Writer's Workshop

We've been working on Narrative Writing this week.

I always begin with the book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.

I shared some memories (happy and sad) I had with my students.  Then they shared their memories.  We created a Heart Map with topics they can write about.  They'll begin using this during writing time.

We wrote about mom and dad this week.  I read the big books below and had the kiddos read along with me.  Then I modeled how I would focus in on one idea and stay on topic.

Here are a few examples.

I also introduced Informational Writing.  The kids wrote about their field trip to the apple orchard.  I showed them that some informational books have borders.  They created one, added pics, and wrote.

Meet AJ

Meet AJ!!

Apple Orchard Picture Overload

So apparently I took A LOT of pictures (click on them to enlarge) of our field trip today but it's ALWAYS a blast.  There is so much to see and do at Treworgy Family Orchards.

We began with a tractor ride around the orchard.

Our first stop was the pumpkin patch where the kiddos picked a baby pumpkin.

Then we met up with some goats who ONLY wanted to eat.  I find them to be quite amusing with feisty personalities.  They kept head butting the kid's hands because they seemed to only want food. They weren't impressed with all the petting.

Up next...the barn.  We met up with a few more animals along the way and learned how to milk a goat.  Most were willing to try!!

Look at those faces!

We headed to the apple orchard and picked a juicy apple to taste.

Last up was the apple press.  The kids learned how apple cider is made and tried a sample.

I hope your child is sharing all he/she learned today!  Tomorrow they'll be writing about what they learned. 

Do All Apples Have the Same Amount of Seeds?

We talked about scientist and how they always have questions they want to answer.

We conducted our first science experiment with apples.  Our question was, "Do all apples have the same amount of seeds?"  Working with a buddy they cut an apple in half and found all the seeds.  They glued the seeds onto a paper apple and we shared our results.

We learned not all apples have the same amount of seeds.

Here are a few pics.

Meet Carter

Meet Carter!!

Meet Breanna

Meet Breanna!!

Meet Robert

Meet Robert!!

Meet Joseph

Meet Joseph!!

Meet Brady

Meet Brady!!

New Entrance Procedures

New Entrance Procedures to go into Effect September 23, 2013

In order to keep our school and students as safe as possible new entrance procedures have been designed. OTES main entrance doors will remain locked until 7:25 AM. Then, from 7:25 until 8:10 one door will be unlocked and students can enter as usual, visitors will need to check-in at the office. 

The interior entrance door will be locked at 8:10 AM and anyone arriving after that will need to check-in with Mrs. Rivers through the vestibule window to be buzzed into the school. The entrance doors will remain locked until 2:00 PM when students begin to be dismissed. 

The best and safest option for parents to pick up their children is to arrive after the buses have left during our walker and pick-up times from 2:15 to 2:25. Parents should drive in using the pick-up/drop-off lane.  

Thank you for your support as these changes are put into effect.

Special Person and Apples

Meet Adriana!!

We've begun learning about apples and working in our Science Notebooks.  Kids had to write a sentence on what they already know about apples and they will write an, "I wonder."

We also began a science experiment.  They'll be recording their observations on two apples.  One has skin while the other doesn't.

I incorporate art ANY way I can!!  I feel kiddos need to create, cut, and glue.  Plus I ALWAYS loved art.  

I get the kids going every year when I tell them, "NO scissors for this project!!"  They created apple diagrams by tearing the paper.  I added labels to their diagrams and they labeled the major parts.  I absolutely LOVE how unique and individual that are.

A Little Bit of Everything

Meet Teg!!

We've focused A LOT on bullies and have read these books.

We completed some character maps and compared Mean Jean and Bootsie Barker.

Today I gave groups a copy of The Recess Queen.  We made a list of describing words for Mean Jean. Using Post-Its, the kiddos had to prove it with evidence from the book!

They did a great job with this and shared many examples from the book.

During Math Workshop, I introduced Independent Read.  The kids can browse through math books during BUILD.  I also plan on including activities for some of the books.  This week they can practice writing numbers and filling in the 10 Frames with stickers.

Meet Maddie and a Bit about Math

Meet Maddie!!

We completed our FIRST math journal page today.  So...exciting...! We've also been working on wipe off boards, in our math notebooks, and learning about math tools.

This week I'll be introducing BUILD.  Check out Adventures in Teaching to read more about this.

B-Buddy Games
U-Using Manipulatives
I-Independent Reading
L-Learning Numbers
D-Doing Math

Once the kiddos have completed the lesson they are able to pick an option to go to.  This is set up like the Daily 5 where they have options to choose from.  During this time I can meet with small groups to work on skills or help to complete math pages.

Yesterday I introduced "Buddy Games" and today I showed them "Using Manipulatives."  I added some number puzzles in for them to use this week.

I'm going to try using these bins this year.  I had tall storage containers that just didn't seem to work last year.

Keep checking back in to see what we've been up to!

The Beginning of Our First Full Week

Meet Roland!!

Today I introduced "Read to Buddy."  It has been such a smooth transition and my kiddos know the expectations coming into first grade.  Our kindergarten teachers work SO hard to get them ready for first grade.

More of Our First Week

Meet Grahm!!

Here are the kiddo's self portraits hanging in ABC Order.

We practiced Read to Self again today.  The kiddos have done a great job reading quietly in a comfy spot.  They have learned you can read the words and pictures.  Today, I taught them it's a good book fit if they can retell the story.  I read Wolf! and we completed a chart retelling the story.

I also introduced Writer's Workshop.  I plan on taking this VERY slowly.  We've focused on names this week so I had the kids write and decorate their name.  

I introduced my Rate Your Writing Poster.  Our focus today was making detailed illustrations.  We talked about each picture I drew and I wrote down what they noticed about each one.  

Then they looked at their decorated name and rated their work. Tomorrow they will write an opinion, stating if they like their name or not.

We also worked in our Math Notebooks and showed different ways to write the number 2.

I'm not sure about you but days seem to be a blur and I know I'm exhausted at the end of the day!

Here They Are!!

Here are some pics of what we've been up to!!

Of course I had to take first day pics of the kiddos.  It's amazing to see how much they grow by the end of the year.  I still have more to upload so look back tomorrow.

This is what we've been up to this week.

We read the No David! books and discussed what a Peacemaker and Peacebreaker was.  I gave them cards to sort and we added them to our posters.

We've completed work with our names.  After reading Chrysanthemum, we completed a character map.  Kids also made flowers by looking at how many letters, vowels, and syllables were in their names.

The kids absolutely LOVED the book Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name.  Try saying that 3 times fast!!  We counted how many letters in her name and would you believe she had 56 letters?  We wrote our names on Post-Its, counted the number of letters, and graphed.  

Today was the first day of practicing Read to Self.  Kindergarten teachers now introduce this midway through the year so when they come to first they know the expected behavior.  I don't plan on rushing this process but I'm hoping I can begin reading groups a bit earlier this year.  They did a great job!!

Today we began our Special Person of the Day.  Meet Jocelyn!!  She sat in a comfy chair and students asked her questions to get to know her better.  I did the writing, but kiddos helped me with making complete sentences.  We talked about what goes at the beginning and end of sentences.  We also counted the number of words and sentences.  We'll reread her poster tomorrow and learn about another student tomorrow!