Superhero Project Theme

We just finished our month and a half long project theme focusing on superheroes.  We had many different activities all around the theme of superheroes.  We made words out of the superheroes names, put their names in ABC order, did problem solving about superheroes, etc.  We wrote two class books one was, If you Give a Superhero a Cape and the other was, What Superheroes Can't Do.  Both stories the kids came up with the ideas from books we read in class.  We also wrote stories about if we were superheroes.  We came up with our own superhero names, super powers, and costumes.  Here are some pictures of our hallway display.  The next month and a half our project theme will be focusing on the election. 

Ready for another "Super" week in first grade!
Nicole Berg

Guided Math

I've been working hard trying to get my guided math going.  I don't know that I'm doing it totally right yet but I have a start.  Each day we start off math time with calendar.  This normally lasts 30 minutes but I feel it is very essential.  During calendar we go over skills like money, time, place value, counting, weather, etc.   This gives students practice everyday on these "real world" skills. 

After calendar on Monday, we have a number talk and then our focus lesson for the week.  This is a whole class lesson usually going over math vocabulary they will need during the week.  Normally students have their math notebooks with them for this. 

After calendar on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we go into our math stations.  Students will do two rounds a day for a total of 6 rounds.  This the the format I've been following right now. 

Station One: Problem Solving with adult help

Station Two: Teacher Station to teach a lesson on the skill for the week

Station Three: ipads--Students are given an app to practice a math skill

Station Four: Math Game

Station Five: Manipulatives

Station Six: Seat Work

I have a pocket chart with my students pictures and the station number they will be going to.  I also have signs around the room with the math station number so they know where to go.  Each station ends up being around 10 minutes right now. 

I need to make a point to have a wrap up sharing session at the end of centers but am usually rushing to get some type of science and social studies in before specials. 

On Fridays after calendar we do a number talk and then go into a whole group review lesson.  We also have a quick assessment. 

I love this type of math instruction.  It allows me to have a focus skill but also review lots of other skills each week.  Students are able to have hands on learning without worksheet after worksheet.  They are still learning the same skills just in a different way. 

Check out this book study for more information on guided math. 

http://primaryinspired.blogspot.com/p/guided-math-book-study.html

What does your guided math look like?

Nicole Berg

Good morning followers.  Just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know about what I'm doing to FLIP my classroom.  We have heard a lot of information about flipping classrooms at the high school level, but not much has been done at the elementary level.  Another first grade teacher I work with and I have decided to change that.  We were inspired to see how flipping could work in a lower elementary classroom. 

So we meet and decided to start small and see how it went.  We started with a short video home to the parents letting them know what we would be doing and how excited we were.  Then we divided up the videos we wanted to do for the first nine weeks deciding on one phonics and one math video lesson a week (to start out with).  It ended up being that I was in charge of 3 phonics lessons and 5 math lessons for the grading period. 

For the phonics lessons I video tapped myself using a flip camera.  Here is an example...

 

For the math lessons I used the smartboard and tapped a lesson as I was talking the students through

it.  Here is an example...

 

The students then download the videos to their ipads and watch at home for homework.  The next day we will have a brief discussion about what was on the video to review.  Doing these video lessons has really allowed for more time in the classroom to work on differentiated instruction, Daily Five and Guided Reading, and Guided Math.   

 

We plan on adding more video lessons as the year goes on.  So far the students seem really excited about it and have enjoyed watching us at home.  Check back later for updates on how flipping is going. 

 

Have any of you thought about flipping or are flipping?

Nicole Berg  

 

This week we are starting our "Superhero Homework".  I wanted something for homework that was meaningful and important.  I didn't just want my students doing "busy work" for homework.  So I thought about the things that were most important for my students to be learning during the year; what I really want them to be working on at home and this is what I came up with.  Each day we will roll dice to see what our homework will be for that night.  Whatever the dice land on will determine their homework for that night.  

 

1=15 minutes of reading

2=Math facts ring

3=Study spelling words

4="WOW" words ring (sight words)

5=ipad apps of the week

6=No homework

 

We will roll one die for the whole class to determine what the homework will be for that night. Once we have had one of the numbers that week, we will not have that homework again that week. So if we roll a five two different days that week, we will roll the die again until we get a number we haven't had. That way they are able to practice each of the things each week (except one). 

 

Students will write the number the dice lands on in the box next to that day of the week on the paper above and keep their paper in the take home folders.  Parents will initial next to the box for that night to let me know they did their homework.  Students will get a "Super Student Buck" for doing their homework the next morning when I check their folders. 

 

Spending time each night on these tasks will help them with what they need to know in First Grade and help them with what we will be learning in the classroom.  I hope that it works out and the parents really like it along with the kids.  I'll keep you updated on how it's going. 

 

Have fun with your student's this week!

Nicole Berg   

Focus Wall

It was sure good to have a day off after 3 weeks of school!  Today I wanted to go over my focus board just a little bit more with you.                                                          

                                                                                 Here's some pictures of it...

I just started having a focus board this year but I have wanted to have one for years.  Every two weeks I will change the standards on my board to meet the skills taught in my classroom.  As you can see I've divided the board up into four parts or subjects with two or three standards below each one.  This focus board not only keeps the kids focused on what we are learning but it keeps me on track also.  The statements on the board are in the form of "We Can".   

This year I've incorporated the "I Can" statements into my classroom too. At the beginning of each two week I send home email my parents the "I Can" statements we will be working on those two weeks. All I do is take the standards and put them in parent/kid friendly
terms.  At the end of the two weeks I send home to the parents the paper with the standards they can do checked off.  I have gotten great feedback from the parents on these so far.  They like getting the extra feedback on how their child is doing in my class (since I'm not doing as many "worksheets" things don't get sent home "graded" as often).      


These are GREAT for me as well.  It keeps me up to date with my assessments and helps to drive my instruction.  Waiting for the results of the tests we give 3 times a year or for report card time 4 times a year is not enough!  This way I know right away how my students are doing and what we need to work on or what we are ready to move on from. 


You might say WOW that's a lot to keep up with, but if its tied to your curriculum and your assessments its not at all.  We have a standards based report card so it fits in well with that.  When I make my lesson plans I have an area where I put the "focus" of the week.  That doesn't mean those are the ONLY standards I am covering that week.  It just means those are the ones that I am going to focus on and assess after two weeks.  Some standards will be on there longer than two weeks depending on the skills.


Have a great short week!
Nicole Berg