We are working diligently in room 108 to become the most fluent readers we can be!  Students are continuing to notice and improve their rate, expression, and attention to punctuation while reading at their independent levels.  Check out your child's latest fluency post on Seesaw!

We are also sharing our detailed thinking while reading by 'talking back' to our books using our new book sheets!

In science we continued our study of the water cycle this week!

In math we have started learning more about various polygon attributes, as well as equal shares!

In writers workshop we've circled back around to a genre we practiced at the beginning of the year: small moments.  This time, we are using everything we've learned so far this year about being good writers in addition to studying the work of our mentor author, Donald Crews.  As we read each Donald Crews book, we study it closely to find the craft moves he uses that make his stories so powerful and entertaining. We're only one week in and these first graders are already writing some of their best stories yet!

In science we've been learning about weather symbols and forecasts.  Students even made their own Easter/Passover weekend forecasts!

We've also started to learn more about the water cycle.  Check out the water cycle song we've been singing in the classroom!

In math we have been learning about the minute hand.  Students have been practicing telling and showing time on analog clocks to the hour and half-hour.

We've had a very eventful week in room 108!

We received another response to one of our persuasive letters that we sent out into the world.  This time, we heard from the organization Born Free USA.  They told us all about the important work they are doing globally to give wild animals like lions happy and healthy places to live!

Our whole class worked together to design and build one GIANT marble runway!

We welcomed spring by creating a spring mural together!

We've started studying weather in science!

Lynn Plourde visited and taught us about being pattern detectives while reading and writing stories!

We finished our non-fiction publishing and had a first grade writing celebration on Friday!

Ms. Marcus joined us one last time and taught us about having an 'attitude of graditude'.  She let each of us choose a special gratitude stone to remind us to be grateful for something each day.

Our science project this week focused on creating runway systems for a sphere, with the goal of using gravity to get the sphere from one end of the runway all the way to the other.  The design process was amazing to watch!  There were slopes, curves, spirals, and loop-de-loops! 

In writers workshop students are publishing their favorite non-fiction stories to get ready for our writing celebration next Friday with the other first grade classrooms.

We continue to read with our kindergarten buddies each Friday.  Lately, first graders have been practicing their fluency and reading coach skills while reading with their buddies.

Our mindfulness lesson from Ms. Marcus this week taught us more about the parts of our brains (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus) that we can calm with our breathing.  

We had a blast on our maple sugaring field trip on Monday!

Our mindfulness lesson this week focused on scanning our bodies to stay present and mindful.  We practiced checking in with their bodies, safely squeezing or shaking parts that needed a little extra attention, and using this process as a tool to control our puppy minds.

We also had a visit from Yarmouth Community Services this week.  They read us the wonderful book Over and Under the Snow By Kate Messner, and showed us some different animal prints we might see in Maine.

In math we've started learning about fact families through the use of dominos and fact triangles.  We also learned the game Salute!.  Ask your child to show you how to play!

In science we've been experimenting with gravity and different wheel and axle designs to make  systems that will stay in motion for long periods of time.

In readers workshop we've been focusing on being in charge of our comprehension and the strategies that help us do that. 

At the end of the week, we started discussing the importance of fluency while reading ('sounding like a storyteller').  This will be something we continue to practice and refine for the remainder of the school year.  At home,  encourage your child to reread smooth like a storyteller after fixing up a tricky part of a sentence or page.  The carry-over of language from the classroom to home is very powerful for children!

On Friday Mrs. Wolinsky introduced us to  the KIBO robot kit that will now be in our classroom!  This amazing recource will allow students to develop their building, programming, and problem-solving skills!  Learn more here: http://kinderlabrobotics.com/kibo/

We had another mindfulness lesson from Erica Marcus on Wednesday!  This week we started focusing on how our minds can act much like a puppy: wandering away, digging up worries, and not listening.  To bring back our puppy minds Erica helped us practice taking three long, slow breaths to refocus.

We had a big, kindness-filled Valentine's Day celebration in our classroom!

We celebrated 100 days of first grade!  We each made an exhibit for our 100's museum, then Mrs. Lincoln's class visited and did a gallery walk!

Happy vacation, everyone!