Hello There!!!

Hey y’all. Hope all is well! It has been quite busy around here but I figured it was time for me to rejoin the blogging world. So many “new” things are happening and I am so excited to share some things with you.

First off let me say thank you all for the sweet messages. You guys really know how to fill a girls bucket. I know many of you follow me on instagram. You can follow me @mrsfresh2o (Just click the pick below) I have to admit I have been cheat blogging through instagram.

Well, I guess it’s time to get back to reality. As many of you know I moved to first grade. This year, we adopted a new reading and language arts program. I have to admit that’s where I’ve been. Oh my word…I have been trying to get my feet to hit the ground, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening.

I have been creating weekly spelling activities. We are using the Journeys Spelling and Grammar, but as a team we decided we needed to assess on more than six (6) words every week, so we worked together and added a few more skill words to compile a list of fourteen (14) words for each skills. Here is a small glimpse of a few activities. It seems as the units grew so did the activities I created. I posted Lessons 1-22 on my TPT site individually and bundled the units too. I will be uploading lessons 23-30 as I create them. So if you are currently using the Journey’s Reading Program, you may want to check these out!

 

Well, I’m off to create some dental activities for my kiddos next week. Hard to believe February is almost gone. Oh I forgot about my surprise…Stay tuned for details!!!

Centers Galore and a whole lot more

The school year seems to be flying by… I can’t believe it is November already. Before you know it…It’ll be summer again and my feet will be loving “flip flop” season. Well, I have to admit, I am becoming a “boot” lover too!! Have you been to Marshall’s lately? Boots Galore and so much more. I get sucked into the boot display every time. Well, enough about shoes. I could have an entire blog devoted to them!!

My firsties are really doing amazing during our skill station rotations (a.k.a centers)!! I complete two different skill stations daily- one 30 minute session for literacy and another 30 minute rotation for math.  My kiddos work with their table partners for centers, but I call back my leveled groups during. (For example student A,B,C,and D may be working on Literacy Station A but only student C leaves first, then student A & D, then finally student B for leveled Reading group time). I know this sounds confusing, but it really does work.

At the beginning of my skill stations, I was only making one set of cards and quickly realized this was NOT going to work with the students coming and going into the center activity. I solved the problem rather quickly. I opted to print multiple pages at a time (4 pages per sheet). This allows me to make mini center cads. I print them onto 5 different colors of cardstock, cut, and put them into snack size baggies. (See Below)

 I store my centers in Ikea Trofast tubs!! I have to admit, I am obsessed with these systems. I just wish they made the black in a few more styles and options!

Here is a pic of my skill station set-up (Excuse the mountain dew- some days are rough with those firsties!)

I have just begun to make my Long Vowel Word Work Centers! I have A, I, O and U completed!! E will be up soon!

Click on the image below to check them out!

 

 

Last week, we worked on our Veteran’s Day Tribute. We learned all about Veteran’s Day and completed a fun craftivity. I posted an image on instagram and my email started blowing up. I promise to have a pattern posted soon as a freebie on my tpt store. This was a labor of love!! My kiddos adore painting so it was definitely worth the mess.

Step One: Sponge Painting

Step Two: Assembly

Step Three: Attach Writing

Step Four: Display for Veteran’s Day Tribute

 

My mom even loved these cuties and used them for her Woman’s Club Placemats. Thanks Mom!!

I hoped the ladies loved them!!

 

Always, Melissa