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.