First Grade Workstations

Well, it took me long enough... I finally got my classroom workstations exactly like I wanted them (or close enough.) Take a look! There are six workstations that stay along the outside perimeter of the classroom, and four mobile stations that the kids take to their tables to work on. As you can see in some of the pictures, each workstation is numbered. I technically have 10 workstations, but one of them is currently closed; one of the student computers needs to be repaired. Another workstation not pictured is the iPad. Apparently, it was left on over the four-day weekend and was being charged when I took the pictures today.

Listening workstation: Kids get to listen to audio books, then draw a picture and write about their favorite part of the book.

Big Books: Kids get to practice reading big books using one of my pointers.

Big Books.

Sorting Workstation: She is working on a sort and identifying which pictures contain short /a/ and which pictures contain long /a/. Those pictures are then glued to a T-Chart.

Stampers: These guys are using stampers and an ink pad to "write" their spelling words for the week. The spelling words are written on index cards and posted on the wall next to them.

Computer workstation: The kids previously used the computer to just go to kids friendly websites. Now, the kids can watch the same videos that I use to teach.

Computer Workstation

Writing Workstation: The kids are given a writing prompt and can use pen or pencil to write. Then, they have to draw a picture representing what they wrote.

Writing Workstation

Classroom Library

Audio books Workstation

Big Books

Rainbow Words and Word Search: Kids write their spelling words in rainbow colors using crayons. On the back of the sheet is a word search containing the spelling words for the week.

Classroom Library

Computer Workstation

Computer Workstation

Stampers

Writing Workstation

Verbs to get them up and moving

My students have been learning about verbs. I found a cute video that helps teach the concept of action verbs. The video is Verb Rap Song and can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ineCCpqpZrM. Here are a few pictures of the kids learning about verbs!

Counting Collections in the Classroom

I really need to spruce up the Counting Collections in my classroom. Right now, the kids just count random things that I have a lot of. I need to put different collections together like I have done in the past. I've just been real busy or too tired (haven't we all) to get it done.

Here is an example of a few kids doing Counting Collections in my classroom.

This student has counted her sticks. Now she is writing her information and answering questions in her journal.

This student is also writing in her math journal.

This is what it is supposed to look like in the journal. This is posted on the wall for the students to refer to.

This student is almost finished. She had one more step (numbering the sticks) before she could turn in her journal.

Math CGI Problems in the Classroom

I've taken some amazing pictures of my kids working in the classroom. What I am most proud of is how kids are learning to problem solve in math. I love watching their minds work when they are solving a problem. I really love when the kids get to share with the other students how to solve problems. It is a lot of fun asking questions to get the kids to clarify their answers. The kids are learning to pay attention when their peers are speaking, because they know they might be called on to restate what the other person said. Here are a few pictures:

This is the first time we tried this type of problem. It's called a Join Change Unknown, where the change is the number that the kids need to find instead of the ending number. We spend a couple of days on this problem.

One of my students using snap cubes to attempt to solve the problem.

Another student taking a different approach.

One of my students using the Elmo and the SmartBoard to explain his answer.

Another student explaining her answer.

And one more student explaining her answer.

This student had to put in his own words what the other student just said.