FirstGradeCorral

You'll read Today I Feel Silly, then get to do some fun writing and crafts! First, read the book, and talk about the different feelings that were described. Next, have students write how they feel today. Finally, hand each student the 2nd page, glue, and 3 popsicle sticks. They'll get to create three different emotions (faces) that they can keep on their desk for the day and then take home! This is great for beginning of the year, after a long break, or to revisit classroom community when thin

At about the October timeframe, students are ready to start showcasing what they are learning to their families at home! This weekly learning map is a perfect way to build that home-school connection and allow students to teach their families what they are learning (while also reinforcing skills) at home. I discuss homework during October conferences, and show families this low maintenance 'homework' that does not require a lot of time. I realize that families are busy. I typically ask that fami

If you need a fun beginning of the year activity, or a 'back to school after a long break' activity, look no further!! This activity is great for the first or second day of school, or right after returning from the long winter break. You'll want to get a copy of 'The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School' - then you'll read it and have a secret clue taped to the back of the book (the one that sends them to the cafeteria first). My team and I always decided who was reading the book first, and then

If you're looking to add more writing into your literacy centers, here is a helpful resource! I have created 21 writing topics that you can use beginning after winter break. These would be used weekly. I had students on different daily schedules during independent 'workshop' literacy, and I would have a writing topic out each week. When it was their turn to work on this independent writing activity, they would grab it out of the basket, write, and keep it in their literacy folder to turn into m

If you aren't sure where to start, but want to send out monthly newsletters to families, here are some monthly *almost completely filled out* templates you can use for the ENTIRE year! I know that when I first started teaching, it felt like there were just too many things on my plate, but communication with parents should not be something that is forgotten. You'll just have to fill in the monthly events, and specific units that you are focusing on in your content areas. I added in a monthly cha

Read: Swimmy; then hand each student the writing prompt to write about their favorite part. Many students will choose to draw the part where they are all one big fish. It's pretty cute. Then, hand each student their own little fish to decorate however they want to. You'll take each fish, and create a large fish (just like in swimmy) 'poster' and connect it to your classroom community - how each fish (student) is an important part of your classroom. Above it, you can write "Our Classroom Communi

Read: In My Heart After reading this wonderful book about feelings, your students can write and draw things that are important to them, and why their heart is important. This is great for the beginning of the year, or after a long break, or when you're noticing that your classroom community has started falling apart a bit (lots of extra emotions and arguing, etc). You could also plan to read this before Valentine's Day, and it'll make for a great activity to place hearts all around the classroo

This digital weekly plan is great, especially if you have a teammate(s)!! You can hyperlink lessons right into the document. This was a game changer!! When I’m ready to make the following week’s plan, I copy the current week, and paste it above the old week so that my newest week is always on top and easy to find. I keep all of the weekly plans on one document for each trimester/quarter and name it “Trimester 1 Weekly Plan: 2023-2024” etc. In this TPT, you’ll find two ‘skeleton plans’ (bare mini

This is a quick pre-assessment to check on the following: -Can my student write their numbers 1-30 in isolation? -Is my student writing numbers backwards? -Does my student have an understanding of place value? (ie: 12 vs 21) -Can my student identify numbers 1-30 -Can my student solve addition within 10? -Can my student solve subtraction within 10? -Can my student solve an addition word problem within 10, and show math thinking? -Can my student solve a subtraction word problem within 10, and show

This is a great way to get to know your student by name and need from the people who know them best - family! Hand this out at your back to school night or open house and ask families to fill it out and send it back.

This is a great way for your students to get to know their new classroom and school! It will give your student and their family time to work together to familiarize themselves with the new school year in a fun way!

After reading Wemberly Worried, your students will get to think about what makes them feel better when they're worried! It is important to make that home-school connection. Students, especially at the beginning of the year, can struggle with being in a new place. Give them time to remember that thing that makes them feel better, which will give you a way to connect better with them as well. Then, you can have students copy the entire sentence to practice handwriting, which will give you great in

This is a great document for you to place in multiple areas of the room to catch all families that come to your back to school night / open house. Sometimes the information in your school's system is not updated with current contact information; this document ensures you have the most up-to-date information (and preferred methods of contact).