Compound Sentences

We've been reviewing compound sentences and completed this chart.  The kids thought of it as a game and were ready with if it was compound or not.

I also paid them Lyon's Money today if they could include compound sentences in their Take Home Journals.

Did you Know SANTA has a Wish List Too?

When I introduced writing your own Christmas List during Daily 5 writing the kids went crazy!  They all wanted to go to this so they could find pictures and write the names of items they liked.  

Today I read the book, A Letter to Santa Claus by Rose Impey.  We discussed how they've been writing lists and if they've ever stopped to think about what Santa might want.

We brainstormed different items Santa might need or want and off they went to writing.  Of course we had to do a small craft.  I love how each Santa is so unique!

Here are a few examples.

Scaredy Squirrel's Adventure with Abby

Here's the latest edition of Scaredy's adventures at Abby's house!

Bold Beginnings

We've been working on bold beginnings or leads.  I've been introducing one a week and the kiddos have been practicing with Post-It Notes.

Today's mini lesson was reviewing the ones we've learned.  I picked books from our own class library and read each lead.  The kids had to place the correct Post-It on the book.

Then, I introduced a new lead.  SOUND EFFECT!  These are the books I used.

We went to my bear writing and I had the kids help me with my beginning.  They came up with,

"Vroom, vroom."
"Beep, beep."
"Yawn."

They practiced in their own Writer's Notebook.  Here are a few examples.

The sound of an ambulance.

Pooh pooh that is the fire works.

Next up...riddle or joke leads!  

Reindeer Door

Here's our decorated door!

Un update on our Random Acts of Classroom Kindness.

Day 7: Hold the door for someone.

Day 8: Write a letter and donate a book to the public library (look for pics tomorrow).  We're lucky to have Cindy from the public library come and read to us.  We'll be surprising her tomorrow!

Run, Run, Run As Fast As You Can!

This week we'll be reading different versions of The Gingerbread Man and we'll be keeping track of the setting, characters, and how the story ends.

We'll also be creating our own gingerbread stories.  I have some kids writing about gingerbread pirates, dogs, girls, boys, and tigers.   Here are some of the Snapshot Leads they did today.

The First Thanksgiving

Today I told the story of the first Thanksgiving.  For each part the kids added a bead.

Brown bead:  Pilgrims left England
White bead:  Sailed on the Mayflower
3 blue beads:  Long trip on the ocean
Green bead: Spotted land
Black bead: Long hard winter and many didn't survive
Tan bead:  Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims
4 beads for the foods served at first Thanksgiving
   -1 red: Cranberries
   -1 yellow: Corn
   -1 orange: Pumpkins
   -1 brown: Turkey

Here are their bracelets.

Colonial Day Activities

Today the kids went to other first grade classrooms to participate in some Colonial day activities.  Kids dipped candles, weaved, wrote with quill pens, and played some games.

I was busy with the games.  The kids had the opportunity to play hopscotch, marbles, and bowling.  Here are some pics!

Love this photo!  Daysin got a strike.  This was their reaction.  Priceless!! 

Good Readers Ask Questions

I read Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman.  We've been learning that good readers ask qeustion before, during, and after reading.  Here's our work.

How to Cook a Turkey

If you're looking for a DELICIOUS recipe, look no further!!  That is if you trust a first grader.  They began this lesson by doing a Quick Write.  They had to list everything they would need in order to cook a turkey. Then they wrote.  Here's an example.

We've also been reading nonfiction books on turkeys and completed this chart.