Dear Crayons

Klipfel & Kids imaginations and creativity were swirling with our latest writing project. After reading the adorable book The Day the Crayons Quit, 1st graders were charged with the task of providing their opinion about which crayon in the box is their favorite and giving reasons why. First, we used the writing style of our story to write letters to the best crayon colors (in our opinion of course).

Afterwards, 1st graders digitally published their writing. Each student was responsible for their own page of the book. Students first illustrated in Drawing Box, put that illustration into Book Creator, typed their letter, picked their font, positioned their writing and illustration and even recorded their own voice on their page. Needless to say I was very impressed with these tech experts!

You may download our book on any electronic device to add to your digital library or you can view our book as a PDF for reading or printing on a computer.

Option 1: Add our class crayon book to your digital library (for iPad or tablet reading).
Click on the link: Dear Crayons
Then click on Download.
Click Open in iBooks.

Option 2: Read our class book in PDF form by clicking here.

 

February Vacation Challange

1st graders were given a little extra (optional) homework over vacation. I have heard all about your travel plans to tropical places, trips up north, and staycation activities. Now it's time to share them on the blog. Share a picture or comment anytime this week about what you are up to this vacation. Double click anywhere on the padlet below to add your comment. If you'd like to attach a picture then double click to add your sticky note and click the arrow symbol to attach a picture.  You can also email me with your picture and comment and I will post it for you. I look forward to hearing/seeing your fun vacation posts to come.

World Read Aloud Day

Today marked LitWorld's campaign for sharing the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories. Room 116 had an extra special treat for World Read Aloud Day and was able to skype with a wonderful published author, Jennifer Fosberry.

Our skype visit took us to California (thanks to Ms. Fosberry for squeezing us in early with the time change). Before our skype visit we voted on which one of her stories we wanted her to read. It was a tie for My Name is Not Isabella and My Name is Not Alexander.

We let Mrs. Fosberry break the tie and she choose to read her very first book, My Name is Not Isabella. She explained how her famous books My Name Is Not Isabella were inspired by her daughter who loved dressing up as a princess or prince. Mrs. Fosberry wrote her story because she wanted to teach her daughter about all the other wonderful people she could use her imagination to be such a Amelia Erhart or Sally Ride.

It’s hard to imagine a more delightful holiday than World Read Aloud Day, “to celebrate the power of words and create a community of readers taking action to show the world that the right to literacy belongs to all people.” Never underestimate the power of reading aloud with your children.

Common Core Standard: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Happy Valentine's Day

Roses are red, violets are blue. Miss Klipfel's Class says, Happy Valentine's Day to you! Enjoy our Valentine's Day poems by clicking the video below. We hope your weekend is filled with chocolates, hearts and lots of love. 

xoxo Miss Klipfel's 1st Graders

Fancy Day

Ooh la la! Fancy Friday was one exquisite (that's a fancy word for great) day! Our anticipation has been building for this stupendous day and let me just say it was well worth the wait to see all the 1st graders dressed in their imaginative posh outfits. Of course, I couldn't resist dressing in my most elegant clothes too. Students were thrilled (that's even more excited than excited) to complete fancy activities throughout our shortened day.

1st graders read Fancy Nancy books, went on a fancy word hunt, and used elegant vocabulary; looking exquisite while doing it all.  A large part of 1st graders Writer's Workshop is focusing on using word choice in our writing pieces. Our Fancy Word Wall will help 1st grade writers' pieces sparkle and dazzle.
Fancy day brought one extra magnificent visitor to first grade.  Madame (that's a fancy way of saying Mrs.) Klipfel had a snow day, so she was put to work in first grade.  She videotaped our green screen project and brought in fancy movie star sunglasses for the whole class (looking exquisite the whole time).

To end our fabulous Fancy Day, we had a little soiree with the rest of the first grade. Students paired up to finish the day with some phenomenal reading.

1st graders (and their teacher) had a splendiferous Fancy Day learning and working, with our pinkies up!

Common Core State Standard L.1.6: Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring adjectives.

Global School Play Day

Yesterday marked one exciting, fun and very educational day in 1st grade. During Global School Play Day, we focused on learning and researching through unstructured play. In the morning we had a "playdate" with our Kindergarten Buddies in Mrs. Newton's room.  Later, we rotated through Mrs. Libby's class, Mrs. Halligan's class and the gym with our K connections.  In the afternoon we had a checkers tournament before heading to 2nd grade and spending time with Mrs. Begin's class.  During the whole day the smiles, opportunities to play, creativity and imagination were endless.  It was truly inspirational to see the smiles, laughter and happiness.  Check it out for yourself:

Hopefully yesterday inspired your family to plan for more unstructured play time during non-school hours and help children’s imagination and creativity to grow both in the classroom and beyond.