December Writing Center

Here's a list of words I put up for the writing center for December.

Click on the image to download

Check This Out!

Here is a great website with tons of free printables and great resources. Last year I used their "Flash Fluency" program with my students and saw remarkable growth in my student's ability to read and retain the sight words. My students also loved the "Card" games that continually built their skills. Believe me, it's worth taking a look at. Click on the image to take a look.

Daily 5 Word Work

We've been in school for a month now. I have a great group of first graders. I started Daily 5 for the first time and am loving it. The students are in the routine and are doing a great job of building stamina. It's a lot to grasp at the beginning. Probably the biggest challenge is having the students learn to use the different CD players for "Listen to Reading." We're slowly working the bugs out.

This week we are going to begin "Word Work." I've got my bins ready to go with about 5 choices. I'm setting it up so that students work independently and not with a partner at this time. The baskets are labeled with tags which include pictures so that everything gets put away in the correct place. I tried to think of several different choices for word work so that I can rotate them maybe once a month. I'll just have to wait and see how things go. It's all new to me. The tags show what I've come up with so far. Let me know if you have any other ideas.

Click on the picture to download the tags.

A Few Snapshots

My classroom is getting closer to being ready for the munchkins to arrive in a couple weeks. Here are a few of the things I've done. I've tried to make as much of my classroom coordinate as possible (a recommendation I found on Pinterest).

 I love this easy way to put up student writing.

 "Student of the Week" ~ This is a painted oil pan. Then I hot glued border around it.

 Had to redo my "Rate Your Writing" poster so that it matched. =)

 Love my new number cards with the tens frame visual.

 I added a matching border to my word wall posters.

 The number line and coin reference match.

 I'm excited about my new word wall and its location. It is under my Smartboard and whiteboard. I think it will stay organized and will be easy for the students to use. The background is felt and there is velcro on the back of all the words.

 "Crate Seats" another Pinterest challenge. I used vinyl so that they can be cleaned. The thought of 1st graders with "accidents" kind of grossed me out with regular fabric.

I'm in love with my table signs. I made the flowers to match my border, and the lanterns are so stinking cute.

The caddies on the table match the table color. 

 I'm starting Daily 5 for the first time this year. I'm hoping this system works out for me.

 I made these magnets with the student's names for them to mark their Daily 5 choice. I got the directions from Pinterest. Here's where you can find the directions.

 I tried to label everything with signs and tags.

It's been a lot of work, but I'm loving the results.

Something I Love

I know this has nothing to do with my classroom, but this is what was roaming around our house this morning.

My students love to listen to the stories about the bear and it does make for a good writing lesson, so I guess it it appropriate here. =)

Behavior Chart

After being inspired by Pinterest, and finding this at playground duty, I made this version to match my room and to try something new this year.

I've had several people ask for a copy of the behavior chart. Click on the picture above to download it.

I needed a note to use when students make it to the top as well as one to go home if they move to the bottom. This is what I came up with.

 Click on the image to download a copy

Name Tags

I don't know about you, but I'm a bit tired of the store bought name tags after so many years. I decided to simplify my name tags, make them smaller and just include a number line, shapes and colors. I also wanted to make them match my classroom. =) Here's what I came up with.

Download it if you'd like.