It is hard to believe that it is already
mid-October. Time has really gotten away
from me! It feels like just yesterday
that we were all meeting each other for the first time. As the days grow shorter, and the nights
colder, students have settled into the routines of first grade. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter, more
wonderful group of little ones.
The beginning of first grade is always such an
exciting time. For many students, this
is the very first time that they have been in school all day. We transitioned well and were eager to get
off to a running start.
September was filled with
excitement and many firsts as students embarked on their first few weeks in
first grade. We began working hard in
Daily 5, Math, Writing Workshop, and Reading Workshop.
September was an exciting
month filled with assemblies, visits from Clifford, and Apple Day.
We were so excited to have parents in on this
very special day. We completed apple
crafts, read apple stories, and made apple treats! An apple product taste test was
also imperative! This is such a simple yet meaningful and fun activity to
do together. I'm all about creating
experiences for students that help them to make connections, compare &
contrast, analyze, etc. Anything involving some type of food will usually
get the job done and this is usually the first of the year that we get to work
with food in both math & literacy.
Making applesauce with my class is another
seasonal favorite. I love the way it makes my classroom smell and I
absolutely LOVE the experience it gives students... many of whom never have or
never will get to do this again. They talk about this all year long!!!
October is already off to a fantastic start.
The growth I have seen in the last two months is astonishing. We have become eager readers and creative
writers. It is amazing what first
graders can do! This is the first year
that our district has implemented the Lucy Calkins Writing Program. The expectations for first grade writers are
high however students are working hard to meet them. Their ability to write Small Moment stories
has become automatic and I cannot wait to see what we will create in our next writing
unit.
