So good to be back!

It was so great returning to work this week. Your children make healing an easier job! After a few days, I felt like I had never left. Here are some pictures of the awesome bulletin board that the kids put together for me. I have never had a bulletin board dedicated to me...sigh!

Checking In

I received cards from the kiddos yesterday. They made my day, but the coolest, was my google hangout with the kids last week. Via our laptops, I could see them and they could see me. It was so awesome to see their smiley faces again. I really can't wait to get back. I know there have been questions about how I am doing. I thought this would be the easiest way to update everyone. This isn't really information for the kids, but you can share the info in a way that you find appropriate. I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on April 17th. After two days in the hospital, I am home recovering. I was diagnosed with Pagets Disease of the Breast and, as expected, I had more cancer within my breast. However, the GREAT news is, it was early stage and chemo won't be needed. Radiation also isn't necessary because of the mastectomy and my lymph nodes were clear. So...when will I be back? I was hoping to be one of those "tough ones" that could be back in two weeks. However, my body is telling me no. I still have two drain tubes in, which would be difficult to deal with at school. Also, there's the fact that I still feel as if I have been hit by a large bus! I am hoping to return on the 11th. I want to return when I know I am healthy and ready to give them all they deserve. Ms. Waterman is doing a wonderful job and I feel so happy they are with a competent and dedicated teacher. Thank you for all your kind words and concerns. I can't wait to return!

While I'm Away

It's official! I'm out of the "office" for about 3 weeks. It was hard to say goodbye on Friday, but I know they are in good hands with Ms. Waterman. I was fortunate to have her shadow me in the classroom so she knows the classroom routines and structure. I told the kids I would try to correspond some through my blog. However, it may be a bit after surgery before I feel up to doing so. I encouraged them to write to me in the classroom and share any concerns. I will miss you all but can't wait to return in May!

Two Vowels Go Walking

Our spelling words, this week, are words with two vowels. All I can say is...tricky, tricky, tricky. Kids must be exposed to these words over and over and simply memorize the spelling. When writing it, they can hear the long vowel but don't know if it's the bossy e or two vowels walking. This weeks blog challenge is to look through newspapers and magazines and cut out 5 words that have the two vowels walking pattern. Glue them on a paper and bring to school to share! Here's a short video to help with the concept!

Learning through Songs

I love that technology has provided me with many amazing resources for teaching. YouTube has so many fun and engaging songs that reinforce a concept. I promised the kids 2 weeks ago, yikes, that I would put this song on the blog. They love it and I have to admit it makes me smile each time we watch it. It's especially fun for me to put it on in class, because I get to see the students sing along and there is a whole lot of head moving going on!!!

Carnival Basket

A big thank you to all that have sent items for our craft basket. It's looking to be a fun basket for the carnival. The PTA is giving each student who brings an item, a ticket to use at the carnival. I will send these home the day of the carnival so you don't have to worry about keeping track of it!!

Our class snack supply is depleted. Many of you have sent snack several times. If you have not, please consider sending a box of snacks. It's not ever a big snack, but if we skip it..... I hear about it!

Looking forward to a fun, Spring-like week with the kids!

A new month

It's hard to believe that we are beginning a new month. This week we will begin a new Lead 21 unit and continue to work on greater than, less than in math.
Spelling Challenge: Use each of your spelling words in a sentence. Don't forget to start with a capital and end with punctuation!! Bring it into Mrs. King for a treat. Here is a link for a fun greater than, less than game that the students enjoy:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/earlymath/BPGreatLessEqualWords.swf

Long Vowels and Carnival Basket

So I know this weeks blog title is strange but they are the two topics of importance this week! As you have noticed, our spelling words have switched to long vowel patterns. Long vowels can be such a challenge, in both reading and writing. In reading, the kids have difficulty trying the long vowel sound if the short sound doesn't work. There are so many tricky rules with long vowels, but the key for the kids is having that ability to flip vowel sounds if one sound doesn't work.  During writing, they know a word needs something to make the vowel long but what is it? Two vowels walking, bossy silent e or just some weird combination that makes no sense. While I don't expect that the kids will retain every one of their spelling words, it is my goal that they will begin to see these vowel patterns in our English language. When you are practicing the words, at home, talk about the patterns in the words. Reinforce the fact that if the e is left off, it's a whole different word. First graders love to analyze words and talk about what they notice. I have included a fun video we have been watching to reinforce bossy silent e. Watch it with your kiddos and search for words, in your environment that have bossy silent e.

Meadowlark has a carnival, in March, and every class puts together a theme basket for a raffle. We are doing a craft basket. I think the item opportunities are endless. Please be thinking of something that your family can contribute. It seems that I always see fun craft items on clearance, at Target. Those end caps are full of great cheap stuff.

Valentine's Day Celebration

Waffles, whipped cream, sprinkles, candy and cards, in abundance, what more does a first grader want?  I never grow tired of watching little ones open their special cards and squeal with excitement. Those simple cards spread soo much happiness.!

100 Day Celebration

Our 100 Day Cake!!!

The kids worked with a partner to create a cupcake with a combination of 100 sprinkles

A GREAT group!

A SILLY group!

100 days smarter!

100 DAYS!!!!

On Thursday, we will be celebrating our 100th day of school. Our activities, all week, will revolve around 100. What a celebration....100 days smarter.

We will be having a Valentine celebration on Thursday the 12th. It will be in the morning due to early out. Since it's in the morning, I think a waffle bar would be fun! The idea of cupcakes and cookies, at 10 a.m. seems too much. I will be sending home a note, later in the week, with a sign-up sheet for bringing in toppings. I will also send a name list home. We will decorate our bags here!

Stay tuned for pictures from our 100 day celebration!

Writer's Workshop

Writer's workshop is a time when the kids work on the craft of writing. We start with a mini-lesson and the kids then go off to write about a topic of their choice. I work my way around the room and always hope to give each child  a tidbit of direction. It might be helping them generate an idea to get started or how to add more detail to their piece.

This week, we worked on taking a piece of their choice to "publication", meaning they edited, revised and rewrote. It was neat to see the kids edit their peers' papers. By no means, was it an editing level that adults use but it did catch many errors and they gave each other ideas for adding details.

They then rewrote their piece, which they thought was a little absurd (But why, we already have it here?!). I reminded them if nobody can read their writing, it's time wasted. They will get to share their "fancy" writing, this week, with the other first grade classes.

My hope is that the next time we take a piece to publication, the bar will be raised and they will really begin to understand the process!

Spelling Words

Thank you for all your time practicing the spelling words. The kids did great and were excited to take the test! This page gives some fun ideas for practicing words at home. Give a few a try this week!

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas break. Time, at home, with family is always great but I look forward to an exciting new month in first grade. We have worked on spelling words all year but will now begin a more formal spelling approach. The kids will continue to work on a weekly set of words but will now take a weekly spelling test, on Fridays. Words will be sent home on Mondays. Please work for short periods of time, daily, on the words. The words will also be on the blog by Monday night.