Women's History Month and The Luckiest Leprechaun

Considering it feels like it has been MONTHS since Winter Break, I have to say this week was one of my favorite weeks of teaching.  We dove into Women's History Month head first.  

I introduced the fabulous Hellen Keller.  

We learned about all of her life, accomplishments, and obstacles she faced.  We closed our eyes and covered our ears.  The kiddies couldn't believe that Helen Keller lived all her years like this.  

I found a super awesome cartoon movie on United Streaming that we watched during indoor recess.  THEY LOVED IT! 

  We start Amelia Earhart this week, followed by Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Betsy Ross.  

If you would like to complete these activities with your class.  You can find them here:

Moving on to the cutest story....... 

The Luckiest Leprechaun by Justine Korman  

A leprechaun finds friendship with a dog realizing there are more important things than his pot of gold.  The kiddies got a kick out of grumpy Mac and the overly friendly Lucky.

I created a unit based on the book.  We discussed all of the story elements, character changes, text to self connections, and completed a fabulous writing prompt.

"What is worth more than gold to you?"

"Mia is worth more to me because she is so so really really nice to me.  She cheers me up when I am sad.  I cheer her up when I she is sad.  We love each other as best best best best best friends.  I love her and she loves me back.  We laugh so so hard."    Oh my sweet goodness.... Gotta love first grade friendships!

"My family is worth more than gold to me because they help me also they make me laugh.  They love me a lot." 

What a total cutie my sweet firstie is!

All this got me thinking, this would be the perfect idea for my.......BULLETIN BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!

We created these cute leprechauns and attached our writing to the bottom.  

Here is the finished product.....   :)

Stop on  by to my TPT store to download this activity.

Well, thanks for reading!  Off to finish lesson plans and plan this wedding.  I cannot believe I will be married in 4 months.  I am SOOOOOO excited!

Teresa

Reading Response Logs

Hi everyone,

Just got in from a super fun night! In celebration of Read Across America week, our school holds a Reader's Theatre for the entire school.  Teachers volunteer and perform a play for the students.  Little me got to be the BIG Billy Goat Gruff.  Tons of fun!  Anyways, I was reading over some of my students writing and I was reeeally impressed.

I HAD to share our Reading Response logs with you!  Everyday my kiddies read for 30 minutes.... They read 15 minutes during school and 15 minutes at home.  They choose 5 books everyday from leveled bins.  These books go EVERYWHERE with them.  The next morning they get to exchange for 5 more books at their level.  

After they choose their books, they place them in their "Book Bag".  This goes home with them every night.

If you look closely, you will see a reading log.  Parents sign it everynight after their child reads for 15 minutes.

I knew my firsties were ready for a weeeelitttle more.  I decided to have them respond to their writing.  I created three different pages of topics (fiction and nonfiction) they can choose from.  I stapled the page into their notebook and the writing began!

Take a look...

How awesome is that for first grade writing?  

Here's another.....

How stinkin' cute?

If this is how they are writing NOW, I can only imagine what it's going to be like after responding for two months!  

~Proud Teacher Moment~   :)

If you want to try using these Reading Response Logs, 

you can find them 

(here)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Teaching,

Teresa

We were "Googley" over the 100th Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  I went to visit my father in Virginia. Brrr, was it cold, but we had an awesome time hiking up to Lower Oak Falls.   Here is a sneak peak of my fiance and I at the falls.

We came home yesterday, just in time for the 100th Day of School.  We got a super cute idea off of Pinterest and created 100 Day Googley Monsters.  We counted eyes in groups of ten and then began to create our monsters.  Here's the finished product!

 The children and parents loved, loved, loved them!  They were so much fun!  Here's a little tip.  We used a piece of cardboard in between the shirts.  We also used fabric glue.  It did get messy!

We  read the super cute story, "Happy 100th Day!" by Susan Milord. 

We wrote about what we would look like when we were 100 years old and also found 100 words to write in the classroom.

What a great day! I can't wait to continue teaching the kiddies about President's Day this week.  They are super interested about the life and times of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  I created a President's Day Unit that covers all of that!  I even included two fact and opinion center games for them to play!  {Oh yeah, and it's on SALE} Yay!!

Have a good *fast* week!

~Teresa

We're Going On a Hike

Happy Monday All,

What some of you do not know about me is that my father lives in Virginia.  It is absolutely beautiful.  I am SUPER excited because my fiance and I will be visiting my dad this Friday.  Everytime we go, he takes us to Skyline Drive and we hike the trails and come across the waterfalls....and I looovvee waterfalls.  I was SO excited, and Virginia got the best of me.  I was inspired to create some centers that made me think of my pops.  Well, I came up with the unit, "We're Going On a Hike."

In this unit, I made sure to include both Math and Literacy Centers that you can use with different levels in your classroom.

Math focuses on: Comparing Numbers, Fact Families, Subtracting, Sequencing, and Counting.

Literacy focuses on: Matching CVC/CVCE words, homophones, punctuations, ABC Order, and two writing prompts.


Check it out, let me know what you think.  Is there a specific center you are looking for? If so, leave a comment and I'll make it.


I am just so happy that my teaching inspiration hit so close to home.  Well, I am going to pack for this weekend.  Can't wait to give my dad the biggest hug and go for a hike! HEHE.....  :)


Teresa

Bulletin Boards

Why hello there!     I sure feel like it's crunch time.  With that being said, we've been working on adding, subtracting, reading responses, letter writing, natural resources, oh my!  LOL....    BUT... we did find some time to make our Splat Cats.

And here is the finish product... TaDa!

  I have to say they were super excited about making them.  After we created our Splat Cats, we wrote letters to people we love.  We gave reasons as to why we loved them. {SIGH} ... They were too stinkin' cute!

"Dear Dad, I love you so much! I love you because you get me a lot of toys.  Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Youssef."

How adorable right? I was super proud of them and we haven't stopped yet!  Today we continued to write letters to our parents PERSUADING them to give us something really we want!  OH MY GOODNESS, they are so funny and I cannot wait to share.  We brainstormed some wants: a puppy, vacation, a flat-screen TV in our room (ha), a raise in allowance...lol and the list goes on.  Will the parents laugh or cry ...we will just have to wait and see :)

Oh yeah, before I finished my bulletin board, I did want to share our super cute 2013 Board.  Here ya go!

Ok, off to wedding plan.  Happy Teaching!

~Teresa

Winter's Here

The weather outside is  cold. LOL... and the kiddies are getting quite anxious.  Unfortunately, with weather conditions like this, we can go outside.  Therefore, they are a teeny bit stir crazy.  SOOOO I have been trying to get them excited about Seasonal Activities.  

I read them the book, "Love, Splat" by Rob Scotton... 

Oh my, too cute!  It's about a little black cat named Splat.  He has a crush on Kitten, but is too scared to give her his Valentine.  Of course their favorite part was when Kitten, "poked his belly and called him smelly."  Gotta love it! 

We practiced retelling, summarizing, identifying problems and solutions, and of course created our own Splat cats that I will be posting soon. 

 If you would like to see the unit, please click (here)

Did I ever tell you that I have  *The Best* class parents?  Every Friday, we do something called, "Fun Friday"............I have a parent volunteer who comes in for about an hour.  He or She reads a story to the class and then completes some sort of an activity.  

We had a parent come in and read, "Sneezy The Snowman" and they made **Almost** life size snowmen..... hehehe

Materials:

Poster board cut into 3 pieces

Three doilies in various sizes

Construction Paper

Glue

*Super Easy And Super Cute*

Thanks For Stopping By,

Teresa

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Lot

So much has been going on in my classroom these last few weeks.  When I say SO MUCH, I mean it... We have been covering EVERYTHING.  We are just about done completing our Natural Resources unit.   We are writing about ourselves focusing on capital letters and proper punctuation, and we just finished SKIP COUNTING! WOO-HOO!  Did I ever tell you that I love this time of year?  I love this time of year because we are at the point where you really see the growth.  Their writing is longer, their minds are thinking, and they can truly make those *special* connections.


I've noticed their reading levels have greatly improved.  Well, my kiddies have been CHOOSING a lot of books lately, but something caught my eye.... They LOOOOOOOVVEE the "Old Lady" books.  They really get a kick out of seeing how hungry she is.  A lightbulb turned on in my head and that was how the next three units were created.

I quickly created: 

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Chick

Each book has its own theme: Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter.

I decided I wanted to create worksheets that would correlate with the story.  I wanted to include a splash of creative writing, a hint of differentiated instruction, a sprinkle of math, and a whole lot of fun!

If you would like to check out my units.  

You can find them here

If you are looking for a specific unit then just click on the links below.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Chick

We are starting There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose next week and I think I am more excited then the firsties.... LOL....

Happy Teaching,

Miss Gregorio