The World is Our Garden

This week we kicked off our spring learning expedition, The World is our Garden.  Students traveled around to the outdoor classroom and through the various first grade classrooms to wonder and notice.

Students looked closely at the compost bin.

Students read the posters that last year's first graders created to teach our community about garden organisms.

Students looked at plants and wondered about the plant parts.

Students explored various sizes of rocks.  Students got to sift and observe the different sizes.

We will be working hard to answer:

What helps our garden thrive?

Collaboration

Students in our crew define collaboration as working together and listening to each others ideas. 

We have been working hard to collaborate in small groups.  Through discussion protocols using a talking stick, we talk about:
*pieces of high quality work
*accuracy and/or strategies of a math problem
*excerpt of a text

From these great discussions, students are coming up with criteria lists for math problems, close reading, and high quality writing.

We also had a collaboration challenge with our YO Buddies.  Partnerships were given one piece of paper, one pair of scissors and one glue stick.  They had to collaborate to make the longest chain they could.

 Our fourth grade buddies were excellent role models of actively listening and coming up with a plan before starting the challenge.  It was interesting to see what the partnerships came up with.

Students are practicing actively listening and openly sharing ideas.

100 Days Smarter

This week we celebrated the 100th day of First Grade!  Students came dressed like they were 100 years old and enjoyed a small parade with our other first grade crew members.  

In math, we enjoyed collaborating to build with 100.  This led to great conversations and reflection of collaboration, counting accurately and counting efficiently.  

In reading, we read 100 books as a crew.  We were so proud of our stamina.  Each student reflected on how they have grown as a reader after 100 days of first grade.  This was a great time of celebration!

It was so much fun making our 100th day snack containing 10 of 10 different items.  I was so interested to hear how they counted (by 1s, 10s, handfuls).  

Lastly, we ended the day with writing about what we will be doing when we are 100 years old.....

*I might be dead.

*I will continue to sing and dance.

*I will be sitting by the beach

*I will be living at Lincoln Meadows.

What a great day!

Power of Play

In our classroom, we are learning so much about reading, writing, math and importantly PLAY!  Students have time to collaborate and build.  The conversations I hear make my heart fill with joy.  Students are trying new things alone while getting coached by a nearby friend or collaborating together to make an amazing castle.  I tell them that they may just be the next engineer, architect or construction worker.

It seems our world is spinning faster and faster.  Students are spending more and more time on technology and less and less time outside exploring or free playing with blocks, dress up clothes and art.  We are pushing kids to memorize and learn at earlier ages each day.  And then I take a breath.....

The first graders scour our play cabinets looking for building materials or things to use during their free choice imaginary play.  I wonder which one of these students will be the next actress on Broadway, a helpful parent or a creative artist.

I am honored to push kids to collaborate, think critically, question and inquire about the world through the most amazing vehicle...PLAY!

Growing Readers

It is official....Ms. Sara Schu's crew is full of Book Worms!

Our visits to Ms. Faythe's learning commons is one of our favorite weekly adventures.  We were so excited about all the new seating in the library.  Students are engaged in books and excited about both fiction and non-fiction.

Students are really thinking about the books they are selecting.  Students are picking books that are "Just Right" (5 or fewer tricky words), books they want to learn from (sharks, Titantic, etc.) or recommendations from other crew members.  

 Students are reading independently, with partners and small groups.  I love how students are so engaged and eager to share their learning.

January - March are hands down my favorite times to teach in first grade.  The light bulb has gone off and students are having so many "A-ha moments".  Students are beginning to fluently read texts and talking about all the details of their books.

You can support this love of reading at home!
1.  Encourage your child to read take home books at home and do a detailed retell:
First,
Next,
Then,
After that,
Finally,

2.  Read TO your child.  
3.  Listen to audio books in the car

Learning Targets:
I can make wise book choices.
I can retell a story in order using details.

Better World Project

Fox Creek First Grade is proud to announce that we were selected as part of the EL Better World Project for our Learning Expedition, Everybody Has a Story!

First graders were engaged in learning about fiction story elements to include characters, setting, beginning, middle and end.  Students then applied these elements to a personal narrative.  Students enjoyed sharing their own special story from their own life and then listening to each other's stories.  

After learning all about telling, reading and writing stories, we traveled to meet our grand friends.  We have interviewed a grand friend to record a story from his/her life.  We revised and edited the story.  We presented this special memory to each of our grand friends.  Students made lasting relationships and helped to record special memories.

Read this entire announcement HERE

Holiday Gift Ideas

Holiday Gift Ideas

It is that time of year to buy gifts and I love these ideas for our creative first graders!

This age should be filled with lots of free play, drawing, creative and imagination play!

 

Students are still excited to have their families read aloud to them.  Many are beginning to read on their own and these are the books series I love to encourage first graders to read on their own or to their families!

  

Games that help with critical thinking and math!

 

First graders are excited about jump ropes, puzzles and plenty of time outside!

Wishing you a holiday break with less technology and more creative play and family conversation!