How to Carve a Pumpkin

In writing, we are learning about informational writing. Included in information writing is "hw-to" writing. In this type of writing, students teach their reader the steps how to do something. We began this unit by practicing and writing about "How to Carve a Pumpkin." Here are the pictures showing step 2-"Use your hand or a scraper to get all of the seeds and pumpkin out." The students really enjoyed this part. 

Great Behavior in First Grade!

Students who showed great GRR behavior (Going safely, being Respectful, being Responsible) and went for the whole month of September without a think sheet chose how they wanted to celebrate their hard work and leadership in our classroom. 

This student chose to bring in something to show and share with the class. 

These kiddos decided they wanted to bring a stuffed animal to accompany them for the day. 

These students chose to relax by taking their shoes off in class. 

This student decided to wear a hat in class. 

This student wanted to eat lunch with the teacher! 

This student chose to sit at the teacher's desk instead of his own desk. 

How to Spell Words

It can be very tricky to teach the correct spelling of words or to help kids with spelling. I wanted to give you a little insider scoop on how we teach first graders to spell. They count the sounds, draw lines for the number of sounds, and put the letters that make those sounds on each of the lines. Sometimes it isn't spelled correctly but the letter they have put makes that sound. As the year goes on, they learn spelling rules so that eventually those words that are spelled incorrectly (but spelled how it sounds) will be spelled correctly because of the new spelling rules they learned. For more information, check out this video at http://youtu.be/MXOy0Nx3kB4.