Costume Day!

Aren't they cute???

And, yes, I even dressed up too!

Picture Day 1991

I am so bummed to have missed school this week.  I N.E.V.E.R. miss school unless I'm dying, and well, this kidney stone sure did make me feel like I was dying!  I was especially sad to miss picture day.  I love to see the kids come in all dressed up!

While I've been home recovering, I got to thinking..."Hey! I was a Firsty once too!" And I just so happen to have my first grade picture day photo.  I thought you'd enjoy a laugh!

Here I am with some kind of crazy sponge-roller hairdo, 

and a puffy-sleeved dress my grandma made for me.

Do you remember what you wore for your first grade photo?

Jessica

Furry Friends

Some of you might not know that in addition to teaching first grade, I also teach art.  So, at the end of the day, some of my Firsties go to art with me. (Some go to other electives.)  Today we had some very special (and furry) models in art class named Sarah, Pepper, and Bella.  The kids L.O.V.E.D. drawing these sweet dogs!

The parents at my school are wonderful!  As if keeping up with kids, book bags, and lunch boxes isn't enough...they volunteered to bring their dogs too!  I love parent involvement in my classes.  And I'm so thankful for the parents who helped me out today.

Here are some pictures of my students and our furry friends:

Sarah giving hugs!

Little "R" and Little "T" fascinated by Sarah.

Little "S" working hard on her puppy drawing.

Everyone got a chance to pet our furry friends before they went home.
This is Pepper.

Bella checking out Little "T's" drawing of her. ;)

Bella is Little "S's" dog.  She went right to her!

Bella is going to have a doggie modeling career one day!

I am such an animal lover, and it seems like my students are too. They were so calm and gentle with the dogs. We had a great time today!

Thank you, Sarah, Pepper, and Bella!!!! You really deserve a treat!

Jessica

Funky Lunches

My Firsties would go C.R.A.Z.Y. over these funky sandwiches!

 Can you guess which one is my favorite??

Aren't they cute? I'd love to hear your favorite too!

                                                                                                                              

The Famous O.W.L. Book!

Well, I made it through the first week of school! My new Firsties are oh.so.cute. And their parents are the nicest people in the world!  I really haven't felt well lately, and my students' parents showered me with love, hugs, and kind words the second they came in the door. I'm so thankful for all of their support.

Now, about this O.W.L Book...

My inbox was flooded after the first day of school!  I kept receiving emails from parents saying how much they loved their kids' O.W.L. Books.  The O.W.L. Book is something I'm using for the first time this year to try to keep my Firsties organized.  I LOVE organization!!! I wish I could say it was all my idea, but it wasn't.  There are actually different versions of this binder... G.O. Book, R.O.C.K.S. Binders, M.O.O.S.E. Notebook, etc... I just chose to name mine "O.W.L." because my classroom theme is owls.  That's for another post...I'm crazy about the owls!!!

This "No Peanuts Please" flyer was a freebie from another blogger.
As soon as I find her blog, I will give her full credit!

I LOVE this reference sheet called "My First Grade Helper." 
It was also a freebie from another blog.

Here is the information I put on the O.W.L. Book instruction page:

What is an O.W.L. Book?

It is a 3-ring binder put together by the teacher, that houses everything students and parents need to stay informed about our class. No more wrinkled papers in the bottom of the backpack! No more lost money!

Why is it important to have an O.W.L. Book?

It is important to have an O.W.L. Book to help students establish good organizational skills at an early age.  The O.W.L. Book will come to school and back home every day.  So, it is your responsibility, as the parent, to look through it each day to see what’s going on in first grade.

How do I use the O.W.L. Book?

• The binder pockets will be used to transport homework to and from school.  The front pocket is where the red homework folder should be kept with homework returning to school.  The back pocket is the “keep at home” pocket where I will send graded work home.  Please take all graded work out each day.

• Use the clear zippered pouch to send picture money, field trip money, and notes to school.  This will also be where you find “notes home” from me.

• The first pages in the binder will be the class welcome letter, parent expectations, supply list, and other important information.  Check here weekly for updates.  There will also be a copy of “My First Grade Helper” for students to reference at school and at home. 

• The tabbed dividers will hold the following:

1.LANGUAGE ARTS pacing guide and weekly lesson plans.

2.MATH pacing guide and weekly lesson plans.

3.SCIENCE and SOCIAL STUDIES pacing guides and weekly lesson plans.

4.BEHAVIOR TRACKING, class rules, and an explanation of my behavior management system. Look here for your child’s daily behavior and leave your signature.

5.CAFÉ CONFERENCE forms.  Check on your child’s weekly reading assessment and leave your signature.

We will be unloading and loading the O.W.L. Books together as a class each day.

     We are just beginning the second week of school, and I can already see the difference these O.W.L. Books are making.  My Firsties were organized and ready to go this morning!  I hope this is helpful for my students' parents, as well.  And if you're a teacher reading, feel free to take any of these ideas!

Jessica

The Book Whisperer

This is a perfect time to start a blog...I am about to begin my 5th year of teaching! I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I have so much to share with you.  But, before we embark on this year's first grade journey, I wanted to tell you about one of my summer reads:

I guess most teachers are introduced to the concept of "Round Robin" reading in their teacher prep. programs.  Students are asked to sit in a perfect circle, taking turns reading from the same book, then answering questions about the reading. B.O.R.I.N.G. The truth is that one book is not going to inspire every student, nor is every student on the same reading level.

This summer, I read a book called The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child, by Donalyn Miller.  It really opened my eyes to the fact that students need to be encouraged to choose their own reading material.  And that there needs to be class time devoted to independent reading.

The book introduces us to three types of readers:

Developing Readers

These children are not reading at grade level.  They don't feel like they'll ever become strong readers.  They need to be supported by their parents and teacher at their current reading level. And they need a substantial amount of reading time to apply what they have learned in Language Arts.

Dormant Readers

These are children who are unmotivated and disinterested in reading. They read because they have to, but never for fun.  They need to be in a classroom that values independent reading, and where they are shown that reading is engaging!

Underground Readers

These children love to read, read, read, and won't let anyone stop them! So, get out of the way! They are often bored in class because they have advanced reading abilities.  These students need to be engaged in books that meet their reading needs as well.

Here are some points that I took away from The Book Whisperer:

• If I do not make time for my students to read in class, why should they make time for it in their lives?
• Students need a prominent place to read with comfortable conditions.
• Students should be encouraged to discuss the book that they're reading with their parents, teacher, classmates, and friends.
• Students should be able to abandon books that are boring to them and start a new one.  They shouldn't feel like they have to finish a book just because they started it (I often have that problem!).
• Students should be exposed to a variety of genres and authors through read-alouds.
• Parents and teachers should spend time reading children's books, so they have recommendations to offer.
• Parents and teachers should set an example of reading for pleasure...while dinner is cooking or while on the treadmill.  Share your love of reading with children.

"No single literacy activity has a more positive effect on students' comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, spelling, writing ability, and overall academic achievement than free voluntary reading."

~Stephen Krashen

My husband carries a book with him wherever he goes...to get a haircut, on his lunch break, and when we first got married...to family functions!  No, he's not anti-social.  He just loves to read!  He reads every chance he gets. 

I plan on dedicating time in my classroom for my Firsties to become engaged in books that interest them.  They may not be able to read all of the words just yet, but I hope that this special time will create life-long readers just like my husband!

Jessica