Thankful

We all have so much to be thankful for this holiday season!  Our first graders were especially thankful for our new playground!  Many thanks to PSS Foundation, PSS PTO, and District7 for making this possible!

what shape is your class in?

Our wonderful library assistant, Veneal Williams, writes amazing daily devotionals to teachers and others who choose to be on her distribution list.  She often uses children's work displayed around the school to help spread the message.
Today, our class arts infused lesson on the ramp near the cafeteria was featured, and I could not agree more with the devotion!  Happy Friday to a class that I am thrilled to share my patience and love!

what shape is your class in?

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs... Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 

Whatever shape your class is in, may it be filled with God's love through you. 

It's not about having a perfect class, but loving them perfectly -- despite the unexpected situations, emotional outbursts or other twists and turns of the day. 

When we are weak, He is strong.  Thank You, Father.

A Response from The Firemen!

Dear Mrs. Berry’s 1^st Grade Class

Thank you for all the wonderful letters and pictures. Firefighter Chris and I shared them with the other men at our Firehouse. We really enjoyed reading them and we can tell that you listened about being fire safe. I did want to tell Abby, Sage, and Ella about becoming or being a firefighter since they asked in their letters. To become a firefighter, you need to have the best manners and above all want to help everyone. When people are having a bad day, the smile of a firefighter and their willing to take the problem away cures their sadness. Knowing what to do as a firefighter we can teach and train on. Being brave and good team work takes time but is very natural. So remember your manners and help whenever you can.

One last question we read was Riley’s, “Why do firefighters slide down poles?” Fire houses or Fire stations have been around for a very long time. The fire pole is traditional and not all firehouses have them. The pole was put in a firehouse because the living area was above the fire truck garage, we call the garage the Bays. Because we live at the fire house for 24 hours we need a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room. All this area is so big that it had to be above the bays in order to have the space to fit everything. When a fire department was called, the fire men needed a fast way to get to the fire trucks. Sliding down a pole from upstairs was the fastest way to get to the trucks and leave the station.

If you have any more questions or want to come to the fire house and see the fire truck again please do. Have a good year and we look forward to seeing you again next October.

Sergeant Chris Lamb

Sergeant Ray Mayley

Fire Safety

This week we were very busy studying Fire Safety.  We learned how important it is to be safe and prepare for a scary situation such as a fire in our home.  Students and their families created a prevention plan and set a meeting spot.  We were very excited to welcome the Spartanburg Fire Department on Friday.  Students loved learning from the firemen and especially seeing the trucks!

ELA Rotations

English Language Arts (ELA) Rotations has quickly become one of the students favorite times of the day!  (It is their teachers favorite time too!)  There are _ main goals for ELA Rotations: 1. Provide a time for guided reading in small, appropriately leveled reading groups, 2. Create independence in learning while students work independently in their other rotations, 3. Have fun!

Each week we will have ELA Rotations Monday through Thursday.  Students move through 8 independent rotations, guided reading, and desk work with a partner.  Each day, students will go to four rotations: guided reading, a rotation, desk work, and another rotation.  At the end of the four days, all students will have completed four lessons with a leveled book in guided reading, completed four journal writing activities independently in desk work, and visited all 8 independent rotations.  

Our 8 independent rotations are Writing Table, Book Nook, Word Works, Poetry Station (Crayon), Listening to Reading (Schoolhouse), Independent Computer, Shared Computer (Star), and iPods or iPad (Apple).  Students have a name tag that shows them where to go using a poster guide at the front of the room.  

Guided Reading

Listen to Reading

Listen to Reading
 

Book Nook

Word Works

Writing Table

Poetry Station

Apple Rotation- iPods

 

Desk work (You can see a name tag under her journal!)

Desk work

Desk work

Boosterthon Fun Run!

Today was an awesome day at Pine Street School!  We had so much fun, learned to try our best and encourage others, and best of all raised tons of money for our school!  First grade is super excited for all of the support through Boosterthon!  We can't wait for our special Dr. Seuss Day that will be possible again this year because of this fundraiser.  Thanks to all who helped as sponsors and came to encourage students today!

Go Ms. Means!

Mr. Regnier getting some good shots from the roof! 

Singing Frozen!

We ended our Boosterthon day by writing thank you notes to the Boosterthon Team.  I forgot to take pictures of some of the notes, but trust me... the students sure did learn a lot and loved Boosterthon!  After we took our cards to them, they all came back in saying, "I'm really going to miss those guys!"

As Jurassic Jess would say, "Booooosstttter Out!"