Pages

Saturday, August 23, 2014

First Week of School in Review!

Back to school is in full swing!
This past week was all about getting used to routines, learning to listen and follow the rules, and just having fun.


My first graders worked on a little craftivity called

Each child shared a word that described themselves and I wrote them on the board. Then, they chose six of their favorite words and wrote them in the boxes. They also drew a picture of themselves in the frame. I always do this activity during the first week of school because it's easy to do, fun for the children, and they look so pretty hanging up in the classroom.

Right click the photos and click open link in new tab to make the photos larger.




I have a similar activity in my teaching store for free. 
You can check it out here.

We spent a lot of time learning the Whole Brain Teaching Classroom Rules. Saying the rules, along with the gestures, has really been such fun. The booklet below was sent home so the children can teach their family the rules, as well. I am only using four of the five rules. Looks like I neglected to snap a picture of rule 3! LOL! You can find this booklet here.


We also began assembling our Journeys Interactive Notebook. We decorated and glued on the cover and started adding the sight word pages. Each week, the children will highlight the words to know for the week.


I read one of my favorite books!
Afterwards, the children completed their first book review.


I modeled how to do this and the whole class wrote the same sentence. I don't want you to think my first graders are writing this well, on their own, already!

We'll be doing lots of book reviews. I have book reviews for every season, holiday, and theme you can think of. You can find the one above here.

All in all, it was a great first week of school for my first graders. Since I taught them last year, as kindergartners, we are already very comfortable with each other and they quickly caught on to the first grade rules and procedures.

Kindergarten was a whole different ballgame! 
They will need a few more weeks of training before I show you anything truly productive! LOL!

Here is a fun name writing activity we did.


We also started the Aa page in our alphabet/handwriting book


I didn't snap any pictures though.
We brainstormed words that began with Aa and I modeled how to write capital A. I ran out of time before we got to practice writing lower case a. It's very easy to run out of time with kindergarten! But, they did enjoy it, so we'll finish it up on Monday.

140 comments:

  1. I love these bins and they will match my room perfectly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your ideas and the chance to win the bins.

      Delete
  2. Hope I win..These would be GREAT in my classroom

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've had my eyes on these for too long:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your teaching philosophy, and I would adore having these bins. I'm really working to streamline and tighten my classroom organization this year. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am trying to get organized this year and these would really help!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the bright colors of these bins!

    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love these bins! Fingers crossed :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your book response form! Actually, I like everything you do. I am fortunate to own several of your products and find they work great in the classroom with students. Guess the Aug/Sept Writing product has to go on my wishlist now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hopeful I'm your lucky winner, not feeling so lucky today...Pink eye, I have pink eye!!!! I haven't even started PD yet alone had students in my room. Last weekend of summer too. Blah, I've only gotten it once before in 20+years of teaching.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is the exact set of bins that I need for my leveled readers. I hope I win!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am a new follower. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am sort of an organization junkie...This set of bins would be PERFECT for my classroom! My resource library could sure use a facelift right about now :) Thanks for the chance to win! P.S. I have been following your TPT store a while and I love your stuff :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I enjoy reading your blog! Have a good school year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. These bins would be an awesome addition to my classroom. Organization is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bins, bins and more bins! Yes please! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. One can never have too many bins.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cute All About posters!!! Love your products. They really work with my kids.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love ready your posts because I know there will be a great idea or resource I can use. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  19. I LOVE those bins!! I purchased your write the room bundle and I'm looking for places to store the cute recording sheets so the kids can access them easily - these would be PERFECT!

    Dani
    http://misslynchslearners.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would love to win the bins! I love your blog! You have a lot of good ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the bins to put my levelled books in! Have you tried the mobile book wizard ap - it's great - scan for levels and ta-dah!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Please pick me. Love these and your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love Steps to Literacy book bins. I did a lot of research before purchasing and they have the best for the buck. Sturdy and colorful! I would love to win these!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love your book reviews. I love these bins too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love the rainbow effect! So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  26. You can never have enough bins, and these bins are terrific!

    ReplyDelete
  27. September 3rd is the first day with kids! I've been so busy getting ready but I feel so far from being done...ugh! Life of a teacher:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. These bins would be so great to have, my library needs an update!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love your Blog and these bins would be great for my class library!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love your "words that describe me" activity. The students have so much fun with them and they can offer some good insight as well.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the WBT booklet. Can't wait to use it with my kids. Thank you so much.
    chief9937@Yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. love these & everything on your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for the WBT booklet...and the chance to win the bins! Pam ppoland@hacschool.org

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ohhh, those bins would be great in my classroom. I just moved schools, and I have found that the teacher who had my classroom was not big on organization. :-) These would really help me out!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love these!! Would love to have them!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for awesome give-a-way!! My goal this year is organization. Working hard at it

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love bins! I attempted my first page of your phonics interactive notebook this week and even with modeling exactly how to cut the short a word family pieces out, half the class cut them wrong and I had to tape them back together before they could go in their notebook. It was a slight disaster! Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I attempt another page!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Your classroom looks so fun! I have those interactive notebooks on my wish list!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love all the colors! Thank you for the giveaway. :) You always have some great ideas thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Those bins are amazing!! Just LOVE the colors

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love all of your products. I wish my school used Journeys reading series so I could buy your products for those as well.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Just love these! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Love the colors, the shapes, the size and (hopefully) I can be organized this year. (Lynn Ubell)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I use book bins similar to this for my students' book boxes. They've survived 2 years in Kinder hands, but I can always use more! :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love the size, shape and colors of these been. I have been wanting them for a long time - hope I win.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love the colors of the book bins. I moved classrooms, so I just made my classroom lots of bright colors.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I am always needing another way to get organized.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love the bins and all f your cute first week ideas!!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I absolutely love these!! I definitely need some organization help.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Love these buns! Thanks for the great giveaway!
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  51. I just found your blog! Can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I love these bins. Crossing my fingers!

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love the Steps to Literacy bins. I already own some and would love to add to my collection!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Love your ideas and your enthusiasm. Thanks for helping to make teaching and learning fun!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love these bins! Thanks for the opportunity to win some!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Thank you for sharing wonderful ideas & resources. I enjoy reading your blog! I would love a set of those bins!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Great job. Thanks for running such a great giveaway! These would come in so handy as I've moved to a new room and doubled my caseload. I definitely need some organizational bins.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I want these! I NEED these! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  59. These bins would definitely look cute while helping me stay organized! Thanks for offering the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  60. These would be great to win... I have so many ideas on how to use them... leveled readers at each table group, perhaps! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  61. I have been eyeing those bins for the longest time. I was 'gifted' some bins that are far less attractive and would love to pass them on to someone else and replace them with a set of the Steps to Literacy Fun colored ones. Such cute colors! Fingers crossed!
    Kayla
    The Chalkboard Garden

    ReplyDelete
  62. Love your ideas in this page! Love the bins, too!

    ReplyDelete
  63. I would love to win a set of the bins… What teacher wouldn't? You are amazing not only in your class, but willing to share with others. Thanks for your time and resources.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Back to work tomorrow for me. Would love to start the school year off with winning this! 😄 k.winters@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Fun organizational tools!! Thanks for the info!

    ReplyDelete
  66. I really like your photos! I have gotten so many ideas of how to revamp and set up my bins and baskets! I am so going to use some of your ideas. I can really use those bins in the giveaway too!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I love the words the "Words that Describe You" activity. I am definitely doing that! Thanks for sharing your highlights.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Such great beginning of the school year activities. Thank you for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  69. I'm entering my 4th year of teaching and I still get nervous about the first day of school! It's tomorrow and I'm excited/freaking out. :)

    ReplyDelete
  70. I love the rainbow colored bins and would love to win! Thanks also for the activity ideas...I'm going to do the adjective one for my first bulletin board of the year! :)

    ReplyDelete
  71. Love these bins...always looking for new ways to stay organized

    ReplyDelete
  72. I could really use the bins. I have so many ideas for them already!

    ReplyDelete
  73. I love all the writing activities you do with your class. I need to add more in my room!

    ReplyDelete
  74. BINS!!!!!!!!!!!! I buy bins out the wa-zoo and these look awesome! Thanks for the giveaway, Lori!

    ReplyDelete
  75. I love these! Perfect for my rainbow themed classroom!

    ReplyDelete
  76. No classroom ever had too many bins!

    ReplyDelete
  77. I would love some new colorful bins! I still use plastic shoe boxes!

    ReplyDelete
  78. i bought some of the bright colors this summer and LOVE them! i could use some more for organization for guided reading groups! these are a HUGE space saver and organizing tool!

    ReplyDelete
  79. Book bins are great for my Title reading room!

    ReplyDelete
  80. I absolutely love your ideas! The bins would be a fantastic addition to my classroom. Right now we use cereal boxes for our book bins. This would be SO helpful!!

    ReplyDelete
  81. glad i found your blog thankss

    ReplyDelete
  82. My kids and I would LOVE these bins :)

    ReplyDelete
  83. These would be perfect to "color code" my different tables with writing and reading response journals!

    ReplyDelete
  84. Tomorrow is my first day of school, and I'm excited! I hope everyone has a wonderful year!

    ReplyDelete
  85. These would fit perfectly in my library! I'm a few containers short, so this would be perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  86. I would love to have some of these bins!! My library needs a makeover! :)

    ReplyDelete
  87. I have been looking at these bins for WEEKS! I would love a chance to try them and order more :)

    ReplyDelete
  88. I love these bins! I have some in my room already but always need more!

    ReplyDelete
  89. I was just looking to buy some of these for my classroom!

    ReplyDelete
  90. Would love to win!! Thanks for the chance!!

    ReplyDelete
  91. i just bought a few of these but I need a ton more! Thanks for the chance to win some!

    ReplyDelete
  92. Love your blog! Would love these for my library!

    ReplyDelete
  93. Thank You. These would work great for our homeschool.

    ReplyDelete
  94. I was just looking for more bins like these! Love the colors too!

    ReplyDelete
  95. I just heard about you through the give away and I love what I see in your TPT store. I think I need to go shopping....

    ReplyDelete
  96. These bins would look great in my classroom!!

    ReplyDelete
  97. Love this bins. Thanks for sharing your first week. Looking forward to my first day on Monday.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Awesome giveaway! I really hope I win. I need this bins badly!

    ReplyDelete
  99. Love these bins! This is a great giveaway! Fingers crossed!

    ReplyDelete
  100. i'm not gonna lie - the writing in those pictures makes me jealous! haha!

    ReplyDelete
  101. I think most teachers are always wanting more storage and things to use to organize:) Fingers-crossed that it's me, but whoever it is will certainly appreciate the extra organization!
    SweetSchoolMoments

    ReplyDelete
  102. I do not have any bins and so need some, please.

    ReplyDelete
  103. I am blown away by your products and blog! AmAzInG!! Thank you for the opportunity to win the bins! I can totally use them in my new preschool classroom to get me organized AND add a pop of color!

    ReplyDelete
  104. Thanks for the giveaway!! These bins have SO many potential uses!!

    ReplyDelete
  105. Thanks for sharing your first day activities. My first day is in 5 hours!

    ReplyDelete
  106. Love the bins...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  107. I just found your blog and teacherspayteachers store today! Love all of the resources!

    ReplyDelete
  108. This is a fabulous giveaway!!!!! I have already purchased some items from your Tpt store last week.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Love your back to school activities! Great ideas and a great giveaway! Thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  110. I am a huge fan of yours and use so many of your products. I once asked if you could include an item in one of your products and you quickly replied with an astonishing, "yes." Thank you for being so kind and always sharing your wonderful ideas. Your students are lucky to have you! Have a great year and once again, "Thank you:)"

    ReplyDelete
  111. Do you still use a clip chart in conjunction to the Super Improvers Wall?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love to read them!

Scholastic Teacher Book Wizard