Our First Week

Our first week was just about perfect! We began to create the culture I want for them. We read books, spent time talking and focused on making this classroom ours, not mine.
We spent time daily preparing them as digital citizens. We used Craig Badura's tool box idea. The visuals worked so well. I will be hanging these photos up. The discussions we had surrounding this were so helpful! We have more to add to our tool box as well. These were a perfect start.


The extension cord that reminds us to unplug. We talked about the fact that even though iPads will be a part of our learning, it will only be one of our tools. We will still read books, create with crayons and paper and have time to play and talk together!

 The padlock reminds us to lock up passwords and keep them in a safe place. 

The toothbrush may be my favorite. It really makes sense! Just like we don't share a toothbrush, we must not share personal things such as addresses, last names, phone numbers, birthdates, etc. Keep what is private to ourselves.  Just like our toothbrushes!

The wrinkled person is good for lessons on always using kind words, online and in person. We can't completely fix the hurts we cause with words that sting.

The digital tattoo (footprints wash away) reminds us that what we put out there stays there...always!

We come across so much information as connected individuals. We need to strain the information, separating truth and facts from lies and fiction. We can not believe everything we find or hear. We need to do our research!

 We added the warm fuzzies. This is a DO tool. Use our ability to connect with so many people to exercise kindness. Use our words to support, encourage and accept differences. People will feel warm and fuzzy inside if we choose our words correctly. 

We did find time to get into books. The students loved exploring my libraries. We also did some Go Noodle and Cosmic Yoga.

 Here are a few of my new loves on their first day. We read the book The Energy Bus for Kids for rules for a positive year. It was my first time using this book and I LOVE it. This will be a part of our language all year long. I will post more about that book in a separate post, it is THAT good! 

 I used the Literably App to start leveling students for Guided Reading Such an awesome tool and what a time saver. 

We reviewed their learning about Digital Citizenship with some Augmented Reality. This can be found from Chromville. I am still amazed at what it can do.

I love to see them so engaged in a book!

We also shared our All About Me bags. We read Shel Silverstein's poem, "What's in the Sack?"  This was our homework for the week. Students did a great job.

Speaking of homework, I made the decision...we won't have it this year. It is something I have been pondering for some time. I researched this summer and really thought it over. Parents received a letter on Friday. It is my expectation they they read nightly. I also hope they talk about school, talk about their learning. Enjoy their time together as a family.

The decision felt completely right, and made me completely happy!

I couldn't have asked for a better first week of school. I have high hopes. I received a message on Class Dojo from a parent. She had been discussing school with her son. She used these words to describe how he felt, "fun, inspired and challenged". This is my vision, for every child!

First Days in First Grade

I plan on bringing this blog to life this year and write regular posts. I know I need to start now and create the habit. I am certainly feeling the first-days-tired!

Tuesday I was ready and excited to spend my first few days with students. The classroom wasn't as ready as I wanted it...is it ever? But I was excited! Students would be sprinkling their magic dust (I gave them at Meet the Teacher night) under their pillows. We would all be trying our best to sleep and dream of  Wednesday when 19 new faces would come into my room!

Our first week was 3 days long. I love having that short week to begin getting to know the students. I get a peek into their personalities, and let them know it will all be okay. This is my third year teaching first. The difference this year is I do not have an intern. I had an intern the last two years as I began the school year. I miss the help, but I am excited to try new things and grow and learn daily. That is harder to do when you have someone watching and learning from you.


It is funny how much we plan those first days, and how little of it is accomplished.


We spent a lot of time on rules and procedures of course! Our Friday art project included a response as to why they are so important to our classroom and learning. I'll take a picture of theirs when I get them up on the wall. They are too cute!

We spent a lot of time talking about how we would become readers, writers and mathematicians. Some were quiet and shy and others were chatty and full of questions. We toured the room, read books including one of my first day favorites, First Day Jitters. 

I found out a little about what they thought of First Grade and created this chart. I love getting inside their heads and finding out what they think. 

The routines we set in place these first days were our morning meeting, which consists of calendar, songs and a daily letter. I love this time so much. It really helps me to do some observation and introduce some topics and vocabulary. I also pull a name the following morning and that student brings the letter home. I'll take a picture of one of our letters next week. 

The other routine we attempted is our math daily routine. As I mentioned in a previous post I had some amazing learning this summer for math instruction. My math instruction will go through a complete overhaul this year. I am anxious and ready to see how it goes. We are focusing on the number of days in school and is was very revealing to ask them, how many ways could they show that number. Here is an example from day one. Day two was just as interesting! I even had one of them give me a word problem! We also did Guess the Mystery Number, Mental Math and Dot Cards. I plan to video tape this routine next week and will try to share that as well. Next week I will also do a beginning of year assessment. I have a feeling I have a wide range of abilities in my room for math! 

Friday we had a rainy afternoon. Just what we wanted! This allowed me to introduce one of my favorite rainy day activities, Cosmic Yoga. A perfect way to deal with a rainy day! The week could not have gone much better. Next week we will continue to build community and add routines to our days. I'll take more pictures!

I believe I have an amazing year ahead and I hope to share my experiences, my learning, revisions and love I have for teaching first grade. I am not only changing a lot in math, it is my hope to connect to a global community as well using all we have available to us! It is a year of change!

We're Getting There!

Our routines and procedures are beginning to fall into place. The music is cued, and we are moving and grooving to songs all day.

How many of you do a morning letter? I love our morning letter. I am able to teach so many skills within that one letter. The students are so engaged and I love how it builds community.

This year when I put names on the Word Wall,  I included pictures of them. I notice them looking and finding the names of classmates. It was a good change!

We have started Reader's Workshop and I had a last minute idea this week that turned out brilliant! I am using Beanie Babies to teach strategies to my students. A friend brought me a Stork and it wasn't one I was using so I placed it up on my bookshelf.

As we began Reader's Workshop this week the plan was to work on stamina first. That morning I looked over at the Stork, and decided to name him! Stick-With-It Stork became my model for stamina. I quickly created a story to go with him and I couldn't have asked for it to go better. Don't you love those moments???

I am trying to change math up a bit this year. I am using more centers and exploration and I think so far it is going fairly well. I will need to continue to collect ideas and really push the Common Core way of thinking and stretching them.

More to come soon...I am trying to bring this blog to life. It still needs help!