Calculators

Not only do I get some great ideas by blogging, it also allows me to reflect while sharing what's going on in my classroom. After a math activity today, I am wondering why I haven't introduced calculators before now. I assumed since my first graders are surrounded with Wii's, ActivBoards, iPods, PDA's, and Smartphones, they knew something about calculators. I let them explore before presenting the problem.

"It's not working!" is what I heard when I told them to add the numbers in a pattern. One student was confident that he had the answer. When I walked around to see what was happening, most of the calculators had, 53535353. Yikes! We were a little late for class pictures while we went step-by-step to solve the problem. The students were amazed when they finally pressed the equals key, and the number 32 appeared.

Lesson Learned: Introduce calculators like it is a brand new form of technology. One student insisted that calculators would make a great phone. :) After we learn more about calculators, a few will be put in our math centers for students to practice independently. I'll be looking for and sharing some calculator math activities.

Fun in a Box

Thing 1 and Thing 2 (a team member and I) had fun playing phonics & sight-word games, reading Dr. Seuss books, making Green Eggs and Ham, and modeling a Dr. Seuss inspired writing activity.  The Cat in the Hat had fun in another 1st grade class.  We will continue with more Dr. Seuss activities tomorrow and Friday.

Yes, that's Justin Bieber reading to our 1st graders.  The boys were not impressed. The girls went crazy.  Thing 1 used her best Valley Girl accent to express her excitement (Funny!).

My daughter read Green Eggs and Ham while my team mate and I cooked.  My grand-daughter enjoyed eating green eggs. 

After making a clover with Whoville on it, the students listened as a helper read Horton Hears a Who. 

I found this Dr. Seuss flipchart last year.  It was perfect for this year.  Yesterday during our CASA (Collaborating Around Student Achievement) meeting, we discussed doing more activities with nonsense words. 

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

We started our Dr. Seuss celebration by reading One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.  Then we sorted and graphed Goldfish crackers.  After coloring in the graphs, the students answered some questions about the information.  They ate the crackers as they worked. 

Mouthful of Math

We have been busy learning about teeth and integrating it with math.  A wonderful dental hygienist brought Alli Alligator to help her tell students about dental care. Our first grade classes made a line plot with the number of teeth lost.  We used the line plot to make an interactive bulletin board. 

Students also did a cute and fun activity using marshmallows.  Before gluing the marshmallows on their self-portraits, the students answered some story problems.  The story problems featured a few of their classmates.  Finally, the students completed story problems and number sentences to go with their self-portraits.  I think we'll finish up with a healthy snack.

Here is the worksheet that students completed before creating the self-portraits. I used my students' names. Feel free to change the names. 

I'm Honored to be a Stylish Blogger

Thank you Amber (http://fabulousfirstgrader.blogspot.com/) for awarding me with a Stylish Blogger Award.

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award


7 Things about me:

1. I am the teacher who lives at school.

2. I am in the process of applying for graduate school.

3. My daughter and I just finished doing a Wedding Show to promote her Massage Therapy career.

4. Two other teachers and I started our school's first Book Club after Christmas.  Our first fundraiser was a Valentine Dance.  It was a huge success.  I was very impressed with the hard work done by the 3-5 graders.

5. I am addicted to blogging.

6. Spring is my favorite season, although that's when my allergies are the worst.

7. I'm a super-model trapped in a frumpy, teacher body.  ROTFL!!!

And the award goes to...

http://swampfrogfirstgraders.blogspot.com/

http://missdelk.blogspot.com/

http://mrswheelerfirst.blogspot.com/

http://firstgraderatlast.blogspot.com/

http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.com/