Lollipop Moment

A few weeks ago, Mr. Steele was asking us to pull gold out of a coal mine, or so we thought. The week before Fall Break was so busy. #stressed For our first graders, they had to practice for the Turkey Performance and get everything ready for Pioneer Day (hats, bags, collars, headbands, etc.). Then we actually had Pioneer Day-big hit #1- and our annual Thanksgiving Turkey Performance-big hit #2. You would think Friday would be an easy day, but turns out we had to present for the Engineering Expo. Give your kid a high-five!

As a teacher, this can be very stressful. I was leaving right after our staff meeting to go get married, and did not want to deal with all of this stuff laid on us. It was a lot on my plate, and I did not know where to start. I have been teaching first grade for four years, and I still did not know how everything would turn out this week. Teachers have to find inspiration.

Check out this video if you have a chance. He's a funny dude.

This guy asks, "What is your lollipop moment?"
When this was presented at the staff meeting, my thought was......."I don't know."
It did not feel great. I thought I should have some grand explanation to this, but was baffled. I love my kids and I know that my past and present kids love me, but did I make an impact in anyone's life? I don't know.

The Tuesday from the week of complete chaos, I had Anthony, a student from 2 years ago, ask me if he could borrow a book called Sophie's Choice. I read that to him and our class during snack time. He didn't know the name of it, but he could tell me the story line and wanted to read it on his own. I set my alarm to remember to bring the book the next morning. Anthony was there the next morning coming to borrow it.

That was my lollipop moment. Why?

Think back (way back for some of you). When was your first literary memory? When did you first remember a book, a story, or your mom and dad reading to you when you were a kid. Mine was Mrs. Williams in first grade reading to the class everyday after recess. She read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry in her rocking chair. I read that book 3 times in fourth grade. I read it to my first class in first grade.

Anthony remembered a story I read to him as a first grade teacher just like I remembered my first grade teacher's story time. Now that he is old enough, he wants to read it on his own. Wow! It may not be a big impact- or huge rainbow swirl lollipop-but it gave me the little inspiration and drive to get through that week. To top it off, Jessica, a kid from my first year in this grade, asked me during the Engineering Expo what was the book I read to her. I gladly wrote down Number the Stars by Lois Lowry on a bright sticky note.

Lollipop number #2

My question of hope is if one story can make a small impact, how could all the other crazy activities we do in first grade impact your child?

Stephanie

There's an App for That!

A parent asked me the other day what would her child do with an electronic device in my class. I usually let students bring electronic devices to use when they are done with their work. However, I like to use devices as something that challenges students, instead of playing. Unfortunately, I cannot download apps to your child's device. I did find many apps that you can download at home for your child to bring to class. Some are not free #boo.

Math
Brainz: math app that shows different equations with different difficulties. There are challenges that are for primary students all the way up to high school.

Kakooma: helps students build number sense, fluency, and computation in an interactive way. Mrs. Jensby's favorite!

Motion Math Pizza: an interactive game with a pizza store showing profits and expenses for pizza ingredients. Costumers create fast past addition to make more money. Miss Christie's favorite math game!

Lola’s Math Train

Math in Space Free

Kid's Patterns
 

Language Arts
Princess Fairy Tale Maker: Here’s a storytelling workshop fit for a fairy princess! This imaginative app combines storytelling, speaking skills and art in one clever package.

Build a Word

Word Magic

Story Wheel

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Mad Libs

Grammar Fun

Magnetic Letters

Science & Social Studies

Barefoot World Atlas: Take a trip around the world with this interactive 3D globe!

Beginning readers can use the voice narration feature to follow along as the narrator reads. Don't forget to check out a real-life photograph of each item after you've read about it.

Animal Kingdom Science for Kids 

Sid's Science Fair

Coaster Physics

Spacecraft 3D 

Where's My Water?

Weird but True

Logic- My favorite apps!

I SPY Spooky Mansion

Bumpling Free

Flow Free

Montezuma Puzzle 3

4 in a Row

Unblock Me

KenKen 

The OSMO is an interactive device I bought for my classroom. There are 5 different games that students can play. It was something worth buying to see how much they enjoy working on it. Watch this video to see what it is all about.

 

 

 

2nd Annual Engineering Expo

Old Man Johnny Came to Town

Pumpkin Math

This was my fourth year to teach Pumpkin Math, and it was just as fun as the years before. Pumpkin Math is a great way to engage students in math and science during the Fall season. This year we had a few special guests. Jackson's mother, Mrs. Guzman, came to volunteer. Also volunteering was Mrs. Lujan, Marian's mother. Our wonderful counselor, Mrs. McGlamery, experienced Pumpkin Math for the first time as well! All you ladies were PROS! Thank you so much for spending your time with our students last Friday. They really enjoyed it. =]

A few things we did during Pumpkin Math:

1. Since the pumpkins were round, we had to use a string to measure the circumference. We used cubes to measure the string.

2. We predicted the weight of the pumpkin. Even though it felt like 100 pounds, most pumpkins were under 10 pounds. That surprised them!

3. The groups predicted whether the pumpkins would sink or float.

4. We estimated how many seeds were in the 

pumpkins. Mrs. Guzman's group had over three hundred seeds! We counted the pumpkin seeds by 10s.

5. BEST PART: Carving the pumpkins and giving them a face.

 Most of the pumpkins had a facial and ended up with bushy eyebrows, mustaches, and glasses. My group named our pumpkin Old Man Johnny. Too bad they can't stick around for 50's Day coming up this Tuesday. What a great way to finish up the week. =]