Headfirst 3 - Place Value for First Grade

It's January and we are working on place value in first grade! Today in math we used whiteboards to draw quick tens and ones and numerals when shown pictures of base 10 blocks. 

After group time on the carpet, I put students in pairs and they matched up the cards. I printed these with 2 pages on one sheet so they were smaller to save cardstock.

Since students finished the partner activity at different times, I had some number cards on each group of desks and they used their own base 10 blocks to make the numbers. 

We wrapped up with a greater than less than worksheet in class.

The kids were engaged the whole time and

I heard one student say, "This is my favorite!" 

Headfirst Math win!

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100th Day of School

We have celebrated the 100th day of school with a rotation of classes for the last 4 years. It is a fun way for the students to move around the building and less prep for us so that we only have to prep one activity. Here is what happened in each classroom:

My room - 100th Day of School Book

• I gave the students a pretend $100 bill and they wrote and drew about what they would buy with $100. 
• When I am 100 years old, I will...
• watch TV
• drink coffee
• babysit my grandkids
• sleep
• use a cane
• yell at people
• the list of funny responses goes on
• I would want 100 _______ but I'd never want 100 _______.
• Want
• dogs
• friends
• candies
• legos
• hamburgers
• ice cream cones
• pokemon cards
• Don't Want
• sisters
• brothers
• cats
• pages of homework
• shots
• teachers :)

Ladybug room - exercise

• The students performed 10 of each kind of exercise.

Fish room - craft

• Students were given an Ellison cutout of the number 1 0 0 and then used it to make a picture.

Owl room - food

• How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

Piglet room - STEM

• Students used 100 legos to build.

Fun times!

Teacher Team Halloween Costumes

2014

Dominoes

2015
Pete the Cat

2016

Classroom Animals

2017

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a ...

2018

If you give a ______ a _______

2019

The Day the Crayons Quit

Stupid COVID - No costumes :(

2020

Wedding of Q and U - Teaching Phonics in 1st Grade

Phonics is not the most exciting subject to teach or learn. However, we know that it is essential to beginning reading instruction. We also know that it takes fewer repetitions to learn a concept when it is done in a playful way. Anytime I can make phonics instruction playful, I know it is going to stick with students better.

Q and U together are called a consonant digraph. Rarely do we find a Q without a U so teaching this digraph helps students read. The wedding of Q and U helps students see that these letters go together to make the /kw/ sound. 

The Wedding Day begins with an invitation to the wedding on students' desks in the morning. This invitation is editable so you can put in your own time and place. 

During reading time, I  gather the guests on the carpet in rows, some on the bride's side and some on the groom's side. I read the story to the students in a very dramatic way of course! The kids really get a kick out of it!

After we read the story together, I give students their own copies to color. Then we read it together. 

I pass around the guest book for all to sign. 

After that we write qu words on the wedding cake. I display them in the hall. 

The storybook goes in my classroom library. It is a favorite with students. 

To see this fun resource in my store, click below!

Wedding of Q & U