Math in the Patch!

Hello Everyone!
This coming week in math we will be introducing estimating using "friendly numbers." Introducing our little learners to this concept helps them make sense of the different things they will be doing in math in the next few weeks.  It will help them make sense of quantities and will help them decide if computations (composing, decomposing, partitioning) are reasonable and accurate. In first grade we work on friendly numbers  0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. I have posted about this important skill before but have beefed up the unit a bit.  
I have also included an activity for kids to practice the difference in the teen numbers and the numbers that are often mixed up with teens. More number sense!! :) 
Here are a few pics from the 47 page printable download.

Hope you can use a few of these ideas. I'll be back later this week with some visuals for you!

CLICK HERE for your very own printable unit!! :)

Now, off to get my "fairy tale day" costume ready!! I can't wait to see the kids' costumes on Thursday as well!!

As always, thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments, the positives as well as the constructive ones, so don't just read and run! :)  

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Joyfully!

Nancy 

Reader's Theater and that Little Old Lady noun verb pack

Hello Everyone!
As promised I am back with a couple of little videos showing our mini reader's theater. Oh so fun, simple and sweet! Parents, I took video of all the kids, so stay tuned for future reveals!! :)

These little mini reader's theater scripts are in the Cinderella unit.  Scroll down for the link posted earlier this week.  Reader's Theater is great for building that confidence, fluency, teamwork, risk taking, stepping outside of the comfort zone, and so much more!!!

This coming week we will enjoy a discovery about nouns and verbs.  I've shared two packs before using the book The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything. I bundled them together and added a bit of extra practice on nouns and verbs.  Here are a few pics from the bundle.

For your free 20 page bundle, don't be afraid, chick HERE!!

Have a great weekend!!  As always, thanks for stopping by for a peek!!  And don't forget to leave a comment!!  

Joyfully!

Nancy

I traveled through some fairy tales and found...

Hello Everyone!
We are wrapping up our two week long Reading/Social Studies integrated unit on fairy/folk tales.  We have read so many different Cinderella stories from all over the world, compared, retold, mapped, learned about different cultures, and so much more!  Today we brainstormed some of the different things we found in fairy tales and responded through writing an acrostic and a hands on visual connection.  I love how hard the kids worked on these and the amazing connections they made!! Way to go, kiddos!!

This reader's response activity is included in my Cinderella unit. 
 You can get your activities and patterns HERE!!! Bibbity Bobbity Boo! :) Click! (free!)

Stay tuned for some fun reader's theater clips!!
We are having a ball in first grade!!
Thanks for stopping by for a peek!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Short Vowel Shenanigans

Hello Everyone!!
We are working hard this week on reading and writing short vowel words with accuracy, but somebody came and stole all the vowels!! What???? Then they came and mixed up all the letters!!  Huh?  What's going on?  Such shenanigans!! 
This little packet will have the kids trying to fix all the silliness! Here are a few pics!

Have fun with this packet!!

For your free 15 page packet of shenanigans, click HERE!! :)

Short and sweet tonight!  20 parent conferences in the next 3 days! Can't wait to brag on my little cuties!!

 

Retelling With a "Tell Me Tower"

Hello Everyone!
Story retelling is an effective way to improve children's reading comprehension. For our kiddos who are just starting to develop their reading skills, this practice can be extremely helpful.
Studies on story recall have found that extended use of the technique of story retelling leads to large improvements in story comprehension, making inferences, and understanding of story structure. Rather than having children answer specific questions about story details, story retelling requires children to focus on the bigger picture of the story and allows me to see how well a child understands the story as a whole.
 The goal should be to encourage students to think critically about the story and to improve their comprehension and vocabulary by having them tell their thoughts. As children become more comfortable with retelling stories, their language and listening skills will improve.
I have previously posted about using a retelling rope to aid in the retelling of stories. This year I introduced a "Tell Me Tower."  In the middle of our fairy tale unit, it was a great fit!
I reviewed the important story elements and introduced some little icons to help them remember the elements.  The kids made "Tell Me Towers" from paper towel tubes, construction paper and the icons.  Then they got together with a friend and told each other about a story they had read, or heard.  In this case, it was Cinderella. Some of the kids used the little puppets to also aid in the retelling.
Here are a couple of pics.

 For your own set of "Tell Me Tower" icons, click HERE! :)
(They are part of my Cinderella Unit!)
The kids will keep their "Tell Me Towers" in their book baskets to use consistently with each book they read!
Hope you can use this!  Let me know!!
Until then!
Have a great weekend!
Joyfully!
Nancy  

Marvelous Magnets

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick post today!  Taking my son suit shopping.  Yes, it's interview time!!  He will soon graduate with a double major, computer science and software engineering!  Believe me when I say he has helped me out of some technical situations more times than I can count!!  
Anyway, I know some of you (my teacher friends) will be teaching about magnets soon.  We will hit our little unit next week.  I put together a little mini unit with a final activity where the kids are combining what they know about force and motion with what they just learned about magnets. I also tried to fit in a hint of spelling!! Here's a preview!

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Inspired by AIMS science!

Hope you're "attracted" to this unit! :) If so, click HERE for your free printable unit!

Okay!  Off to spend some quality and probably quantity time with my baby!!

Stay tuned!  I want to share our "Tell Me Towers" with you!! Remember our retelling ropes?  I put a new fun twist on them!!

Till then!

Have a great weekend!

Joyfully!

Nancy