Turkey Names

Here is a little math activity - use it if you wish. Thanks to DJ Inkers for the graphics! :) I just love that place.

If you use Everyday Math you are aware of "Name Boxes." Here is a Turkey name box! :)


Turkey Names

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Help!

Hi Bloggy friends - I need your help. I am in a creative mood and want to create some things for the classroom - but I need some brain helpers - I can't figure out what I want to make - I am thinking maybe some fun themed turkey things with money, addition and what not -

Throw me some ideas and I'll make it... then give it away!


Amy


Happy Reading! Amy C!

THANKFUL for GIVEAWAYS!

Hi blog peeps! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile.. but I think after this post you will TOTALLY forgive me! :)

Over at First Grade A la Carte, Kathy is having an AMAZING giveaway... her WHOLE Teacher Pay Teacher store.... LITERALLY! :)

Go take a look and enter!

P.S. ~ You're welcome! :)



Happy Reading! Amy C!

BATS!

I have had such a great week at school! We have been doing so much work - but the kids are loving it! We have been learning all about bats. We have also completed bats vs. birds!
I have taken several ideas from The First Grade Parade.

Here was our timeline:

Monday - We started our KWL Chart. We completed our K/W. We also read Stellaluna to work on summarizing and story mapping.

Tuesday - Children were divided into groups by DRA Level. Each group had a BAT nonfiction book - (because we are also studying nonfiction vs. fiction) all week long - we have been reading a book club books and gathering facts in our book club journals. Each time we gather a fact the kids can add it to the "L" part of our chart.

We also did our story map for StellaLuna. After we story mapped, children had to tell the three main events in the story and were placed on a bat!

Wednesday - We shared facts and read in partners. I read a nonfiction book about bats and we added a few more facts.

Thursday - We went to one of the fourth grade classrooms and they were paired with a fourth grader and had to read their book club book and share facts. With a fourth grader they researched one more fact.

We also read a story about birds and gathered facts.

Friday - Tomorrow we will be completing a Venn Diagram of birds and bats. Also, in their book clubs and with three very helpful mommies - we will be doing a bat project! They will either make a bat mobile, bat poster, or a bat diorama and use the facts they gathered in their journal.

Also in our writing center they had to write three facts about bats. In the art center we created a bat. The bat is holding the facts. These will be put in the hallway!




Stay tuned for pictures of all our work tomorrow!




Happy Reading! Amy C!

Field Trip!

Wow! What an amazing day. The first grade had their field trip today all over the Lexington Community. I was so proud with our AHHHHMAAAZING behavior, great questions and their little minds going a million miles a minute with learning.

I am so proud to be a teacher! I am so proud of my kiddos!

With any field trip - the teacher is exhausted! I don't know how many times I counted heads, but let me tell ya - I have counting to 28 down to a fine science! :)

Tomorrow - I will try to post pictures!


Happy Reading! Amy C!

I promise to be better...

Hi everyone! I know I haven't been blogging much lately... but I promise I will get better. I am going to be honest - I want to try to update everyday about what we are doing in 1A at Christ the King in Lexington! I think it will be a great thing if my parents want to read too - we shall see how it works!

I am really excited because the past three weeks of school we have really been working hard on our Community Unit and Map directions. We have learned how to use a compass and our directions of North, South, East, and West.

We have also learned how to write a friendly letter this week! Wow... what a task! My little munchkins have really put so much effort forth and worked so hard in our classroom.

Tomorrow is our culminating activity.... our FIELD TRIP! The kids are so excited - since we have talked about important places in our community - the other 1st grade teacher and I plan one of the best field trips around Lexington, KY! Tomorrow we get to go visit:

1. Henry Clay Estate - Ashland - We get to tour the grounds and the inside - one of my most favorite
places in Lexington, KY!! The kids L-O-V-E it!

2. Fire Station
This is not our fire station - but we get to meet real firemen and see where they live while at the
Fire Station. They show us their trucks, all their tools and how high the ladder can go... one year Mrs. Coates even climbed the ladder! :) 

3. We get to eat McDonald's for Lunch. 

4. We eat our McDonald's at one of the best parks in Lexington... Shilito - this is not
Shilito Park - but it has a huge playground and is AMAZING!

5. We also get to visit one of our Post Offices. Here we see how the mail is sorted, where special packages go and how to mail a letter... in fact - we might even get to mail something special! 

This is a super busy day but so much fun for the kids! What do you do with your class to study communities?!


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Noun Sort

Here is a noun sort I made! Feel free to take it - if you want the editable version - let me know so you can change the words!

All graphics came from Scrappin Doodles!
Enjoy!

Noun Sort


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Coupon!

I know I haven't posted lately... so to make up for it - I used the discount code September2011 at Scrappin Doodles! and it saved 15% - GO SHOP!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

tired.....

I haven't blogged in about 20 days... that makes me super sad.. but I have been super busy - school started on the 17th! Since about the 8th of August I have been in my room or in in-services for school. I finally met all 28 of my kiddos on the 17th and love them! They are so super cute but I always forget when they come into first grade how young they are and what they are capable of doing! It takes me a moment to remember to go S.L.O.W!!!

I have one little boy from Sweden. He speaks NO (very little - try lunch count in the morning...it's fun!)  English; but has a smile on his face and is adjusting well with the other kiddos - he loves high fives!  I have a little girl who has been in Hong Kong for the past three years. She speaks and understands English but it's a little rusty in a few places... and finally - I haven't had air conditioning since we started school. Therefore, it's been super-duper hot in the words of my first graders.

We have already completed one round of MAP Assessments and tomorrow starts my DRA Testing. This weekend I promise pictures, hopefully some freebies and some good laughs! :)


Hope everyone's school year is off to a great start!


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Phonics... EWWWWW!

So today I had the awesome privilege to attend the Phonics Dance workshop with Ginny Dowd. If you ever get a chance to go - GO!

I have had a very hectic evening - head over to Sweet Expectations to see why- in short - I am worn out and have so many thoughts and ideas to write about  it. I am going to gather my thoughts and post about it either tomorrow or Friday! Stay tuned!!

Have you gone to "The Phonics Dance!?"

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Giveaway over at ClutterFree

ClutterFree Classroom is having an amazing giveaway - CHECK IT OUT!




Happy Reading! Amy C!

Routine

I L.O.V.E. a ROUTINE! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!Okay - now that is out of my system....

To help my youngsters in the morning and afternoon I made routine signs! I saw someone else make these but I am not sure who it was.. if it was you - PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I owe you the credit! I used different fonts and wording!

I love how they turned out.. what do you think?

Routine

Now... here is what I need help with. I bought all my fun fonts - but I don't know if I bought the ones where I am allowed to sell stuff which is fine - am I allowed to share these things with others as long as I am not making a profit off them?

If you would like a copy just email me at amycoates@me.com


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Book Clubs Giveaway

How cool. Check out First Grade Pandamonium for an awesome giveaway. It is a unit for sheets to use with Book Clubs and all you have to do - wait for it - is blog about it and become a follower of an AWESOME blog! Go check it out!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Recipe Link Party!

Over at Clutter Free Classroom they are having a link party for your favorite recipe during the school year!

Here is mine:

Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:
pack of chicken breast
bottle of bbq sauce ( I prefer the Montgomery Inn!)
buns


Directions:
1. Place chicken in crock pot.
2. Pour entire bottle of BBQ sauce over chicken. (If bbq sauce doesn't cover all chicken add a little water.)
3. Let cook on low all day. Chicken will fall apart and shred itself!
4. When finished cooking, place enough chicken to make a great sandwich!

I serve mine with corn and a strawberry salad with spinach, lettuce and romaine mixed together!

Delicious, quick and easy!

Hope you Enjoy!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Giveaway.....

"Teaching Heart ( www.teachingheart.net ) is hosting their annual back to school party on July 24th till July 30th.  Each Day a new prize!  Gift cards, Books, Teaching Heart Products, and more!!!  Plus a free printable will be posted during the week.  You need to visit the blog at;http://teachingheartmom.blogspot.com/ 
daily to check out the prizes each day and enter for the ones you want to win!!!"


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Alisha Needs Help too!

So The Bubble Blonde Teacher needs our help! Her husband bet her she couldn't reach 125 followers by Friday evening.... when she reaches 125 she will get the camera she wants - so in short.... GO JOIN HER BLOG!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

I. Need. Help!

Alright - teacher frustration/overwhelmedness (is that even a word) has set in! We don't even start school until August 17 (my birthday - what a present huh!?) and I am already freaking out about my room, theme and activities for beginning of the year - I don't think they are good enough and I am not happy with what I have done... and then I read every one's blogs and I get even more upset because I am jealous of their ideas and think, "Why can't I come up with that stuff!?!?" (insert awesome blogs here such as The Inspired Apple, Chalk Talk, and my list could continue because on my dashboard I have 250 + blogs JUST for teaching! - OBSESSED - I think so!)

Here is where I need help. I am sticking to my theme, "Oh, the places you'll go!" and I need a theme for my binder my kids keep and the folder at the beginning of the year. I use right now the "BEE Binder" (Bring Everything Everyday). In this binder is where they put notes home, homework, word wall practice, our poetry notebook, EVERYTHING!

So put your brains together and come up with a Dr. Seuss themed name for their binder! I am S.T.U.C.K!


Happy Reading! Amy C!

First Day in First Grade

So this morning when I couldn't sleep - I went on over to Mrs. Kincaid's First Grade and she had the CUTEST idea. We all know the world is way too into technology - and so are our schools and our families.... so therefore Mrs. Kincaid came up with a play on facebook! She made a page that said "_____ Likes First Grade!" 

I had to copy her - I can't take the credit!

So - I am going to make one for each of my students and take their picture - they will decorate the frame and we will put the picture in it!! On Friday of the first week back (we start on a Wednesday) we will send them home! 

I have made a few in all different fonts - if you would like one with your grade level let me know!! Just email me at amycoates@me.com

Thank you to Stephanie Kincaid for the great idea! 

Happy Reading! Amy C!

SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!

Awesome giveaway.... GO CHECK IT OUT! Another Day In First Grade


Happy Reading! Amy C!

What I Am

At my school here in Lexington we have a theme or a stewardship for the entire year - this year our theme is: Christ the King students share their "amazing gifts." We have stewardship activities for each grade - my grade (1st) works with other children... I am still trying to think of what we will be doing this year to share our amazing gifts...

While searching for different ideas I came across this heartwarming video:

maybe I am late on discovering this but I absolutely love it!! My theme for my classroom this year is "Oh the places you'll go." This song is so fitting - I want my kids to learn in the first few days of school and do an activity with it - who has ideas??? I am thinking a possible book titled "Who We Are" and each student decorate a page... but that is all I have right now!

What are your ideas?

Happy Reading! Amy C!

GIVEAWAY....

There is a wonderful giveaway over at Ms. Saylor's Blog. It is from the wonderful Doodle Bugs Paper!

GO CHECK IT OUT! FAST!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Take Home Books

Hi everyone!

I am looking for some topics to make Take-Home Writing Books for my first graders! So far I have a tooth fairy journal and The Birthday Journal...

Can you think of any other ideas?


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Oh the places you'll go!

It is that time of year again...back to school shopping! I love walking into Target and smelling the crayons, seeing brand new notebooks and unused glue sticks! My favorite thing to see are the pens, pencils and SHARPIES! 

Another reason I love Target is their DOLLAR $POT! It is such a great addition to each store and always has something there... well this little visit turned into picking up a lot at the DOLLAR $POT! 


Exhibit A: 

They had these Dr. Seuss Bags... so I purchased thirty... my head started rolling... ideas were starting...

I also  purchased thirty composition books, pencils, and erasers.... which all went in one bag!



....So with all the cute Dr. Seuss things that led me into my theme for the year, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" I am super excited.

We do Guided Reading Groups which I call, "Book Clubs." These Dr. Seuss bags are going to be their Book Club bags. Each week or two weeks, we have a new book. The book goes home for Book Club to practice reading and to possibly do an activity... enter the Dr. Seuss Bag... there is no reason now for anyone to forget the book club book at home! They now have their own book club bag to carry their book club book and homework back and forth! (And it's super cute!)


Happy Reading! Amy C!

My Favorite Books Links Party!

There is a book challenge over at Rundes Room! They are doing a link up of favorite books for different categories! Check it out!

Here are mine:

                      My Favorite Books

  Childhood Favorites – So hard to pick one … I had so many.  I think I’d have to say my absolute favorites were Anne of Green Gables, Babysitters Club and I loved Little Women! All books were such great examples of strong young women - which I grew up in a family of five girls! So it was a way to step out of our life and into someone else's! 

Classroom Favorites - I teach first grade and there are so many great picture books. I love The Kissing Hand series - such a sweet story about trust, faith and love! But, I also love the Junie B. Jones Series. We read one a week and play games and complete activities on correcting Junie B's grammar. I love hearing all the kids laugh and giggle and then the excitement on their eyes when they can read the series by themselves! 

Reading to my Own Children Favorites – I don't have any children... but when I am with nieces and nephews I will read anything to them! I love reading Dr. Seuss, Little Critter, Pinkalicious, Harry and the Dinosaur and Henry and Mudge!

Professional Favorites – Teach Like Your Hair is on Fire! Such a great book full of inspiration! 

Guilty-Pleasure Favorites – I enjoy any books. I just finished the Hunger Games Series and absolutely loved it! 

What are your favorites!?

Postcard Exchange

Hi everyone! So lately I have been "tardy for the party" and am missing out on all the Postcard exchanges. Every time I find a new postcard exchange, Kentucky is taken. So... I am seeing if anyone wants to do one!

Here is the info:
A postcard exchange is where a teacher from each state and her classroom participate! The teachers and students send a post card to a specific school in each state. So, you will need to purchase at least 49 postcards and stamps.The exchange is open to anyone teaching. It would be really cool if participants had a blog, website or another way to share updates and pictures. Postcards will need to be mailed out by the end of October.

It would be nice if all participants to include a line introducing their classroom and a fact about their state! You could even include a line about what you want to learn more about or to contact us at.

If you would like to join the exchange just email me at: amycoates@me.com. Include your name, school, state, and blog!

If you have any blog friends that want to participate let me know!

GIVEAWAY!

Over at Thirst for First there is a lovely giveaway. She is giving away a popcorn popper with an adjective activity! Go over there to enter!!

Statement vs. Question

Next week we are discussing the differences between a statement and a question. We have been working on writing complete sentences. We have never discussed what a statement is.

For one of our literacy centers I have made statement vs. question shamrocks. I have four different groups of words that can be made into both a statement and a question.

At the center each person will have a set of shamrocks and a piece of paper to write both their statements and their questions on!

Hope you like it!

shamrock statement

Pronoun Review

We have been studying about Pronouns all week. With a few different smartboard activities under our belt we did a paper and pencil activity... Mrs. C made a short little review!

pronoun_review

Making Words

 I don't know about you, but with First grade one of our favorite activities we do every Thursday is titled, "Making Words." I give the students a set of letters. These are already divided into baggies. The students are being Detectives and have to figure out the "mystery word!" In order to do this, the child has to make all different size words with the letters involved in the mystery word. The kids love it, at times it is challenging but we make it lots of fun.

I usually partner the students up for this activity. After about 10 or 15 minutes of making words with their partner we then go to whole group and make giant list of words we all came up with! We sort them by 1 letter, 2 letter, 3 letters and so on. We look at the similarities in the words with onsets and rimes, we look at word families, vowel sounds and so much more.

The problem with my Making Words activity was the sheet was boring.. so I jazzed up the paper we record on. I have never posted a paper like this so I will try to do so properly!

 If you would like, you can email me at sweetexpectations8@yahoo.com

I tried to download it a few different ways... let me know if it works!!

My new Making Words Paper!
Making Words
Making Words

Trying it out!

After starting my own personal blog, Sweet Expectations... I thought it would be fun to start to a second blog about one of the biggest loves in my life: TEACHING!

I have taught for 5 years. Two of those were in Kindergarten and the rest in First Grade. I absolutely love my job - to me it is a passion and I don't feel like I go to work everyday. I think I am a very fortunate person to not have to "work." I enjoy my daily life as a teach!

This blog is to post any little teacher ideas that I have had or used in my classroom. They may not be anything ground or wonderful - but they have worked in my room and maybe they will in yours!

Happy Teaching!