1st Grade

At the beginning of September, we spent a week getting to know each other and going over rules and procedures. It was really fun putting faces with names and finding out student likes and dislikes, family information, and passions! This will help me to include these ideas as I create projects and activities. Then, students worked on a few simple writing prompts in their journals, showing their ability to put their ideas into sentences. Finally, we read Otis P. Oliver Protests and pulled out story elements (character, setting, problem, solution, theme) and created a simple retell using "Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then." Instruction was interrupted for one week due to NGAT testing. 

We worked on a "Me By Numbers" activity to get to know each other better. Each class session begins with a challenging standards-based warm-up. This month included digits vs. numbers, counting by 10s, subtraction combinations of 10,  greater than/less than, and following addition/subtraction patterns. Then, students use IXL.com to work through grade-level standards at their own pace. Students can move beyond their grade level by working on recommended skills. Based on "trouble spots," mini-lessons are created to continue moving students forward.