Field Day Fun

Today we had some unexpectedly PERFECT weather for field day!  The kids and teachers had so much fun.  I always love to see the teamwork and student collaboration on this day.  I especially love the students vs. teacher tug-o-war match!  Thank you to all who helped to make Field Day 2017 a great one!

Tide Pool Research

It is great to be back at Fuller Meadow and just in time for our scientific study of tide pool creatures! Last week was our trip to Odiorne State Park, where I know the students had a blast putting their knowledge to work while exploring the rocky shore.

  In class, first graders have been busy becoming experts in the field, while learning all there is to know about local tide pool creatures and their habitat.  We have been collecting our facts in a "Tide Pool Field Guide".  We've also been working together to write informative/explanatory pieces about our favorite tide pool animals.

 We can't wait to share this work, along with many other impressive pieces of first grade work from this year, after the Tide Pool Boogie on Tuesday, 6/13!  We hope to see families for our "Boogie" at 9:00 in the cafeteria, followed by a portfolio share in each first grade classroom.

Nonfiction Fact-Finders

As we begin our genre study of nonfiction informational text, the students are becoming familiar with nonfiction text features as they learn new and exciting facts along the way! This past week, we researched groundhogs for Groundhog Day.  Using our classroom iPads, the students became "fact-finders" to search and record facts about these furry little animals!  Using the app Popplet (a favorite of ours), each student created a map of the facts they learned.  Take a look at some of their findings.  They are quickly becoming nonfiction experts!

Facts by Angelica and Parker

Facts by Ava

Facts by Lilla and Ella

Facts by Mia and Madison

Facts by Nick and Cam

Facts by Lily and Makinley

Facts by Joey and Madix

Facts by Ryan and Ibrahim

Try using Popplet at home to record facts from nonfiction books!

Common Core Standard: RI.1.5 Reading: Informational Text Craft and Structure- Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text

Reader's Workshop

Reader's Workshop is part of our daily routine in 1-Thomson, and we love it!  Each day we are busy putting our reading strategies to use through independent reading, partner reading, and group reading activities!

The pictures above show most of the materials and activities we use during reading time.  We keep all of our books and reader's notebooks in our numbered book boxes.  We keep track of the books we read by checking them off on our "Just Right" Book Trackers.  We focus on a new reading genre each month.  This month we will complete our fairy tale focus!  And we choose our independent reading books from our leveled library.

MY favorite part of Readers' Workshop is seeing my students grow into amazing readers and writers! Ask your child about our daily reading routines and maybe even try some of these routines at home! Happy reading!