Picture Day Tomorrow!

It is picture day tomorrow.  We are tentatively scheduled to begin at 10:10am.  Please let me know if you have any questions.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

Spelling Words for the Week

I apologize I did not get these out yesterday.  Unfortunately something unforeseen came up at the end of the day, which led me to not being able to get the spelling words in the folder.  Here are the spelling words for the week:

• words
• what
• but
• all
• not
• an
• she
• or

Weekly Wrap-Up

Another fantastic week here on planet first grade! We were able to get to a lot of material and the kids responded quite well. I was particularly pleased with how they handled the math assessment we took on Tuesday and Wednesday. Look for more on that in the math section. We also have picture day coming up next Wednesday, so everyone practice those smiles!!! Now onto the highlights...


Math:



It was a big week in math that saw us complete unit one. The culmination of this unit included an assessment that the class completed independently. I am still looking at the data, but I was really pleased with how everyone responded to the assessment. This is a new task for the kids and a big departure from kindergarten, but they did great! We also spent time on Monday working on counting larger numbers. The class got to play Rolling for 50 with a partner, which was a lot fun. Finally, on Thursday we introduced the "turn-around rule." The kids were able to practice this concept in their math journals. As usual, we spent Friday catching up on math items from the week and playing math games.



Phonics:


We worked on several concepts in phonics this week. The kids practiced writing rhyming words by themselves. They also examined how they can change the first letter of a word to make a new word. This has been a big focus this week.



Writing:



In writing this week we worked on spelling the best we can and moving on. Often kids will get tripped up on a difficult word and are unable to complete the story as a result. This lesson was designed to provide the kids with a way to keep the story moving, even when there is a tricky word. The class also received alphabet linking charts to help with their writing. In addition to the alphabet charts I added a personal word wall for the kids to write down hard to remember words. These tools will be very helpful as the writing lessons continue.



Science:



In science this week we examined how the sun warms. This included a fabulous experiment regarding several bags of ice outside. The kids loved answering questions about how the ice melted in their science journals.



Social Studies:



In social studies this week the kids had an opportunity to illustrate ways we get along in school. We also had a fun icebreaker activity I used when we switched desks today. As always we reinforced our PBIS concepts and of course our YNWA concepts!





If you have any questions please let me know. All told for the week!

Spelling words for the week:  you, that, was, for, one, had, fix and what.  Homework tonight is to practice these words with your child.  Our spelling test will be next Monday.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

We are desperately low on snack in the classroom.  I have had some very generous parents donate quite a bit of snack early on, but we have exhausted that quickly.  The kids really do enjoy a quick break in the morning and afternoon, so please send in that snack.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

We had another fantastic week here on planet first grade.  We had testing, Constitution Day and science…oh my. We will finish up our NWEA testing for the fall next week, but the class has done fantastic so far.  As soon as parent results are ready I will let you know. 

September 17^th was also Constitution Day and we celebrated in an appropriate way—We made a class Constitution.  This was an entirely student driven exercise with the exception of the first rule: You’ll Never Walk Alone.  YNWA is a phrase you will hear a lot from your child over the course of the year.   This is a message I will be teaching and reinforcing throughout the year.  My message is that in Mr. Hagen’s classroom we are family.  We are a group.  We are a team.   These kids will always have a bond that connects them.  We help one another out.  We support one another and if they can remember that and keep that message in his/her heart then he/she will never walk alone.  I believe it is an appropriate and positive message that I look forward to exploring more with the class.  This is a great group of kids and I am so excited to be their first grade teacher. 

Now onto the highlights…

Math:

In math this week we organized a lot of data using tallies.  The class worked in small groups to sort and tally several types of animals.  We also tallied how everyone gets home at the end of the day.  We also spent time exploring some mathematical manipulative materials.  We capped off the week by talking more about number stories. 

Phonics:

We have been making ABC books dealing with beginning sounds.  Although this sounds a bit rudimentary for first graders I am adapting the assignment to meet the individual learners.  We also spent time with rhyming words, spelling words and changing the first letter to make a new word.  

Science:

We practiced using our thermometers to check the temperature of three different cups of water.  We also recorded our findings in our journals.  The class had a blast with that lesson.  We also began looking at the collecting and examining life aspect of our science curriculum.  We will spend more time on that next week. 

We have P.E. on Monday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's and Friday's.  Please make sure to send in gym shoes with your child or they will SIT OUT from P.E.   I do not like to see this happen, because these kids need that movement, so send in those shoes.

Thanks,

Michael Hagen

I am pleased to report that the class did a fantastic job with the NWEA today.  The testing session is 60 minutes, which is a big departure from last year.  In kindergarten the testing session lasts only 30 minutes.  I was very proud of the class, as you should be at home.

Also, picture order forms are in the kids folders today.

Let me know if you have any questions.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

I cannot believe we area already two weeks into the school year!!!  Time is really flying here in the classroom.  It was another amazing week with the kids that saw curriculum night on Tuesday, a fire drill on Thursday and a host of other adventures throughout the week.  The kids began work in their math journals and science notebooks, which was a real treat.  I also sent home school folders, complete with phonics homework for the weekend.  Please send that folder back to school EVERYDAY to ensure a steady stream of communication from the classroom.  Let's see what else we were up to this week...ONTO THE HIGHLIGHTS!!!

Math:

In math this week we investigated the number line in more detail.  The kids played several games utilizing the number line as well.  We also began work with dry erase slates (please send in dry erase markers for your child) to answer math questions quickly and quietly.  On Thursday the kids practiced the game, Top-It.  I have sent home directions for this game if you wish to play it with your child over the weekend.  We will play and adapt this game a lot over the course of the school year.  We also had our first open response lesson in math.  These lessons give the class an opportunity to share and learn from their classmates in an interesting and dynamic way.  Finally, we spent Friday catching up on the week and playing some fun math games.  

Phonics:

We practiced stretching out and writing words this week, which works nicely with our writing curriculum.  The class also worked with syllables and did several activities clapping out friends’ names (see homework).  We will continue to work with these beginning concepts as we move throughout the beginning of the year.  While some concepts may seem a bit elementary (no pun intended), it is important for all students to be proficient in these skills as we move throughout the curriculum.  

Science/Social Studies and Health:

The class had a ball filling in their weather journals this week.  These lessons can be a bit tricky as it is important for everyone to stay together; otherwise the calendar is filled with errors.  In social studies we practiced working with partners and how we can work together to accomplish tasks.  In health we went over different feelings and how we can feel healthy in a mental way. 

We got to a lot but there is more to do!  I cannot wait to see everyone back on Monday, with the school folders.  Thank you and have a fabulous weekend.  

If you have accessed my blog can you please send me a confirmation email?   I would like to have an idea of who may need paper copies of announcements and classroom news.


Thanks,

Michael

We are in need of dry erase markers for our math curriculum.  If you are able please send in one or however many you would like.  Thank you.

It is curriculum night tonight!  I hope to see you all at 6:30.   Please let me know if you have any questions or if you cannot attend.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

I elected not to send homework this week.  Unfortunately our Friday folders have not arrived yet.   I am hopeful we will get them next week and I can send home some math and phonics homework.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Wow, what a fantastic first week in the classroom.  This is a fabulous group of kids and I could not be more pleased with how they adjusted to the first grade classroom this week.  We spent a lot of time working on routines.  These routines included centers, learning positions, walking in the school, etc.  These routines are crucial at the beginning of the year.  As in kindergarten a class that picks up on routines quickly is able to be more independent.   The more independent they are the more time I have for one-on-one instruction and small group instruction.  Needless to say I was impressed this week, but will be looking for more next week.

A quick synopsis of what we learned this week:

Math:

We spent a lot of time on skip counting and using the number line.   We also practiced our morning routines like attendance and counting the days of school.  On Thursday the class got to learn about and explore their math toolkits.  They had a lot of fun!  Next week will see us begin work in our math journals.

Science:

We learned about what weather is and how we describe it.  The kids and I also worked together to write a poem about tornados.  On Friday we learned more about meteorologists and the work they do.  We also got to begin work in our science notebooks.  The kids had a blast drawing the weather for Friday.  We came up with all kinds of ways to show the heat in the picture.  This included drawing steam lines coming off of people, ice cream melting and sweat everywhere!!!

Writing:

We had multiple opportunities to write over the course of the week.  We also began our Writers Workshop on Friday.  I modeled a story from my own life and the kids worked independently afterwards.


All in all a fantastic first week!  I cannot wait to see what the adventure brings next week.

As always if you have any questions please contact me at hagenm@aaps.k12.mi.us.

I brought in bananas for snack yesterday and Judah's mom was generous to send in watermelon on Tuesday.  If you can send in a fruit or vegetable snack for the entire class next week that would be fantastic.  Bryant rules state that we can only have fruits and vegetables for class snack the first two weeks of school.  If we do not have snack for the whole class I try to allow the kids that brought a lunch to finish something they may have not eaten.  A fruit or vegetable snack would be fantastic for next week though.  

Thank you so much and let me know if there are any questions.  

Thanks,

Michael Hagen

It was a fantastic first day in the classroom.  The class settled in nicely and we were able to begin some work on routines and class expectations.  The class also got to work with some mathematical concepts, which they loved.  I look forward to what tomorrow will bring!!!

SNACK NOTE:  I can only have fruit or vegetables for snack these first two weeks.  If you could possibly send in a fruit or vegetable snack for the class that would be fantastic!!!


Please email me if you have questions.