Schema

We have been learning about schema in reading.  Schema is all the information you have in your brain. Readers use it to make connections and deepen their understanding of what they have read. We worked in groups to record the schema that kids had about fireflies. Then we read Fireflies! by Julie Brinkloe.

Schema is always growing and changing!

ipads

Many amazing apps have been loaded onto our school ipads and we have been using them! We use them for spelling word practice, reading fluency, sight word practice, listening and reading books. More in depth posts about each app to come.

We all signed a contract about how we will treat the ipads.

BINGO

While our class enjoys number bingo, we also play a lot of word bingo too. The students 'build' their own boards giving them a chance to practice writing each work. Then when we play they are practicing reading each word. Double the practice in one activity! Plus lots of fun. If you are the winner, you get to be the next caller! This would be a fun way to practice words at home too.

Math Facts

All primary unit students are working on math facts. In first grade the students are working on learning the +1 facts and completing as many as they can in one minute. Then we graph the results, each time trying to increase our score. We will move onto other facts after the + 1 facts.

Charades

Each week we have a chunk of time that is dedicated to playing games.  What a wonderful time to learn new games, practice turn taking, being a good sport, and many more skills! Some favorites are Rat-A-Tat-Cat, Uno, Sorry, puzzles, Spoons, and Witches Cauldron.One week we used the time to play charades all together. We had such a great time!

Investigating magnet power

Yesterday we investigated magnet power. Students needed to choose one thing in the classroom that they predicted a magnet would not work through. Then they needed to choose something that they predicted the magnet would work through. We created a grid on the floor, moving the objects to the different categories. We found out that we were wrong in many of our predictions and that magnets are really strong!

Julia and Anabelle try the magnets on a block. They worked!

Elyiss tries an even thicker block...

Julian and Noah test a shoe.

Using Rulers

In first grade math our measurement unit continues! We've learned how to measure things with rulers and tape measures.