Math Tubs: Week of 9/26-9/30

It's almost the end of another school week, but I wanted to show you these fun math tubs.  The students have been busy learning about so many math concepts already!  We are sprinkling apple activities throughout the week and into next week until it's time to turn into pumpkins.  Enjoy! 
Here, a student is working on addition skills with an individual game called Shake Those Beans!.  This other student is finding missing numbers in a sequence of three numbers.

Here is an introduction to even and odd numbers on apple trees.  They also solved Apple Pie Addition problems.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

Happy Birthday, Johnny Appleseed!

Today, the students participated in a Johnny Appleseed Extravaganza to celebrate his birthday.  They rotated through five parent led, apple themed centers in the morning period.  Look at all our exciting activities!  Thank you to the parent volunteers in helping out with these centers.  The kids had a blast.

 The students are working on Apple Math Hats.  Here is a student sporting her new fashionable wear!

 Apple Tasting was a highlight.  They tasted apple cider, apple sauce, apple butter, dried apple, and apple chips!  The precious ones also worked on Apple Science.  They drew a diagram, weighed, and measured the circumference of an apple.



They also made Apple Turnovers.  I sent the recipe home with the students today.  You'll have to try them for an easy dessert some time.  Finally, they practiced patterning by making an Apple Jack Necklace.

The students truly had great time.  Thanks again for all the volunteers. 

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

Inspiration

So, I have been teaching since I graduated from UC Davis many years ago.  I have always loved working with kids of all ages.  Each school year has never been the same, and each school year I look to improve my teaching.  This year, I have discovered crazy teacher blogs that have inspired me.  Here's a quick thank you to The First Grade Parade, Fun N First, and One Extra Degree.  Thanks for the ideas, ladies!

Would You Trade Your Kids?!

Ha! Ha!  Got your attention?  No "real" trading going on here, but the students and I thought about a similar topic today.  We read the book Would I Trade My Parents?  by Laura Numeroff that followed a young boy's observations of families and their special qualities. With each family, he wishes that his parents would...let him have chocolate milk before dinner or let him have a dog.  In the end, he realizes that his family is also special and he wouldn't trade them either.

After reading the book, the students wrote about their own families. I was amazed by the students thoughtful and humorous points of view.  Most of all, I can tell that all these precious ones feel very loved at home.  Thanks for doing a wonderful job, families!

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

Math Tubs for 9/19-9/23 and Reading Centers

We have been busy with lots of real school now.  The students have been working hard learning new routines, new skills, and gaining more independence.  We are completing brand new math tubs this week.



Ordering Numbers



On and Off: Combinations for 8-12

Pattern Block Designs

All Boxed Up!

Students are excited about math tubs, and I love that they are receiving necessary practice and review!  Here's a quick sneak peek at reading centers in my class completed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

These precious ones are busy concentrating on stamping words, seatwork, phonics wheel, and a counting turtles minibook.  Hope you enjoyed a window into Room 12.  We LOVE first grade!

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

Science Matters!

So, the students have officially started their first science unit.  We began by discussing what is a scientist, then launched into making our first scientific predictions.  I had the students make their best predictions and answer the question: What is matter?  Here is a list of their answers:

• a feeling
• future
• when we collect data
• doesn't "matter"
• something needs to happen
• can't touch poisonous leaves
• liquid, solid, air
• another word for what happened
• mistake
• being nice and helpful
• camouflaging
• measuring 

LOVE IT!  They were so willing to put themselves out there and take risks.  We finished off the discussion with a 20 Questions game, and we discovered that everything is made of MATTER!  This Friday, we launch ourselves into properties of matter.  Did you ever think your first grader would be learning about such things?!

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

No, David!

We just completed a project based on the books by David Shannon called No, David!, David Gets in Trouble, and David Goes to School. 

Then, we discussed ways to be Peacemakers vs. Peacebreakers.  David is a great example of a peacebreaker.  After that, the students made their own Davids and wrote about how they can be a peacemaker.  These projects turned out so cute, and I was so happy to hear of all the wonderful peacemaker ideas they shared.

Here's one example of a student's David and their peacemaker idea!  Talk with your child about how they can be a peacemaker at home.

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

Math Tubs!

I have started something new this year, Math Tubs.  Each week the students will visit four interactive math activies, in addition to our regular Everyday Math Program. I have made it a point to not show student faces to protect their privacy.  I am so excited about these activities because they have immediately caught the interest of the students.  Here's a few pictures of this week's tubs.

Here are a few students working on patterning with school supply pictures.

Watermelon Math Addition, so fun!



Count Those Things!  Counting and grouping larger numbers.



I can't take all the credit for these ideas.  Mrs. Carroll from a blog site called First Grade Parade has given me much inspiration.  I hope you enjoy occasional sneak peeks into our world.  I am very new to blogging, though and my uncontrolled enthusiasm to post things may wane during the school year as things get more busy.  However, I hope to keep you more informed with bits of information through this medium.

Cheers,

Mrs. Sienknecht

Back to School Night Success!

Thank you parents for attending last night's Back to School Night.  I hope you found the session informative and helpful.  I am truly so excited about all the activities I have planned for your children this year.  The volunteer sign up will be on the door bright and early.  If you missed a chance to sign-up, no worries.  Email me your desires to help and I'll see where you might fit in.  I always need help as the year continues and the special events start to pile up!

Just quick reminder:  I am sending home the first speech project called All About Me today.  It is due the week of September 26-30.  Daily Homework will be begin Monday, September 19th.

Thanks,

Mrs. Sienknecht