Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Guided Reading Chart

How do you keep track of all your student's guided reading level?

I usually just write them on a paper for me to look at.


  Another teacher in my building has a poster of all the kiddos levels on it.  I thought I would try this out this year.


I have talked to my class about how we are a team and how we all need to help each other and work together to get everyone where we need to be by the end of the year.  

I have shown them using my alphabet chart where we want them to be and where they are.  Also where we want to be by the end of the year.

First Grade
C/D- Beginning of Year
J- End of First Grade

At mid-terms and end of quarter I will update my levels on my chart.  This way they always have the best level they can do available for them to see.  We will be able to see everyone's growth and use it as an incentive tool.  

Here is what my chart looks like...




I have had this up when parents walk in and no one has mentioned anything about it.  It isn't to shame anyone or make fun of anyone.  It is meant to help my students get MOTIVATED to READ and always try their best. 

I can't wait to see how it goes this year using the chart and I can't wait to see their growth!

Let's Get Reading!

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Sunday, September 10, 2017

Pray for Florida

Cape Coral is where I used to live before I moved back to Ohio.  Please pray that Irma does not destroy it or anywhere else.  


Photo of Florida

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Saturday, September 2, 2017

Week Three- Handwriting, Sight Words, Flexible Seating, and Procedures


Photo of Make Someone Smile

Our school year has begun.  We just finished our third week of school in first grade.  We have been busy learning our rules and procedures for our classroom.  I've also been assessing my new kiddos to see where they are.  I like assessing the following at the beginning of the year:
Letters
Sounds
Writing Name
Reading Level
Writing CVC Words
Numbers to 20
My free trial of ESGI just ended, so I debated on purchasing it.  ESGI makes my life SO much easier when assessing letters, sounds, numbers, and sight words that I decided to buy it for myself.  I love how easy it is to use and the letters you can print out for the parents.  I know when my mid-terms are due that all I have to do is print and the parents will know exactly what their child can do and what they cannot do.  If you haven't checked out ESGI, please do.  It will make your life easier! Who doesn't want that??!!

I have noticed my firsties still need practice writing their names on lines and using first letter uppercase and the rest lowercase.  I printed out their names on lines and put them in a clear sleeve.  We use dry erase markers and the students practice writing their names correctly. 

Photo of handwriting names Wolfelicious

My students always LOVE using dry erase markers.  I love walking around and seeing how engaged they are at tracing their names. 

Photo of handwriting names Wolfelicious

Here is the name packet I use with my kiddos. 

Names - Editable Names Bundle - Names Activities



Photo of handwriting names Wolfelicious

Our schedule at the beginning of the day is always a little bit crazy.  Starting after Labor Day my school will serve breakfast.  The students bring breakfast to the classroom to eat.  I always struggled with the kiddos that come in right away and the ones that ride the "late" bus and get to school at 9:15.  It makes for a wild start.  This year I've decided to try out Morning Tubs.  I know my students need this social time in their day for SO many reasons.  I thought I would do Morning Tubs right after breakfast.  That way the students eat quickly and then get to enjoy a little social activity right at the beginning of the day.  I recently had a Donorschoose filled with some STEM toys that are wonderful for my Morning Tubs and I bought some building toys over the summer.  So far, my students are loving the Morning Tubs!
Photo of Morning Tubs Wolfelicious

Photo of Morning Tubs


Photo of Morning Tubs


Our rules for Morning Tubs are that the students can choose any tubs, but only 3 students per tub.  So far that has worked out well.

Photo of Morning Tubs

This year I am also trying out some Flexible Seating.  My classroom got 2 Wobble Chairs from a Donorschoose.  My students LOVE the Wobble Chairs.  I am hoping my new Donorschoose project of 4 Wobble Chairs gets fulfilled soon so we can have more.  We also have a low table that the students love to sit at.  And we have some other seating options.  Check out my Classroom Reveal to see the other options.

Photo of Wobble Chairs

We are still learning how to make "good" choices with the flexible seating and when throughout the day we can use them.  I also have a table spot for all students.  I got new chair pockets this year for my chairs so everyone has a "home" spot.  So far we keep our headphones and take home folder in our chair pockets.  Here is where I purchased my chair pockets {HERE}.  This is my second time purchasing from Jeannine.  She makes wonderful pockets.  I only had to buy more because the size my chairs changed. 

During Math time, we have been working on rotations.  We did do a whole group activity about filling up a tens-frame with a partner.  My kiddos loved the game.  It will be part of our "tub" rotation.

Photo of 20 Fill Up

We can get through about 2 rotations before our stamina in up.  Our goal is 4 rotations so I can pull a guided math group.

Photo of 20 Fill Up

My hope is do have a short lesson followed by guided groups.  Practice makes perfect (or at least I hope it does) so hopefully soon I will be able to begin my math time the way I really want it to work out this year. 

Photo of 20 Fill Up

I assessed my students sight words knowledge.  I learned that I really need to push hard for sight word knowledge.  We have a lot to learn this year so we have no time to play around. :)  Gish, I must have said that a million and one times this week. LOL.  I am using THESE to test my students knowledge of sight words.  I want them to know 100% before going to the next list.

I like to incorporate movement and fun in my classroom.  We plays Swat a Word to help us practice our words as well as have fun with them.

Photo of Swat a Word Wolfelicious

My students told me over and over how much fun they thought the game was. (Wahoo!! Win Win)

Photo of Swat a Word


I began my whole group reading lesson this week.  My school district uses ReadyGen. (No comment!).  

This was our first time using a book in their hands during our whole group lesson.  We talked about what they should be doing during the lesson.  Where their hands and eyes should be.
Photo of Reading
They seemed to love following along with their own book.  I told them they get to do that now since they are big first graders!

We had a great week in First!


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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Classroom Reveal 2017-2018

Check out my new blog design!  Doesn't it look great?!

This week I finished setting up my first grade classroom. Here is my classroom reveal for the 2017-2018 year.


My whole classroom in pano view.
Photo of  Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
Whole room


Photo of  Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
View from door.


Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
Sink Area
Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
View from door

Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
View from door

Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018



photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
Guided Reading/Math and teacher area
Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
flexible seating


photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
Calendar area and math manipulatives.


Photo of Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
Stand up tables


Photo of Back to School Bulletin Board Wolfeicious
Bulletin Board in hallway  

This year I am going to try to do some flexible seating once I get more routines down with my kiddos.

I hope you like my room.


Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my classroom.


Photo of  Classroom Reveal 2017-2018
Whole room


Check out some of my previous classroom reveals.




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