Number Bonds

This past week has been a joyful celebration of MATH! Yes, math! We took the Unit 1 test and everyone did fabulous. We worked on Number Bonds in Unit 2. The children understand that 2 parts make a whole.

This is visual representation of addition. The children know that the biggest number is the one with two lines coming out of the circle. That way the number bond can be positioned anyway.

Today we worked in groups to do Thinking Cap Problems. We had time to think on our own first and then we talked to our neighbors to see if their thinking could help us. We learned to "Not steal someones struggle." The sense of accomplishment is thrilling and we want that for everyone.
Here is the one we did today:

 Can you do the Tuesday's enrichment problem?  If you get the answer, don't tell!

Patricia Polacco

On Tuesday, September 10th Captain will welcome Patricia Polacco to our school. She is the author of many beloved picture books. Please return order form by September 4th, if you would like to preorder a book from her. Below is Polacco's official website if you would like to learn a little more.
http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

P.S. When Mr. Bober, school librarian,  told the staff about the visit they cheered! We know the children will be just as excited.

Curriculum Night Tonight

Dear Parents
Tonight is Curriculum Night from 7-8:30 p.m.
Dr. Doherty, Captain Principal, will speak from 7-7:30 p.m.
The first grade level session is from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.  For those of you with 2 children at Captain, there will be a second grade level session from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
I look forward to seeing many of you tonight. I will have party and field trip sign-ups at the sessions.
If you are not able to make the event. The power point will be on the Captain First Grade website tomorrow. Also, thank you for signing up for fall conferences.

Pictures from our Day

Write-to-Self

Read-to-Self in the Comfy Chairs

Computers using Raz-Kids.

Alena sharing her Red Writing Folder's cover pictures.

Alyssa telling us how she added labels to her pictures.

Banana Song

Okay many of you have asked about the Banana Song. We dance to this song to get the wiggles out. We call this a Brain Break because it allows us to burn off some steam and then refocus.
Here is the link... Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_78Ck10tSE&list=PL23283430AB73153C&index=1

Remember you have to dance with your child to this song.  I do!

Art Day

Our class has ART on C days. The kids call it "Big Art" because it is 1 hour. During this time the children are choosing the medium and the project they will create.  Ms. Picker started choice art last year, and it was so successful that she is continuing it this year. Children will not be bringing home a project every week because many are still adding layers to their creations. The question for tonight could be, "What are thinking about making in Art? What are some elements that you are considering adding? Are you cutting, gluing, painting? What message do you want your art to covey?"  Some of these are BIG questions, however it can start a conversation with your child about a way to see art. Another connection could be to take your child to an art museum. We have several in St. Louis of which to choose. This past weekend my daughters and I went to the St. Louis Art Museum to see the new modern art exhibits. We had no idea that they have FREE guided tours. We really enjoyed learning about the new exhibits. It allowed us to understand the message the artist was trying to tell.  Another suggestion is to go to the Festival of the Nations this weekend in Tower Grove Park. They have a kids section where children are encouraged to make their own crafts. I hope what ever you do this weekend will be fun filled. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday Night from 7-8:30 for Curriculum Night.

First Library Visit Today.

Today we visited the library for the first time this year. We will have Library on A days in the morning. Mr. Bober is our librarian. He showed the children the new check out cards and the shelf markers. We talked to the children about getting a just right book to bring home and read to parents. Children will be bringing home 1 book for now. They will get to bring home 2 books in a few weeks. They can do the reading all by themselves now in their just right books! We encourage you to listen to your child read every night. (A just right book is not too hard nor too easy.)

Mr. Bober

Remember to use a shelf marker and have your check out card!

We have fiction and nonfiction in the early readers section.

Students trying to decide which book to get.

Some requested the nonfiction books specifically.

More Then Less Then Math

The children have come into First Grade knowing a lot of math. We worked on more then and less then terms to compare numbers. We discussed how greater then is the same as more then. Also, fewer then is the same as less then. We used cubes to help show our thinking.

"These are the same number."

"If you have three, it is more then two."

"Five is greater then three."

"I love math."

"I noticed the cubes connect and that helps me keep track of the numbers."

All By Myself

We cut and pasted clothes for the self portraits we are creating.

We learned to trace and cut the clothes.

 

 

 

We read Mercer Mayer's book All By Myself and discussed what we can do without help. Many can ties shoes, ride two wheel bikes, and make cereal all by themselves.   Look for our art work at Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 27 at 7 p.m.

We are Writers

Writing everyday helps support reading development. They go together like a bicycle. You need both wheels working in order to go! See pictures of our first grade writers hard at work.

We write everyday using 3 page stapled booklets.

We choose the small moment stories that we write. 

Our Writing Workshop time is 11:30 to 12:20 everyday. In addition, we will be have an opportunity to write during our Reading Workshop rotations.

We are Readers!

Today we launched our Readers Workshop by talking about "Just Right Books." These are books that fit us like a good pair of shoes.

We use the phrase:  I PICK to choose books. This expression means:

I choose the book.

Purpose- Why do I want to read it?

Interest- Does it interest me?

Comprehend- Am I understanding what I am reading?

Know- I know most of the words.

We discussed the 5 finger rule. If a page has 5 or more words that I don't know then it is not a just right book. Next we practiced reading books silently for 3 minutes. We are trying to build our reading stamina for Reading Workshop. Soon the students will be going through four rotations during Reading Workshop. The four rotations are: Guided Reading with the teacher, Reading on Computers, Word-Work/Writing at desk, Silent Reading in comfy chairs. The students know that during reading workshop they will be reading for 20 minutes at a time in the comfy leather chairs while the rest of the class is in another part of the rotation, so we have to build up to the full time. Tomorrow we will try for 5 minutes.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Ella who turned 7! Her mom brought donuts to share with the class.

Today was another amazing day. I love these students already! Parents, you have done a wonderful job teaching them to be kind and have manners.
We had an assembly about the School Norms. Dr. Doherty reminded the students that we Respect Ourselves, Others and our School. We do this by doing the right thing even when no one is watching, resolving problems peacefully and  are never disruptive or hurtful. 
Our class came up with Promises. They decided they needed these rules in order to be a learner in our class: raise hands, listen to others, take brain breaks, be safe, give each other space, and be quiet. We all signed the sheet to show that we agreed.

About me

Many of you have read my welcome letter. Attached are two pictures. One is of my puppy Rosie. The other is of my girls and me on the first day of school.

Rosie. She will be 1 August 17th.

My daughters Anne (7th-Wydown)and Carolyn (5th-Captain)

End of Day

We listened to several stories about the first day of school.

We ended the day quietly reading at our seats.

We read the words and looked at the pictures.

We shared the books we liked.

Math Today

We explored the manipulatives we will be using this year.

We worked in groups to share ideas.

We rotated and got to see all the different manipulatives.

Wonderful Start to our First day.

The parents were more nervous than the students!

Every morning we will line up outside on our line.

What a great way to start...with drumming!

Welcome everyone. We are glad you are here.

Morning work.

Morning Work.

Teacher Workshops

Getting ready for the year with my team!  Mrs. Chamberlin, Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Goode.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to School!
The summer has flown by and I am busy getting ready to see the students and families on Tuesday, August 13 for Meet the Teacher starting at 9 a.m. At that time you may bring school supplies. Please check back often for updates on our first day together. I will be posting pictures and information about our learning about three times a week throughout the year.