Pilgrim, Pilgrim, What Do You See?

I put together a little predictive text book, to mirror

 

In this little book, students will glue pictures to match the text.  I'm using this as a writing center next week.  Click on the image below for the FREE download.

Batty for Bats!

We're getting closer to our SPOOKY week.  We started out by taking a poll of who thinks bats are creepy or cute, courtesy of Cara Carroll's Batty Graph.  Surprisingly, most of my students think they're cute.

In my art center, my students just cut and paste some bats to hang around our room.

In one of my centers, they made a predictive text (mirroring Brown Bear).  This is a great way to help build confidence in beginning readers.  You can download the printable book (nothing fancy!!) by clicking on the picture:

I found this video on YouTube.  It's about the world's largest bat.

We also read Stellaluna by listening to Pamela Reed read the book to us.  Are you familiar with Storyline Online?  Love this site!

One of my favorite books about bats is

 

After lots of learning about nocturnal animals, we made little informational bats.  This is an old one, so there's nothing digital about it.  I'm pretty sure I got it from Mailbox Magazine.

At the end of the week, they made a bat craft and acrostic poem to display out in the hall.  I got these for FREE from A Cupcake for the Teacher.  Super cute!  We wrote the poem together.  Then we discussed what they'd learned about bats.  In the bottom box, they drew a picture of one thing they'd learned.

Have a batty week!

BOO!!

I'm sure you're aware of the tradition of BOOing people.  I just got BOO'd by someone in my neighborhood.  What a treat it is to know that someone was thinking of us.  I was supposed to copy the note.  It's on cute orange cardstock, and I don't keep anything creative at home.  So I had to recreate in PPT.  I thought I'd share with y'all in case you ever need it.

Click on the image below:

Here are some ideas from the neighbor that BOO'd us:

Halloween bag, glow jewelry, glow-in-the-dark insects, cup, AND candy.

We also participate in this tradition at school.  For your free download, I made 2 different kinds:  one for neighbors and one for school friends.  I hope you can spread a little cheer before Halloween! =)

Color Week!

Please know that I'm not teaching colors.  We are working on reading and writing these words. =)  Please see my previous post about my color word centers.  Below, I have all of the books linked to Amazon.

At our school we wear different colors per day for 2 weeks.  It's so fun to see everyone supporting us.

I started off the week by reading Mouse Paint.

I just love this story about mixing primary colors!  Afterwards, I put 2 plates of red, yellow, blue paints at each table and passed out white copy paper.  I had them hold up 2 pointer fingers.  I told them to dip into red and into blue.  I had them mix on their paper.  Each student also had a wet wipe to "clean."  I repeated with the other primary colors.  At the end, I had them hold up 3 fingers and grab all 3.  They had no idea what to expect. =)

The next day we watched Eric Litwin's live telling of Pete the Cat, I Love my White Shoes.  So fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUubMSfIs-U

I made a quick template to use as a class book.  

I did NOT come up with this idea.  I found it HERE.  Click HERE for my template.

On Wednesday we read Go Away, Big Green Monster!

Then we completed a listening activity.  I gave them a white sheet of paper and told them to draw a shape.  Then they picked up an orange or yellow crayon to draw eyes.  Next was a blue or green crayon for the nose.  Pink/red for the mouth- with white teeth.  Squiggly ears.  Purple/pink hair.  Finally they colored the monster's face any color.  These turned out so cute!!

We also read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

I found a cute puppet template HERE.

Additionally, we graphed our favorite colors.  HERE are my crayons.

On the last day, we made Cara Carroll's Color Pal.  I had them choose their favorite color.  Interesting how the graph doesn't match their pals. =)

We did this after reading The Day the Crayons Quit.  I just LOVE this book.  So clever!!!

Color Words: Learning to Read & Write 'Em

This is an oldie but goodie for me.  I did give it an update, though.  This is a center I use each week, for the first several weeks of school.

Each student has a recording sheet and are looking at a set of color cards.

I display the cards (mixed up) on a pocket chart.  I also allow the students to grab the cards to compare words if they need to.

My students need to write the color word (6 times) on the lines.  Then they match the initial consonants to figure out which picture to draw.

The MOST important part is reading with them when the finish.  I use my finger to practice one-to-one correspondence.  This center takes a lot of guidance at first, but pretty soon they're independent.  You could also cut the little squares and make a book.

You can get the Blue Freebie HERE.
You can get the whole set in my TPT store HERE.

Valentine's Day!!!

I do so love holidays!  All week we read and wrote about friendship and being kind to others.  Some of my favorite books are

 

After reading Love, Splat, we had to make First Grade Parade's Splat.  These always turn out so cute!!!

About two weeks before Valentine's Day, I sent home a letter that my students would need to do a book report.  I had to approve the book (to make sure it was on their correct levels).  In addition to the written piece, they needed to decorate a Valentine box to represent their book.  This idea and printables were all found in One Extra Degree's TPT store.  On Friday morning we sat in a circle and listened to everyone explain his box.

 A Geronimo Stilton book

 My Weird School

I can't remember the book, but I thought this one was very creative.  The slit is in the dog's back, and he can lift the whole top off. =)

I always need to incorporate a treat of some sort.  This was a lovebug cookie.

While students rotated over to the snack table, the rest of them were making a card for someone special.

And to finish off our holiday, we always end the day with

 

As part of my Valentines, I made them bookmarks.  They sure can't seem to have enough of those!

Here's a link of bookmarks for you!  I just deleted my name.  Print, sign your name, and laminate!
Val Bookmark Freebie

I hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day, friends! xoxo