Are you looking for a way to solidify your first grade students' understanding of math concepts and give them extra practice without putting boring worksheets in front of them? Are you trying to integrate purposeful play in your first grade classroom? Do you want to see your sweet students smiling and interacting with their peers in a positive way as they learn? If so, math games are the way to go! Here are 4 Reasons to Use Math Games in Your First Grade Classroom. #1 - Makes ... continue reading...
5 Easy Tips for First Grade Writing
It's the start of a new school year. You're just beginning to learn about your new first grade family - their likes, dislikes, abilities, and struggles. All too often one of those struggles is writing. Give a classroom of first graders a writing prompt toward the beginning of the year and you'll likely hear these things. I don't know what to write about. I don't know how to spell. My picture is ugly, can I get a new paper? Many of the papers your students write ... continue reading...
TEACHING FIRST GRADE WRITING HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER
Teaching first grade writing is not for the weak. It's no easy task. Can I get an amen? I remember my first year as a teacher. So excited and full of energy. Writing was absolutely, without a doubt, the one topic I looked most forward to teaching. Then...not so much. I had students who struggled to hold a pencil. Students who ran all their words together. Students who either began every. single. sentence. with the word and, or wrote an entire paragraph using just one sentence and a ... continue reading...
5 Easy Steps to Teach Number Talks in First Grade
Do you do Number Talks in your first grade classroom? We do! And we can honestly say that Number Talks are the BEST way we have found to increase our students' computational fluency and their ability to think about numbers flexibly. This simple addition to our math warm up time has truly transformed mathematics in our classrooms. Pinky swear! However...if the thought of implementing daily number talks gives you hives....we've got you covered! Our YEARLONG ... continue reading...
18 Phonological Activities to Try Today
Phonological awareness...that big, fancy phrase… can essentially be boiled down to word play. That’s right…play! Phonological awareness activities should be FUN, lighthearted, and yes, playful. Improve Students’ Reading with These Phonemic Awareness Activities! Phonological awareness is the ability to hear, recognize, and manipulate sounds/phonemes (the smallest unit of sound). It’s purely auditory and it’s NOT phonics. As soon as letter knowledge is brought ... continue reading...