Mara

This PDF is an amalgamation of the different graphic organizers that I use to help support the writing process when teaching narrative writing to my first graders. There are two different sets in this package, that for my on and below level kids, and a more elaborate version for my above level kids. Both of the versions share a separate page for each step. At the end students can look back and see how they developed their idea.

Beginning to write in first grade is hard for both the teacher ans the students. Kids need to see structure on paper and in their mind. These basic graphic organizers help with the pre-writing, writing each with their own pages, then editing, revising and publishing can be done on the same type of page. A quick way for me to help kids edit is with a highlighter. I walk around with one and highlight any misspelled words, missing punctuation, or capitalization errors. if a child at their table can

This slide show is in a PDF version. It contains vocabulary/ spelling words spelled -dge, which make the /j/ sound. There are ten words and multiple pictures for each word. I use this while working on the -dge spelling pattern (about one week). We go through the pictures/ words and spell each one to a musical beat. This helps target multiple senses to retain the new words.

Each day I have my first graders do a math choice board. Each child will get to pick 2 of 4 possible math problems. I indicate harder problems using a star, easier ones with a happy face. In order to help make sense of what each child gives me I have developed this generic handout. On it there is space for in depth thinking to be displayed, a math sentence and the answer. Below I have included a scoring section to make life easier.

This PDF document lists the steps of writing with vivid pictures and a brief explanation of each step. The steps are 1)think 2)write 3)add 4)edit 5)publish. The background of each page is a leaf theme which could fit in with any safari, rainforest, or nature theme. If you would like to have this without the leaf background let me know and I can provide it.

Each day I have my students do a math choice board. Each child will get to pick 2 of 4 possible math problems. I indicate harder problems using a star, easier ones with a happy face. In order to help make sense of what each child gives me I have developed this generic handout. On it there is space for in depth thinking to be displayed, a math sentence and the answer.

I help the children retain new words using a musical beat, visual aids and singing while spelling. This PDF contains 10 words which each have multiple pictures.

This graphic organizer is the one that I use for my above level first grade students in the beginning of the year, but all students can use it by February or March. This multi-step organizer uses visual clues to help kids navigate the writing process. Bright kids have big ideas, but sometimes have difficulty staying on topic. This will helps them add relevant details to a narrative piece.

I put these up on the Smartboard in my classroom and we play lighting round...the children line up and we read through the words as fast as possible, start with a goal and a reward like 60 words in 90 seconds, and then shortening the time. Each child reads the next word. This activity lets them move and have fun!

I use this as a way to communicate with parents and students to modify and praise good behavior. Treasure is awarded for each week of straight greens!

This activity can be given to the above level kids that finish early. After teaching that addends produce a sum, you can have kids use the sum to find addends. The workmat is included for those tactile learners.

Use these problems along with the problem solving template that I have created. It makes for easy and accurate assessments. Be sure to review/ reteach/ teach the importance of identifying the whole or the part based on information. This will help them with algebraic thinking crucial to common core.