As a class, each student created their own "WANTED" poster for the talent they possess. These are now posted in our classrooms so that we can recognize one another's talents!
Jack's Talent, by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, is a story about the first day of school, when the teacher, Miss Lucinda, asks the students to introduce themselves and share a special talent. Going around the circle, it seems everyone's good at something—Michael says he can write long words; Francesca excels at soccer; other students build sand castles, train dogs, draw cats. But Jack can't think of anything, listing instead what he is not good at, by reciting back—in order—the names and activities of the children before him. Jack's talent is remembering!
As a class, each student created their own "WANTED" poster for the talent they possess. These are now posted in our classrooms so that we can recognize one another's talents!
0 Comments
Each first grade classroom created their own "good listener" to represent what good listeners look like. Constructed with the students, these listeners were drawn part by part as the first graders discussed what they would need to use to be a good listener. It is always interesting to see how these "listeners" turn out! This week we are focusing on creating our classroom communities and building our promises to one another. The first graders talked about being Bucketfillers and what it means to be a bucket filler and a bucket dipper. Everyone carries around an invisible bucket that is filled when kindness is being spread and emptied when feelings are hurt. With a partner, first graders brainstormed acts of bucket filling and bucket dipping. They really know how to be bucket fillers! How do you fill your family's buckets? We can't wait to hear how you are bucket fillers at home! Today was the first day of school! We were so excited to meet the new first graders and talked about how everyone gets the "jitters" about the first day of school. We read the story, First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg, which tells a story about Sarah Jane Hartwell and her first day of school. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and does NOT want to go to school. She doesn't know anybody and nobody knows her. Reluctantly, she pulls herself together and gets to school only to find out that she is the teacher! Talk about a surprise ending! To talk about our own jitters, or worries, we made Jitter Juice! Each first grader had a cup of "worry water" that they poured into a pitcher along with their worries about first grade. Each of their cups made our Jitter Juice to share during snack time. What a way to wash our jitters away!
While preparing for the upcoming school year, the first grade teachers were faced with the dilemma of weekly home learning vs. nightly home learning. In order to see both sides of the debate, we put our thoughts in a Tug-of-War format. The thinking routine, Tug-of-War helps identify and frame two opposing sides of a dilemma with multiple "tugs" that "pull" towards each side. This routine sparked a conversation amongst the teachers that ended in a decision to have weekly home learning. This way parents have the flexibility to work with their child on their home learning when it works for them. The purpose of Home Learning is to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom and provide additional practice.
Now it's your turn to weigh in! What would you prefer: Home Learning each night that is due the following day? or A packet of Home Learning that can be completed throughout the week, due the following Monday? |