Lions and tigers and bears... oh my!

Ok, well not lions and tigers, or bears, but critters nonetheless!  We enjoyed a visit with Cory from Curious Creatures, a local animal rescue group.  Here are a few moments from our time together.  Ask your first grader about the cool facts we learned about these very cool animals!

In Like a Lion? Out Like a Lamb?

Well, March has come and gone and Room 10 has been busier than ever.  We all agreed that March came in like a lion and went out like a lion weather-wise, and we are eager for much warmer, sunnier days ahead!  Afterall, we have a garden to plant and honeybees to study!  More garden and honeybee info coming soon!

It was a pleasure meeting with all of you for parent-teacher conferences.  One thing that came up with some families was the notion (a very common one, mind you) that some children are pretty tight-lipped about what their days are like at school.  I recently came across an article that suggests other ways to ask your child about his/her day.  I don't necessarily love all of these questions, but there are many good ones that might help you glean a bit more information from your child about what's been happening around here.  Take a peek... 50 Questions To Ask Your Kid Instead of "How was your day?"

Yesterday we were lucky to have visiting author and illustrator, David Biedrzycki, all to ourselves.  David is a resident of Medfield and is visiting Memorial School this week, and as always, did an amazing job teaching the kids about his work as a writer.  He shared how he sketches and quick writes to remember the many ideas that pop into his head so that he can remember them and use them as possible book ideas one day.  We learned how his wonderful book, Bear Alert, came to be and the funny and interesting key details and images he chose to include in the text and illustrations.  David is an incredibly engaging author and the children were delighted with all his funny stories, anecdotes and high-tech illustrations.  We enjoyed his visit tremendously.  Here are a few pictures from our visit together....

January / February Highlights

Well, winter crept in slowly this year but by the looks of things it's finally arrived in earnest.  The unexpected change in schedule has afforded me some quieter moments in which to send along a few Room 10 updates...

We certainly moved quickly through January, celebrated the 100th day of school last week, prepped for Valentine's Day, and are already (believe it or not) gearing up for the February winter break. Time sure is flying.  Our garden and seed catalogs have already begun to arrive which is a sure sign of spring and our 2017 classroom garden!

Some curriculum highlights...

1. Writing Workshop:  We have been engaged in our newest genre of writing  -  Nonfiction "All About..." books.  The children are choosing topics that they are knowledgable about and working to write informational books to match.  We are learning LOTS about various non-fiction text features:  table of contents, labels and captions, diagrams, index, glossary, fun facts,  diagrams, and more.  The children are doing a wonderful job writing about a wide range of topics including nature, animals, sports, geography, hobbies, collections, places and a host of other things.

2. Reading:  We continue to be busy with literacy centers, focusing on reading, writing, word study, poems and much more.  The children know there are LOTS of things a good reader must be able to do, and that one of those things includes THINKING ABOUT READING  before, during and after reading. We have spent time in recent weeks learning about the following ways readers can “think”:

• Before I read:

I can look closely at the cover (front and back) and think about the title

I can think about who is in the story  

I can think about what might happen (i.e. goal, wish, problem)

• While I read:

I can think about what I am learning about the characters

I can think about what is happening

• After I read:

I can think about how the story ended

I can think if the character changed or learned something

I can think about what the story reminds me of

We also continue to practice comprehension skills related to retelling, responding to post-reading questions, and making connections.  All readers, no matter their level, have plenty of work to do to broaden their repertoire of reading comprehension skills.  We will continue to expand upon all of these skills in the days ahead.  

3.  Math:  We have been equally busy with a number of math concepts…

• Continued practice with deciphering, solving and representing one's thinking with several different types of math story problems.

• Survey questions, data gathering and analysis:  YES… data and analysis!  In very age-appropriate ways the children are learning about ways that questions can be posed to elicit certain kinds of data.  We’ve worked on ways to record the data and then how to use that data to learn something (i.e. What are you having for lunch today What do you like better - football or baseball?  What’s your favorite kind of ice cream?, etc.). The children will be writing their own survey questions, polling their peers and figuring out clear and efficient way to represent their data.  Believe me, they love it!

• Place Value:  Since the very first day of school, we have been working on the foundations of place value  -  ones, tens, hundreds places and the values connected to them.  We’ve just begun to take an even closer look.  The children are learning how to determine the value of a given 2-digit number (or 3-digit in some cases) and represent the value with concrete materials.  We are working to notice patterns within number sequences, and to write numbers past 100.  We are also learning how to add and subtract by tens from any given 2-digit number.  Lots more to come!

• During the final week of January, all teachers and math specialists from Grades K - 6 took part in “Math Vertical Learning Walks”.  Over the course of the week we all had a chance to observe classrooms K - 6, and to be observed here in Room 10.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see how math builds from our foundational level at Memorial to the concepts facing kids at Blake Middle School.  When it was our turn to receive visitors, the children did an amazing job demonstrating all their fantastic problem solving and thinking skills.  The upper-grade teachers were quite impressed!

• Social Studies:  We have spent a few weeks learning about the history, beliefs and important vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.  The children, as they often are, have been very engaged in and curious about Martin’s teachings, and the challenging journey he undertook with many other like-minded citizens.  We have learned about other important figures from the civil rights era such as Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges.  We will continue to remain mindful of Martin's important messages of tolerance, acceptance and compassion for others, and how we can live them at Memorial each day.

Other tidbits….

We are excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day this week.  Many thanks to the room parents for coordinating our party.  The children enjoyed decorating their Valentine bags and are eager to exchange Valentines with each other.  

Your first grader may have mentioned that we’ve been observing an eagle nest located at Berry College in Georgia.  The eagle parents have been taking turns keeping the two eggs warm, rolling them from time to time as well.  I invite you take a moment to check out this link - Berry College Eagle Cam.  As of today (Sunday) one of the eaglets has hatched from his/her egg.  I suspect my first graders will love to know this so please take a peek!

If you haven’t yet had a chance to sign-up for our March Parent-Teacher conference, please follow this link to do so:  Ravinski March Parent-Teacher Conferences

Many thanks for ALL the wonderful donations of paper, envelopes, stickers and hole punchers to help get our "note and letter writing" off the ground.  Children are accessing the materials during quiet choice and writing times, or during indoor recess.  They are loving the freedom to create messages to friends and family, and I love that it's an authentic, motivating way for them to express themselves.

I hope everyone enjoys a nice break during the February vacation week.   Enjoy the snow (or sun) depending on your plans!!!

2016 Wrap Up!

Well, with energies running very high this week, we are slowly but surely making our way to the finish line.  Vacation and holiday fun is in sight!  We will wrap up our week with PJ day tomorrow (Friday), as well as our classroom holiday party.  My thanks to the room parents for coordinating, and to all who contributed food and supplies.  It is sure to be a great time!

The children enjoyed Memorial's annual "Holiday Sing-a-long" this week.  With Mr. R on piano and Mrs. Pollock on guitar, many familiar and new songs were sung with all of Memorial's students and staff joining in the fun.

A few highlights from the past month or so...

• Room 10 has received 6 new mini iPads!  We've engaged in some "technology talks" aimed at reviewing the basics of equipment usage and storage, procedures for taking turns, and the initial apps that may be explored.  We will continue to have these "talks" and expand our use of the technology to support and enhance our learning.

• We have wrapped up our first "Unit of Study" in writing which focused on personal narrative, or small moment writing as we call it.  We will embark upon a new unit of study centered on non-fiction writing when we return from the break.

• Through interactive read alouds, the children are beginning to learn ways good readers "think" about reading before, during and after they read.  More on this soon!

• Come January, we will expand our study of maps and globes.  We will also study Martin Luther King and other key figures of the civil rights movement.

• Lots to come in reading, writing, math, science, social studies and more.  Bring on 2017!

If anyone is out and about over the break and comes across any good sales on Christmas/Hanukkah stickers, I'd love to replenish my supply for next year.  We could also use some quart-size ziploc bags!

Warm wishes to all families for a restful, peaceful and healthy holiday break.  I'll look forward to seeing my pals next year!

September Highlights

Well, September sure did fly by in a blink and we now find ourselves off and running into October.  It's quite nice to have the cooler temps and fall season upon us.

The children are doing a great job managing all of their first grade routines and responsibilities each week.  A snapshot of some of the things we have been working on include:

• Read / Literacy Centers  -  word study, writing, independent and partner reading, Scholastic News, read around the room, poems, art and much more!  As children work within the various centers, I have begun pulling groups of children to our reading table to teach key reading concepts and strategies, including skills around reading fluency, accuracy, vocabulary and comprehension. 

• Math  -  We are reviewing and learning about strategies for accurate / efficient counting, best tools for problem solving, addition and subtraction story problems, team work via math games, and calendar skills.  Through our daily morning meeting, we are also beginning to work on early place value and money concepts, and bridging this to our growing understanding of addition / subtraction.  Learning how to "show your thinking" in clear, efficient ways is a big goal this year, as is learning how to flexibly problem-solve when presented with a more open ended task.

• Writer's Workshop:  We have embarked on our first Unit of Study - Small Moments.  This is a time when children will be writing stories about things that happen to them or things they like to do.  The children are learning to generate ideas, plan their stories and write with increasing stamina each day.  Our small moment writing is one of several units of study this year.  Other types of writing will include units on non-fiction, as well as opinion pieces.  We will also engage in a whole range of other daily writing opportunities as our year continues to unfold.  Of course, spelling and mechanics (beginning capitals /spacing / punctuation) are ongoing goals as well.  I am amazed at the writing being done so far here in Room 10, and we have lots more to come.

• Science  -  The children will soon begin their first science unit all about Solids and Liquids.  Other science units this year will include animals / habitats, seeds and plants (think garden!) and of course, honeybees.  

• Open Circle / Social Thinking  -  We have had several class meetings to begin building our classroom community, to generate ideas for the kind of place we want Room 10 to be (see photo above), and to problem-solve when conflicts arise.  The children have been introduced to concepts around "expected" and "unexpected" behavior, determining the size of a problem and how to best go about solving it, using our words to navigate the times when perhaps we don't always make the best choices with friends, and celebrating the times when we do.  All in all, we are off to a great start and we are coming together as an increasingly cohesive group.

I will be setting up a separate page on this blog to outline homework for the year, including expectations for reading and math.  Please look for a new homework tab soon!

I am pleased to welcome Sonia Cunningham and Meghan Glenn as our room parents for the year.  They are already putting in plans in place for our classroom Halloween celebration on Monday, October 31.  More information soon about school-wide plans for that day.  

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Email is the best way to reach me and I do my best to respond within a day or two.  Happy October!