First Grade No Excuses List

1st Grade Writing "No Excuses" List

With Common Core right around the corner we decided as a first grade team to create a "no excuses" list for grammar. Some of us teachers conducted school visits and learned that one particular school who uses the Lucy Calkins Units of Study for writing (like we do) created "no excuse" lists to accompany the writing instruction. The one thing that the units of study lack is grammar instruction. The grammar lessons are supposed to be embedded into the writing lessons. Although we do that, we were noticing that students were still not following the basic grammar rules. So, we created a "no excuses" list for students to use to check their work. Each child will get a copy to keep in his/her writing folder. In addition to the list, I created a chart as a visual. I got the idea for the chart format from a chart I saw on Pinterest on capital letters. My chart includes capital letters, ending punctuation, and commas. Click on the picture to see a bigger version of the picture. If you'd like to create the same chart, you can download the pictures and text by clicking here! I found the clipart online and used the "LD Elementary" from the Lettering Delights website.

Comments

SAMR and Google ~ A Beautiful Combination

I've been really investigating the SAMR model lately. If you aren't familiar with the SAMR for integrating technology into the classroom, that's ok. I first learned about it last year at a conference. I went to a breakout session and came out more confused than when I went in. So, I took it upon myself to learn about it through researching it online. The SAMR model is this: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition The more I investigated, the more I realized that our district needs to really look at where we are on this model. Yes, we are a Google for Education district! Yes, all students and teachers have access to Google Drive! But, NO, we are not redefining education with technology. One day I was inspired by a fellow Google for Education trainer to really look at how we can use Google Drive to redefine our lessons. So, I created the graphic below with ideas on how to use Google Drive and other Google products through the SAMR model.

Contraction Mania!

This week our first grade team analyzed some Fountas and Pinnell level G books to figure out what needed to be taught in reading to help our students get to that level. We realized that many of the books contained contractions and words with inflected endings. Our first plan of action was to immerse students in a word study of contractions. So, this week I introduced the word "contractions" to my class. I first wrote the word on a piece of chart paper and had them turn and talk and try to tell their partners what the word was. It was funny listening to them talk to each other. After about a minute I had them turn back and tell me what they discussed. I called on one child who then said, "We decided that we don't know what a contraction is." Then, the rest of the class agreed with him. I just had to chuckle at that. It was so cute! Then, I introduced contractions to the kids slowly using paint sample cards that I had made in advance. ~ I got the idea

Web 2.0 tools

I've spent the summer going doing research and going to workshops to gain more knowledge on using web 2.0 tools in the classroom. I always wondered why they call them web 2.0 tools. Well, when the web was first created, it was used for research and to gain knowledge in a variety of topics. Now, there are many sites out there that are interactive in nature. These sites still help students gain knowledge, but through interacting with learning instead of just reading about it. These sites are called web 2.0. I have spent many hours this summer visiting sites on a variety of subjects and have compiled the following list of my favorite web 2.0 sites. The topics I have compiled so far are: Student Engagement, Collaboration, Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science . I will also be researching sites on Art, Foreign Language, Business, and more, and will post those when I get the list compiled. I hope you enjoy the sites I have found. If you have a favo

The Purple Parade

Search This Blog