"Peek at the Week" September 4-7

It has been such a great first week in first grade!  The children are picking up on routines very quickly.  Here is a look at what we have been up to:

Reader's Workshop

Our classroom is using a Reader's Workshop structure called The Daily 5.

 The Daily Five is a literacy structure that teaches independence and gives children the skills needed to create a lifetime love of reading and writing. It consists of five tasks that are introduced individually. When introduced to each task, the children discuss what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to engage in the task independently. Then, the children work on building their stamina until they are successful at being independent while doing that task.

The five tasks include:

1. Read to self

2. Read to someone

3. Listen to reading

4. Work on writing

5. Word work

 When all five tasks have been introduced and the children are fully engaged in reading and writing activities, I am able to work with small groups and confer with children one on one. This structure is effective, the results are amazing, and the children really look forward to Daily Five time. I anticipate your child will tell you about the class stamina, how we are working towards independence, and maybe you will even hear about some of the fantastic things your child has written, read, or listened to during our structured reading time. J

Our class has built 4 1/2 minutes of stamina this week!  This is a huge improvement from the first two days!  Way to go first graders!

 

To build our stamina to be focused readers, we must

 

*Keep our voices quiet

*Stay in one spot

*Read the WHOLE time

*get started right away

 

 

 

 

Writer's Workshop

 

Our 'official' launch will begin on Monday.  This week we have spent time reading favorite books and creating our own versions of the text.  Here are two books we created.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Math Workshop

Our first unit focuses on classroom routines, calendar, and using math tools. 

 

Here is our calendar routine:

Exploring Unifix Cubes

Playing Monster Squeeze!

  We also explored the Pattern Block Template.  Look what we created!

 

Don't forget....Parent Orientation is next week Thursday, September 13 at 4:30 P.M.  Hope to see you there!

 

Have a fabulous weekend,

Love Ms. Havig