Math Stations Start Tomorrow!

I'm so excited to start math stations tomorrow because it is the first time that I am trying it out!  I'm going to be implementing the B.U.I.L.D. math stations, but I changed the names around a little.
B = Buddy Games
U = Understanding Manipulatives
I = Independent Work (journals & books)
L = Learn with Me! (guided math work with teacher)
D = Do it Yourself! 

I created a math journal page that students will get to put into their math journals each day that they are in the "I" station.  

You can pick up the math journal page here!

This week we are learning about number lines and number grids so here is what I'm planning on doing in our BUILD centers:

B = Top It (we did comparing numbers last week, so students will practice this skill) and Monster Squeeze (comparing numbers); Roll to 100 (introduced at the end of the week)

U = Students will roll a dice and hop on the number line forwards and backwards

I = Number of the Day and Numbers Before and After worksheet

L = Guided practice with me

D = Students will make their own number lines (on a sentence strip) and 100 grid.  

I'll post pictures of the work at the end of the week!

Here are two freebies for rolling and hopping on the number line and number grid...just click on the pictures!

All About Me Book Freebie!

Freebie time!! I just created an All About Me book to do with my class this week and I wanted to share it with all of you!

Click here to download it for free!

 

 

 

Go on over to 2nd Grade Pad to check out their linky party with tons of fabulous freebies!!

Whole Brain Teaching....looooooove! (and giveaway)

This year I decided to try out whole brain teaching with my class after researching a ton about it this summer.
What is Whole Brain Teaching?  WBT is a way to engage students in every lesson and is a great form of classroom management.  WBT connects hand movements with voice commands so that tactile, visual, and auditory learners are all being reached during lessons. 

There are different aspects to WBT:

-5 Rules -- Students recite the 5 rules every day using different hand movements and voices.

 

 

-Teach-Ok! -- is a form of Think-Pair-Share, where the teacher says TEACH! and the students respond OK! and then turn to a neighbor to explain to them what was just taught.

 

-Mirror -- students repeat after the teacher

 

-Class-Yes! -- The teacher says class and the students respond yes as a form of quieting the classroom down.  The students have to repeat the pattern (class class class-yes yes yes)

 

-Hands and Eyes -- Students stop what they are doing and clasp their hands together and look at the teacher.

 

-Scoreboard -- Students and teacher compete for points (students try to beat the teacher and if they are following directions, they get points, but if they are not following directions, the teachers get a point)--at the end of the week we count the tally marks and if the students have more points they get extra friday free time.  If not, they lose five minutes of free time.  (My class loves this because it's a great whole-class reward system)

 

 

There are some other aspects of WBT that are great but I wanted to start with the basics for my first year of using it.  My class loves it and they do such a great job with it.  Other teachers like the Class-Yes form of quieting the classroom as well.  I'm also happy that my mentor from last year is also doing it with her class so we can compare notes.  It would be great if the whole school could start WBT because I really think it is effective!  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments!

 

Also...giveaway time!!! I'm going to give away my whole brain teaching posters with the rules for my classroom to the first two people to post in the comments section with their e-mail address and I will send it over to you!

 

You can check out the file here.

 

Let me know if you have any questions or post about your success with WBT!





9/11 in First Grade

Hello!! It has been a while, but I'm here!!! I have to say I am in love with my class -- they are such great students and I really look forward to planning everything to do with them because I know they are just excited for learning as I am excited for teaching.

This past week was September 11th and I spent the day talking with my classroom about 9/11 and Patriot Day.  It makes me feel old when the students in my class were not born when 9/11 happened, yet I remember it as though it was yesterday.

We started our discussion of 9/11 after a read aloud of The Giving Tree on the afternoon of September 10th.  We talked as a class about what it means to help others and who helps us in school, at home, and in our community.  The students automatically came up with police and firemen that help us, which was a great introduction to discussion the heroes of 9/11 for the next day.  I told them that we would be talking tomorrow about something that happened eleven years ago and it changed the United States forever.  I really thought this discussion might be over their heads when I got into 9/11 and Patriot Day, but they were so intrigued that they LOVED it and asked so many questions about what happened and why it happened.  Unfortunately we had to pack up to go home, but I sent a letter home to parents to have them discuss their own experiences with their children regarding 9/11 to prepare for our discussion the next day.

The next morning, the students came into class wearing their red, white, and blue (something I requested for Patriot Day) and we went into the classroom next door to watch a BrainPop, Jr. video on 9/11.  We discussed with the other class about what a terrorist is (said that they do not like our country and want to cause people in our country to be afraid).  And then we discussed heroes of 9/11.

With the other class, we came up with  chart about heroes (A Hero Is, A Hero Can, and A Hero Helps) that the classes came up with together.  Next, we went back to our classroom to write about our hero (either a fire fighter or a police officer).  The students did an awesome job on these writing assignments and made them look beautiful!

(Sorry...I can't get the pictures to flip)

Then we came up with a letter we wanted to write to fire fighters to thank them for saving us.  The students then put their handprints in the shape of the twin towers.  I LOVED this and so did the students...it actually gave me chills while doing this and seeing the twin towers with the handprints because the students weren't alive, yet they are honoring those who risked their lives for our country.

I promised the students that their card would be delivered to some fire fighters and I don't break any promises!...

The firemen loved the card!  

I really think that 9/11 was a successful day and oh yeahhh I forgot...When I ask my class what a patriot is they respond by saying "A Patriot Loves (makes a heart with fingers) Their Country (puts their hands in the air)" and when I ask If they are Patriots, they say "I love (heart with fingers) my country (puts hands in air)"...I'm going to continue doing this throughout the year :)

Some Classroom Photos

Phew!  What a busy past few weeks of getting the classroom ready and such before the school year starts.  Only a few days until my class comes into school and I'm so excited!
Just wanted to post some pictures of my classroom.  I will take some more updated ones and post this week.

Picture Perfect Helpers (Jobs) & Birthdays (I'm going to take their pictures for birthdays to put in the spots on the poster)

My Whiteboard in the front with my noise-o-meter

Hollywords Wall to go with my hollywood theme

My class management clip chart

Math Center -- Manipulatives and BUILD board for centers