
Addition to 10….Just the Basics!

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The First Grade Roundup by Whitney Shaddock
Simple gifts are my favorite! Great for a root beer loving teacher for teacher appreciation week or class gifts at the end of the year!
It’s time to get buggy!!!! Check out this fun unit with slideshow and skip having to gather all of the nonfiction insect books from the library (you know all of the other teachers already checked them all out, anyway, right???). Everything you need, right on your computer!
Insects Nonfiction Close Reading & Visual Vocabulary Unit by First Grade Bangs on Teachers Pay Teachers
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Insects-Nonfiction-Close-Reading-Visual-Vocabulary-Unit-3188389 ... See MoreSee Less
Looking to improve your guided reading instruction next year? Come see the shortcuts I have made to make my planning easy and stress-free! firstgradebangs.com/stress-free-guided-reading/ ... See MoreSee Less
First Grade Bangs shared Sarah Gardner's photo. ... See MoreSee Less
My students usually need a refresher on friendship at this time of the year, how about yours? I love using the book Enemy Pie to review the elements of friendship while integrating ELA standards! http...
My absolute favorite unit of the year...we actually hatch chicks! This slideshow helps us learn all about the chick life cycle, as do the 3 levels of texts and fun writing activities!
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chicks-Nonfiction-Close-Reading-Visual-Vocabulary-3167102 ... See MoreSee Less
Love this explanation. Reading your past few posts are helping me wrap my mind around how to teach our math standards (best order? best lessons? best curriculum) we have Engage NY but we have new Missouri Learning Standards…so….what to do? As a Missouri blogger are you operating in the Missouri Learning Standards? Thank you!
Hi Patrice,
Even though we are in Missouri and technically follow the Missouri Learning Standards, my district has spent a TON of money on their boxed CCSS curriculum. So we are still using Common Core materials, but our report card is aligned with the standards, if that makes sense. We just make a few adjustments as necessary to make sure we are in alignment with the MO standards. They are very, very similar, as you know.
As you can tell from my posts, I no longer use the boxed curriculum but have developed my own curriculum that makes more sense to me and my young learners. Everything we do follows the CCSS and MO Learning Standards, but in a way that is more appropriate and engaging than the materials my district provides. I hope that makes sense!
I love that you are researching how to teach math in the very best way possible for your kiddos. That sort of dedication is what makes an amazing teacher…one who is in touch with best practices, the standards, and most importantly, her students! I hope you have a terrific school year!
🙂 Stephanie
Ok, so I know you also have a guided math product for Lola, but what I'm wondering is when do you teach guided math? I've got about an hour for math and I can't do whole group guided practice lesson with Lola AND guided math in the same math block. So how often do you do guided math? Thanks for your feedback…trying to wrap my head around how to best use your math products 🙂
Hi! That is a great question! Most of my Lola lessons take 15-20 minutes, and the next step is the Quick Checks (in the Guided Math units)…that takes less than 5 minutes. Most of the kids perform well on the Quick Checks (meaning they "got" the lesson and are ready for some independent practice). So for those kids, I give them their Daily Practice Page (or the Try This! enrichment page, if they ask for it- both of these are also in the Guided Math unit). They get right to work. 🙂
If there are any students who still need more practice or don't seem to be catching on, we hold off on the paper practice because they obviously need me to take a step back and do very specific, hands-on small group strategies (those are in the GM units, too, obviously). So we meet at my table and work quickly and efficiently to cover the quick lessons as best we can. I try to keep it simple by using simple materials that are kept in a basket at my table (not special activities that I have to prep- ain't nobody got time for that!) We follow the same structure each day, and I've established a routine so the kids know we get right to work.
Meanwhile, the other students are finishing up their papers, turning them in, and moving on to math centers.
I don't meet with every student every day, and I don't have traditional groups like I do in guided reading (where every student is in a set group and rotate). I too, am limited on time in my math block, so I meet with those intervention students, and if there is any time left, I try to meet with an enrichment group to do a quick activity (also in the GM units).
That is a very quick explanation, and there is are more specific directions, assessments, and if/then charts in the GM units to guide you along, but that is how I make it fit.
I hope that helps!
🙂 Stephanie