OH NO!

Hello Everyone!
Oh No! Santa's stuck!!  This week we worked hard on discovering the problem in stories. Santa's Stuck by Rhonda Greene is a perfect book to enjoy that discovery.  We wrote about that problem and how the problem was solved and then worked to make a connection by putting ourselves in the story.  How would we help Santa if he was stuck in our chimneys? We practiced a fun song and then brainstormed ways in which we could help. 

I love some of the creative ways to help Santa!!!

We then put our thoughts down as a "reader's response" and added a hands on visual connection. 

They turned out great!!!  The kids are so prepared to find and help solve problems!!

Great job, kiddos!!!  It's good to know you've got Santa's back!!!

If you would like this song and the visual connection patterns, HERE!!! :) Quick before anyone gets stuck in your chimney!!

Till next time, stay warm everyone!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Math Notebooking

Hello Everyone!
I have had so many questions about how we do our math, so I thought I would show a few things about a typical math time.We start our math day with extensive work on the calendar and number of the day,  So much can be learned about the relationships of numbers through "math talk" revolving around our calendar. Here are our thoughts from today.

After some serious exploration about the numbers involved with our calendar and our number of the day, we move to our math notebooks as an opportunity for kids to independently grow their number sense.   Many of you may already do notebooks and have maybe even given ours a try, but I am going to share the unit again because I've added some new pages for our number of the day. There are now 9 different levels from which to choose. 

 While students learn how to "do" math, they must also learn how to articulate what they are learning. It is important to provide many opportunities for students to organize and record their work with some structure and guidance but leaving room for self discovery,  experimentation, and challenge. Problem solving notebooks support students' learning because, in order to get their ideas on paper, children must organize, clarify, and reflect on their thinking. Initially many students will need support and encouragement in order to communicate their ideas and thinking clearly on paper but, as with any skill, the more they practice the easier it will become. Notebooks also serve as invaluable assessment resources that can inform classroom instruction. Reviewing a student’s math notebook provides a useful insight into what a child understands, how s/he approaches ideas and what misconceptions s/he has. Here are some pics of our notebooks.

Today the kids noticed that the twin number 66 has diagonal twin friends!!

The number operator page gives kids the chance 

to grow, grow, grow.

 After notebooking, students have the opportunity to tell what they already know about a certain math topic before we get started on our whole group strategy mini lesson and our math tubs.  Then after a lesson, they can talk/write about what they worked on. 

For your own math notebook printable unit, click HERE!!

45 pages

I hope this answers some questions you may have.  We do follow our state/school district curriculum resources as far as what skills to teach, and when, but the notebooks lets the differentiation happen!!

Let me know if you have any other questions!!

So happy to help!

Joyfully!

Nancy

What will you leave for Santa? And an updated "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies" unit

Hello Everyone!
What a fun day!  Yesterday we began a little study on the sweet story, "Santa's Stuck" by Rhonda Greene. We followed that reading with another treasure, "Santa Claus is on a Diet" by Nancy Scott-Cameron. Today the whole problem in the first story (Santa eats too many sweet treats and gets stuck going back up the chimney) and the second book (Santa gets slim by eating healthy and exercising) tumbled into our math lesson on balanced equations. The kids had to balance our round and roly Santa's diet while balancing equations. Kids got paper cookies, broccoli, and carrots with number sentences written on them.  We worked hard to balance a cookie with a healthy snack!  Writing out the balanced equations on mini whiteboards was key!

 We will continue to work on balanced equations! The kids are getting it!! 
We then of course as a quick reader's response, had to write about what we were going to leave Santa on Christmas Eve. 

I love that the kids are thinking healthy!!
Click here for the Santa's Stuck Unit!

Now I wanted to quickly share an updated, revamped version of my "If You Take A Mouse To the Movies" unit. I added some sensory detail pages, a fun circle story retelling bracelet activity, abc order, word search, needs and wants, goods and services, compound word activity and more! Even if you have this unit already, please re-download from the following link.  
Here are a few pics:

Click HERE for the new unit "If You Take A Mouse To The Movies"
Warning ! Unit is 69 pages long! It includes patterns and directions for everything!
Phew! This post was longer than I intended!! Sorry! Just too much to share!  First grade is the place to be this time of year!!  Stay tuned for more fun learning experiences later this week!!
Thanks for stopping by our little blog. We appreciate you!! We hope our learning will spark some learning somewhere else!! Let us know if it did!!
Have a great rest of the week!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Double Mint Math

Hello Everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful week. Mine was filled with cooking, cleaning, laughing, more cooking, some Christmas decorating, and more laughing!!  It has been great having company here all week!!  So thankful!
I finally had a minute to put together a little math lesson or two.  We will be working hard on different addition and subtraction strategies when we get back. Learning about doubles is a great strategy for kids to have in their repertoire. Knowing doubles and then doubles plus one or minus one gives them another edge with number sense, patterns, number relationships, etc.
Here's a fun way to cement those doubles facts!

For your 15 page mini unit click here!!

Well, this was short and sweet, but more cooking and fun awaits!!! Have a great rest of the weekend!! 

I'll be back soon with an updated "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies" unit!! :)

Joyfully!

Nancy

OH! NO! Santa's Stuck Again!

Hello Everyone!
I want to share a few quick pics from our very busy week before Thanksgiving and an updated ramped up version of my "Oh No! Santa's Stuck" pack.
We had an amazing week with fun activities, our first grade feast and Grandparents/VIP day which for us always comes on the Friday before Thanksgiving break.

Making Butter!!!  

Shake it high!  Shake it low!

                              Celebrating Friendship!

Little Pilgrim Cutie!

Little Pilgrim boy ready for the feast!

                               What a sight!! Our 9th annual feast!!

So Thankful for this team!!! 

We love dressing the part!!

Now I want to quickly share a pack that I created last year using "Santa's Stuck" by Rhonda Greene.

I added a few more written expression opportunities, some comprehension (setting, problem, solution), an oral reading opportunity, a fun song, some rhyming center activities, a word search, another hands on visual connection, and some extra math tub activities.

Here are a few pics from the 55 page unit!

Hands on visual connection comes with patterns

For your free printable (55 pages), don't get stuck...click here!!

Hope this little pack gets you in the mood for the

 next big wonder!!

As always, thanks for stopping by for a peek. Let me know if you can use this pack, if you want to see anything added and of course, if you spy any typos!!

I count on you to keep me in line and accurate!! I read every comment and take all suggestions to heart!

Now, off to get going on my Thanksgiving dinner!! Friends and fam coming here!! So excited!

Have an awesome week!!

And Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Joyfully Yours!!

Nancy