Twin Tuesday

We are back and excited to share with you a look at Classroom Management at the beginning of the year!  I will share my First Grade perspective and my twin (aka Molly) will share the Kinder perspective over at Miss K's Little Rays.

The beginning of First Grade is COMPLETELY different then the end.  And I am sure I am not the only First Grade teacher who will tell you, that it is hard to remember until you are smack dab in the midst of it!  I mean they leave you little learners who read and are gaining their independent wings.  Then Fall rolls around, and the new firsties arrive and you are like WHAT!!!  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE every aspect of new firsties, as much as I love every aspect of the soon to be second graders...it is just a whole different world!

Classroom Management is always a work in progress!  However, at the beginning of First Grade I try to take the approach of being a little tougher, yet with a soft side.  For 80% of my students they know our school expectations, which is FANTASTIC!  However, it is necessary for a great review of them, as well as my personal expectations!!!

Our school's expectations are Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible (Yes, we are a PBIS school!) So we start off the year, with what these look like and sound like!!! We always start with RESPECT!  It is our Core Value for the months of August and September and so VERY important!!!

We use our school PBIS matrix to discuss all the areas of the school, and what these expectations look like.  This year, I tried to be more thoughtful in my planning and repeated teaching of these expectations and so far that has paid off!!!  One thing with firsties, expectations can be boring!  I mean "they are big kids now" and they know the expectations, but knowing and showing are TWO completely different things.  **REFLECTION MOMENT...this is an area that I want to tackle this summer!  Making re-teaching of the expectations more fun and exciting!!!  A themed activity of course!!!  

I also roll out the Dojo's!!!  Most of our kiddos used them for a portion of Kinder, so it isn't new! However, teaching them ownership of their Dojo's is a First Grade skill!  We talk about what we should receive Dojo's for and choose their pictures together.  We also discuss what behaviors might require myself or another teacher to take away a Dojo!  As the year progresses, we will start giving ourselves our own Dojo's, both positive and negative.

This year we are off to a great start!  However, as we all know CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT is an on-going issue.  We are always tweaking and spicing it up.  As teachers we all know we have to do this because there is always a holiday around the corner, a drastic change in the weather, or a FULL moon that is out their messing with our kiddos and getting them all sorts of CRAZY!!!

This is a little bit of how we do it in FIRST GRADE!!! What do you do in First Grade to manage your firsties?  Leave me a comment and let me know!!! And if you are a KINDER teacher (or not, because really she is so fabulous everyone will want to read her post) head over to Miss K's Little Ray's and check out her take!!!!!

Twin Tuesday

Everyone has that someone in their life to make them better!!!  I am blessed to have more then one of those people, lucky...I know:)  One of those people is my pal Molly!  Molly is a kinder teacher, in her second year of teaching, and though the number of years that separate us by age is LARGE (don't ask, how large...just trust me!!!) we couldn't be more alike!

Somewhere in the last year since we met,
we have discovered more then a few things that we have in common.

Here are just a few..
the same high school
 the same college
a love of polar pops
our Catholic faith
a love of teaching
a love of work nights on the couch, instead of going out
a love of shopping
and a love of
BLOGGING

Each day, we are there for one another to lift each other up, to bounce ideas off of each other, to laugh at the crazy of the day, and to even shed a tear if necessary.  On a recent work night, we talked about the need to blog more.  Then came the idea of Twin Tuesday!  We teach in the same school, just a different grade.  So why not blog about how one topic or theme can be done differently in two different grades!!!

We will give you a glimpse into our rooms, our lessons, and our ideas!!!  Then hopefully you will grab your "Teaching Twin" and do the same!!  Who knows, maybe this will end up being a linky!?!?!

Be sure to head over to Molly's blog to check out her take!

If you have any suggestions or would like to hear about something in particular, leave one of us a comment!  We would LOVE feedback!!!

Motivational Monday

Who else happens to think that Monday comes around awfully quick??

I would totally agree, but today I tried to wake up with a fresh mindset!!  Like I mentioned yesterday, the start of this school year has kinda been rough...but when I think about it...there are many things that could be MUCH worse.  So it is time to put on my big girl pants, remember why I wanted to be a teacher, and get back on track to "Shoot for my Goals".

We are all good at making excuses, why not...it's easy!  But excuses do not get us closer to the things that will make us better.  So if you are struggling or feeling low,  pick one thing to focus on tomorrow!  One thing, take it on, and DO IT!!!  Shoot for those goals because if you don't who will?

Have a great week!!!!!

A Peek Into My Week..

Before I get into a Peek into My Week, I will give you a little peek into my life!!! We have now been in school for one full month!  Progress Reports went home on Friday and we are half way through Quarter 1!  WHAT??!!??!!??  I know all you teachers out there will understand when I say, where the heck did the month go?  I mean, I love FALL and all....but October is 11 days away, how did that happen??  Well as always, I had a plan and it has been a rough start to the school year!  Not rough in a bad way, just rough on my side...trying to learn to juggle life, school, and my amazing little three year old!  To add to the fun, we of course experienced the hottest temperatures of the whole year...once we started back to school in our non-air conditioned building!  No one knows hot, til they are hanging out with 22 first graders in a room with temps WELL over 90!  We survived and the smell of crisp air is on the horizon.  The amazing three year old is adjusting to our new schedule (thank God for her amazing babysitter). And I, am beginning to keep my head above the water! I have a new plan and I think it is attainable!  So be sure to stop by more frequently, as there are amazing things happening in Room 105 and you won't want to miss it!!!!

Now on to our week...

Events for the Week:

SIP Day

Back to School Showcase

Core Value Assembly

DIBELS testing

Our current focuses:

ELA- Pete the Cat Unit: Story Elements, Punctuation, Nouns, & CVC Blending

Math: Ways to Make 6,7,8,& 9 & Number Sense to 120 

Science: Objects in the Sky

Daily 5 looks a little bare on purpose!  We will be using that time to tweak our skills, as well as work on some projects for our Back to School Showcase!  

A few of the resources we will be using are:

The Groovy Cat Pack from Teacher by the Beach

ABC ya

My Math

Give the Dog a Bone

100 Chart Puzzles from First Grader at Last

So there is your peek!  Now be sure to check back and see how it goes!!!!

Reading Strategies Book Study!

I am so excited to be a member of the #ReadingStrategiesCrew!!!  I will say, I got the book back in July and read it and highlighted it, made notes and everything.  Did I think to write the post then?  NO!!!  So I apologize now for the this post as it wont do justice to the amaziness that Jennifer Serravallo shares in the this awesome resource.

If you have heard of it, then I am sure you are already using the amazing strategies that have been shared.  If you haven't heard of The Reading Strategies Book, then you popped on my little blog on the right day...click on the cover above to order your copy today!!!

This year my school and my team are really going to put an emphasis on Non-fiction reading.  Yes, we are first graders...but we can do it!  So I was happy to take Goal 9 Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction! And I wasn't disappointed.  Due to the fact that it is Day 11 of school and it was over 90 degrees in our non-air conditioned building, I am going to share with you my thoughts and ideas on this chapter as it pertains to the "littles"...however if you are an upper elementary or middle or even high school teacher, more then half of the strategies apply to you all.  

Who can benefit from this goal?  EVERYONE ( In my opinion) However, Jennifer does a great job of being specific, a student who can support the main idea with one detail and needs prompting to list more (HELLO FIRST GRADERS!!!), support the main idea with just a portion of the text, and list details, some or all of which may not even support the main idea.

A key to using this strategy is determining a student's ability to find the key details to the main topic.  EVALUATION!!!  Now on to the strategies...

Like I mentioned previously, I am going to be short and sweet...so please invest in the book!!  It will be worth it!!

Strategy 9.2 Reading with a Sense of "WOW"

This one caught my eye because of the title!!!  Everything reading related in 1st grade can be paraphrased with the word WOW!!!!  Reading as an action tends to get lots of WOW cheers as we begin emerging as readers.  This strategy is all about reading new information, letting it sink in, and think "Wow, I never knew..." (As Jennifer puts it!)

Activity idea:

*  Anchor chart to use for a whole class discussion after reading. Students could share their "wows".  

*  Use Wow, I never knew as a journal prompt.

Strategy 9.3 A Spin on KWL

I am sure we have all used a KWL chart at some point in our career.  This is a little different and might be a little more descriptive for your students, particularly the younger ones!!  This is a strategy  that could be used over and over in your nonfiction readings, so much so that it can be used as part of your instructional routine.  Grab some markers and some paper and make an anchor chart.  Laminate it for multiple use!

The 3 important statements...

What you know for sure...

What you think you know...

What you wonder...

WONDER!!!  What a great way to teach and create excitement for further reading!!!

Strategy 9.6 Consistently Ask, "How Do I Know?"

This was such a great strategy!!!  Jennifer talks about when you have read a section or a whole book, and asking yourself what it is mostly about. Then asking yourself, "How do I know?"  She encourages using your hand as a visual.  The main topic/idea is your palm, then using your fingers to come up with the supporting details.  I see this as an anchor chart as well, laminated again for reuse!  Or if you are reading about a specific topic, for example cats.  The body could be the main idea and the legs could be the details.

Is this it, NO!!!!  But you will have to read the rest to get scoop!!!

Be sure to check out my other crew members for their fantastic take on their goals!!!

Melissa at Inspire Me ASAP as a link to all the amazing posts!!!  Go Check it out by clicking on the schedule below!

And be sure to hop over to my friend Sarah at Mrs. B's First Grade for more on comprehension in Nonfiction.

It's Currently...August 2nd!

I am late to the party, but all for a good reason...I was hosting the birthday of my NOW 3 year old!!!  As some of you may know, my little girl came home from Haiti in March!  This was the first birthday that she actually celebrated!!  So of course it had to be kinda big and Minnie Mouse might have exploded all over the room...but in the end we had a blast and Joey loved it!!!!

Now on to Farley's Currently party!!!  I just love Currently, don't you???

listening:  I hate to admit that I have two shows recording, so I can't watch anything right now...so we have no television on right now, just a little Joey chatter every now and then!

loving: Sunshine!!  We are finally having SUMMER in Illinois!!  Warm but not scorching and SUN!!!  I am one happy lady.

thinking: I have a lot to accomplish this week and soon I need to craft my to do list!!!!  Probably after a little someone heads to bed!

wanting: A magic wand!   I mean my house is dirty and now it looks like Toys R Us exploded after the birthday festivities!!!  I need to figure out where everything is going.

needing:  To actually clean since the magic wand is not in my possession and my house is truly a mess!!!

B2S RAK: I love this!!  I think I am going to make up some little surprises for my team for the first week or so!!  All of them have their own stressors and back to school can intensify those, so some pick me ups are just what the doctor ordered!!!!

That's my currently!!!  What's yours???  Go Link up with Farley at

Here are the rules just in case you are curious:)

The ABC's of First Grade

Dare I say it???  School is quickly approaching!!!  I mean, I can't be the only one who is excited and overwhelmed...can I???  I am so excited to announce the ABC's of First Grade linky with some of my First Grade Tribe friends!!!

I mean, you think FIRST GRADE and you think so many things!!! So now is your chance to BLOG about it!!!

I have the letters E-H!!!  

I am certainly not the only one who thinks EXCITING, when they think of First Grade!!!  First graders are many things, and excited is definitely in the top 3!!  They love school (well usually most of the time) and learning.  They get excited about doing new things and call it an activity and they are over the moon bursting with excitement!!!

Not many people can say they have a FUN job!  But I can!!!  First Grade is all about learning while having FUN!!!  I think we can all agree, the more fun you have, the more learning that takes place.

First graders are GABBY!  I mean even when they don't have anything to say, they are still talking:)  I like to remind myself that they are learning how to socialize, rather then just ignoring the rules!!!

This one is more about the First Grade teachers, HARDWORKING!!!  Can I get an AMEN???  I mean we work hard!  It is worth it, but it is a tough, ever changing job that requires HARDWORKING peeps!!!  The First Grade Tribe is filled with these hardworking teachers, and I am proud of call you my colleagues!!!

Hope you enjoyed my part of the alphabet!!!  

A huge shout out to my First Grade Tribe friends who are joining me on this great linky!!!

An InLinkz Link-up