More Camp Elim photos

Here are more Voyage photos thanks to Ms. Dana.  You will see the children playing indoor team building games, time in the teepee, a walk around the lake, and the solo hike where they were able to write outside in a quiet place...lovely!

What Do We Do All Day?

Good Question!  This will be a first in a series of posts about how we are spending our days.  

One part of our day is titled Read/Write/Explore.  During this time the children are engaged in many learning activities of their choice while I teach guided reading.  

The most popular spot so far this year seems to be the Science area.  I have been gathering materials for this explore center for many weeks now and I continue to gather while on my walks around my neighborhood.  Some of the articles they are studying are different species of leaves, plants, rocks and shells. And since our Voyage I've added some stream water with algae floating in it. 

I've included books for them to reference and as well they can use an I-pad to search for information.
They gather in this area with their spiral notebooks.  They draw what they see, add labels once they discover what they are looking at, and teach each other about what they know.  This week we tried an I-pad app called Leafsnap, a way to try to identify trees.  Come in any time you are looking for a reason to smile...because these little scientists are really fun to be around!

 Kaden is so engaged in his specimen!

 Hey!  We discovered what a sycamore tree is!

 The boys are checking for living organisms!

 The magnifying glass makes us feel so scientific!

Fall Voyage 2012

10 days in...
And off we go to the mountains on our first Voyage together as a crew of learners.
Amazing.  In such a short time I feel as though I know my crew members pretty well.  But what is so lovely about going outward bound with them is my opportunity to see them interact in a new environment, taking on new challenges, and putting into practice the character traits that we have just learned.  Perseverance, beneficence, empathy, stewardship, and integrity.  I watched with great pride as they supported each other at camp.  This is why I'm passionate about first graders!  This is why I love teaching at Renaissance!  

Lessons for Life

And so it begins...

Our time together as a new community of learners! Such an exciting time for a little one.  My first grade teacher was my favorite and I still remember my classroom and how she hugged me. I loved school. Everything about it.  But especially, the books.

This picture says it all for me.  My life as the oldest of five.  Being led by my mom into the library every week, all my brothers and sisters, with the red flyer wagon banging behind us filled with books.  The library.  Oh, the smell of those books!  Joy.  

This week I shared this memory with my crew, as my learning target for reading in these first days is to instill the joy of reading and to learn about my students' reading identities.

Well, as you can see, what I know about teaching with passion is that it is contagious.  Look at these engaged readers. YEAH!

We are exploring the books in our crew library and in the reading tubs I have gathered for early learning skills, such as rhyming. And it is a time for me to see what books jazz my kids.

In Math, we are learning early procedures such as counting of the school days using numbers and straws, figuring out how many children are present and absent, and learning the use of calendars.

And we explored patterns and began looking at how to use the number line and a number grid.  We will be doing lots of choral counting forward and back and began skip counting too.

Remember to click on the Math tab on my blog page.  There you can find a link to the EDM parent page (Everyday Math) and check out what we are learning.

Our first EDM math game learned this week is Monster Squeeze.

It involves using the number line to determine numbers that are larger or smaller and which way to go on the line.  You will find this game on the EDM website.  Ask your child about it! 

Working as team with pattern blocks took some negotiating!

More things we did our first week:

• We wrote about our hopes and dreams for 1st grade and a memory from summer.  The children love using the tools in the writing center to begin writing letters or making books of their choice.  Very busy!
• We began our 1st Expedition: Character Traits. Please click on the blog tab for Character Traits to read the traits we will be learning this next week so you can support my teaching in school.  This week we learned about Integrity!  This aligns with our crew bear who always tries to do the right thing.  We also began learning the Integrity song.  
• Songs we are learning:  Oh What a Beautiful Morning, I Think Your'e Wonderful, Hooray for the World, Teaching Peace, and Day-O.

We've got a full week ahead of us, and then we are off to camp.

Thanks for helping your child learn a homework routine, get enough sleep, and come with a healthy afternoon snack.

I'm in love again...with your child!

Joyfully, Mary Beth

Not "Goodbye", but "See you later"...

I'm struggling to find the words to capture this first year, this first crew...

Nothing but LOVE comes to mind.  Well, maybe, if I'm honest, exhaustion comes to mind too.

Worth it?  Definitely.  My peers in literacy thought I was insane to go into the classroom.  Yes, maybe I am insane.   But insanely in love with growing young learners is a badge I will wear with honor. Forever.  Forever your children are written on my heart and I am truly their forever friend now.

I am so grateful for you.  I was a new teacher.  You didn't know me.  As those of us who have been in literacy for many years would agree...first grade is the hardest year to teach.  Everything pivots off of this year.  It is the year to learn the foundational skills that will support all future learning.  Whew...

Such a huge responsibility.  I have not taken it lightly.  Not for one day.  And your support helped me do my job.  Thank you.  Thank you for sharing your most beloved possession with me.  We have been great partners. Together we have grown, learned, and loved.  What a gift!

Please keep me in your life.  Let me know how your child is doing, how you are doing.  I am invested in your child's life.  Forever.  I will be waiting to hear great things, from all of you. You have a piece of my heart. x

With deep devotion, 

Mary Beth

 

Wrought with love...

Written on my heart are the memories from this school year, in indelible ink.
Each little one has blessed my life in countless ways.

Thank you crew, for this incredibly special necklace that will remind me forever of my first crew. 
And thank you for the gift cards too.  You spoiled me this week.  I loved it. I appreciate you all!
A special shout out to Jennifer Harding for coming along side of me this year as my crew parent!
With gratitude, Mary Beth                                                                        

A Day at Castlewood Canyon

It's a long way up!

I still get goosebumps thinking about how each crew member personally challenged themselves to take that one more step up on the rock wall!  So brave!  Enjoy the view!  Be proud!  I am too!