Fancy Day

Ooh la la! Fancy February 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 day.

Snack time was transformed (that's a fancy word for changed) into a Tea Party, using our imagination of course. 1st graders read Fancy Nancy books, went on a fancy word hunt, and used elegant vocabulary; looking exquisite while doing it all. 

We learned about Jane O'Connor and Robin Glasser, the author and illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series. 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. Keep your ears and eyes open for 1st graders using them while speaking and writing. 

Fancy day was also World Read Aloud Day which brought one extra magnificent virtual visitor to first grade. Madame (that's a fancy way of saying Mrs.) Jodi McKay the author of Where are the Words generously skyped with us. She even surprised us by dressing fancy too! She inspired 1st graders by reading her creative story alongside her friend Mr. Period. She taught us to always have our antennas ready because we never know when an idea will strike. 1st graders loved her unique story and are excited to hopefully see more books from her soon!

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

1st graders (and their teachers) 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.

Opinion Writing

In writer's workshop, 1st graders have been working on opinion writing. 1st graders have LOTS of opinions but we have learned that the best opinions are supported with reasons why. To practice our opinion writing, students first voted on their favorite season.

In these seasonal groups, students then worked together to brainstorm why they like that season. Many students loved summer for swimming, fall for leaves, and spring because we finally get warm weather to get outside.

Group members working on reasons for why they love their season

Each group wrote their reasons on large chart paper and then presented their work to classmates. Groups made sure to start by stating their opinion, giving multiple reasons and closing with their opinion. This helped us work on being good presenters and audience members.

We'd love you to leave us a comment with your favorite season and a reason why.

Happy New Year

HOPES AND DREAMS FOR 2018!

To start the new year off right we brainstormed New Year's resolutions. We discussed how these are goals or promises we make to ourselves for the new year. 1st graders used an organizer to think of personal goals, school goals and goals for friends and family. Then they picked one resolution and typed it using the iPads onto our Wallwisher.

We would love for you to add your 2018 resolution to our wall. Just double click anywhere on the wall. Then add your name and type your resolution (I need to approve it before it will show up on our wall). Happy New Year!