Sunday, August 3, 2014

Getting Ready for Back to School

Hello, all!  It's Andrea from Reading Toward the Stars sharing the best ways to get ready for back to school!

I can't believe it is back to school time already!  I go back on Thursday, unwillingly!  To get ready for back to school, I have just been enjoying my last days of freedom, like

sitting by the pool

taking joy rides

doing a little shopping

AND

filling my cart for the big TPT Back to School sale!
The TpT Back-to-School Sale Starts Monday!
Don't forget to use code BTS14!
What are you doing to get ready for back to school?




Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Introducing MATH WORKSHOP...and a FREEBIE!

Happy heat of summer everyone!
I'm here today to talk about something near and dear to my heart...
I started working on 10 months of Math Workshop just about a year ago this week and finished it just last month. It was a true labor of love. The concept of Math Workshop is that it is a collection of math centers that require you no cutting, laminating or prepping. Can I get an amen?!? But wait...there's more good news. These activities can be returned to again and again! Reusable centers...What?!? Students just need dice, cards and a paper clip spinner.
Everytime they are making new numbers so the activities are always challenging! 
Here are some sneak peek photos from a variety of months!




My class loved these activities all year. 
They are thematic so they keep your kiddos engaged whether it's time for 
pumpkins, snowflakes or bunnies. 

You can grab Math Workshop each month individually or you can grab "The Bundle"!

To give you a a little sneak peek at what Math Workshop is all about I made this...
Mini Math Workshop FREEBIE!
Click the cover to grab.
I hope you all aren't headed back too soon and
can enjoy a bit more summer.
Me?? I'm off to the beach!!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Let's Learn About the World!

One of my favorite parts of teaching first grade is 

I am SO excited how it all came together, and that I can finally share it with you! 
Here's a sneak peak at what's included: 

** If you make it to the end of this long post, I promise there's a reward! 

General Continent Information 
Posters, Facts, Resources, Word Search
anda Hemisphere Project

Interactive, Informational-Text Book
Students fill in the correct answers {teacher key & student key included!}

Included For Each Continent: 
* Poster
* Resource Page
* Word Search
* 2 Crafts or Art Projects
* 2 traditional Games

Africa

The game of Ampe from Ghana & how to make an African Djembe (drum)

Antarctica
Snow Globes, Blubber Experiment & Postcards from Antarctica

Asia


Australia
Koala Puppets & Boomerangs! 
Europe
The Danish game of Nimbi, Monet's Water Lillies & the Italian game of Cencio Mollo
 


North America
Almohoditas, Totem Poles, & Stick Dice   
  

 

South America
Rainsticks, Maracas & Hit the Penny Game! 
  
This unit has SO much more - I simply couldn't include it all in one post! Everything can be made with super simple supplies you probably already have in your classroom! 

You can snag your own copy of It's a Small World on TpT.

Now, since you've patiently read through this entire post, here's a freebie from It's a Small World! 
I hope you come over and visit me at Lucky to Be in First! I have a fancy schmancy new blog design! 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Proud As A Peacock

Good morning, it's Renee from Fantastic First Grade Froggies.  I am always on the lookout for a quick and easy way to let the parents of my students know that they did a great job.  Years ago, I had these cute little proud as a peacock forms that my kids loved to get.  The master copy has since been lost, so I decided to make a new one.

It's simple, you fill out why you are proud of that child and send it home.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!


Here is a cute peacock I found to place in my room with copies of the proud as a peacock form.



Would you like one?  Click below to grab yours (I made a color and blackline version), click the picture below.  Make those kiddos feel proud!


Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back month.






Friday, July 18, 2014

CVC Word Practice

Hey everyone, it's Nicki from Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten. I love working with my students on word families and other CVC words. There are so many activities that you can do to teach CVC words----magnet boards, building words, missing letter activities, etc.

One thing that I always do with my students BEFORE they even see the letters in the word is tap out the sounds. I'll say a word like bat and we have to "tap" out the sounds with our fingers.


This helps those students begin to understand that these words are made up of more than 2 sounds. I do all of this DAILY all year, but especially before I start blending those letters together visually.

After we've practiced this concept and majority of the students know their letters and sounds, we practice putting those tapping/blending skills together to "sound" out a particular CVC word.

We build those words in the pocket with letter cards and once it's built, we tap out the sounds again by pointing to the cards, then running our hand underneath to blend. So cat would be /c/ /a/ /t/ then we would all say cat.

We continue practicing these skills throughout the year and I begin introducing CVC Hide and Find cards. The students LOVE these.

We put the CVC words in the pocket chart and "hide" whatever we are looking behind a word. Students must be able to read the word BEFORE checking to see if the item is hiding behind it. Many of my students can read these words after doing all of the above, but for those that still struggle---they know they can "tap" out the sounds and then blend.

I hope all of that was clear----it's hard to describe it in words when you can't visually see what I'm talking about! Maybe I'll do a video soon (of course---school has to start back first! :)

What are some ways that you practice CVC words in your classroom?
 
Here's a freebie for you to practice CVC words with your students!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cupcake-CVC-Read-Find-683429


 

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Planning for Stations/Centers/Tubs + FREEBIE

Hi everybody! Erin, here, from {Little Miss Primary}.

How is your summer going?! 

If you're like me, you are already thinking about the upcoming school year and may be a bit overwhelmed. I'm setting up my first classroom and, Y'ALL, there is so much to think about. 
{Any helpful hints+tips would be greatly appreciated!} 

In an effort to prepare well for the school year, I have been thinking about stations/centers/tubs quite a bit. My class will be diving into the Daily 5 for literacy and, possibly, the Daily 3 for mathematics. I am still reading through the sisters' {new book}.  

When planning for math+literacy stations, I like to see the bigger picture and plan 6 weeks at a time. This helps me prepare for holidays, themes and time to "catch-up" if we need to do so. 

Many teachers do quite a bit of planning and record keeping online, and while I can appreciate technology as much as the next person, I'm still a paper+pencil kind of gal. 

To keep myself organized (and sane), I use a simple spreadsheet! This spreadsheet allows me to see six weeks of planning at a time, and offers me the flexibility to change things up. On certain occasions, I use small sticky notes so that I can physically move something between weeks.


In the picture above, my math stations were organized by NCTM content strand. I loved this way of doing things because my kiddos were interacting with all kinds of mathematics each week! 

I created a similar version for you to use in your own planning! 
Just click the picture below to grab your own copy.


Add or delete columns, change the fonts, color code the subjects--do what you want!
This pptx file is completely editable.
Just for you!

One special request, let me know if you have any first year tips or can use this planning sheet!

HAPPY SUMMER (and happy planning), TEACHERS!