Spooky Bats Poem

 It's time to get ready for BAT WEEK.  I found this cute poem in my favorite poem book.

 I typed up a copy for my poetry basket, one for the student poem book and a homework sheet.  

If you would like a copy click on the poem picture below.

Common Core Math Lesson

Numbers & Operations in Base Ten

This week my little guys are working on the bundling and grouping things in tens and ones.  I went into my junk collection from kindergarten and found some great stuff:  pumpkins counters, fall counters, apple counters, ladybug counters, koosh balls, ghost erasers, colorful stones and their favorite plastic spiders.  I put them in some bags and then baskets so they do not spill them all around the room.  I put nine cups in a basket.

My little guys worked so hard.  As I  walk around I help them work as a group and reminded them to take turns.  However they loved counting the objects.  They were taking turns and helping one another. They were so excited to do their math.

It was amazing.  The lesson was so easy to create.  I just made a simple table on word and a cute graphic from kpm doodles.  

click here for a freebie

The Hairy Scary Spider

This will be a short week for us.  We will have our Teacher In-Service Thursday and Friday.  I am going to try to squeeze in a lot of lessons about Spiders. 

I found some great books to read:

The Very Busy Spider By Eric Carle

Miss Spider's Tea Party App is for the listening center.

 Anansi and the Spider by Gerald McDermitt

And  The Diary of a Spider on Tumble Books.

Then I purchased this great unit on spiders from Kristen and she has some amazing ideas.   I did add some of my favorite ideas that I love to when I teach animals. 

Of course, I had to add a poem.  I love to teach with poems each week

Click Here for your free copy

Click the spider to go to National Geographic to see a video clip about Daddy Long Legs.

Five For Friday -- Oct. 4

I feel like I am doing some great things in first grade however I am so busy interacting with the children and planning each night  I rarely take pictures. 

On Tuesday we went outside in the Nature Center with our fourth grade buddies.  We were documenting living and nonliving things.  It was a great activity.  ALL the kids were working hard and focusing on the task.  
They made lots of great lists. 

On Wednesday I introduced my students to place value.  We created a classbook with pictures of ladybugs.  Why ladybugs???  because ladybugs are my class theme this year.   Click on the Picture if you want a copy.  

On Friday we had a visit from a father at the school.  He is a fire chief at one of the stations in our city.  He talked to the children about fire safety and read a book.

He let one of the children try on his gear.  The children loved the presentation.

During writer’s workshop the children wrote thank you notes to the Chief.  The notes turned out amazing. 

Then I came home to my cabinet doors hanging up in my laundry room and a new laundry sink!  Finally after five months of waiting!

Grow Food Poem

Next week I am teaching my first graders about Living and Non-living things.  One of the books I plan on reading is by our author of the month, Lois Ehlert, Growing Vegetable Soup.

I found the perfect poem in the poetry book, Pick A Poem, by Helen Moore,

Grow Food.

I typed up a copy of the poem for my poetry basket and a black and white copy for the student poetry books.

I created a homework page for the students

AND  I made this fun spelling word coloring page. 

You may have a free copy of it all.  Here

Enjoy