to a level that amazes me. So...if you are ready to expand your comfort level, this is a great place to start!

The Best Part of Me!

We finished up our opinion writing last week. I was very impressed with my kids' reasoning skills to support their opinions. Our final project was called "The Best Part of Me". Each student had to decide their best asset and write their opinion and tell us why. At first they were very literal with their reasons, but with a little discussion among others, they got the hang of it!

 

To start the activity, I took pictures of their favorite part. Then, they met with a partner and practiced by verbally stating their favorite part, give at least one reason why, and then have some sort of closure. The students loved working in groups!

 

Once they were ready, we took a couple days to neatly write out the opinions. I chose to create a "flap page" so the picture was a mystery until they turned the page. This was definitely a hit!

 

Collections...and opinion writing

For the past several weeks, we have been working on opinion writing. The class has done a great job stating their opinion and giving reasons to support their opinion. This past week, each student brought in a small collection of items. We took turns learning about each collection. Then each child had to rate their best piece in their collection. They gave it a blue ribbon. It was neat to see what their collection consisted of, but it was also neat to listen to their reasons. At times, they were very convincing and wanted others to like their piece too!

 

 

Pocket Charts

One of the things I love most about teaching first grade is letting students explore, learn, and practice through centers or stations. Having enough space is always an issue to overcome. I LOVE pocket charts! They can be used so many ways. I have mine throughout my classroom, tucked away until I need them. This makes them VERY handy! I also like them because I can see how a student is completing the activity from anywhere in my room, especially during guided reading time. I don't have to stop my group to see how a child is doing. If I see a child is struggling or completed something incorrectly, I jot a note and touch base with the child later and help them.

 

When station time is over for the day, we roll them back up and tuck them away until we need them the next day! Very convenient!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Building Fluency...with a tablet

 

A couple weeks ago, I added a new station that my kiddos are still VERY eager to use daily! Thanks to a donation, we have a new tablet to help with our fluency. After students have practiced a poem, a set of sentences, a word list, or even a book several times, they can record themselves reading. Once they are finished, they get to listen to themselves. It is pretty powerful!! Sometimes they are a little hard on themselves, but for others it is an eye opener. They think they are reading smoothly with expression until they hear it for themselves!

 

We also have a book app downloaded, so students can listen to stories. It's sad, but some students are not read to at home and this is a way they can hear what fluent reading sounds like!

 

Having this station in my room, has helped several of my students in a way I didn't think was possible...they ask if they can take extra things home to practice reading so they can record themselves! WOW!!!

 

We have been working with identifying coins and a few of my kiddos are confusing the nickel and dime and their values. I made some flashcards and have added them to my TpT store as a freebie! Click the picture below to link to my store and download them!!  ENJOY =)

 

 

"Toe the Line"!

This week we started a new writing unit, opinion writing! I found a great unit on TpT created by Samantha Kelly. She did a great job creating activities that are fun and engaging. Yesterday we played one of her games "toe the line". As I read a statement, if they agreed, they put their foot on the line. Those that put their foot on the line had to give us a reason why they agreed with the statement. Today we played several rounds of "would you rather". Another great way for students to practice their opinions verbally. This unit has three weeks of lesson plans included. To check out this great unit, click on the picture below!

At the beginning of the year open house, I explained to all the parents I would be giving their child the challenge to read 1000 words to me before the end of the year. As with many things in my room, each student tracks their own progress in their "progress chart" file folder. The neat thing about this activity is that each child gets to move at their own pace. They are motivated by each other and congratulate each other when they get to put stickers on their chart! Once they read 1000 words they receive their "star trophy". FUN STUFF!

 

 

 

As I introduce a new phonics rule, word or letter pattern, I provide my students with lists of words that they can read to practice their new learning. The more words they read, the more stickers they get to put on their charts! If you are interested in the word lists I use, click the picture below and it will take you to my TpT store!

 

 

 

New month and year!

Time to change things out! January brings new activities to the classroom. I spent some time in my classroom getting things ready for those eager little first graders. I got my activity board ready and as I was looking at the activities, I was amazed as I am every year how much they have learned in such a short time. This is my favorite time of the year because that "light bulb" will be coming on for many of my kiddos. It's neat to watch as each one will develop on their own time!

It is neat to see how each child will complete the bingo card! Everyone reads through the card and decides which spaces are the easiest and they start plotting how they can get a bingo the fastest.

 

I also put out new centers. This month we are working on counting by tens, starting at any number, fact families, compound words, writing descriptive sentences, word find, base words and endings to name a few.

 

If you are interested in trying any of these activities, click on any picture and it will take you to my TpT store!