Class Photographer - Sierra!

Sierra took a picture of the water cycle song and experiment we did last week. She also took pictures of the class during Reading To Someone. The students were working on Check for Understanding!

Class Photographer - TreaAnna!

TreaAnna took some pictures of our class out at recess on a bright, sun shining day!

Our FIRST Podcast!

We've spent some time this week learning about the application GarageBand. We will use GarageBand to record our podcasts this year. Eventually, students will be able to record, split clips, delete audio, move and piece audio clips together, add music and pictures to their podcast. We recorded our first podcasts today --- a reader's theater titled Planet Roll Call. Great job, first graders!

We Met Our Goal!

We've been working very hard on building our stamina during Read to Self. Check this out!

We have built up to 20 minutes of self sustained reading! WOWIE!!!

We've also been talking a lot about schema. Has your child been using the word SCHEMA at home??

Unit 1 Math Review StudyCast!

Happy Monday, everyone! We are reviewing concepts in math on Monday and Tuesday. Our very first math test will be on Wednesday, September 14th. I want all of my students to succeed and ace this test, so I recorded a StudyCast to help you review for the test!

What's a StudyCast? A StudyCast is essentially a video podcast that I'll post on my blog to help kids study for an upcoming test. I got the basic idea from Mr. Coley, who teaches upper elementary in California.

I hope you'll utilize these StudyCasts! Grab some paper and pencil and work the problems along with me! Pause the video when needed, and lastly, click the arrows on the right to view the video in fullscreen. Good luck!

**I'd like to see how many students are using this StudyCast, so please leave me a comment below! Thanks!

Star Gazing

We've been having so much fun learning about the sun, moon and stars this week! We made our very own constellations yesterday:

Today, students were able to view constellations using the app Star Walk on our iPod touch. Star Walk allows users to locate and identify constellations, planets, stars, and satellites based on where they are located. It uses the GPS in the iPod to show constellations that you should be able to see on a clear night from your exact location. SOOOOO cool!

 

I PICK!

The students have been learning how to select just right books to read during read to self. This will be a very important skill, as they will start choosing their own books to put into their book tub to read. Finding a just right book is more that just finding a book that is on the student's level, it is also taking into consideration whether or not they will like the book, what the purpose of reading that book is, and if they understand the content.

The I-PICK Method of Choosing a Book

I - I choose my books.

(not the teacher, not my friends.....ME!)

P - Purpose: Why am I reading this book?

(maybe it's because it's funny....or maybe it's to learn something new)

I - Interest: Does this book interest me?

 (I will be motivated to read if I am interested in the book!)

C- Comprehend: Do I understand the book?

(If I don't understand what I'm reading, that's a BIG problem!)

K- Know: Do I know most of the words? 

(It shouldn't be a struggle to get through a book. I will use the "5 finger rule"

to determine if I know most of the words.)

The students learned a song to help them remember the I-PICK method of choosing a book. Enjoy! The words to the song are also listed below. 

  

  Do you like this? If so, leave us a comment! Click on "comments" under this post!