This Week in 1st Grade

Last week was NUTS:

Superbowl Sunday: Cold weather and precipitation
Monday: 2-hour school delay due to icky weather
Tuesday: Regular school day
Wednesday: Regular school day
Thursday: Snow day!
Friday: Snow day!
Saturday: BEAUTIFUL, warm weather.
This week's forecast: Cold and snowy! Aah!

Texas has not had all of the extremely crazy weather that some of you have experienced this year so far, BUT we still have had some! So, as you may have already guessed, this week will be for catch-up for 1st grade!!

MONDAY
Phonics/Spelling: Review combination or and introduce combinations er, ir, and ur. On Wednesday and Thursday in small group, we will add "Park the Car" with the new combinations to our list of activities. Friday will be r-controlled vowels BINGO! :D

Reading/Writing: Penguins research project--we have been researching penguins for the past three weeks. This week we will learn about main idea and informational text features. We will use the text features to answer specific questions. My GT students will be starting a mini-research project on penguins as the class continues research together. I whipped this up for them (and will share with you very soon):

We will also begin our own informational text book about penguins--fun stuff!
Math: Numeration 51-99 unit--this week is all about reviewing how to represent numbers, and comparing and ordering two-digit numbers. Station activities will come from this unit:

We will also view some of our favorite money videos to review coins and their values:

I also found this one today that I will introduce to them (they will LOVE it):

Science: We have been busy studying weather and clouds. Last week, we sorted cloud pictures to learn the terms clear sky, partly cloudy and overcast. After looking at clouds in the sky and reading Little Cloud by Eric Carle, we will make a cloud foldable similar to the one pictured below (from Pinterest). Instead of cloud types, we will make a visual representation of clear sky, partly cloudy and overcast.

We will also begin learning about what makes seasons! Here is a GREAT video we will watch that shows one year in 120 seconds, specifically how the trees look during each season.

Then, we will make our own season trees like the one below (from Pinterest), except we will be doing all 4 seasons on one page.

Social Studies: We will continue learning about landforms! We have already discussed types of landforms and where to find them. This week, we will use Google Earth to explore different landforms in the world (and on Mars!).

Finally, we will write about our favorite type of landform. Here is our writing paper (click on it to download it):

Well......time to finish preparing for the week. Thanks for coming by! I hope you have a good (and normal) week! :)

Visual Plans for November 11-15

2 weeks in a row I am sharing my plans with you--WHOA. Here are some things I am looking forward to this week:

• Veterans Day craft--it's going to be cute!
• Teaching two more suffixes
• Doing the Cha Cha Slide in science
• Math Stations take 2--take 1 was not so hot.
• A NEW POEM!! We all LOOOVE poetry!
• Teaching in 1/2 groups for phonics and reading instead of whole group and then small group
• Spelling on tactile boards
• Fables
• I am off on Friday! Of course, this is more work in the long run for me because I have to plan for a sub, but at least I get to enjoy the day! :)

Click here to download my plans.

I mentioned spelling on tactile boards for handwriting. Letter practice that involves touch allows the brain to remember motor patterns, so, on a daily basis, we get to have fun AND learn how to form letters at the same time. Basically, I have about 10 minutes designated for handwriting instruction (NOT a lot of time!) so I need materials that I can take out and put away fast and easy. Sometimes we will break out sand, rice, or shaving cream, but on a daily basis, we will use these:

 Don't look too closely, lol. Glue is everywhere and lines are crooked!

This is the best/model felt board. I made these by gluing felt onto poster board and ribbon for the lines. All were glued using spray adhesive.

I also have foam, felt, and glitter sheets on which to form letters--easy peasy!

You also may have noticed this in the plans:

I made this especially for my class this week. I am excited to use it!! You can check it out/pick it up below:

ANNNNND it is on sale for today and Monday only!! :)

What are you up to this week??

VISUAL PLANS!!!

I did it!! I FINALLY joined the "share your visual plans" movement! And it took foooorrrreevvveeerrrrr. It takes forever to do my weekly plans anyway, so this was quite the task. That being said, humor me and read them!!! ;)

Click here to view/download the PDF and access all clickable pictures, links, and freebies!

You may have noticed that I have not used a ton of products, centers, games, blah, blah, blah. I know my Daily 5 plans look very, very sad right now. Two reasons for that: ONE--I make practically EVERYTHING I use in my classroom and most of it is currently not ready to be shared with you (time, time, time) or is remade from my district's curriculum and cannot be shared. TWO--this week we have a field trip, Book Fair preview day, and a sub day, so we are a little out of the ordinary; I also have yet to decide which Word Work activities I want to do first. The next visual plans I share should have a lot more in them, so worry not. ;)

You may have noticed this in the plans:

This product is BRAND NEW and I am excited to use it this week!! Check it out below:

ANNNNND it is on sale for today and Monday only!! :)