Daily 5

We are in full Daily 5 mode...kind of!  I have read, reread, and read the book again, yet I can only seem to get in 3 rotations.  I guess I should have titled this post Daily 3.  But since Daily 3 is going so well, I am okay with it!

Here is a peek at my reading lesson plans for the week so you can see how it works in my classroom.  We have a 2 hour ELA block.  (Because of ESE push in and since my team does flexible grouping, we really have to stick to the master schedule.)

Friday is Apple Investigation Day where the first grade classes visit each first grade teacher for an apple activity, so it is different.

Mini Lesson 2's are from Kim Adsit's unit.  My team saw her at the Common Core Academy in Chicago this summer.  We have been using her units this year and they are FABULOUS!!!  We purchased all 9 units!  Click {HERE} if you are interested.  I highly recommend them!

I also do writing whole group.  I am not ready for them to be writing on their own quite yet!

Here are some pictures of our Daily 3 in action!

Read To Self

Read To Self

Word Work

Word Work

Read To Someone

 I have decided for logistics reasons, I cannot just let the kids choose where to go.  (Did you hear me, I said for logistics reasons, not because I am a teacher and cannot give up the control.  Lol!)   I made these bookmarks.  When we start Daily 3, each student picks a bookmark and that is the rotation they follow for the day.  They choose a new bookmark each day, so they will most likely have a different rotation order the next day....see it is not teacher directed!

So, are YOU able to do 5 rotations?  If yes, PLEASE tell me how you fit it all in!
Meredith

Open House

Today was a Teacher Professional Development Day.....I have no comment and will move on!

We had Open House Thursday evening.   Here are a few pictures of some of our activities we had displayed.

Fall Math Stories.  The leaves are from the Dollar Store.  (200 in a pack for $1, and they are stickers.  Can't beat that!  I am going to go ahead and buy some for next year.)  My super creative teammate cut out the trees for ALL of the first graders!  Freehand.  I don't know how she does it!

For my intervention group, we counted out 10 stickers to use.  The more advanced group just grabbed a handful and wrote their own math story.

Not educational, but super cute!  These are pretty sun catchers (on a sunny day, unlike the monsoon weather today).  We (the teachers) traced an apple on wax paper.  Then the students used watered down glue to "paint" their apple and add squares of tissue paper.  Next I laminated them and cut them out.   The kids cannot wait to make pumpkins, or maybe Frankensteins, next month!  If you are interested in more detailed directions, let me know and I will share!

11 Ways to Make 10
Honestly, these are trees and apples we had left over from family trees we used to do.  We just wanted to get them out of our fall bins!  However, I think they turned out great!  I just wish I had more room to display them!  One of my teammate's mom is a retired teacher.  She came in and sponge painted the trees with the kids.

Here is a closer look!

Family Glyph Houses

The white door has a picture and name of the student inside.   The families have to use the glyph key to figure out which house is their child's house before they "open" the door to check!

I have a brag to leave you with....Daily 5 is still going great!  I wish I would have done this years ago.   We are going to attempt our first "real rotations" tomorrow.  However, I have to admit.....it is going to be Daily 3 in my classroom.  That is what I can see working in my classroom at this time.  This is mainly due to time constraints.  Maybe I can tweak something later in the year, but this is what I am going to start with.  I will let you know how it goes!

Meredith

Classroom Craft

Tomorrow is the 20th day of school.  I can't believe how this year is flying by.  I ADORE my class.  They are LOVELY.  I won't even complain that I am full at 18, while my teammates are at 14, 15 or 16.  Mine are THAT lovely!  (I have not been able to say that in a few years, so please forgive me for going on and on!)

Now to the reason for this post....Reading Comprehension!
My class always seems to struggle with going back to find the answers when answering comprehension questions.   They just don't want to make the effort.  This year, I wanted to make going back to find the answers fun, so.....We are using Prove It Wands to prove our answers.   I whipped these up this summer.  (Some are just fly swatters, princess wands, etc.  I made the others.)

These are used with big books and instruction.

This is a dowel rod wrapped in duct tape.  I hot glued the wooden monkey to the top.  

These are used by each student when they are reading (during whole group or independently).

I spray painted popsicle sticks and hot glued a sparkly foam star to the top.  Sorry it is not a great picture.  They are bright and colorful in real life!  

SO easy and the kiddos love them so far!  They can be used for so many things.   I can ask the kids who the main character is and with a glance I can see who is pointing to the main character.  (Quick formative assessment without a paper and pencil or a "conference" with each student!)  They can also be used to help students track print or as a spacer between words when writing.

We will eventually move from the wands to using sticky flags/notes to prove our answers but these are a great first step.  When their newness wears off, the sticky notes will be something new and exciting!
If you want to see some other Classroom Craft ideas, check out the linky sponsored by Jo-Ann Fabrics below!

Meredith

2 weeks down!

I sure needed that 3 day weekend.  I have a LOVELY group of 18 firsties this year, but Back to School Teacher Tired is a REAL thing, people!  Here are a few pics from our first 10 days.

The frame we used this year.  I think it is much cuter than the poster we have used in the past!

 The next few pages are from my Back to School unit.  Click the picture if you are interested in purchasing it!

Day 10!  With a special delivery from Zero the Hero!

Inside the box was a letter, cape, treat, balloon, his special helper.

More blogging soon.  Time to get in the last little bit of relaxation!

Meredith