Our Week

We made tens and ones using manipulatives. We also used the laptops to go to different websites to make tens.

Here is a look at our week.

Shapes

We worked on shapes this week and the children made shapes using marshmallows and toothpicks. I didn't show them how to make the circle I wanted to see what they would come up with and I was really surprised at the different ways they made the circle. They just love anything to do with food.

Graphs and Surveys

We have been working on graphs and surveys this week. The children made thier own graph using M&M's, and they also conducted a survey of the class on thier favorite color apple then had to use the data to make thier own graph. We learned the difference between bar and picture graph and the different parts of the graph.

First Two weeks of school

Wow I can't believe the first two weeks are over, they just flew by. As I have mentioned this is my first year with first grade and I just love it. I have the pleasure of having most of my students back from last year, they were quite surprised when they showed up on the first day and I was their teacher again. One very sweet girl came running down the hall to give me a very big hug.

I finally finished the rocking chair I got this summer, here is a picture of before and after. It has been so very hot here which isn't the best time to be outside painting so this took longer than anticipated. We have had extremly high temperatures which isn't unusual for Texas but this year we have been setting records with the heat, were on our 58th day of over 100 degrees.

Bucket Fillers

We started bucket fillers this week and the kids and I just love it. I read the book "Bucket Fillers For Kids" and then we talked about how when we say nice things we fill our friends bucket but we say mean things we are dipping in our friends bucket and it makes them feel bad. Everyone made a bucket and we made an anchor chart to help with what was appropriate to write. When they arrive in the morning and during work on writing they are aloud to write a note to their friends. On Friday they were able to look in their buckets to get their notes, they were so excited to see what their friends had written, it was so cute.






Thanks to these great bloggers for the ideas.
I got the idea for the anchor chart at Mrs. Farmers blog
I got the papers and charts from Mrs. Walker's blog

Classroom pictures

I made it! Today was the first day and wow what a great day. I am going to be doing daily five this year and was a little hesitant about starting day one but everywhere I read said to start right away so I jumped in. It went great and they could have lasted longer than the three minutes reading to themselves, can't wait to see how the rest go.

Here are some more pictures of the outside of the classroom.

Classroom pictures

I have been busy all week trying to get my room ready and going to all the classes we need to go to, WOW it's been a long week. I am as ready as can be for those bright cute faces of first graders and can't wait for school to start.
Here are some pictures of things in my classroom, I still have a few more things to add and make but for the most part it's done. I really got some great ideas from some excellent bloggers and from pinterest and want to thank everyone you inspired me to make my classroom better.

Sorry about all the pictures, just couldn't pick a few. You can also see where I got the idea for my blog makeover from.

I will be doing bucket fillers and these will be the children's buckets once they add their own bucket.










Here are the classroom jobs thanks to Clutter Free Classroom. The rules and procedures will go on the blank side.









Made these with my cricut.









My totally awesome husband made this for me last year, I just love the colors. Thanks babe.




Here is my word wall.











In the back will be my guided reading area and the white boxes will be the kids book boxes. I made the curtains last year with the help of my mother. I just hate the shelves and can never get them to look neat so I used curtains.




Here are my mailboxes that I fancied up with ocean animals.
This is the area behind my desk with my children's pictures and supplies in the rolly cart. I made this board using a ceiling tile a couple of years ago, I put push pins on it and use it for important notes.
Here is the calendar area.

Here is my library. I wanted to repaint my bench to match everything but it was just to hot here so hopefully in a couple of months. I did paint some crates and have pillows that the children will put on top to sit on.

Here are my rules, thanks to Kinder Polka Dot Patch for this idea . There are only on the board for the beginning of school so I can introduce them then they will be moved to the other bulletin board.
Here are my library books separated and labeled by levels, that took a lot of time to do this summer. I have also put a label on every book that has it's level.