We've had a visitor!!!

Parents you may have heard about our very special elf or elves that have visited our classroom...  We have never seen the elves, but we know it or they visit because they leave their coats or hat to show us that they have been to our room.  These elves have been watching Mrs. Berry since she was a very little girl!  Santa is always watching! :)

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas!

This is the best time of year to teach 1st grade!! I love getting to celebrate holiday traditions with my little people!  This week we studied Gingerbread characters. We read a wide variety of gingerbread stories and compared the characters, plot, and settings.  On Friday the students made their own paper gingerbread people (pictures to come!) and made REAL gingerbread men!!  We had so much fun!!  Thanks to the sweet parents who provided the cookies, icing, and decorations for this fun project.

ELA Rotations

We've had such a great time getting back into the swing of school after our Thanksgiving Break.  If you come to our classroom Monday-Thursday mornings the hour before lunch you will see our "ELA Rotations."  There are eight rotations in the classroom: Computer, Writing Table, Listen to Reading, "Barnes and Noble" or our reading area, Word Works, Poetry, and 2 that I change each week to go along with our curriculum.  Each student rotates 4 times each day, going to 2 of the eight rotations each day for four.  The other 2 rotations are Guided Reading/ Small Group work and Desk Work.  So one child's rotations may look like this... Computer, Guided Reading, Word Works, Desk Work.  This past week our "Desk Work" activity was "Read to Someone," one of the student's favorites!!  Here are some fun pictures from this busy time in our room.

50th Day of School Celebration

We had such a fun day celebrating the 50th Day of School in 1950's style.  We discussed how school was long ago by reading nonfiction and doing research using the internet.  Also, the students did a fun craft and wrote about something they wished they had 50 of.  And we finally enjoyed a yummy lunch from our local vintage hamburger joint that still holds true to the original Drive-In style.

The Boys in the car!



The Boys!

The Girls!

My Favorite Place to Read! and Very Busy 1st Graders

My favorite place to read writing for our hallway display!  I loved how many students loved to read at our Public Library on the train!

 We are very busy in first grade... just like Eric Carle's Very Busy Spider!

Fall Fun!

Pantherettes ready for their performance at the Fall Festival!

Poor Mrs. Berry in the dunking booth!! :)

Taking home our bubble gum people!

Fun in Word Works!!

Our stain glass apples and tie-dyed leaves ready for fall!

Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Week

Last week was National Fire Prevention Week. PLEASE talk with your children about how your family will handle a fire in your home. PLEASE find a common meeting place where you PRACTICE meeting in case of a dangerous situation! Also check the batteries in your SMOKE ALARMS! It COULD happen to all of us!!! I hope children become educated and prepared.

We discussed how we can be prepared to help our families in case of a fire.  We loved making our fire safety men!