Okay...Well....Mobi training was GREAT. I know the kids are going LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the technology! It is going to make learning in first grade even MORE fun! I just have to get it all figured out!
I knew I was forgetting things earlier today. SPELLING Pre-test. Today was our first practice spelling pre-test. Our words this week are: a, be, can. Please help your child practice these throughout the week. On Friday we will take a test on these three words plus a dictation sentence!
If you have not already done so...please...complete the first day packet (registration forms)...We need these as soon as possible.
Also, please make sure you have joined the PTA. Remember they do so much for all of the kids (and teachers) at Robertson Elementary.
I hope everyone is enjoying their evening...Looking through Scholastic Book club newspapers!

Good afternoon...
Sorry, this will be short for now. I'm off to Mobi training at 3:30.
Today was a very busy, busy day! We started learning about literacy stations and what the expectations at each will be! Everyone is excited about working in stations.
Today during math we not only worked in our calendar notebook but we practiced ordering and comparing numbers. Greatest to least, least to greatest, what comes before, after and between...Using numbers 1-25.
We read Chrysanthemum and did a writing activity (bubble map). A bubble map is used for describing.
Today in your child's red folder you will be getting a scholastic book order. This is completely optional...
You will also have a 1/2 yellow sheet PLEASE make sure you check yes or no and sign! Return TOMORROW!!! Thank you so much for your help with this!
CURRICULUM NIGHT:
Thursday 7:30-8:15 Pod 1 Computer Lab
We will not have "childcare" but if your children need to come they are welcome to sit quietly with you. We will have conference sign ups this night as well! Conferences will be Oct. 12!
Hmmm...I'm at a loss of words for right now! Have a good evening!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Hi Dragon Friends!

Fun Friday is always a great time of the day!

Making Birthday Cards!

Hanging out with our dragon friends!

Building with blocks...

Finishing up Science Journal!

The END to a GREAT week!!!

I think we have some tired dragons! It's been a long week of routine and rules...Things will settle down a bit more next week!

I hope you all are finding first grade enjoyable!!! I know there are a lot of changes but if you ever have questions or concerns I hope you will feel comfortable coming to me!

Week of Aug. 31st:

Reading: Istation Literacy assessment, DRA reading assessments, Building on Schema

Social Studies: Rules and Laws in our Neighborhood and Community

Writing: Shared Writing and Brainstorming (circle maps)

Spelling: We will begin practicing spelling test procedures. We will use random High Frequency words (3 this week). We will have a pre test on Monday, practice these words throughout the week and then a final test on Friday with a dictation sentence. Official spelling tests will not begin until the 2nd 9 weeks of first grade!

Math: Describe and Order numbers 0-25

Science: Scientific Tools- Lab procedure and safety

Have a wonderful weekend...I will definitely miss everyone!

Carpet Time! Some are excited to share!

What a discovery...Birthdays are 1 day apart in Dec.

Calendar Time! "This is March"

Working hard to add vocabulary words!

Calendar notebook. We are building our very own place value chart!

Cafeteria Rules!

Look at what we came up with!

• Don't play with your food
• No switching tables
• No sharing food
• No running
• No sharing food
• No talking during silent time
• Stay in ABC order
• Inside voices ("hey that's on our classroom rules but not on our playground rules!"
• Sit with your visitors at the parent tables
• No tipping

We are wrapping up our "study" of classroom and school rules! We read Officer Buckle and Gloria, an old favorite! Tomorrow everyone will sign our rule circle maps in the "frame of reference" meaning these rules came from US... Therefore, I will be expecting the children to follow them. Consequences will be checks (lower number in behavior folder) for not following them!

I have attached some photos of what our calendar time looks like! As you can see we are hard at work. Long gone are the days when we sat on the floor and recited the date! Each child has their own Calendar Notebook. In it you will find blank calendars...each month will be built together! You will find a How Many Days Have We Been In School? chart that we are building as well. Each notebook also has a REALLY COOL place value chart. We are working in the ones column right now! So far we have 4 ones. Each day we add one sticker to our card...HMMMMM I wonder what will happen in 6 more days? Can't wait!!! We also have some different types of graphs in our notebook. We have a weather graph (today we played guess the temp), a lost tooth tally chart and a birthday graph. The last section of our notebook is a vocabulary section! LOTS and LOTS going on!

We have started working in our science journals. Today we set up our Table of Contents and our first page is a picture of what we think a scientist is! Our definition would have some of these words...wears a long white coat, people, makes projects, looks at things, makes potions, takes pictures does experiments, uses big machines, shovels, stethescopes, microscopes and magnifying glasses! I'm thinking...NOT BAD...

STUFF:

Thursday folders:

• Not sure when Yo Packs will start or if they did start today... I sent stuff home with everyone!
• Please empty Thursday folders BEFORE returning them to school on FRIDAY. If there are papers that need to be returned please place them in your child's RED folder... I will not be looking in the Thursday folders UNTIL next Thursday!

Morning routines:

• Beginning Monday, Aug. 31st parents will no longer be allowed in the cafeteria or in the hallways (walking students to class)!
• Bell rings at 7:50. Your child is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom by 8:00!

What an AWESOME week. I can't believe it is the end of our first week...

Oh my goodness...I made it through my FIRST day alone with my 18 dragon friends! And I LOVE them SOOOOO much. Today I am going to put in pictures. BUT will not write a ton since it is my afternoon to take my 2 year old nephew, Hank "the cowdog", to art! He LOVES his "Kissi" time!

As you can see from pictures we have been hard at work. We are really starting to get the hang of our routine! Morning will always be the same. We will unpack and get started on our morning agenda! Today our daily start introduced some handwriting... Checking daily start is so exciting! Everyone loves to come up and write under the document camera...AKA Elmo!!!

When morning work is completed we have time to do some indepedent reading (see pics above). This seems to be a favorite thing to do!

Today for read aloud we read Recess Mess. I read the story the first time and then everyone wanted a chance to read! We read it a second time with help from the class! We noticed that when we came to a word we didn't know we could look at the picture and/or sound it out! YIPPEEE

We then went back to our defining Thinking Map...be sure to ask your little one which map we use to define things! (hint it's a circle shape) We did a shared writing activity to write our playground rules! (pic above)

• Keep hands to ourselves (some one noticed that this was on our classroom rules map as well! Maybe it's an important one!)
• No pushing or kicking or slapping
• Be careful with balls
• Sit on your bottom down the slide
• Walk to line up in abc order for lunch
• Don't go up the slide
• Do not touch the woodchips
• Make new friends (be nice to others)
• No helping others on the equipment

Unfortunately, some of our friends forgot some of these rules while on the playground today. I saw several friends having to walk think track laps! Oh...Well...tomorrow is another day!

During calendar math we added "calendar" to our vocabulary section. "A calendar is something that tells us what day it is." Great definition little dragon! We made another fact family with 3, 7 and 10. Have your child try it at home! Graphing is another concept we are exploring this week. Our weather graph is pretty boring this time of year! HOT, HOT, HOT... However, some of the comments were..."there are MORE hot days THAN cold days" "there are MORE hot days THAN any other days" Then I said...

"how many MORE hot days are there than cold days" my little friend thought for a minute and said, "THREE"! Great answer! I am so impressed with their thinking!

This afternoon we went to the LIBRARY! Mrs. Towle went over library expectations and read us some FUN books! Our library day will be Wednesday from 12:00-12:30. Please make sure your child has his/her books on this day each week. (we did NOT check any out today)

After library we started setting up our science journals. I asked, "what do you think when I say science?" Environment, dinosaurs, molecules, experiments, EXPLOSIONS, and animals were some that were mentioned. All GREAT answers. The students then "designed" their cover page!!!

Well, then it was time for math tubs! (see pics above)!!! Free exploration is always FUN!

Have a wonderful afternoon! I'm off to be with my "cowdog"!!!

Day 2

Another AMAZING day in our classroom.
Today we started out coming into the classroom and getting started on our morning work from our agenda! The students completed as much of Daily Start 2 as they could, did their pink color sheet and then read independently. When we went over Daily Start we talked about using periods at the end of sentences. ex: Today is ________(students filled in Tuesday). We then filled in missing numbers...today the numbers were 2, 4, 6 and we discovered that these were EVEN STEVEN numbers!

We read NO DAVID! by David Shannon.One dragon was happy to point out that the main character and the author had the same name. After reading the "about the author" we found out that David Shannon's main character David is based on himself!!! We made some predictions from the title page. David is at school, his teacher is not happy (we can't see her face BUT she has her arms crossed and the title sounds like someone is mad!). Well, we discovered through David's mistakes that we need to have some classroom rules as well!
After reading we completed our FIRST thinking map. (see picture above) You will be hearing a lot about thinking maps this year! More information will be coming at curriculum night! A circle map is used for defining something. We put Classroom Rules in the middle circle and then in the big circle we had to tell what that meant to us! We came up with A LOT and good ones at that.

• no drawing on desks
• don't throw things
• use inside voices
• wait your turn
• eat your food (don't throw it)
• take care of the classroom
• keep things out of your mouth
• pay attention
• be careful with your things
• keep hands to ourselves
• listen to others

The students then created a classroom rule book of their own! Those that finished should have brought it home. Those that did not finish will work on it tomorrow!

Ms. Caras is our DRAGON of the WEEK this week. Today she shared her poster and read a book! (We didn't get to the poster yesterday...just a bit busy!) IF she was going to be here tomorrow...Her parents would send in a letter, poem or something that we could read about her. On Thursday someone special would bring her a special lunch and on Friday it would be her show and tell day!

I did send home the All About Me Poster homework today! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... make the poster VERTICAL... (see picture above). I would like to have these back on Sept. 8th! You can contact me guyc@friscoisd if you have ANY questions. If for SOME reason your child did NOT come home with this assignment and poster board...please let me know so that I can send home another. I would like for all to be the same size as we hang these in our classroom for the entire year!

CALENDAR time...We are still learning about setting up our calendar notebook. Our math vocabulary word today was diagonal. I was so excited when one little one connected diagonal to the game Connect Four! I love connections. And, oh my goodness...we made a fact family today...ON the 2nd day of school? NO WAY! Yep...we add a dot to our tens frame each day and talk about what kind of number sentences we can make from that picture. I asked if anyone could give me a sentence with the answer being 10! Sure enough I got 2 + 8= 10, then "how about one with the answer 2" yep "that's easy" 10-8=2 "okay then how about one with the answer 8" "oh miss guy...10-2=8" "WELL...then how about a DIFFERENT one with the answer 10...you'll never get this!" SHOUTS...8+2=10!!! They are so smart! We will start talking about inverse and turn around facts VERY soon!

Our phonics lesson this week consists of recognizing our names. Well...since we pretty much recognize our names...I mean...fact families...recognizing a name...no comparison! SO...we decided to practice putting them in alphabetical order! Not ONLY by the first letter but by the 2nd letter as well! WOW...

I must say...I'm a tired teacher and I'm LOVING it!

A few reminders...

• If your child brings water to school please make sure it has a sport top or a non spill top.
• Our classroom and school building can be chilly when the air comes on. We try to keep it set at 72 but most find this to cold. PLEASE put a sweater or sweatshirt in your child's backpack so that it will always be there if needed.
• RED FOLDERS...Please send these back to school EACH DAY... also, if you would just initial right over your child's number daily that would be GREAT!

Have a wonderful evening...please let me know if you have any questions! I am looking forward to working with each of you to make this a FANTASTIC year for your child!

First Day of School!

Lots to report! We had a WONDERFUL day. I can tell this is going to be a great class. I am so excited to be working with you and all of our little dragons.

Red Folder: This folder will come need to be returned to school EVERYDAY! Inside you will find note, completed work and your child's behavior report!

Behavior Report: Many of your children were very familiar with the "color" system. This year we will have numbers...Each day your child starts with a 5...if they need to be reminded of rules repeatedly...they will put a check by their name...they then have a 4! The consequences for checks are at the top of the calendar. At the end of the day I pass out Robertson star bucks according to the number they recieved that day! PLEASE DO NOT be alarmed about 3's and 4's. This is the "normal" behavior range! If your child starts coming home with 2's or below then I will probably need to speak with you!
The children will save their star bucks and be allowed to "buy" treasures, pencils, sit in the teacher's chair, shoes off every other week. The other week we will have a "bank". The children will be responisble for counting their money and trading it in for the least amount of bills!

Class Schedule: in red folder...please note that this is not set in stone. HOWEVER, we will always be at recess at 10:30, lunch at 11:00 and specials (m-th) 1:55-2:45 (f) is 11:30-12:20 due to assemblies.

Lunch: With 7 classes the lunch room is VERY crowded. We love for you to come and eat with your child! HOWEVER, I do ask that you WAIT until after the first couple of weeks to start. This will give us time to set routines!

Special Schedule: in red folder...your child's name should be at the top and his/her specials highlighted in yellow! Unfortunately...our class is split among Mrs. Green, Mrs. Crosswhite and Mrs. Williams' class...Therefore it will be impossible for me to remind my little ones when it is their P.E. day!!!! Please post this schedule somewhere so that you can help your child remember!!! P.E.: ALWAYS wear tennis shoes (no sandals or crocks) Girls: NO DRESSES please!

The Kissing Hand: One of my favorite back to school books! It is about a young racoon who is a bit scared of leaving his mom... She introduces Chester to the Kissing Hand and then when he gets ready to go to school (at night...be sure to ask your child about nocturnal) Chester decides to give his mom a kissing hand so that she will not miss him so much! Your child made each of you a kissing hand today!

First Day Jitters: Be sure to ask your child about this book as well! It has a SURPRISE ending...Also, we discussed the meaning of jitters.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: I will be sharing your child's writing below! See if you can guess which one belongs to your child!!!

Calendar Math: We started setting up our calendar notebook today. Your child will be making a monthly calendar, participating in place value, graphing, telling time and many other interactive lessons during calendar!

Birthday: We celebrated our first birthday of this school year! Happy 6th birthday to Eli!!!! Thanks for the YUMMY cupcakes!

Writing: I must say...HOW impressed I am with all of the great writing!

Some children are not finished so I will share at a later time!

"How I spent my summer vacation. I went to Houston and I Hond The dos Timevr"

"I spent my summer vacation at Sea World and I went swimming."

"I spent my vacation swiming"

"I love my Gramall She has The best truehous ever I love my Gamall."

"How I spent my summ vacation play in the plol"

"I win to swim oil sumr in I got uuuuuuu tan"

"I spent summer vacation At the WAtEr PARK I Wete ON the slids I swimd at the WAVe POOL and HADe FUN"

"I love siver dol side."

"At my summer vacation I went to seawrld. to see the dolfin."

"HOW I SPenT MY summer vacattion in Florida. I wot to the Arcade."

"How I spent my summer I wnet to Great Wolf Lodge I witu swiming and slid intothe pool."

"grandmau pu pus"

"How I spent my summr vacation I wet to chicogo. We wet in a caper."

"I visit my cosin"

"I went to Amazing Jack for mi cozen birthday."

"I spent my summe vacation at sewrld"

These are so VERY amazing for the first day of first grade! Please be sure to PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE your little one!

Take care and be sure to let me know if you all have any questions!

I had someone ask if Dragon of the Week needed to be prepared for next week! Answer: NO! :)
I will be sending home poster board to complete the all about me poster. Once these have been completed I will pick one SPECIAL DRAGON Friend each week. That will be "their" week to be our classroom helper and have all that special attention from home showered upon them!

Don't forget...you MUST do a voluteer background check EVERY year!!! This way you will be allowed to come into the classroom, have lunch with your child as well as go on field trips! You can do this online from the FISD website! ALSO... we definitely want to support our PTA. You are P and I am the T in PTA. I have already joined for the LOW LOW price of 6.00! Please make sure you have or DO send in your membership paper and payment as soon as possible. The PTA is responsible for so many great things your child participates here at Robertson!

Oh my goodness... I am SO excited about this year. It was such a great night tonight. You all are going to be the best first grade class EVER! Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

Okay...so here we are...10 days away from the FIRST DAY of school! I can hardly wait. On Monday all of the teachers will come back to school. We will have school and district staff development days! I hope all of my dragon friends are looking forward to a GREAT year! I know I am...

Oh MY...

You would not believe the progress that was made today! Woo Hoo!

Hi, dragon friends! Pictures as promised! Miss Caras was hard at work today making our classroom look put together! Miss Guy sorted LOTS and LOTS of books! Things are coming along!

How does it look to you?

So... I went to school again today! Lots of Pod 1 teachers are beginning to be "regulars"! What fun! I actually made some progress on our room. I didn't take pictures but will tomorrow for sure! I will have a special guest, Miss Caras, helping tomorrow! Miss Caras is a student at UNT that will be in our classroom a lot this coming year! She will be with us every Monday and Tuesday for the first two months of school. Then in October Miss Woodard will be with us. When we come back after the winter break, Miss Caras will be back! However, this time she will be with us M-F doing her student teaching. She will be with us until Spring Break and then Miss Woodard will come back! So...we have lots to look forward to! We are all very excited!!! I hope you are too!