MAKE IT RAIN!!!!

 

March is Reading Month here at Rogers City Elementary School and my students are all pumped up to reach our goal of reading 1,300 books by the end of the month.  I have all faith that they can do it.  We figured out the math of how much we are already reading as a class:  22 students each reading 2 books a night for homework, multiply that by 5 nights, then multiply that by 4 weeks.  That is almost 900 books a month being read by my first graders!  That means each of my students is reading about 40 books per month.  I asked my students -- who all sat with their mouths wide open at the news of how much they are actually (really!) reading what they thought it would be like if they DIDN'T read those 40 books a month.  Many of the answers were the same and they understood immediately:  they would not be improving as readers.  I can't stress enough how important it is to lay those tracks of early reading skills at this age level.  I can't imagine what a different class I would have if they weren't doing their nightly reading.  So yes, it can get tiring and this time of year...it can be a battle.  But, when March rolls around and the motivation of Reading Month kicks in -- I just love seeing them jump up to grab a book, find a comfy spot in the room.....and READ. 

 I think I'll go home and read, too.

So long 2013! Time to get 2014 started!

One of my many New Year's Resolutions for the classroom is to keep up on my blog!  I'm starting right now!  :)  The year of 2013 is gone and going through my photos I realized that I had many things to tell you all about that happened in our classroom!  We have been so busy that keeping up with my blogging has taken a backseat.  Sometimes as a teacher I feel like I'm just not doing enough, not getting enough done and I get nervous when time ticks by too quickly.  Looking through these pictures I realize that all is well and my students are doing great!  We have celebrated holidays, worked on writing, strengthened math skills and learned new strategies.  I'm so proud of how far they have come so far, but I'm so anxious to get started back to work to see how far we can go!  I hope you enjoy the pictures!  Check back for more in 2014!


Another Resolution?  NEVER let my desk get like this again....



In November we celebrated Veteran's Day and our FREEDOM



When I consider how far we've come with writing, it always blows my mind.
I just LOVE watching my students write, using their fingers for spacers between
words and concentrating on forming each and every letter, word and sentence.

We happily celebrated Christmas this year and enjoyed a huge FEAST of donated goodies.  Students brought books to exchange as gifts and everyone loved ripping the paper open to see what was inside. 

FEELING THE LOVE!

Every great classroom has great parents to help!

OPENING THE GIFTS!

Our last week of school was busy and full of celebrations, programs, work, and gift making....so, it's always nice to set some time aside for a quiet and calm READ-IN.  Students brought blankets, pillows, coloring books, books, magazines and we all just chilled out and enjoyed some down time with friends!

I love this picture -- two boys simply enjoying a good book!