Googlie Eye Writing

This is so fun-- I hot glued two sets of googlie eyes on two separate places on paper. My kids "finished" the pictures and wrote about it. Here are some examples!

What is not to love about first grade writing!!

Happy day!
Sarah

A letter to the Governor

I usually don't write about things that are "political" in nature... I prefer to stick to the happy side of life in first grade. But I feel like this is important, so I am going to sneak this post in here and see what happens. Don't hate me if you disagree :) We all have the right to our opinion! :) #America

I recently heard that, here in Utah, our Governor is getting HUNDREDS of emails every day from people who are asking him to do away with the "Utah Core Standards" (which is what we call the Common Core here in Utah). This is because people are saying things like "Government shouldn't dictate what our children learn" or calling it the "Communist Core" (insert eye rolling here) or saying it is "new math" or "too difficult".  Ugh.  It makes me sad.

A friend told me that she was going to send her own email to the Governor and I decided to take that challenge, too.  I sent it along, and I received a response from one of his lovely staff members.  Since it's a matter of public record anyway, I thought I would post what I wrote to the Governor of the State of Utah. 

I have two hopes with this-- first, if you have an opinion, please share it with your leaders. This is a critical time in education.  Second, if you are one of the people that are just listening to what the naysayers are shouting, please take some time to get educated... and consider what kind of "tomorrow" you want.

Dear Governor,

I am a first grade teacher at a public elementary school in West Valley City. 

I am writing to you about the Utah Core Standards-- also known as the Common Core. 

 

It would be a huge disservice to the students of the great state of Utah if the Utah Core Standards were no longer taught here.  For the first time, Utah is being held to the highest standards when it comes to what our kids are being taught.  Utah's students are being taught to think critically, have opportunities for constructive struggling, and they are being expected to build both a conceptual understanding as well as a procedural understanding.  It is amazing.  What the students in my class have been able to do since we started teaching the Utah Core Standards, is A-MA-ZING! 

I had an opportunity to work for the State Office of Education, training teachers in the Utah State Standards of Mathematics via Core Academy a few summers ago.  It was an incredible opportunity that enabled me to travel around the state and interact with teachers.  Every teacher I met was nervous at first-- but it did not take long for them to catch the vision.  This Core will help create a world full of THINKERS!  Take a look at the Mathematical Practices, as you read them, consider what these skills would do for our world:

Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Model with mathematics.

Use appropriate tools strategically.

Attend to precision.

Look for and make use of structure.

Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

              (Taken from http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Practice/)

I want to live in a world where everyone can do those things.  They maybe called "Mathematical Practices" but they are LIFE SKILLS.  If we teach our children to think this way, it will transfer to how they live. What an empowering thing it is-- to truly learn to think!

 

The people writing to you asking for your support in getting rid of the Core are doing so out of fear.  Often people have heard misinformation and it has caused fear for them.  Instead of working to learn and understand, they are working to eliminate the perceived threat.  It is unfortunate.  I would love to see you providing an opportunity for the people advocating for the removal of the Core to learn more about it-- factually.  Let them know that the Core is UNRELATED to the federal government-- that Utah made their own choice-- and that the origins of the Core actually can be traced back to GOVERNORS! :)  

 

I am truly appreciative of your time.  Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or comments.

---
Okay, blog world.  Do with this as you please!
Leave a comment if you have something to say! :)
Happy Thursday!
Sarah

First Grade Writing Folders--

Writing folders are a very useful tool.  It took me a long time to figure out exactly how to make them work best for me and my students.  I observed a teacher at Apple Glenn Elementary School in Arkansas and loved how she put hers together.  I used a similar folder set up but tweaked some things to make them work for me.  Take a peek!

 

My First Grade Writing Folders are made by taking a two-pocket folder and a 3-pronged folder and stapling and taping them together.  This gives a place for each stage of the writing process-- my students PHYSICALLY move their work through the process!

 

In the Prewriting section, there are some cute "What can I write about?" pictures/ideas, courtesy of Core Academy!

The Rainbow Editing is my FAVORITE! My students learn to "dot and say" each word to revise their work (they literally put a yellow dot under each word as they read it to themselves-- that way they catch missing words or words that don't belong.)

Then they mark capitals in green, periods in red.  They circle words that they are unsure about in blue.  It is such a fantastic way to teach editing to firsties! Again, thanks to Utah Core Academy for this resource!

In the prong section, I have an alphabetized list of the sight words we use at our school.  If there is a word they want, I will help them add it to their chart. :)

The last pocket is publishing.

 This example doesn't have it, but in the past, I have my students put a giant heart shape on the back-- where they have drawn all of the things they love (their families, their friends, their favorite things, etc.) When they say "I don't know what to write about!" I kindly encourage them to "Look into your heart!"

 

 

The folders are a little labor intensive.  I have parents help me as much as possible-- but some years I just put on a movie and work away! :)

 

Again, several of these great tools are from Core Academy.

If you would like the pages from this folder, click here .  Please leave a comment if you download it!

Have a SUPER day!
Sarah

Getting your First Graders started in writing!

I love first grade writing.

I know, I always LOVE everything first grade— but you can’t teach first grade if you don’t LOVE it!

Even though summer is just starting, many of us are reflecting on the past year and plotting, uh, I mean planning for the coming year.  There is always something that you want to do better—think through more—research a new approach- etc. 

If it is teaching writing in the first few weeks of school, this post is for YOU! J

This gives you 5 days of writing lessons that will guide you right into teaching the Writing Process! (Brainstorm, Draft, Write, Revise, Edit, Publish)

I always start my kiddos out with looking at a question every day, answering it to create an anchor chart, and then using the time (and topic) to introduce a center that I need them to learn anyway.

Here is the breakdown for me:
Day 1: WHY do we write?

 

(Question written on large paper)

Students do a “Think-Pair-Share” and then we make a list on the anchor chart together.  (The poster will be hung on our wall.)
Then we do an intro to our Post Office Center. (I teach them the procedure for how it works in my room—we write a letter together and then they write one to a friend/family member.)

Day 2: WHAT do we write?

(Question written on large paper)

Students do a “Think-Pair-Share” and then we make a list on the anchor chart together.  (The poster will be hung on our wall.)
Then we do an intro to Sticker Story. (Each child gets EXACTLY one sticker- this time I just give them one, later, in centers, they will get to pick their own).  We write a story together and add to the illustrations. Then they try it on their own. 

Day 3: WHERE do we write?

(Question written on large paper)

Students do a “Think-Pair-Share” and then we make a list on the anchor chart together.  (The poster will be hung on our wall.)
Then we do an intro spelling whiteboards.  (Students write their spelling words 3 times on a whiteboard.  They write it the first time by copying from their list, then they cover and write it again, check it, and repeat for the last time. The point is not just to copy without thought, but to try and create an image in their mind.)  Anyway, I model it, then they get a turn.  We practice everything from getting the materials out, actually writing our words, and then how to properly clean up.  EVERYTHING.  J

Day 4: WHEN do we write?

(Question written on large paper)

Students do a “Think-Pair-Share” and then we make a list on the anchor chart together.  (The poster will be hung on our wall.)

Then we do an intro to what we call our “Thought Spot” (it is a special notebook that they have in their desk where they can write any time, about anything.  It just allows them to have easy, uninterrupted access to paper.)  The first thing I show them to do in their Thought Spot is to write the date and do a “Squiggle Story”.  They make a squiggle on the paper. Then they turn the squiggle into a picture and write a story about it.  (THEY LOVE THIS!)

Day 5: HOW do we write?

(Question written on large paper)

This one is a little different because, while they have ideas that they will want to list, we are really going to be teaching them the writing process. Don’t get me wrong, still write their ideas down, but leave enough space to list (or draw) the stages of the writing process. 
Today we will tell them ALL of the stages, but not go into detail.  It's more about exposing them to the vocabulary so that when they hear it again, it won't be the first time.  Each stage gets its own day!
Then students have some time to write in their “Thought Spot”. 

 

The first thing you will notice on Day 6 is that they will want to know where the question is.  Like for real—they want to have writing always begin with an anchor chart.  Every year my kids ask for one! It is so funny!

Now it’s game time—your kids are ready to start the writing process… a week into school!

Remember, each stage of writing gets to be its own day.  Taking the time to really enjoy the stages will give your students a stronger base for the rest of the year.   I always have my class do it with me and then on their own.  It makes everything so much less stressful and more fun!

To see the plan written out, download it here.

Have a fantastic day!!

Sarah