Today we broke out the watercolors for the first time! We will be using these often and it is important to get the rules covered so that we can keep them looking great all year long! When we are done with them, they have a "sleepover" at the writing table to dry overnight so they don't get mixed together and all turn brown! Today we mixed primary colors together to make secondary colors. It seemed like magic to them! 
Today we talked about complimentary colors (colors opposite one another on the color wheel) and made some beautiful artwork at the same time!
We have been learning to tell time...only by the hour right now. As the year goes on we will add to our repertoire of telling time skills by telling time on the half hour, quarter hour, etc. 
Today was Christopher Columbus Day so we made the most of it by reading a book, watching a short video on Unitedstreaming.com and creating a simple picture. The kids were truly interested in his "accidental" discovery...these are the kinds of questions that pop up on the Stanford test! :-)
We started our art planner, finally! We began by making color wheels and learning about primary and secondary colors. 
Students may wear their Millionaire Club tee shirts to school tomorrow... Wednesday, October 15 as part of the district wide acknowledgment of thier accomplishment this past summer!
It's neat to see how differently we each see a squiggle...
We delayed our start of the art planner because we've had so many absent this week. Actually, it was kind of nice to catch up from our missed days due to Ike! Today I brought out my art books and checked out many from the library. I told the children we would be starting the new planner Monday and how much fun it was going to be! I also wanted them comfortable with the fact that art can be very unique because each artist has a different perspective, style and inspiration. No two pieces are alike! To illustrate this, I had each child draw a heart...no two were the same! 
Now that it is cooler out it would be a great time to label your child's name (Sharpies work great!) in all their outer gear...sweatshirts, sweaters, lunch kits, etc. It's really hard to keep track of everyone's stuff if they are not labeled. I was not in the classroom due to an all day 1st grade PYP meeting today...and not everyone made it home with their new jackets! Are these yours? 
It was so nice to see everyone...a great time was had by all! Thank you to everyone for helping set up and clean afterwards. I'm sorry we still have 3 too sick to come. Rodrigo even managed to hand out his birthday cupcakes! :-)
Ms. Jackson initiated a pet food drive for first graders to participate in. There is a note in the red folder explaining the program...I forgot to tell the children about it! I will do so on Friday. We are collecting pet foods of all kinds, used clean towels, small blankets, pet toys, treats and kitty litter. I will be putting a collection box outside our classroom on Friday. We will continue the drive until next Friday, October 17th. First graders are compassionate and caring! We thank you in advance for sharing!
Last week information was sent home in the red folder about a new program that is being implemented at Mark Twain this year called Marathon Kids, which is a free running program offered in a number of districts throughout the state, including HISD. Students that elect to participate must run or walk 26.2 miles over the course of six months It is suggested that they run in 1/4 to 1/2 mile increments four to five days a week. Upon completion of the "marathon" they are awarded a t-shirt as well as a medal (if they attend the Final Mile Celebration). The students can complete their miles both at school and at home. I will often give them opportunities to run at school and will post laps each week on this blog to help you monitor your child's progress with this program. 
Today we used dominoes to help us with our additions facts up to 9. It was interesting to see how differently the children organized their facts...using all the same manipulatives!
Do you remember learning about greater than and less than when you were little? In our class this year, we will use the "fish story" to help us remember which is which. It's the same as the alligator story, Pac Man story...basically, the mouth eats the bigger number!
Ms. Liz comes on Monday each week to do crafts with the class for 45 minutes. I believe next week she will start to come on Thursdays instead. Today she made necklaces/bracelets and pencil toppers. 
ER brought her pet mouse to school to share with the class. I am not a lover of mice but have to admit I like this one! Thanks for sharing!
I took the opportunity today to play some additional Envision Math math games Counting Safari and Which Number is Greater with the students while some attended Vanguard pullout with Mrs. Norris. I periodically send these same games (they are printed on colored newsprint) home with the students...many had never seen them before. Often they may seem too simple. Feel free to change the rules to make the game more challenging...I do!
Today we played an Everyday Math game called Top-It. There are many versions of the game but today's game involved which number was largest. In the future this game will be about greater than, less than, addition, subtraction, coins, telling time, etc. We used a regular deck of cards minus aces and face cards. Try it at home!
This week we read one of my favorite books, The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. Afterwards, we wrote about what makes each of us important and unique. Come by the 1st grade hallway...I'll try to get them up this afternoon!
Today the kids experimented with detailed designs in art ancillary class. Next week we will be starting our new art planner... "How We Express Ourselves Through Art." Be on the lookout for more details on this FUN planner!
When learning about odd and even numbers...it's best to start with manipulatives. We group them up into pairs (these are sometimes lovingly referred to as friends). If none are left over the number is even. If there is one left over then the number is odd (odd man out).
We've been working hard on handwriting. We have daily lessons using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum along with daily exercises to help reinforce proper placement of strokes within the lines. Three phrases we use all the time you might want to use at home are:
We learned a new computer game online today called Give a Dog a Bone that was one of our jobs during reading groups. It's a great game to help your child be more familiar with place value and the hundred's chart. I have it posted on the bottom of our classroom blog so that your child can play it as much as they want at home...hint, hint! 
Here are the sad facts...our pencils are of terrible quality and our classroom electric sharpener doesn't sharpen very well. Next time you are at Walgreens, Target or even the grocery store...I am BEGGING you to buy a little plastic pencil sharpener with a lid (or else shavings are everywhere) for your child to put in their box for personal use. Thank you for your continued support!
We are finally back on track after the storm! I will be sending home reading levels home on Tuesday folders. This information is just for you...not your child or other classroom parents. I give it to you so you can monitor your child's progress. Look for homework tonight. Here are the stories we read in groups today...ask your child about which story they read:
Remember the 100 year-old Saguaro tree we read about! Look how small Nate and Sophie look standing in front of one!
Nate in front of his new school!
Haven tells me she lost a tooth at lunch today when she bit into the corn on the cob. Problem...she doesn't know where it went! :-)
The kids had a great week...no problems transitioning into school from the long unexpected break. Well done, guys! We are writing in big journals now. Next week we will be starting reading groups and jobs! 
We played a Everyday Math game called Rolling for 50. It's purpose was to provide practice navigating along a number grid. The rules were simple...and a lot of fun!
It appears that the children found time to devote to our Pennies for Peace mission over the unexpected break. They came to school with their backpacks heavy with pennies! FYI...we will be collecting until Thanksgiving.
I subscribed to a publication called Scholastic News. We will be getting 4 issues each month. Each one comes with an additional activity to do. They are great at incorporating social studies, science and current events into our busy day. It would help me tremendously if you would please consider contributing $5 to this cause. I mentioned it during at Open House but after the whole hurrication, I understand if you have forgotten. :-)
Everyone got a chance to share their hurricane stories with the class. It was interesting how grown-up they sounded. The children asked questions after each child spoke. It was clear to see their questions were a reflection of what they have been hearing all week... "Was there any roof damage?" "Did you stay out past curfew?" "Did your transformer blow out?" "We got power last night." "Did you have a generator?" We got it all out of our system and proceeded to have a great day! Surprisingly, only 4 of us still don't have power!
I know many of us still have no power, myself included. Mrs. Dauber knows and understands that many are living in different living situations, have no laundry facilities, eating on the run, difficult traffic challenges, etc. Two-thirds of the district will not be returning tomorrow... we are one of the "lucky" ones. It is not clear yet whether we will be getting any Galveston refugees...we'll just have to wait and see. I know we are all tired and didn't have a restful hurrication. I am looking forward to seeing all the children and hearing their stories...I know there will be many!
Our classroom did well during the storm! I am seeking refuge at Twain for a couple of hours during the day because they have power...A/C, TV, phone, Internet, Disney, Webkinz, etc...all of which we don't have at home right now! As far as I know officially, we don't have school all week. I've heard rumors that we will be out longer...please don't quote me on that! There are other schools that have not done as well and so many are still without power. I hope everyone is safe and using their unofficial "home vacation" time wisely! I shudder to think how the district will want to make up the days!
As a parent, we received our questionnaire in the mail at home today regarding past and current observations of our school, staff, faculty, facilities and administration. I strongly urge you to take this seriously and answer the questions as honestly as you can. It will only take a moment. You input is anonymous and a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided. Thank you.
I didn't mention 911 but I was prepared to if someone in the class did. Nobody said a word. Even still, we made flags. The whole lesson about the number of red and white stripes, stars, etc. went way over their heads...it was evident when we got 22 DIFFERENT looking flags! A few got it. I'll post pictures when we get back to school next week after the hurricane. They're cute...all in their own way. A few had time to make these snazzy pins...left over from a girl scout project left over from my daughter's troop! Waste not, want not.
Half of the kids in our class turned in their reading list and participated in the HISD reading program...well done! When everyone left today...everything and everyone was crazy. Someone stripped their shirt off and left it on the floor. Other than RHM who was absent, let me know if your millionaire made it home without their shirt! :-)
UPDATE : Due to Hurricane Ike, all HISD schools and offices will be closed Friday, September 12th. The district will be operating under Emergency Plan A where all schools and administrative offices are closed.
I told the students we would not have the spelling test until Monday. EB happily said, "GREAT! We can study all weekend!" Some looked at her like she lost her mind! :-)
Please be safe.
I know I asked the kids to use a collection container at home...but some just couldn't help bringing in a few to dump into our big penny jar at school! Do whatever works for you! :-)
Don't panic...Mark Twain has a BIG Grandparent's Day in the Spring. The food service had their own Grandparent's Day and Evan got to eat with his Grandfather today!
Over the summer parent from my class last year suggested I read 3 Cups of Tea. What a wonderfully inspirational book! I knew immediately that Pennies for Peace would be a great program to implement in my classroom and a nice addition to our current PYP planner. After meeting with my team, it was decided that all 1st grade classrooms would participate also! Many of the children wanted to share the idea with their older siblings and their classes, with grandparents, neighbors, etc. We've been talking about how kindness can be contagious...it was apparent they really wanted to spread their hope to everyone they knew! The kids loved hearing the story and watching the DVD of Greg Mortenson's mission to promote peace one school at a time...one penny at a time. I think they could see how it could be possible for children working together to make a difference for children halfway around the world! In class, SK impulsively yelled out, "I'm SO doing this!" The others unanimously agreed. 
My daughter started her own collection at our house...
