Happy new year! Welcome! I hope first grade is off to a great start for your family. Always, feel free to email me with questions, concerns, or just to check in.
As I've said in paper newsletters thus far, this blog will be the primary way I spread the news about our classroom. I hope you'll visit often to see what we are up to and get fodder for dinner conversations. Better
yet, please enter your email address in the box on the top right of this
page and click "subscribe." You will have to follow a couple of quick steps to confirm you
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post new photos or news this year.
During the first days and weeks of school, we've focused on routines, building our classroom community, expectations, and rules. I've modeled and then had students practice things like lining up, taking a break, retrieving their book bag at reading time, and washing hands before lunch. We've done "guided discoveries," where we share ideas for using a classroom material such as Unifix cubes, markers, pattern blocks, or puzzles, discuss how we will take care of it, brainstorm what-ifs and how we'll handle them, then we practice using the material (while also practicing a routine like working with a group, or quiet work time). The first days are hard work as we all get used to one another, and now we're starting to settle into more of a regular schedule. Here are some pictures from our first days in school this year.
Exploring classroom materials:
Getting started with Writing Workshop:
Sharing our first writing endeavors with a peer:
What we are really looking forward to this year:
Brainstorming and categorizing important rules we'll need so we can all enjoy those things and learn:
Self portraits:
Getting started with Reading Workshop routines:
Our door!
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