~FANTASTIC FRIDAY~
OUR FIRST WEEK!!!! What
an exciting week!! I loved getting to introduce myself and meet the students!! I
have a feeling it is going to be an awesome year!!
Language Arts
Our first day for ALL Language Arts HA classes were about
introductions and the classroom set up. I introduced myself with a power point;
the students were able to see my children, interests, and classroom procedures.
I only have them for 30 minutes, organization is key to how productive we can
be make our time. The students went
around and introduced themselves and what their favorite summer activity was.
There were some exciting places traveled over the summer!!!
After our first day of introductions we read The Leader In Me themed
books and did a classroom activity on the importance of being PROACTIVE.
1st Grade LA:
Our story: “The Little Engine That Could” by: Watty Piper, was read and we discussed how our attitudes affect our behaviors. If we go in with a “think I can” attitude we are more
likely to try harder!! The students were given different examples of situations
and asked how we could give proactive answers.
One example was, “I don’t know what word this is in my book….” . My
amazing first graders gave proactive responses like, “sound it out” or “ask
someone for help”.
2nd Grade LA:
Our story: “Tops and Bottoms” by: Janet Stevens was read and we discussed how taking control
of our situation and making ‘proactive’ decisions helps us be more prepared. As
a class we gave samples of how we are proactive every day, like packing up our
book bags the night before so we don’t forget anything for school the next
morning. All the children gave some
great examples!!!
3rd and 4th Grade LA:
3rd and 4th grade did the same story
and activity. Our story was “Soda Pop Head” by: Julia Cook, very fitting for both
grade levels!! This story hit on the
idea that we CAN NOT always control our situations but we CAN control the way
we respond to them. Our activity was to walk around the room and search for
posted situations and decide if they were PROACTIVE or REACTIVE.
MATH:
Our first day was introductions; some of the kids are really
getting to know me!! However, in order for me to get better with
remembering names, I wasn’t doing so well after the first two days, we played a
ball game so I could learn names better and find out fun facts about
the students.
Because some of my students are in High Ability for LA and
MA I had to change up the second day lesson plans so my returning students didn’t
have to sit through the same book. ALL of my HA math classes watched a video
about rocks. I promise, it had a Leader In Me lesson involved!! Our video helped us to see the importance of
putting ‘First Things First' our “big rocks”.
It showed the students, by putting the important things first, like
family, homework, or taking care of pets, we still have time for fun little
things like playing Pokémon Go or watching TV, but they don't take up ALL of
our time. Our activity was to label and decorate a “big rock” in our life. We
had some amazing examples; family, homework, eating healthy, sleep and
sports
Next week we will start our Language Arts and Math
curriculum!! I am super excited to get the ball rolling and watch these amazing
kids shine!!
