Raz Kids Reading

These Connected Ones are ready to read!   What an exciting time in first grade!  We have an amazing opportunity to read with a subscription to Raz-Kids.  Raz-Kids is a digital library that our class has access too.  Two weeks ago, I sent home a letter to tell you how to access the subscription from home.  We have already had some amazing reading champions.  Last week, our class champ read 2 hours and 39 minutes in one week!  We also had 5 children that logged over an hour of reading at home.  Amazing!  If you are unable to access Raz-Kids, please let me know and I am happy to help.

The Raz-Kids library is available on both computers and devices like kindles and ipads.  You can get to the site through the blog.  Just click on the Raz-Kids button on the top tool bar.  Or, go to this site: http://www.raz-kids.com/main/Login   Here, it will ask for our class' user name.  Type in ConnectedOnes (no space).  Then find your child's name and put in his/her password.  Now, you should have access to your child's leveled book assignment. Just a note, the website uses Flash Player so ipad access has an additional step.  You will be unable to download and read books using the Safari browser.  You can download the free Raz-Kids app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learning-a-z/id474207297?mt=8&affId=1449142) and have access to the books and quizzes through the app.

Each book has the option to listen to the book (with word by word highlighting), read the book, and take a quiz.  In class, when children are working independently, I have the children do all three in order: listen, read, quiz.  They receive bonus stars for each activity completed.  Further, as a teacher and parent, we get reports on which activities are complete and how the child is performing on the quizzes. The children are LOVING Raz-Kids, they are so motivated to read and earn stars.  I am so impressed.  Please give this amazing site a try!

Colors Everywhere

We did some color mixing in science but were also able to mix reading, writing, spelling, and science objectives.  Our scientists worked together to mix different colors of water to make new colors.  The scientists made predictions and recorded their findings in their science journals. 

In spelling, we are practicing spellling the color words.  We worked together to make a color reference wall with all the color words posted.  We have been listening to color songs to help us remember how to spell the words.  Click on each color word to be linked to the song: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, white.

We also wrote about colors.  Each student published a book about the colors he/she likes.  Then, they painted an illustration to match the writing.  The students worked hard on conventions of print like starting with a capital, using spacing, and ending sentences with periods.

An App For That

 So many apps, so little time!  I have had several requests to find out what apps we are using in class.  I've also heard the children saying that many of you have already downloaded some of the apps we have done in class.  That is so great!  I love to share!  There are bunches and bunches of educational apps.  Here a few of our class's favorites.  As we add more in class, I will continue highlighting student and teacher favorites.

 Letter School- This is an incredible handwriting and phonics app.  It helps children with correct letter formation and letter/sound association. $4.99
Starfall- In this app, students see, hear, interact, and play with letters and sounds.  $2.99
 Letter of the Day- This app, again, works on letter and sound identification and association.  The game provides instant feedback and helpful hints.  $1.99
 Sound Sorting- Here is an interactive game that let's children sort pictures by beginning sound. $0.99
 Sight Words PhotoTouch- The ipad says a sight word and the kids have to touch the correct word out of 4 different choices.  The same app is also available for just letter identification.  Free.
Reading Rainbow- (with subscription)  This is an amazing resource.  With this app, children have access to an incredible library of wonderful literature.  Children can read the books themselves or get the books read to them.  Further, the app has short video clips that compliment the stories.  How do children become better readers?  They read, read, read!  This app is packed with reading opportunities and probably my all time favorite.
Scribble Press- I have this app on the students' dock because we use it all the time.  This app allows the children to write and illustrate books then has an option to share/ publish their creations into ibooks.  $2.99
Teach Me First Grade- This app has several games that cover and practice important first grade skills, both math and reading.  Plus, the app tracks progress and has an parent screen where you can monitor your child's progress.  This app also has a kindergarten and second grade version. $1.99

On our math page, we also have several awesome apps.  Here are just a few for now.
Quick Images- This app is spectacular for developing number sense and mathematical strategies.  See the post below for more specifics.  I highly recommend this app. $0.99
Counting Board- A great app to practice counting and identifying the numbers to 100.  Free.
123 Number Magic- An app to practice counting and number identification.  Free.
PrestoBingo Shapes- This app explores geometry.  Students have to find shapes hidden in pictures.  $1.99
Sid's Science Fair- Here is a science app that really engages the kids.  $2.99
Math Tappers- Find Sums- This app builds a foundation for addition and develops early addition skills.

This is certainly not everything, but a good start.  Like I said, I will continue to update as we introduce new apps in class or as I discover new apps.  You will notice at the top button bar of the blog there are links to Reading Apps and Math Apps.  Here you can see apps we will use through out the year.  If you click on the icons for the app, it will take you to the itunes store and more information about the app.  I appreciate your interest and support!

Over the Ten Fact Rainbow

Knowing 10 facts is hugely important for future success in mathematics.  We have been practicing ten in many different and fun ways.  Take a look!  We built Ten Fact Rainbows to help the students memorize the very important ten facts. We built stacks of ten and then made a rainbow poster to tie the learning together and give the students a great visual.

Look how much the students are learning about math!  Do you remember learning the commutative property in first grade?  Not only do these six year olds know the commutative property for addition, they can also demonstrate it without blinking an eye!



After each student had a Ten Fact Rainbow, the students used the rainbows to play a game called "Ten Grab." In the video below, two girls  are using the rainbow to play. In "Ten Grab," player one rolls the die.  If the student rolls a 4, he/she would take 6 cubes because 6+4=10.  Play continues until the cubes are gone.  The student with the most cubes is the winner.




The students also really enjoyed this rap.  There are several mathematicians that don't miss a beat during this fast-paced ten song.

Pirate Day

Argh!  We had such a great "Talk Like a Pirate Day" on Monday.  Our whole wing, 1st and 2nd grades, dressed up to celebrate.  The official "Talk Like A Pirate Day" was on Saturday.  Click here to learn the history of "Talk Like a Pirate Day."  Even a couple days late, we had fun, pirate-y learning going on all day.  The day began by choosing pirate names.  They were pretty silly.  The students had new names like Big Buckle Charlie and Fearsome Pegleg Patsy.  Some students put their pirate name on all their papers!  Ha!  It sure made correcting papers a little more interesting!

In math, we counted and tallied pirate objects.  The children worked cooperatively in pairs.  They understood how to work as a crew!  We also learned to add like a pirate with this video that includes awesome story problems.

Later, we folded some pirate hats and learned about the "ar" chunk.  We filled our hats with "ar" words and practiced reading and spelling all the words. Then, we tested our ability to read "ar" words with a Q-arrrrr hunt.  In the QR hunt, the students scanned QR codes with their ipads.  The QR code revealed a word.  Students had to read the word and find the picture of the word.  When they found the picture, there was another QR code.  The students completed the series of clues on the first try!  They were an awesome crew!

Toward the end of the day....we found a secret map!  We had to use the map to find some letters, then unscramble the letters to find the treasure.  The letters said GOLD!  At recess, we ran all over the playground looking for pirate clues and gold.  The children found clues but no gold.

A disappointed crew reentered the classroom to find....GOLD! Golden snacks anyway.  It made for a yummy treat at the end of the day!

Our day was filled with learning and fun.  We read all sorts of wonderful pirate books, made a pirate graph, played new pirate apps, and all sorts of interesting things.  There are two great pirate apps, one for spelling and one for math.  Check out Pirates Love to Count and Pirates Love to Read in the App store.  Click on the names of the apps to find more information.  Yo, ho, ho!

Even More Science....

Our third science lab this week was an actual experiment. In this experiment, the scientists had to follow step by step directions, make predictions, and record their findings. However, the best part of this experiment is it had the children EXCITED about science! Each scientist trio had a plate of milk with drops of food coloring, a Q-tip, and a small cup with dish soap. The students were to dip the Q-tip in the soap and then in the food coloring to see what would happen. Some of the predictions were the milk would bubble, the plate would start smoking, and the colors would make a rainbow. Here is what did happen:

Shell Science

Continuing with a focus on what scientist do, we did some shell science this week.  We discussed that scientists use different tools to study the world around them.  One important tool is a magnifying glass and another....paper and pencil!  We used magnifying glasses and our science notebooks to record our observations about seashells.  The scientist were really noticing the details.  In reading, we have been talking about features of nonfiction. One feature we have discussed is labels.  Writing the labels was also a great opportunity to practice segmenting sounds like we have been in phonics. Look at all their hard work!

This picture collage created with Smilebox

When I think of science, I usually think of hands on experiences, but there are a few great science apps available.  We have explored an app with Sid the Science Kid in class.  The app allows students to engage in and practice important science skills like sorting and classifying, identifying patterns, charting, noticing details, and sequencing.  Click here to be linked to more information about the app.  Our first grade scientists LOVE this app!

Aquatic Ed-Ventures

We have been using the ocean theme to learn and practice tons of different reading foundational skills.  The children are loving the fiction and nonfiction books shared during read aloud.  For vocabulary, we learned the word aquatic.  Aquatic means living in or happening in the water.  See if your child can give you some examples and non examples of aquatic.  Here is one smart first grader's picture of aquatic in her vocabulary notebook.  She definitely can think of several great examples of aquatic.

We also used the aquatic theme to practice an important phonics and spelling skill.  When writers come to tricky words they don't know how to spell, they need to be able to segment the word into the sounds.  We learned a strategy called push and say.  In this strategy, we use the length of our arm to tap out how many sounds are in a word.  For instance, fish has three sounds: /f/- /i/- /sh/.

After we figure out how many sounds in the word, we make that many boxes.  Then, the writers figure out what letters to add to the boxes.  Watch this awesome speller segment the sounds of fish and push the letters to the correct boxes.

After we practiced segmenting and pushing up several different words together, the students set to work independently.  The children had to pick four different aquatic animals to segment and spell.  The students were excellent and hearing the sounds in words.

Last, but not least, we published our own books about Aquatic Animals.  We used the tricky words that we figured out how to spell in our books.  Besides practicing segmenting tricky words, the students also got practice writing sentences.  Students had to remember to begin sentences with a capital letter, use spaces between words, and end with proper punctuation.  What fantastic writers!