Mrs. Hannon's First Grade Fly on the Wall 

We loved making our pumpkin life cycle books!

For Read Across America day I really enjoy setting everything aside to focus on reading aloud (particularly Dr. Seuss). Since we had already set Monday aside for President’s Day fun, and because we did have Adoration and Benediction on Friday, I couldn’t plan the stations, crafts, and read as much as I usually do for Read Across America. We STILL did enjoy reading some Dr. Seuss books (he shares a birthday with Mr. Hannon), and we had a guest visitor from Marian University who also read Bartholomew and the Oobleck to us at the end of the day. Maybe I’ll be able to accomplish some of the activities we missed by the end of the year when we are wrapping up our curriculum.

I stumbled upon some additions to our Science table this week (maybe one from last week). No one had said a thing, so these were nice surprises…some shamrocks and a sunflower blossom. Thanks to the contributors!

I had a birthday recently, and I just had to show you a “belated” gift from my husband. Ha! My first question for him, after thanking him, was “Who helped you?” Not his cup of tea to think of these things, but heh, at least he asked someone to help him think of things. 🙂

 

Now I’m looking forward to some rain. With the size of this thing (a golf umbrella), I may be able to shield a couple of first graders as well as myself.

This past week we had some Disability Awareness activities and visitors. Meet the therapy dog Hallie (I think that was it, and I’m not sure of the spelling). She was SO well behaved and made me think about the fact that my doodle isn’t so well trained (I wonder if it is still possible to unspoil her after nine years). Although a full-sized and full-blooded poodle (which you don’t see too often) Hallie reminded me a lot of my Golden Doodle, which just goes to show Roxie is mostly poodle. She has that face.

We also learned a lot about equipment (large and small) which can help people in many ways, adults and children. We read a picture book about a young girl who made friends with a child in a wheelchair, and how at first she felt uncomfortable but came to learn that her new friend could do a lot of things!

At the end of the week we had our first Pep Rally of the year, which included a fun relay race activity involving two of my students. They got to select a couple of prizes for their participation. Great job boys!

It has been a fun-filled 14 days. We haven’t exactly been on our regular schedule due to working through the first round of bench mark assessments, but in the meantime we have had a lot of fun. My campers have shown a lot of progress in learning new routines and understanding the importance of making good decisions, learning that our actions impact everyone and our entire classroom’s atmosphere. Perspective is challenging for six and seven-year-old children, but practice makes perfect. One thing I teach them is to think “Do my part…do my part to make our community positive, fun, and rewarding.” I use a number of strategies from a philosophy called “conscious discipline.” It involves self-awareness and self-control.

We will travel to Mass this year with our 8th grade “family” and participate in a number of “faith in action” pursuits. Our first one involved the popular “kindness rocks” which fits in very well with my focus on kindness this year. On our Kindness Tree we will be adding leaves/snowflakes through the year each time we notice an act of kindness. I already have some leaves to add and will be doing that soon.

Our second activity was when Fr. Hunter came to bless all of our classrooms. We stood in the hall together as he blessed us for a successful year.

We began science with a read aloud of a favorite author/acquaintance of mine, Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s What Is Science? We brainstormed about what science is and is not, read the book, thought again, and added/eliminated some things from our list. Our guided practice involved a science sort, and then we completed some work independently.

As you know, there was a lot of anticipation and excitement surrounding the solar eclipse. Because of this event, I chose to do some work in science about the sun/moon/stars, and also about shadows. We are all aware that we can make our shadow move by, but our question was whether the shadow of an inanimate object can move. We first traced an inanimate object’s shadow and set it outside, waited a half hour or so, and returned to see what happened. Of course due to the movement of the Earth, the shadow had moved. We discussed that when the sun rises and sets, it is actually the Earth turning. There are many common misconceptions in young children. We are building interactive notebooks, and we’ll maintain one for language arts, science, and possibly math. You will see those eventually and they will come home at the end of the year.

We followed up inside by using some small LED flashlights to practice “being the sun” to make an inanimate object’s (a gnome) shadow change.

I love teachable moments. These are things that just pop up by chance or that my students or their families bring to me. Beau’s family brought us a Monarch butterfly chrysalis and we have been observing it for several days. It emerged on our 14th day of school, and it actually happened during our fire drill. The students saw it as soon as we came in, and they were so excited! It was toward the end of the day, and I know it needed time to dry its wings. We attempted a release before dismissal, but unfortunately he wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to leave him in the classroom all weekend so I took him home with the intent of capturing his lift off. Unfortunately he wouldn’t cooperate. I did some video and snapped some photos, but I missed the actual event. I did follow him up into a tree, and am hoping to be able to show them the video at school. I haven’t been able to get the video emailed to myself (too large of a file perhaps) but if I can figure it out, I’ll post it here later as a separate post. I was also happy to receive the link to some resources for milkweed and Monarch information. We are in the processing of completing a book together about the Monarch butterfly, and although ours has flown off, we’ll keep working on this. They are so beautiful, and it is such a miracle to watch. Thanks to Beau’s family! (As I was in the process of writing this, I am almost positive I saw a Monarch around my butterfly bush…perhaps he is making my yard his home for now.)

Speaking of bugs, we had some visitors during math class. We imagined that these “friends” were interested in what we are doing in math. As to the praying mantis, we checked on her at the end of the day outside, but she had gone. When we went to check, we literally ran into another critter…..a very fast moving critter running all over down in the grass….which involved a bit of jumping and screaming (even on Mrs. Hannon’s part). I still don’t know what it was. We couldn’t actually see it, but it was FAST…and I feared it running up my leg! Do moles move that quickly?

Through the year you may see lots of pictures of children looking out our window…just wait for the first snowfall!

One of my favorite ways of teaching involves read aloud…learning from children’s literature. It was a focus of my study when obtaining my Master’s degree. We all know what a mess of cruelty and ugliness exists out “there” especially on social media, which actually gives us what I believe is a negative and often false impression about people and humanity in general. I still choose to believe most people are good, loving people.  As a baby boomer and new grandmother…someone who has seen the world change a lot…I worry about our youngsters, thus my focus on kindness, tolerance, and understanding. In any event, I will be reading lots of books to my first graders about issues of bullying, civil rights, etc. I read a book called The Sandwich Swap. This story is about two school friends. One brings a PB&J each day for lunch, and the other brings a hummus sandwich. Though friends, each was offended when the other reacted negatively in response to the other’s food, until they decided to swap and try something new. As it turns out, they both liked the new food, and were regretful about judging what they didn’t know or understand, which temporarily disrupted their friendship. I will continue to let you know about some of the read alouds, book discussions, and activities surrounding such literature. After we read the book, Ethan shared about a kind of fruit he had tried. It is called Dragon Fruit. I’m going to have to search for it and try it out.

Speaking of kindness, we also completed three lessons called Circle of Grace. This is an archdiocesan required curriculum and is a great way for students to learn about respect for themselves and others. We did some brainstorming as part of our lessons to discern how certain actions and words can make us feel.

Finally, another of my favorite things to teach is writing workshop. In workshop we learn to see ourselves as real authors. I usually start by just allowing students to write whatever they want. This gives me a baseline. Workshop involves a mini-lesson, writing time, and sharing time. Later, I’ll also be conferring with each young writer to work on individual goals (differentiation), meeting them where they are. I have had quite a few students published in the Indiana Partnership for Young Writer’s anthology of writing from children across Indiana. I am hoping this year will be a collection year for the next publication (they do one every two to three years). I have had around ten years of professional development about teaching writing to children, much of which I have pursued on my own; their writing is insightful! As you will learn, I also like to use this site for the humorous things which take place in the classroom, and these are often anonymous. So, finally, I would like to share this piece of writing (their first pieces often have illustrations but no words). I’m not quite sure what is going on with this cat, and I’m not sure I want to know!

We have accomplished a lot in our first 14 days, don’t you agree?

 

This year for Read Across America I decided to ask for volunteer parents to help, so we could accomplish more. The results were stupendous. We had so much fun. I pulled up a campfire to display on the Smart Board as we worked. We had four campgrounds, and at each station a parent (or I) read one of the Dr. Seuss books, followed by a craft and/or a snack and/or an activity. We had Horton Hears a Who, Oh the Thinks You Can Think, The Cat in the Hat, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck. We were able to finish all of our activities before lunch, and in the afternoon Mrs. Bostrom came in to read Green Eggs and Ham. We had another snack which went along with that story. Finally we were able to watch the animated version of another story, The Lorax.

It was a REALLY REALLY REALLY fun day! Enjoy all of the photos!

Everyone also had a packet of materials which they were able to take home for more fun. Everything went just perfectly!

Oh, and did they tell you that it was also Mr. Hannon’s birthday? I called him up, put him on speaker phone, and we all sang Happy Birthday!

This year each grade level will be partnered with another as a “family.” We will sit together at Mass each week, read together, and participate in a number of other activities as they arise. As a teacher I love this because I don’t have to try to control 26 during Mass..ha! Besides this selfish reason for loving the idea, it has many more important benefits. The first graders really look up to their partners and will bond with them through the year. I will keep you posted as other events are planned, but following Benediction this last Wednesday, we spent some time reading together.

Another advantage for me is that I get to see my former students!

Unfortunately (first time ever) I wasn’t able to attend the Christmas Concert due to Mr. Hannon’s surgery. He did, and is, doing well. I did get a few photos from rehearsals, and a parent sent me others.

Thanks to Mrs. Starkey and Dr. Mike for making it all possible. I so regret missing it!

We also took a field trip to The Benjamin Harrison Historical Site. We participated in a program where the first graders made a wooden soldier (Benjamin Harrison was very proud of his military career.) We toured the home and learned about life long ago, and we also listened to a great Christmas story, Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree. If you have never read it, check it out. The tree was the prop which came apart as they story was being told. The students had to try to remember the sequence of events in order to put the tree back together. I hope your wooden soldier will hang on your tree for years to come. It was a great place to visit. You and your family should consider going for a tour of the complete home. It’s amazing and informative!

An addition to my collection!

Just because….I want this outfit (well, I guess it wouldn’t be as cute on me).

We had a really fun Christmas party! Thanks to all of those who contributed or helped out in any way!

Opening gifts!

Special visitors…..

Prior to break we had a visit from this tall guy…when I say someone is tall, he’s tall! Myles Turner had been recovering from an injury to his thumb and said he would probably be back with the Pacers over Christmas break. You can tell how much I follow sports, so if anyone knows if he is back, you can let me know….or I could ask Mr. Hannon I suppose. Myles spoke to the students about the importance of following their teachers directions and working hard in school (thank you Myles)! He answered some questions of students. He shared how much he practices, and he told the students that they needed to think about how long the school day is, because that is about how much he practices every day.

Mrs. Bostrom likes to come and read to us, so she also visited the classroom and shared a Christmas story with us. We will have her back soon!

Advent and Christmas were wonderful! I just wish there were more days because there is never enough time to make all the ornaments and crafts I’d like to make!

 

I decided that if you were kind enough to allow me to visit your home, you should be able to visit mine, at least in a virtual way. If you click on the pet category below and to the right, you may see some of that when you scroll back through my blogs posts from previous years. You’ll find Roxie (Goldendoodle), Captain (not so mini mini-schnauzer), Clyde (tiger long-haired kitty), and Bonnie (gray short-haired kitty). Here is another peek, which other than my animals, represents some of my favorite things.

One of the best decisions we made when we built our home was to have built-in bookshelves. They weren’t in the original plans, but our talented woodworker suggested it and gave us a quote. Of course, having the bookshelves made me, I believe, collect even more. It wasn’t so very long ago that I cleaned many out, but the shelves filled back up again. In addition to this room, I have them in my basement room (my woman cave), some in my bedroom, and some in an antique lawyer bookcase my husband had when we married (I keep special ones there). Of course, many of the books I own are here at school as well. When I become a grandparent, my grandchildren will have their very own library.