Now you Can Access ST Math At Home!

ST Math on the iPad and other tablets:   Now your child can access ST Math homework from home using their tablet.  Follow these simple instructions to get started

To Get the App
Search "JiJi" in the App store (for iPad), or on Google play or the Amazon App Store (for Kindle Fire and other Android tablets).  
Enter your School ID and homework password:
        School ID: PIN050
        Password: H6JZ5D74

On Kindle Fire and Android, if asked for an Activation Code, enter"
PIN050-H6J-Z5-D74

Requirements:
- iPad 2 or newer running iOS 5.0 or later
- Kindle Fire
- 7" tablet or larger running Android 3.1 or later

Field Trip Photos, Math and Writing Workshop Updates and Snicker the Hamster!

Please click on the page to the right entitled "Field Trip Photos" to see all of the photos from our Trip to the Farm!

Math
We have been busy practicing addition and subtraction in math.  Please click on the page "Math Vocabulary" on the right to practice all the new math terms with your child at home.

Below are some pictures of the class playing a game to reinforce the concept of "difference."  The Envision math program has many fun games to reinforce the concepts learned in the classroom.  Your child has been bringing home the Envision math pages demonstrating what (s)he is learning in the classroom.  The games and homework are intended to reinforce the concepts learned through these lessons.  

ST MATH

Your child may have mentioned that they are doing ST Math with their penguin pal Jiji.  ST math is a math program developed by nuerologists which the children perform on their iPad.  It is a supplemental math program which aligns with the classroom's Envision math program.  And the best part is that the children love it!  You will soon be receiving a school code and password so that your child may do the ST math program at home on either an iPad or a computer.   

"Sketch to Stretch"

In Writing Workshop, the children are learning how to "Sketch to Stretch."  In the following photos, you can see the children listening to an excerpt read aloud to them by the teacher and then sketching pictures and quick phrases to help them remember what they have learned. They then retell what they have learned to a fellow classmate using their sketches as notes to remind them of the facts. 

We are also busy writing and revising narratives about our trip to the Farm.  The children began by choosing one exciting memory from the field trip and are working on writing the beginning, middle, and end of that snapshot.  They began with a rough draft, revised their drafts with editor (teacher) help and are in the process of adding colorful words and phrases to bring their words to life.  

Below is a photo of Mr. Schersten demonstrating to the class how to use the Book Creator app on the iPad for the eventual final published piece.  In the end, the students will have drafted, revised and published their very first story which can be shared in iBooks.  It has been an educational journey in storytelling for the boys and girls of Room 111!  

Snickers the Hamster
Mrs. Pavlicek from the Science Center visited us this week to introduce Snickers the Hamster to his new home! While here, Mrs. Pavlicek did a presentation on Mammals and the children learned that they had a lot in common with Snickers.  They learned that they both:

• Have fur (or hair)
• Need food and water to live
• Are warm-blooded 
• Came into this world through a live birth (and not hatched from an egg) 

The children also learned how to care for an animal.  Look for a form in the near future, asking if you would like to take Snickers home for a weekend or holiday.  If you are interested, you will be provided with all the food, shavings and toys.   

Farm Field Trip This Friday

Off To the Farm E-I-E-I-O

The first graders are off to the farm tomorrow (1o/4), so keep your fingers crossed for good weather!  The busses will leave at 9:00 am and we will return by about 1:30.  Please pack a lunch in a brown paper/plastic bag and a drink in a non-breakable container.  Please pack a snack also as we will grab a quick bite before we board the busses. 

If you are a chaperone for this trip, please arrive at the classroom around 8:40 am.  (Thank you for volunteering)

Library

LIBRARY
Library is every other Wednesday, so please make sure that your child has their book in their backpack so that they can return and check another one out of the library. 

Read, Read, Read ...and then return the book
You may have noticed books coming home from school in a special book bag.  These are books which are read with your child's reading teacher and sent home for re-reading with you.  Please have your read the book to you and return it to school the following day.

A Great Read
I found this article and had to pass it on.  It's filled with lots of great reminders for both parents and teachers.  Check it out at http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-10250/11-things-i-wish-every-parent-knew.html

Great First Few Weeks!

Open House 

This Tuesday, 

September 17th at 6:00 pm

Mark your calendars!  Come meet the first grade team, see the classroom and sign up for your Parent-Teacher Conference with your child's reading teacher this Tuesday, September 17th.  The Open House will begin at 6:00 in the auditorium where you will meet the entire first grade team.  Then you will go to your child's homeroom (Room 111) where you can see what's been happening for the last week and a half.  Afterwards, you will go to your child's reading teacher to sign up for  your parent-teacher conference in December.  Looking forward to meeting you all on Tuesday!

First Day Photos!

Here's Our Gang on the first day of First Grade:

Room 111 Are Bucket Fillers!

The entire first grade have read and discussed the book How Full Is Your Bucket?This book describes how we all have invisible buckets which are either filled by kind and helpful thoughts, actions and words or "dipped into" by unkind thoughts, words and actions.  Each child has his/her own bucket displayed on the wall.  When they are seen being kind and helpful to others or following the rules of the classroom, they put a ticket into their bucket.  

Every Friday, I staple and give the children all of the tickets that they have earned for the week.  Check out the books shown below!  The children beg to have them re-read to them over and over again!  Ask your child how (s)he is being a bucket filler at school.

Lately we have been receiving tickets for our buckets by remembering to do the following upon arrival to school each morning (without being reminded by the teacher).

This is what we have been doing over the first week and a half!

Morning Message:

During morning meeting we practice greeting each other, learn to listen when others are sharing and read the "Morning Message."  You may have seen print outs of the message in your child's folder.

Hope and Dreams

We discussed and shared our Hopes and Dreams for our year in first grade -- you can see them posted on the wall when you come to Open House on Tuesday.

Rules

After sharing our hope and dreams we discussed and made rules as a classroom that we would need to help us achieve our goals.  They are also posted on our wall.

Calendar

We have been learning the days of the week and the months of the year, as well as patterning and addition as we do calendar to start Math each day.

Pete the Cat

We don't have a class pet yet, but Pete the Cat has been a popular name in the class.  Pete the Cat has been teaching the children to let go of the little things and keep "moving along, singing a song."  

See What We're Doing In Class:

Some More Photos of the Children reading, writing and having fun!  Enjoy!