'Twas the night before school, And all through the class, Two teachers were stirring Amongst the mass... Of papers, and piles, and tables that were still dirty! There was so little time to make this place purdy pretty. The crayons were all hoarded nestled in their boxes with care, Whiteboards and erasers ready to share... As we stumbled around in our end of summer daze, We knew we only had hours before the first day of school craze. Then, just as predicted, as if the clock heard us ... VIEW POST
‘Twas the Night Before School…
Homework Folders…They’re Not Just For Home Anymore
We've been scouring the stores. We're stocking up people. 2 Pocket Folders are our mission. With Prongs. Without Prongs. However many we can grab before hitting our limit. Throwing cash at our children, asking them to please help Mommy by purchasing their limit too. It is not child labor, we assure you... It's summer math practice. You know, counting money and such. Even the cashier complimented us on how "educational" we were. We blushed. Pish...Score! But, before we used our children as ... VIEW POST
So Cal Blogger Meet Up ~ Pictures Speak 1,000 Words
~Blogger Meet Ups will always hold a special place in our hearts.~ We will always remember our first one just a few months back. We were total newbies, blogging a whole 3 days! But, to meet face to face with a few of our favorite bloggers and meet some new friends too was a day we are grateful for each and every day as this journey continues. So, when Hadar announced on her blog that we were doing it again, we jumped at the opportunity! We are "people persons" and sitting down face to face ... VIEW POST
Raise Your Cool Blue and Repeat After Me!
We are now in week 4 of school and really starting to get into the groove of First Grade. We've been reviewing our phonics, sounding out words, working on blending, and writing up a storm! We introduced our Cool Blue Capital Pens *click the link to read more* the other day, and wouldn't you know it ~ they're getting it we're learning! We are noticing that a few of our friends are sprinkling capitals in the miDdle of a woRd or Writing their entire sentence in blue. We get it. They're super ... VIEW POST
Stick to Good Behavior: Sticker Board Classroom Management Motivator
Even after 15 years of teaching first grade, we are constantly rethinking our behavior management system. What may have worked last year, doesn't quite pack the same punch this year. Then suddenly, that circa 1999 teaching trick we thought we retired along with our potato sack dresses, works like a charm! Kids are funny that way...Unpredictable, yet totally predictable at the same time. We have found one thing that has stayed pretty predictable over the years... Kids LOVE stickers! and Kids ... VIEW POST
Fall into First Grade: Common Core Math & Literacy Activities for the Season
Happy Almost Fall Y'All! Can you believe it? We are knee neck deep in first grade and the days are flying by faster than we can count to 100...or 26 for one of us, but we will be pulling that friend aside for a little one on one assistance ASAP! We are working hard to learn all of our procedures in class, and are trying ever so diligently to get our "Workshop" going as well. You might know this time as Centers, Small Groups, Guided Reading Time ~ Basically that time when us teachers need ... VIEW POST
