Realism vs Fantasy

Next week we will really dive in to REALISM AND FANTASY! My students will use this little sheet to investigate a book of their choosing and discover if it is a real or fantasy story. :)

Snag it here for free!

Bread and Butter Friday!

We read books about farm animals this past week!  We read nonfiction and fiction books to discuss the difference between books that tell us facts and stories that make us giggle. :) To celebrate on Friday we made our own butter with heavy whipping cream, salt, and zip-lock baggies. Then SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE! I brought in my bread maker from home and the smell of baking bread filled our classroom all morning! In the afternoon we were ready to eat! These are some pictures of some of my happy first graders!

A Wish for ALL Children

 

It was the night before first grade...

I made this for my firsties this year! I sent it home with parents on our parent night which was before the first day of school.  They filled it out with their children and sent it back on the first day.  We read the story "The Night Before First Grade" and discuss how we felt about coming to the big FIRST GRADE! It was a great first day opener! 
SNAG for FREE: 

My First Grade Construction Zone Day Two!

I am posting a lot today mostly because after living in my house for nearly two years I have internet!! That makes posting and keeping a blog a MUCH easier task! :)

Here are a view things that I did to my room on the first day I went in.

 I have desks! I'm used to tables but I'm very excited to have that extra storage for the kiddos.  I'm sure by the end of the year I'll find all kinds of treats in there. :o

My cute quote (I made up?) that I used when I did my classroom in pirates two years ago.  Well I'm bringing it back people! lol This year I'm decorating my classroom with the cute Carson-Dellosa Seaside Splash! LOVE IT! 

I love my super cute chevron director's chair!! 

My First Grade Construction Zone Day One

These are some pictures of what it looked like BEFORE I began the transformation.  I will have to post more when my classroom is finished! :)

 I'm interested to see what I do with the chalkboard.  Never had one before... use it or cover it with paper...hmmmm....

  It is a little smaller than my old classroom but it is SOOO cozy! I think I'm going to love it!  Plus (you can't tell in the pictures), I have a great view outside of my door.  There are beautiful tulip poplars and a sweet little court yard.  It will be wonderful to take the kiddos out there to read a story under the trees.

Farewell Kindergarten...Hello First Grade

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher.   Throughout all my years of college, I wanted to teach kindergarten.  I was overjoyed that for my first teaching job I started teaching energetic, sweet  five year olds. After four years of teaching kindergarten I've now decided to up and move schools.  
This year I'll begin teaching at Pleasant View Elementary.   

My decision for the change is for one that my awesome and kick butt little sister teaches kindergarten there! For the last two years we have shared ideas and our classroom stories.  We have faced time our classes and had our children write letters back and forth.  In March my sister told me that a few people would be leaving and that they were looking into getting another k teacher!  The more my sister and I talked the more it seemed a dream could come true! Teach with my SISTER!?! 

April and May went by so quickly and before I knew it I had interviewed and got a call from the principal.  "I'd like to offer you a position as a... first grade teacher."  I immediately accepted of course, but slowly it began to hit me.  I will be a first grade teacher.  All of my materials are for kindergarten.  All I've ever known is kindergarten.  I LOVE kindergarten! 

It took a little while but now I find myself very excited about this experience.  And HEY maybe the kids will already know how to stand in line, raise their hands, and follow directions, right!?! 

Although I will not be teaching right next to my sister, I will at least be two doors down.  Needless to say they may have to turn the lights out and kick my sister and I out to get us to leave!  

From now on 180 Days in Kindergarten may be 180 Days in First Grade.  :) 

Fairy Tale Fun

We studied different types of Cinderella stories. Here are a few activities that we did with it. 

The children designed and painted this castle.  I did the cutting of course! 

Water marker art!?  I ran out of water color paints, so we decided to use markers and paint over it with water! These turned out beautifully!  

The next week we learned about the three little pigs.  The children chose one from two activities.  The one below is the write a newspaper article telling whether or not the wolf is guilty.  The other was write a letter to the wolf from Mother Pig.  

"The big bad wolf he just done it on an accident."

"Wolf why did you eat my pigs. Wolf can't you go some where else? Woof you made me really sad."