Free For All Friday

Here are a few freebies that I created!

1. Here is a book report for first graders for about January.

Book Report

2. Here is a file for you to use for word work.  I made about 9 pages of tiles with different fonts to be printed out on different colored papers.  It's just another fun way to practice building words. 

colored tiles

Enjoy!!

This has been a great teacher week!  Thanks for the chance to share!

Claire

Three For Thursday

 

Favorite font: anything by DJ Inkers  She is simply amazing when it comes to fonts.

Favorite Blog: My favorite blog is written by Laurie Hilton over at Morning Sun First Grade

Favorite Website or Resource:  I love Proteacher.com  Great place for teach support.
         Donors Choose.com  The best fund raising site.
         Khanacademy.org   Amazing math and science 
 YouTube videos.
         Kidblog.org   Terrific place for kids to write and 
have an audience.


What are your favorite 3?

Claire

Where It All Goes Down Wednesday!

 

Welcome to my first grade classroom in Highgate Vermont!

Look at all the great readers!  This shows my two classroom computers, my sink, a bathroom, blue door, the chair is where I usually sit, my kids' center (supply place blue crates), and black mailboxes.

 Back of the room with the start of the CAFE on the board, reading table to the right, blue and green reading homework bags.

 Waiting in line to wash up at the sink.  I love my table.

 The kids are working hard on Netbooks.  Plastic boxes are for coins they earn with our PBIS program.

 Still working on computers.  Bathroom door and classroom door beside each other.

 View of the hallway outside my classroom at Christmas Time.  The numbers are tactile and rough with sand.  My board has Holiday Trees from a home project.  Above my board are a happy accident.  I took a full length photo of my students with their hands out thinking that I could link them up as if they were holding hands but the are all reaching out .  I just loved the effect they created:)

 These are all old pictures of my classroom.  I guess I need some better shots to show the front of the room.  Maybe I'll add a few later on today.  I am enjoying this week of blogging.

Claire

Teacher Talk Tuesday!

Advise for all the newbies:

  1. Make Friends-custodians are very important to the school community.  They can be very helpful to teachers every day.  Treat them well and they will help make your day.

-other teachers can be great resources, helpful, super listeners, and amazing with advise.

-office staff are terrific connections between home and school and the administration.

   2. Dress Professionally every day.  When you look professional you will be treated with more respect.

   3.  Read Teacher Blogs.  Blogs are amazing resources!!!

   4.  Smile and have fun every day! 

    5.  Never Give Up!  You can do it!  You're just doing it your own way!

Claire

Meet the Teacher Monday!

A Little about me!

I love teaching first grade.  Some mornings I jump out of bed excited to start the day with my little ones.  I live in NY and drive over a large bridge to teach in a wonderful little town called Highgate, Vermont!  I am a chocoholic and I love my once a day Diet Coke!  I am a crafter, always looking for great Christmas projects to make for others.  This week I am saying good bye to my two terrific kids Catherine and Bobbie who are both off to school.  It will be pretty quiet around here without them:(

How long have you been teaching?

   Well I started my teaching career by subbing for about 7 years before I landed in  a warm and beautiful school in Highgate.  I am starting my 22nd year!  I'm feeling old.....

You may not know....

I started my career wanting to save the earth in Natural Resource Management.  Soil Science and Chemistry were not for me.  Once I changed to Early Childhood Development everything just clicked for me.  I loved it.  Another little fact about me is..... I am one of 12 children!  I have family all over the US and I love them all.  We all grew up in Maine and I try to go back each summer to reconnect!

What are you most looking forward to this school year!

I am looking for to skyping with fellow blogger Laurie Hilton over at Morning Sun First Grade.  I am so excited to connect with another first grade.  I am also very excited about using our new ipod touches.  They will be a great addition to our program. 

Things I need to work on

   This year I will need to work on my time management!  I want to do it all.  I need to figure out how to be more efficient while I am at school.  I also want to work on keeping my desk neat and cleaned off.

What teaching supplies can you not live without?

My computer is my most important teaching tool.  I have an extensive picture book collection and I couldn't teach without all my books.  I think I'm obsessed with them.

Check out all the teachers from this linky party at

School starts for me tomorrow with Teacher In-service!   I am excited and looking forward to a new year!

Claire

Summer Slowly Fading Away

          This week I spent 4 mornings in my classroom working to organize, sort, and set up.  I think it gets tougher every year.  I have so much "stuff" that it's hard to keep track of it all.  I love trying new things but I can't seem to let go of all the old things.  As I looked around my classroom today I got a little worried that I wouldn't be ready for the start of school.  I always seem to get overwhelmed mid-August.  I haven't been able to talk my kids into coming with me to help set things up.  They're just too busy being teenagers.
         Well I up-dated my website's main page to reflect the start of the new year.  I created a new list for my kidblog.com site.  I bought some blue and red nylon to make up some new homework bags.  I forgot the ribbon to make the handles.  I guess I've got to make a trip to Michaels.
         Technology will be a big focus for me this year.  I will be involved in a couple of internet projects with my class that should be fun.  We will be starting out the year 4 new ipod touches.  I am excited about all the ways we will use them.  I'm hoping it will spark my students into working on some projects with them.
        I am looking forward to skyping with some classrooms this year (a first for me) and to working on some new and exciting projects with Mrs. Campbell.  I want my class to make connections with other 6-7 year olds this year.  We'll see what happens.
       One week left before I have to sit for three days with all my old teacher friends.  I'm sad to see summer fading away and excited for a new year to begin.

Claire