A Brand New Year!

As we begin a new school year, I'm realizing we have lots of first! First year with flexible seating. First time at school for Kindergartners. And of course, First Graders! The first week of school went first graders went smooth (considering no one had no idea what to expect!). This class jumped right back into "school mode" and impressed me as always! After going through some basic rules about flexible seating, the first graders took on the challenge and did an amazing job! I was so impressed about how serious they took the different seats, and how much thought they put into the decisions. I think this is going to be a great addition to our classroom. 

The first week was filled with lessons about being caring, respectful, and in-tuned with others feelings. I was really looking forward to seeing these students be positive role models to the upcoming Kindergartners, and they went above and beyond to welcome them!

My Firsties started ,and are still currently, reviewing letters, word families, and blending sounds together. They are also beginning to learn more about sentence structure and color words. In math there is also a lot of review, with addition, number writing, and number ordering. However, I'm sorry to say that there's been a breakout of Backwarditis going on in the classroom. My students have all been writing their numbers backwards! We are currently working on a cure, and will hopefully all be feeling well next week. 

Something new for the Firsties this week is spelling! Each Monday a spelling list will be sent home, and the students will work on memorizing spelling words in class. The first test was on Friday, and I'm so excited to say that every student received a 100%! 

 

This week the First Graders also took part in some science/social study lessons. On Wednesday we studies the body and learned about write some body parts. We then went outside to draw our body parts and place the appropriate labels on. It was a great, interactive way to learn about our bodies! 

On Friday we continues our "All About Me" them by discussing our likes and dislikes. Turns out every likes and dislikes different things (oh and everyone thinks I'm crazy for disliking green beans!). We made collages out of magazine pictures to show our likes. 

For our weekly service project on Friday, we helped the school by keeping it clean! We cleaned some windows, picked up the floor, and walked around the school to pick up trash. I'm amazed by the students good attitude, and see them growing their servant's hearts!

It was a fun week when Kindergarten came! No tears on the first day! WooHoo! This class adds so much positive energy to the classroom, and are doing so well getting to know one another. I can't wait to experience kindergarten with them! 

On the first day of school, we read a book called Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. At the end of the book, we found a note from Pete the Cat himself saying that he was exploring our school. Following a series of clues, we toured the whole school and met all the teachers. We sadly missed Pete the Cat, but he left us some tasty popsicles! 

In the afternoon, we did a team building exercise where the students got creative together to create something using only aluminum foil and pipe cleaners. The results were so fun! There were a headband, purse, house, and sling shot!

In phonics class we are reviewing letter names, and how to spell our names using lowercase letters. We also read many new books with our classroom helper! In math we discussed different shapes, and started to work with patterns. 

During our social studies/ science time (we call it Discover), we started to learn "All About Me". On Tuesday the students created self images using a variety of material. 

On Thursday we talked about keeping our bodies healthy. The students discussed exercise, eating healthy, and hygiene. We then played a fun game where we matched two body parts together. 

I'm looking to forward to another fun filled week!

Room Tour!

Classroom is complete! I had a lot of fun rearranging my classroom for the upcoming school year. Changes with having two grades led me to want to switch up my whole room! I am so happy with the results!

 I'm trying to incorporate some "flexible" seating this year. This gives children more freedom in choosing where to sit. There's so many benefits from this! It gives children more responsibility for their own learning. It also allows them to be comfortable, and add variety to the day. I was sold on the idea when I thought about my own life. When I'm working on paperwork, I am most focused sitting at my desk at home. But, when I'm reading a book, I would much rather curl up on a couch! By allowing children to choose where to sit (during some activities!), it helps them do their best work!

So.... (drum-roll please!)....here is the 2016-2017 classroom! I love the openness and the bright colors! I feel like it just screams kindergarten!

This is where we will do small group lessons. With having two grades, this is where most of the instructional learning will take place! A perk of small class size is definitely the dynamics of being up-close and personal with the students during lessons. 

This is our free-time area. After the students are finished with their independent work, they can come over and pick an extra activity to do. These will be switched up twice a quarter, but right now it includes reading with a partner, drawing, puzzles, magnet letters, and writing numbers. They can always observe our class gecko too! For those of you who haven't met our class pet, his name is Dude and has been going strong in kindergarten for one and half years now! If you look really close, I'm sure he's smiling for the picture. 

This is my favorite addition to the classroom! I turned our past rest-time cabinet into an adorable cubby! Doesn't it just make you want to cozy up with a book!

These are other places where students can do their independent work. I used crates to make stability balls for times when students need to move while working! I'm predicting that this will be a big hit with the boys, as they always seam to have extra energy to spare! Students can also kneel on rugs and work if that seems more comfortable to them. The center totes have classroom supplies that students can use, or they can carry their pencil boxes around. 

These mats are the area that we will have our whole group meetings (another one of my favorite additions). It'll kind of work as home-base in the classroom. The baskets behind are the student's individual places to store their stuff. They are responsible for keeping them neat and tidy. They'll also keep track of their own independent work, and what they need to do during spare time. 

Book area! I changed up my bookshelf for a better view of the picture books. Beside it is our favorite tote of reading buddies! And of course, the tent it making it's third year appearance!

I've already been informed by one student that she will ALWAYS work in a desk (we'll see about that!). But, it is always an option. Sitting upright at a desk is a wonderful way that many student's focus. There is also two standing desk for students who are tired of sitting (don't we all get like that!). The fluffy purple circle chair is also a new addition, straight  out of my middle school days and stored in parent's basement! I see turn taking in this comfy chair's future! Way in the corner is my desk with a nice empty board! Why is an empty board nice? Because I can't wait to fill it with my student's artwork! 

That pretty much sums up the room! Now it's just missing one thing, students who are eager to learn!