Here Comes January

 And just like that, winter break is nearly over.  Teachers' thoughts start turning towards planning for January and that first day back from vacation.

It's the New Year!
I like to welcome the children back from winter break with a day celebrating New Years!  We make hats or crowns to wear in class.  I update this resource yearly to reflect the upcoming year.

We read and learn about New Year's Resolutions.  We listen to Squirrel's New Year's Resolution read aloud on YouTube.  

Then we discuss our resolutions and write about them.

We also integrate our New Year's studies into math and social studies.

You can check out this PAID resource by clicking on any of the pictures above.

Celebrate Martin Luther King
To go along with our Martin Luther King studies in January, we make this peace dove craft.  It's super simple, using only 1 paper plate per student.  It's also a hands-on introduction to fractions 1/2 and 1/4.  After studying about MLK, the students write about a dream they have for the future.  Then they make this peace dove, and we display it in the hallway.  We usually have parent conferences during January, so it's a good opportunity to display the students' writing and fine motor skills as well.  Check out this FREE by clicking on the picture below.

Paragraph Writing

We spent the first part of the year learning to write complete sentences, including using capital letters and end marks.  Now it's time to learn how to put those thoughts together in a 3 to 5 sentence paragraph.  Our goal for the end of the year is a 5 sentence paragraph with a main idea sentence, 3 supporting details, and a concluding sentence.  To give the children a guided scaffold they can use while learning this writing format, I introduce them to paragraph puzzles.  While using these puzzles, we focus on the writing vocabulary of main idea, supporting details, and concluding sentence.  For the first week, we work through organizing the pieces to create a cohesive paragraph together.  In the following weeks, the children put the puzzle together themselves as part of their independent seat work.  

Click here to see this PAID resource

Celebrate the Epiphany

Finally, Epiphany is Friday, January 6.  Epiphany is the official end of the Christmas Season in the Catholic Church, when the Three Wise Men visit the baby Jesus and give their gifts.  Use this great resource to help your students learn more about Epiphany.

Welcome back!  

Busy in December

December - So much to cover in such a short month! Here are some of the things we're working and the tools I'm using to help teach them.

Using Addition Strategies 

We have spent the past few weeks learning addition strategies such as adding 1, 2, or 3, doubles, doubles +1, counting on from the larger number, and make a 10. I like to play this game, first as teacher versus students, so I can model how to play and use think-alouds to model using the stategies to solve. Then, as I'm playing against the children, I have them tell me what strategy they use to solve the problems. The next time we play, I divide the class into two teams, and they play against each other, again having them tell me what strategies they use to solve the problems. Finally, I put the game out at as a math center for independent practice. 

 If you'd like to learn more about this FREE resource, click one of the pictures below.

 More FREE Addition Strategies Practice 

Another fun, low-prep addition strategies prep that could be used as a formative assessment to check your students' understanding of the concept is this Addtion Strategies Scoot game. It also works well with a small group to reinforce addition strategies if you have a few students who are just not "getting it." This resource comes with two answer sheets, one where students put the answer in the strategies column, and one where they just solve the problem (in case you're not reinforcing addition strategies.) If you'd like to learn more about this FREE resource, click the picture below.

Still working on CVC? 

I have these fun CVC tic-tac-toe boards I use in small group for children still struggling to master CVC skills. This PAID bundle includes nonsense words, short vowels in isolation, and all short vowels review. You can also click on the "view bundle" button on TpT to see the individual components. 

Complete Sentence Practice 

In first grade, getting my students to recognize and especially write a complete sentence is a year-long lesson. This PAID resource is a great way to practice putting together a complete sentence. I use it with the whole group at first, then I transfer it to a center. It's perfect to use that way because it's possible to spin many combinations of sentences!

The Nativity Retelling Circle 

This FREE resource is a great way to have your children retell the Nativity Story. In the week before Christmas break, after learning about the birth of Jesus, my students make this wheel in religion class. Then they partner up and retell the story to a friend. Finally, I send it home with a note asking their adults to have them use the wheel on Christmas morning to share the story with their families before the unwrapping begins. Hopefully, this will help keep Jesus in their thoughts as they unwrap presents.  

Religion Christmas Resources 

I have several other free and paid Christmas religion resources available. You can see them by clicking on the picture below.

Wishing you the peace, joy, and love that the Christmas Season brings.