Have you had a chance to visit yet? We love having family visitors stop and share in our learning. Each week a new student is in SPOTLIGHT and has the opportunity to invite a family visitor to share something special---it can be anything from a family tradition, to a parent job, hobby, or story. Then, on Friday afternoons we eagerly await our surprise KNOCK AT THE DOOR guest reader. Check out the sign ups tab to get a spot for you or someone from your family before the year is through! Today we celebrated 100 Days of First Grade! It always seems to fall at the same time each year---a little extra excitement just before Valentine's Day and our February Winter Break! Hopefully you got to check out our 100 Days Menu of activities (100 piece puzzle, 100 Gumballs, 100 cup building, 100 scoops of ice cream, and more!) or hear a little bit about our afternoon. Also be on the lookout for our "If I had $100" writing prompt...it's always one of my favorites! Anyway, here are some of the highlights...
Our first graders have worked hard to fill our class ticket bucket by demonstrating safe, responsible, and respectful behaviors. Once we reached the top, the class voted to have FLASHLIGHT DAY as a special reward. On Flashlight Day, we dim the lights, light the smartboard with a "campfire" to snuggle around and use our flashlights for everything from writing to snack to a end of the day dance party. First grade rewards are so much fun!
Thank you to the PTO for generously funding a garden enrichment program right here in the Coffin School garden (located behind the annex if you've never been). Mrs. Lamb presented three engaging, hands-on, FUN lessons that were directly connected to our first grade science curriculum. Our first lesson was a re-introduction to the garden, a plant walk and scavenger hunt to discover the "BIG 5" that plants need to grow: sun, water, air, space, & sun. We then created mini "greenhouses" to grow and observe a pumpkin seed. Our second lesson was an introduction to habitats and we were able to use recycled materials to create a habitat for a garden creature. So. Much. Fun! Finally, this past week we did an introduction to seed-saving. We got to look at the life cycle of a pumpkin and create seed packets to save a real pumpkin seed that we were able to extract from a pumpkin.
How is it already mid-October? Despite the short weeks we've been busy in first grade. Check out some of the highlights:
Well, my family has been feasting on homemade apple sauce this long weekend, how about yours? We couldn't have had a better fall day to visit the orchard--here are some of the highlights...
Did you hear about Passport Day? This kick-off event celebrates our school's PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) where we strive to teach behavioral expectations in the same manner as any core curriculum subject. PBIS is an example of the application of Response to Intervention, or a multi-tiered school wide system of support for social behavior. We began with an all school gathering in the gymnasium where we saw a short video---created in the spring of 2018 by teachers and 3rd grade students---to demonstrate the "right way" to show our school's core values (Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe) around the school. Each class and their buddy class then walked through each school setting "station" to review and practice expected behavior. Each successful station completed earned a passport "stamp" in our class passport that we are proudly displaying in our classroom. It was a fun way to make sure our whole school is on the same page when it comes to following the rules and gives us common language to refer back to throughout the year.
Over a dozen years teaching in schools and two children of my own and I still find the playground a bit mystifying. As children navigate this unstructured time outside there can be so many choices to make. What do I want to do? Who do I want to do it with? How will we work out conflicting ideas and share this space? Often these choices are ongoing as so many kids float in and out of different activities with different groups of kids. I had the chance to observe our group alone on the playground a few times this week (many times we share the playground with other first grade classes) and I was thrilled to see so many content happy interactions! In fact the worst "problem" I encountered this week were Monkey Bar blisters needing a bandaid and a short break. Check it out!
We are so fortunate to have some extra teaching hands in our classroom every Tuesday and Thursday this year. Gioia Cianciarulo (Joy-Uh Chan-Cha-Roo-Low) is rising Senior at Salem State University, pursuing degrees in Elementary Education & Sociology as well as a license in special education. As a member of the 4+1 accelerated master's program in education, she is required to complete pre-practicum field placement hours during both my Junior and Senior year. Last year, I was placed in a multi-age 3rd and 4th grade classroom at the Saltonstall School, a K-8 school in Salem. This year, she is with us! The kids have been so excited to show her the ropes.
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