Sentence Surgeon

Hello Everyone!
Welcome back!  Today we spent a lot of time understanding that using synonyms and antonyms can build our vocabulary and make our writing better.  We decided that what better way to fix up a sentence, than to take it to the doctor,  the "Sentence Surgeon!"  Earlier this year we did an activity where we performed surgery on words to make contractions.  Knowing the kids had a ball with that, I knew they would love cutting words out of sentences and replacing them with others.  Each kiddo (doctor) was given a sentence (patient) and the surgical tools (scissors, tweezers, bandaids, gloves, mask, and a doctor coat (complete with name tag) to cut out one of the words.  They had to choose whether they wanted to replace that word with an antonym or a synonym.  Surgeries were successful! Phew!!

Showing off our surgical skills

I'm a Sentence Surgeon Printables? Click here.

Or click here! :)

Oh! And by the way, most kids are now saying synonym and not cinnamon! :)

Thanks for stopping by!!  Take another peek into our window sometime!!
Until then, have a nice, good, spectacular day!!:)
Joyfully!
Nancy

Opposites Attract- Antonyms and Synonyms

Hello Everyone!
Great first day back after Spring Break!  The kids all sounded like they had a lot of family adventures!  We definitely took extra time to share this morning!!  One of our favorite lessons from today was one on antonyms and synonyms.  We read The Foot Book and learned that antonyms are really just opposites.  Then we went back through the book and replaced some of the sords with synonyms.  We then talked about how using words like these can make out own writing more interesting and more powerful,  Brainstorming antonyms and synonyms is a great way to increase vocabulary and expose kids to words that may not have thought of using.  We brainstormed words on a new anchor chart with a magnet on it to remind them that using interesting words like antonyms and synonyms can attract other great word choices and great writing!!  We'll be working on using antonyms and synonyms all week!! Fun Stuff!

Opposites Attract! :)

Each kiddo wrote either a set of antonyms
or a set of synonyms

  Good Job Kids!!!  Now the trick is to get the kids to say "synonym" and not "cinnamon!!"  :) So cute!!  It's going to be a great week!!

Have a great night!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Text Connection- Student Activities

Hello Everyone!!
Thanks for taking another peek!  I wanted to quick add a bit to my last post.  Text Connection is so important for comprehension.  I want to share a bit about how I get my kids independently practicing the connections they make with text.  All of these student activities coordinate with the anchor chart I've already posted.  Kids can make their own little Connection Hearts.  Have them cut out the 4 colors needed. Each color stands for a certain connection. Have kids write on each heart and staple together.
Kids can also use an activity sheet or their Literature Response Journals to record connections.
Here's to making connections!

Text Connection Student Activity- Connection Heart Book

Text Connection Student Activity

Click here for a printable



Literature Response Journal Entry for Text Connection

Short and sweet! Now off to make connections with the fam!!
Happy Connecting!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Text Connection

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!  Here's another post on helping kids make the connections needed for super comprehension.  A favorite resource of mine is "Reading With Meaning" by Debbie Miller.  We can help kids deepen the level of comprehension by having them think about connections before, during, and after reading. Kids (and adults) bring tons of background knowledge (schema) into each new reading experience. In her book, Debbie explains that schema helps readers make connections between text and self, text and another text, and text and the world. From the beginning of the year, at every opportunity, I try to help my kids consistently make those connections. This anchor chart reminds them that connections come from your heart schema! :)  We should all read with not just our minds, but with our hearts!


Text Connection Anchor Chart



Text Connection mini poster printable
click here for a printable

Let's keep those kids thinking and making those heart connections as they are reading!

Happy Connecting!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Reading With Your Child

Hello Everyone,
Ways to become a better reader??  Read, read, read, read.  We've all heard that, but I think there is more to it...talk, talk, talk, talk.  Someone once told me that learning floats on a sea of talk.  I believe this to be true!  Classrooms are noisy places, especially when it comes to reading! Talking about reading is a must!  Today I want to share a little printable that helps parents in talking about the books they read with their kids.  I love the book "Catching Readers Before They Fall" by Pat Johnson and Katie Keier.  The list of parent tips was adapted from that wonderful resource.  Let's get those kids talking!!!

Click here for your printable
Or use this link for google docs download! :)


Happy Reading...and Talking!! :)
Joyfully!
Nancy
clip art- thistle girl

If I Can Think it

Hello Everyone,
Another quick post...Besides teaching reading, my other joy is teaching writing.  I am consistently amazed at the volume and quality writing I get from my first graders.  I truly believe that when kids are given the permission to write about anything they want, the better response you get!  Along with a more formal "Writer's Workshop" time my students write in their draft books every day.  I model my writing for them during a mini lesson and target a certain skill, but the kids can write about anything that might be on their minds.  I train them to come to school with some ideas about their draft book writing topics.  They know that they write best from their schema, but the sky is the limit!!  I have found that when they have that open sky, they soar!  I also train them to open their minds with this saying, "If I can think it, I can write it.  If I can write it, I can read it. If I can write it, I can read it, and so can others." I never hear, "I don't know what to write about."  :)

click here for your mini poster

Or here for this version

clip art-Scrappin' Doodles

Happy Writing!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Sometimes It's the Little Things

Hello Everyone!
Just a quick post today about something small! A "Q" with a heart around it!  It always amazes me how something so small can make a difference in the quality of my kids' work.  At the beginning of the year we talk about the difference between work that is done with care (and with our personal best in mind) and work that is done carelessly. Work done with care will be quality work!  I have a little mini poster displayed that reminds the kids and me that "I Love Quality Work." I often will add that little symbol of a Q with a heart around it while checking written work. My kids love to see that!!! 
On Monday I am going to add another component to this idea.  I had some little red heartshaped gems left over from a Valentine activity. After adding a Q to each of them, I am going to keep some handy for passing out to kids who are showing quality work on something I may not be grading (draft book, math tubs, some daily 5 activities, etc.).  I think the kids are going to love it!!


I Love Quality Work!
click here for your mini poster printable

Kids love to see it on their work!

Tangible Quality Work Symbols

Sometime it is the little things that make a big difference!

Thanks for taking a peek today! 
Enjoy the little things!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Rub a Dub Dub

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for taking a peek into our wonderfilled world.  I know I am a blogging rookie, but I am loving the whole idea of blogging! Not only can the families with whom I work can get a close up look into their child's day, but I can also share ideas with other teachers.  I want to tell them to please feel free to grab whatever ideas you can.  I believe teachers should constantly be on the lookout for ideas to help kiddos love learning.  Teachers, we are all in this together...helping the next generation of leaders be the best they can be!!
I put a lot of emphasis every day on the importance of time spent with books in the hands of my kids.  Research tells us that the value of the time spent reading authentic literature is immeasurable! I want to share one of my favorite parts of my classroom. The place my kids love to read...and even "fight" over is our bathtub!  Rub a dub dub...Read a book in the tub!  I even have kids that want to come after school to read in the tub!! :) I found this old tub about 15 years ago, painted it red and filled it with pillows. It is a comfy, cozy, and inviting place to cuddle up with a book! OOPS! Don't get the book wet!! :)

 Happy Reading!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Morning Warm Up

Hello Everyone!
I thought I'd chat a bit about our Morning Warm-up routine. It is very important to me that kids have time to talk and share with each other when they get to school. It seems they always have a ton to say!! Years ago I would normally put out a pencil/paper activity or have a warm-up notebook with fix the sentences in it. I found these types of activities to be boring...and I know the kids did as well, so I developed some alternatives. Each day of the week there is a different activity planned. Magazine Monday, Tune Up Tuesday, Word Search Wednesday, Think Outside the Box Thursday, and Fidget With it Friday. Each day I encourage kids to share while they are reading, investigating, or manipulating. I don't have pics of Word Search Wednesday, but you can imagine sight word or chunk word games and searches.

Magazine Monday!!

Tune up Tuesday! Reading Poetry With a friend

Create and Share!

Turn it upside down!! :)

Play Doh for Fidget With it Friday!

Pipe Cleaners too!!

click here for your printable morning warm up schedule

 

 

For your Think Outside the Box printables, click here! :)

I know your kids will want to get to school on time so they won't miss the morning Warm Up!!

Thanks for taking time out of your day to take a peek!!  Here's to Warm Mornings!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Camping Unit

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by for a peek into the wonderfilled world of first grade!  I want to share some highlights of our Camping Theme.  We had so much fun studying the animals you would find while camping, researching through Pebble Go, reading poetry, writing poetry, reading books, both fiction and nonfiction, writing our own nonfiction pieces, celebrating reading with camping day, and doing firefly science experiments. We got to show it all off at our annual Open House! Enjoy the view!!

Our favorite "camping" books!

Fishing Day! Fishing for Facts

Caught One!

Hiking Day!! Writing Acrostic Poems

I went hiking and saw...

Sight word stars on the ceiling! Can you see them?

Stargazing for sight words

I'm Sleeping in my sleeping bag...poetry

Reading to Flashlight

Reading to firefly light

Paper bag backpacks to hold some of our work!

Our very own little pup tent!!  Can't wait to read in here!!

Welcome to Camp VandenBerge!

hallway display of our animals

Happy Campers

Fireflies and Glowsticks Science!!

Put glowsticks in ice and hot water.  Look at the difference!!!

 Our Sci Fri experience was to ask questions about the effects of temperature on the brightness of glow sticks (fireflies). (Thanks to the sweet mom who supplied us with glowsticks for each kiddo!!!) We discovered that the warmer the environment, the brighter the glow!!!  The chemical reactions release more energy more quickly in a warm environment. Is that why we see more fireflies in the summer months???
firefly printables are here! :)

Fireflies and Glowsticks printable

Sleeping Bag Poem Printable

I can't wait to catch some fireflies this summer!!!

Thanks for taking a peek into our world!!
Hope your tomorrow is just as bright!!
Joyfully!
Nancy