DoingTheDaily5: Using Computers for Daily 5

DoingTheDaily5: Using Computers for Daily 5: "Last night's #ellchat on twitter was focused on using technology to teach English Language Learners, which encouraged me to write a blogpost..."

First grade teacher no more...

It has been a good while since I've gotten around to posting anything. Sorry! It has just been crazy. In the past three months, my grandmother passed, I flew to Honduras to visit family and her grave, got news from my OB that my only hope for children is IVF, got more news from my RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) that my tubes and ovaries are doing okay and... I made the decision to move to fourth grade. Yep, Mrs. Gomez is no longer the first grade teacher, much to the kindergartner's, (and their parents), disappointment. I am moving to fourth. Sadly, my good friend and co-worker decided to move back home to NOLA, and took a position out there, which made it possible for me to make the move.

I am very excited. I am very nervous. I am very anxious. I am full of ideas...and doubt. Though, I am trying to rid myself of the doubt and just focus on the excitement of a new challenge. I've had the students before as first graders. They're very excited! As are the parents, a lot of them have told me how excited they are to have me again, I even had a few come into my end of school party and hug me and congratulate me on the move.

The math and science frighten me a little. I am trying to research to see if there are any math courses being offered in the Texas area during the summer. So far, just one, one day seminar. I hope I am able to come across at least one more I can attended. I do, however, have access the math and science online, so I'll be reviewing the material I'll be teaching!


That's all I have for now, gotta run and do last minute things in preparation for my sister's high school graduation tomorrow!

Dr. Suess!

Last week we celebrated Dr. Suess' birthday! I found this idea on another blog page and LOVED IT! We read different Dr. Suess books throughout the week, we read the Cat in the Hat and watched the video, via Youtube on Wednesday. Afterwards we each made our own Cat in the Hat. We also each wrote a story of what we could do if that Cat showed up at our house. Let me tell you, my first graders LOVED the creative, freewriting activity. I currently have the Cats and the stories displayed outside our classroom and have gotten many compliments on them all. I also got to sport my THING 1 shirt, which made my students Things 2-18, the loved being able to make their own THING signs. We wore them all day and were a complete hit!

 Awesome job, first graders! Keep it up!

What the Teacher Wants!: Dr. Seuss is on the loose!

Total awesomeness! Can't wait to use some of this stuff!


What the Teacher Wants!: Dr. Seuss is on the loose!: "Here is my Dr. Seuss Unit.  You'll find ideas for: *Numbers and Operations*Phonemic Awareness*Bulletin Boards*Science Experiment*Writi..."

Daily 4

We do the Daily 4, Tuesday thru Friday in our classroom. I came across this document on proteacher, modified it to fit the needs in my classroom, and now this long with a Fluency/Comprehension rubric, go home every week. I love it, it provides me with five reading grades a week. It also allows me soem documented proof should parents question why their child's grades are low in reading. Anyway, feel free to use it and modify it to fit the needs in your classroom! Happy Teaching!


Daily 4 Reading Behaviors UPDATED -

Behavior Bingo

This is something I have implemented this year to assist with classroom management. This Behavior Bingo motivates my first grade class to work together as a team. I have the last two passages on the wall below my dry erase board where the students can see it every time we have rug time. They are very aware of it and know what they must do to earn bingo numbers. You can modify the expectations and rewards to better fit your class and grade level.


Behavior BINGO

Menus

I attended a math seminar a few years back where the notion of MENUS were introduced. Menus were a list of activities a class can pick from to work. I took this idea and modified it. I created math menus and literacy menus, each of these menus had 12 to 15 differentiated activities corresponding to my leveled reading groups. I fold each student's menu in such a manner where they can only see the given days activities. They assisted me greatly in managing my 'reading groups' and my problem of what to do with those who finish their math early. The way I set up my math menus, we have our daily math lesson, we do the guided work and then the students work on on the independent work. Once they are done with their assignments, they go to my peanut table grab their math men folder and math menu. Then they go to the assigned location for their activities, (ei: CoS are on the top shelf, PoA are in the top drawer, SS are in the second drawer, GoF are in the bottom drawer). The students know to look for only the activities which are marked on that day's menu, they get the activity from the location, take it to the floor or their desk where they complete the activity and activity sheet. Once done, they raise their hand, I come and check their work, initial their activity on the menu, they turn it in and move on to the next. I currently have 5 sets of math menus, some menus are more challenging than others, but they kids have no idea. All they know is they enjoy working on them. Also, this allows me the time to sit with those who need extra help, while the rest or productively practicing concepts we've already covered in class.
I used to do my literacy menus very much the same. This year, however, I opted to do the Daily 4 which I took from the Daily 5 for our reading, so instead of literacy menus we have our Daily 4 Rotations which work wonderfully.

I am attaching, I hope, a copy of both menus. If you are interested, please let me now and I'd be happy to email you a copy.



math originals-1

Fab in First: Word Work

This is outstanding! I am going to add it to one of my Daily 4 work stations! Love it!

Fab in First: Word Work: "Word Work This can be used as part of your word work station or incorporated into your daily or weekly routinesas a challenge...something n..."

Fabulous in First: Book Response Sheets!

I came across these awesome story elements/story map activity sheets.


Fabulous in First: Book Response Sheets!: " I constantly find myself making worksheets for students to use with any book. I have a ton of listening center and other ..."

under construction

I have been teaching first grade for the past five years and after encountering awesome blogs, decided to try my hand at it. I will be doing my best to share things' I've come across, some which have worked, some which have not. I look foreward to meeting other first grade teachers out there.
Until then, teach on!