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
Raise Your Cool Blue and Repeat After Me!
Cool Blue Capitals
Remembering to use capital letters when writing can be tough for our little friends (Well, and some big friends we know too, but we won't go there...). No matter how much we cram, shove, beg, instruct, model or encourage, most of them just could care less forget. It is an area we know the teachers we pass the torch to appreciate having in place from the get go, but it is one we hear concerns about from teachers as late as 5th grade (maybe longer, we just never make it out of our ... VIEW POST
Class Share Time & Back to School Freebie
As Moms, we know how much our own kids l.o.v.e. digging through their piles of crap toys to find the *Perfect* share item for school. Though we secretly hope they will pick that treasured souvenir from summer vacay or the family heirloom Great Grandma Betty gave them, they usually pick the one toy they honestly haven't played with in ages...BUT, they MUST share it because at that very moment it is the BEST thing they have EVER seen in the history of ALL things! They have a very hard time ... VIEW POST
Field Trip Writing Record Freebie
One last field trip before we journey into the lazy days of summer... We took our learning on the road for a day and became one with some other wild animals. Hey, if you can't beat them, join them...right? Our annual trek to the zoo is an absolute whirlwind of animalness! This trip takes us on an hour long bus ride with one mission ~ Don't lose anyone! Bring learning to life for our little friends. Fortunately, we had a little help keeping an eye on everyone. We got to watch the ... VIEW POST
Message Center Class Letter Writing
Around this time of the school year, we find that friendships can be tested from time to time. It seems, one minute we’re the best of friends, and the next we "Don’t ever want to be your friend ever, EVER again!”. It’s hard to keep up sometimes...Can't we all just get along?! To help our students remember that friends make the world go 'round, we’ve introduced beginning letter writing with our “Message Center” routine. We keep a permanent Message Center station set up in our class. It has ... VIEW POST
