Day Three in 503!

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                       

 

 

This morning we read "Have you Filled a Bucket Today?"

 

" If you haven’t read this book, it’s a story that encourages positive behavior and it illustrates how rewarding it is to show kindness, appreciation, and love toward others. The story talks about how we each carry around an invisible bucket and when we use kind words and actions, we become bucket fillers {filling other people’s buckets}. But when we say and do things that aren’t kind and compassionate, we’re bucket dippers…emptying all the good feelings out of everyone else’s buckets. The book is well written in terms that kids can really relate to."-From Cara Carroll's Blog, First Grade Parade

 

The kids helped me make a chart that listed things thatwe could do to be "bucket fillers" as well as things we might say or do that could be "bucket dippers". (I forgot to take a picture.)

 

We dedided that we want everyone in our class to be a bucket filler so we can keep our classroom a happy place.

 

                                                                                                                   

 

We also practiced using white glue.

 

"A dot does a lot!"

 

 

We are white glue professionals now!

 

                                                                                                                                      

 

This afternoon we launched our Math Workshop. We talked about how the manipulatives that we use may look like toys but they are really math tools in our classroom. Today we explored and played with the manipulatives so we will be ready to use them as tools very soon!

 

We also practiced reading on our own today! 



A look into our day number 2

We have been so busy these past two days. We are learning so much already!

 

 

 

We are making new friends!

In today's Writer's Workshop we talked about how good writers are always adding more to their stories. Each student began a new book today about something they know about or care about. I reminded them that "when you think you're done, you've only just begun". We added more to our stories by adding details to our pictures, using letters to represent our words, and some even labeled their picture to help the reader understand the story better. I know these writers will be writing wonderful pieces in no time! 

 

 

 

We also worked on some coloring and cutting practice today! I saw some of the most colorful school buses I have ever seen, and I love that!

 

 

 

And we have been reading plenty of good books!

 

 

And of course, some playing!

 

A little conference call

 

Happy Tuesday!



Our First Day Together

Our first day of Kindergarten has come and gone!

 

This morning, timid little boys and girls entered my classroom but only a few minutes later that the back table was singing in unison a number song with hands in the air. I loved that. We were friends right away! Some had a hard time getting started this morning. It was inspring to watch as the children helped to console those who were nervous.
 

 

After reading First Day Jitters by Julie Danneburg,  we talked about how nervous we were to come to school today. We talked about what helped us feel better. Then we read the poem, Jitter Juice - the concoction that is yummy and helps the butterflies in your tummy. At snack, I served a little bit of "jitter juice" to the students. Their conversations were priceless. Some believed - "I can feel it working!". While some were doubtful - "Is this a just-for-fun thing?". Later in the day, I had a concerned student come to me and say that one of our friends "needs some extra jitter juice for the butterflies." I love seeing these friendships form.

 

 

By ten o clock this morning we were working with partners to try new things. I was so happy to see an eagerness to learn in each of my students!

 

 

 

We started today with the book Pete the Cat:Rocking in My School Shoes. Inside the back cover we found a note from Pete letting us know he was looking around our school. We followed the notes that Pete left but we never found him! That crazy cat made us go looking all over the school for him.

 

 

When we got back to the classroom, we found one last note telling us that he left a coloring page! We had fun looking for Pete and talking about our school shoes!

 

If you haven't heard of Pete, check out this video.

 

 

 

By lunchtime we had launched "Writers Workshop" and all of the students had written their first book!

 

Today we talked about how good writers-

 

Write about what they know about and

Write about what they care about

 

The students each came up with an idea that they knew about or cared about and got to work!

 

 

 

 

 I was very impressed!

 

I know that today was a big day for the families of my students.

 

I want you to know that I sympathize with the difficulty of having your five year old  put their "signature" on the acceptable use policy. Moving on to Kindergarten is tough stuff.

 

One of my favorite bloggers recently wrote about sending her daughter to Kindergarten. I think it's a great read, if you have time!

Click here to read her post.

 

 

 

Day two is tomorrow!

I know it's going to be good!

 

 

Also - I want to send a huge thank you for sending

supplies and wish list items! I know all the items we have recieved will help make our year more successful!

I am one grateful teacher!