Hello Friends,

It certainly has been a mild winter in Southern Ontario compared to the last few years.We had a green Christmas, which was fine by me.  It was so mild, making driving safe, and getting around much easier.  My 92 year old dad was able to drive himself to my house.  He also helped with the dinner.  :)  It snowed the week after Christmas, covering the backyard with a nice layer of white, icy snow.  My puppies could finally go out and enjoy the backyard.  They loved it!!!  They hadn't been able to because it is a mud bath back there from having a new septic system put in and then an above ground pool.  After the temperature plummeting for a couple of days, it is back to warm again.  This morning, the snow is nearly gone from the yard.  It's been raining for two days.  I had to take the pups out for a leash walk.  Bennett does not like the rain, and just wanted to go home.  But, Lady doesn't seem to even notice it.  

About school:  I added to my Christmas Around the World unit this year.  I made cute little spiral notebooks for each student, with fill-in-the-blanks for each country we visited.  We started off, December 1st, with a trip on the Polar Express to the North Pole.  This gets everyone in the spirit.  I place a bell on each student's chair to put in their 'suitcase'.  We also did directed drawing reindeer.  They always turn out great.  Santa Stars and popsicle stick reindeer were also made. 
For each country we learn a little about Christmas traditions and then make a craft or two that go along with their traditions.  I also show 'Arthur's Perfect Christmas'.  I love this movie as it deals with the many traditions and cultures of Arthur's friends.  
In Germany we learn about the dill pickle tradition and make a pickle ornament to hang on the treeI will be putting this unit on my Tpt store.  
In Mexico we made sun catcher poinsettias.
In Bethlehem, we read about the story of the birth of Jesus.  We made a candy cane craft with Baby Jesus in the crook of the cane.  We also learned a little about Jewish history and Hanukkah.  We made a Star of David with popiscle sticks and lots of glitter.
In Africa, we learned about Kwanzaa and made a candle holder that I put a tealight candle in.
Last year, I found a new idea on a site that I can't remember now.  I send home a template of a Christmas tree, with a note to families.  Each family decorate the tree, using any material they like.  At school, we have a 'contest'.  Every tree wins an award, such as:  most glittery, most glamorous, best use of nature, cheerleader award, etc.  Last year everyone in the class did one; this year I had two families that did not participate.  They make a beautiful display in the hall or classroom and every kiddo is so proud of their award that I attach to their tree.

This week we are going to be finishing up our Kevin Henkes unit.  And each day we will be doing our Genius Ladder Writing.  My little ones this year have been struggling with writing a complete sentence.  The WBT writing method certainly helps.  We start each lesson with oral writing.  I project the template sentence on the Smart Board and then go around our horseshoe, with each child filling in the noun, verb, or adjective.  I have a few that are now doing the extender sentence, but also a couple that are not yet making a three word sentence that makes sense.  Differentiation!  :)

In Science, we are working on our Energy unit.  Students are learning about Source of Energy and Energy Output.  The Ontario Power Generation website has great resources for grades 1, 6, and 9.  There are printable books for teachers and student workbooks.  These are fantastic and match up with the provincial expectations.

Math this week, is all about patterning.  I am actually using the Math Makes Sense workbook for the first time this year.  I am not a big fan of the grade 1 and 2 workbooks.  I love it for Grade 3 and above, to reinforce skills.  I typically make up my own math lessons, getting many ideas from other teacher's blogs.  Smitten With First is one of my fave's for math ideas and engaging centres.

On Friday, we are having a pretend Snow Day, since, at this point, it doesn't look like we will have one this year.  Kids can wear their p.j.s and bring a stuffy.  We will be reading 'Snow Day' and 'Brave Irene'.  I used Amy Lemon's, Step Into Second Grade ideas.  Check it out - this is my FAVOURITE teacher blog.  Her Rooted in Reading packs, that she has developed this year, are jam-packed full of TERRIFIC lessons and craftivities!!!

Still pouring rain out there, but I have to go out in it to do a few Christmas returns, and drop my car at the garage --- gas leak!  eeeek!  Enjoy your Sunday!  xox

Hello Everyone; especially my Russian visitors.  :)
I just thought I'd let you know that I finished the Grade 1 tracking sheets that cover all of the Overall and Specific Expectations in the Ontario Curriculum.  I have them on my Tpt store.  They are my first item I am selling.  And --- wait for it --- I have sold 7!!  I'm so excited, especially because it is a product with a limited audience - grade 1 and Ontario.  It is fully editable though, so it could be adjusted to other curriculums.  It gives a nice framework.

P.S.  I see I have visitors from around the world.  If anyone teaches 5/6 year olds and would like to be penpals with us, please let me know.  :)  Thanks!

September 19, 2015

Two weeks down!  I’m exhausted!  It’s tough finding your way in a new school, but some positives are:  my class of 21 is wonderful!, and  I have a full time EA, who is a real doll!

Here is a snap of books I read to start the school year off.  Some others, that didn’t make the photo shoot, are Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun

 I start my day off with prep this year.  I’m finding it difficult to get used to with grade 1.  I had it first when I taught grade 8 (it was a double prep every other day), and it was fine.  With the little ones, it feels odd not to greet them first thing, take attendance, and collect agendas/notes.  But, I’m sure I will get used to it soon enough.  Once a week, I get a double prep first thing.  Too bad I couldn’t just sleep in and come at 10:45.  J

When I do come in the room, we start with our Morning Meeting at the carpet.  Because it is the start of the year, we review our 5 Wonderful Classroom Rules, from Whole Brain Teaching.  Most of the kids have fallen right into the pattern of it, but I have a couple that just sit there…  I try to come up with new ways to make it more exciting each day, to keep the energy and motivation up.  I will say that this year, I am doing much better with the Scoreboard.  Our tallies are racking up.  We count up the previous day’s Smilies and Fownies, and see who won.  If the Smilies won, the class gets a point towards Friday’s Mind Soccer.  More on that later.  Next, we move on to the Calendar.  The second week of school, I assigned the classroom jobs.  One person does the calendar all week.  This makes it easier than trying to figure out who hasn’t had a turn, etc.  They sure do love using the pointer and reciting things.  J   The next part of our meeting is Power Pix.  We review the ones we have done, and if I feel they know them well enough, I introduce a new one.  We are going slowly at this point.  We have done four:  Sentence, Noun, Title, and Days of the Week.   I will then wrap up our carpet time with a little story from out Kid’s Bible, say a little prayer, and off for a snack and then Recess.

Hello Friends,

July was such a peaceful, beautiful, hot, relaxing month.  August --- not so much!!!!  We moved.  If you've been reading my blog, you'll know that we were moving to Abu Dhabi.  Due to my daughter's health condition, we are staying put for at least two years.  My house did sell, so I had to find another place.  After looking at approximately 50 homes, bidding on a few, home inspections coming back scary, I chose one.  I knew it would need a few minor repairs, but,,, I was not prepared for the extent of the filth!  Good thing we had two weeks before we had to move in.  And another fun surprise - we had to replace the septic!!!  Great.  I had intended on treating us all to an inground pool.  There went half of that money.  Another above ground it will be.  :)  That's ok, we were happy with our above ground.  Anyway, I am still in the depths of unpacking and trying to find a place for everything - we downsized.  I never want to move again!  

I did have some time to work on some new assessment/tracking sheets.  These are specifically for the Grade 1 Ontario Curriculum.  I keep a Data Binder for each student.  I will have these sheets in the binder, using tabs to separate subject areas.  The tracking sheets will be followed by work samples.  These are super for parent interviews and report card writing.  I have posted a one page sneak preview on TPT [my first tpt listing!!:)].  This is a little freebie to see if people are interested in it. 

 I am just putting the finishing touches on the rest.  I will be posting checklists for the WHOLE Grade 1 Ontario Curriculum -- all subject areas, all Overall and Specific Expectations.  Please have a look, download, and tell me if you would like more.

Time to get ready to visit a Doggie Daycare.  They are having an open house.  :)

Enjoy your Saturday!

Good Sunday Morning!

The sun is shining bright after the thunderstorms of yesterday.

I’m already online and exploring my favourite teacher blogs.  Also looking for some new faves – specifically grade one!

I thought I would share with you the grades I have taught in my 13 years of teaching:

You can see I have moved around quite a bit.  I love it though.  I fall in love with whatever grade I teach.  I think it keeps you fresh and up-to-date when you mix it up.  Over the past few years, I have really tried to not save so much STUFF.  I rarely repeat the same thing the next year; yet I have boxes and boxes in the garage and basement!!!  This week I am going to be going through them and trying my hardest to get rid of a lot of it --- it is very hard to do when you have spent so much time researching, planning, creating...  But some of those boxes haven't been opened in years!

I would really like to have penpals this year from another country.  If you teach grade 1 and would like to be penpals, please email me or leave a comment.  I would like to start out with hand-written letters (it's always exciting to get something tangible) and then move on to email and possibly skype.

Well I am heading outdoors now to do some weed-whacking!

Enjoy the day!