Instagram and What I have been up to...

I am so excited to announce that I am finally on Instagram! I was already on it for personal use, but thought I would join Instagram for my teaching blog.  I can't wait to share pics of items that I have made or share experiences in the classroom! If you aren't following me already, please do! I would love to follow you and get inspirations!  Click on the link below... or go to your Instagram app and find me @bits_of_firstgrade .

Are any of you on Instagram...if so let me know so I can follow you!

Also, has anyone heard of...

If so can you let me know if you have used this?!?! Thanks!

Here are some items I have been working on and will soon be adding to my TPT store...

Back to School Packet (iPad theme)

I Know My ABC's Packet (letter recognition)

Behavior Management Packet (clip chart, editable)

Colors Packet

Voice Level

Star of the Week

Classroom Jobs

Close Reading

Subtraction Story Problems

Whew! I am busy and need to start sticking to one thing at a time! LOL!

Hope you all have a great THURSDAY!

-Brigid

The end of the year...

Can you believe this school year has come to a close?

I am looking forward to a fresh new chapter in my "book" of teaching.  Boy this book could tell a lot of stories! A long time ago someone actually told me to keep a book of things my students have said or done...kinda like "Kids Say the Darndest Things".  Has anyone done that?  

Anyways moving on, I thought I would share a few things my class and I did for the last few weeks of school.  It ended up being a wonderful ending to their first grade year.  Individually they were all so unique and sweet.  It was hard to send them off to second grade.

Here is a look at what we did...

At the end of the school year I always make a first grade memory book for each student.  Below you will find a page that I include within this book.

Another activity I have my students do is a writing activity to show their growth.  They write a story about themselves and draw a self portrait in the beginning of the school year and at the end of the school year.  I love seeing their development in writing!

Click on the picture to check out the booklet for students...

Click on the picture to check out the booklet for students...

Another activity we do the last week of school is our Nature Journal. First my students gather toilet paper rolls to create binoculars.  Then they received their journals. I paired my students off so they can work with someone and enjoy walking around the field together.  They are able to work on these journals independently, but obviously I am their to supervise and answer questions.  Students love filling out this journal and then sharing with the class what they observed in nature. Not only are they making observations, but using their map skills, writing skills, and weather knowledge.

Click on the pictures to check out the nature journal...

These are just a few ideas to use at the end of your school year within your classroom.  I hope you all enjoy your summer break!

End of the year...

June Currently

I can't believe it is already June! I love it!  This is my favorite time of year.  Summer break has started, the weather is warm and sunny, I can go to the pool...I could go on and on!  I thought linking up with Farley would be a great way to start my summer blogging.  I could not find the time to blog this school year.  All of my time and energy were spent in my classroom...busiest school year ever!  I am so thankful summer break has started and plan on enjoying it every day.  There are so many things I want to accomplish before summer break ends.  Before I go on about my summer plans, here is my June Currently.

Listening:  I keep switching through channels but am not paying attention...it's just background noise.

Loving: Did I mention how happy and thankful I am that summer break has started?!?!

Thinking: I LOVE to shop, especially online!  It was time to update my wardrobe and buy the basics, which was much needed!  

Wanting:  I want the clouds to let the sun shine.  Bring on the sun!

Needing:  My family and I are planning a trip somewhere warm and to the beach.  This will give me another reason to shop! ;)

The last one is my summer bucket list:

1. Take a break and enjoy my summer...much needed!

2. Create more or my classroom and Teachers Pay Teachers store. I have a lot planned on my to-do list!

3. Exercise more! Mmmmmhmmm this is much needed as well. I need to get back in the routine.  I started today with my friend.  I woke up early and we walked...good start!  I may join the gym so I can swim laps.  I miss swimming!

4. Enjoy the sun and water.  I will definitely make plans to go to the pool and lake!  The lake is the most relaxing place to go...I just got a paddle board that needs to be used.  I think that is a perfect excuse to get to the lake.  We will also go to the beach!

5.  I plan to read more.  I bought a few new books to read over break...I heard from a few bloggers about these books and thought I'd check them out!

I hope you all enjoy your summer break!  Now go and link up with Farley at "Oh Boy Fourth Grade".

Check out my TpT Store, Facebook and/or Pinterest boards.

120 Days Smarter

My class celebrated the 120th day of school....we celebrate this day bc of the common core.  So I created a packet of activities to help my students celebrate this day and number.  Not only do we focus on the number 120 but we also dress up like we are 100+ years old too!  OMG my students did a great job dressing up! Take a look at the pics below.  I blogged about the 120th day last year as well.  You can find more info here.

Bulletin Board...we found the idea on Pinterest!

I used my 120th day packet...found in my TPT store. Click on the picture and it will take directly to the packet.  There you will find more examples of what is in the packet.  This packet truly helped make my students 120th day special!

One last thing....I am participating in the sale going on over at TPT. Starting tomorrow and ending on Friday.  Click on the link below.  Everything in my store will be on SALE! Thank you to everyone who follows my store and has purchased items! Don't forget to check out other stores as well!  There are some great items at Teachers Pay Teachers!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have the Beatles song stuck in my mind...

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Yesterday my students celebrated Valentine's day due to professional development day on Friday for the teachers.  I gave my students candy hearts and I created the valentines to pass out to may class. Pics below...They absolutely LOVED their gift! I got this idea off Pinterest of course, but that person had bubbles as their gift instead of the monster poppers that I gave out. HUGE. hit. in my room! I got the monster poppers off Oriental Trading. Below you will also find the message that I put on my classroom blog to send out to my students' parents.  I use animoto...if you signup they will allow you to make free 30 second videos, which I think is great! My parents always enjoy seeing a small clip of their child and see what their child is doing within the classroom.  Take a look at the pics below if you are looking for some Valentine's Day ideas!

We made a classroom heart!

All together now!

Click on the picture to go to my classroom video!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all remember and appreciate the people and things you LOVE today!

Brigid

Visualizing...

During the month of January my class focused on visualizing.  This is one of the skills that I love to teach.  I found this activity over at Lacy's Letters...Cyndi has a lot of great ideas on her site!  Below you will find a copy of the sheet my students used to record their visualizations. First my class read My Neighbor's Dog is Purple by Jack Prelutsky (one of my favorite children's poets).  We did not read the last few lines of the poem. I did not show my students the last few lines of this poem until after our first visualization.  Students made their visualizations in the first box.  We then highlighted focus words that helped us visualize...I another copy on my SmartBoard.  

Then we read the rest of the poem.  My students were SURPRISED with the ending of the poem! Next they went back to their desks and filled in the second box with their new visualization.

My students did a wonderful job on this activity.  Another cute poem to read by Jack Prelutsky is Green Giant.  My students made their mental images in their poetry journals. I don't have pics of that but can get some soon.  We not only made visualizations with poems but we also read a lot of books!

One book in particular is In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming.

My students' favorite part...SHARING!

Free Copy of My Neighbor's Dog is Purple by Jack Prelutsky...

It's a New Year..

Happy New Year!

I thought I would blog today being that we are having a snow day...mmmhmm 12 inches!  This gave me time to think about this New year.

As I look ahead I think of a quote I just heard and thought I'd share....

"A goal without a plan is just a wish"

Isn't this so true?!?!  Who has set a New Year's goal and never accomplished that goal.  Hmmmm?  Yep I am raising my hand right now. ;) So now that it is the new year, I need to share my goals for my classroom and blog...fingers crossed I make the time and accomplish a few of my goals or at least one!  If not then I made a good wish and was hopeful.

This is what I have so far:

1. Blog more often & collaborate with other bloggers...overall I love blogging...I love the idea of sharing my ideas and not only inspire others but get inspirations from other bloggers.  

2. Stay organized! I created a blog planner a while back.  I only got as far as writing down a to do list...yikes! I guess it's a start. Right?!?  I love organizing and keep my classroom and lesson plans organized, however I need to focus on my blog!  It's all about balancing and setting your priorities.

3. Take time for myself.  Enough said.

4. Continue to create.  This is my passion. I absolutely love to create things for my classroom, home, friends, etc.

I will keep my goals to a minimum.  I feel good about these goals and know that I can accomplish a few, if not all.  Hey if I don't, at least I made a great wish!  Have you made new goals for the year?

Need back to school activities for the new year? Click on the pic...

Free BLOG PLANNER click here...

You want to collaborate?
Brigid's Teachers Pay Teachers Store
Brigid's Pinterest Boards
Brigid's Facebook Page

Fall Conferences and using Technology...

Conferences came and went...

Are you running on time when it comes to conferences?
Do you have anything out for parents to look at in the classroom or hallway?

I thought I would take this time to share what I did for our fall conferences...

I always have my students color a pic for the front of the folder that I share with parents...inside the folder I keep the conference form, writing samples, a useful sheet with reading behaviors, student self-assessment, math objectives sheet (which shows whether their child is proficient, advanced or below basic), students letter to their parents, and anything else I think is important to show parents.  Below you will see what I included in the folder (some of the items can be found at my TPT store)

These items can all be found here...

I set up the hallway where parents can sit down while they are waiting, write a letter to their child, and view their students work.  My table in the hallway always includes writing paper and writing utensils.  I also included a QR Code that linked up to a video of photos of my students throughout the school year, via Animoto.  On my large bulletin board I posted my students writing pieces about Fall (I got this idea from Jen over at Finally in First...check out her blog).  Then each student recorded their fall writing piece on our classroom fotobabble and then created a QR Code.  I asked the parents to bring a Smart Device, if they had one, so that they could view a small video of our class and listen to the fall writing pieces.  If they did not have one I provided the classroom iPad. A lot of the parents where thrilled to see their child's work and write a letter to their child.  I heard positive feedback on tying in technology to the conferences.  Take a look at some on of the pics below.  I hope all of your conferences go well!

Table outside my classroom...

Sorry this shot is blurry...this is my BB of my students fall writing. I linked up each writing piece to a QR Code, which then led the parent to fotobabble...a site where my students were able to record their fall writing piece.

Currently October

Can you believe it's already Fall?!?!

I can...and I am loving it! I love everything fall...lattes, jeans, leggings, boots, fall tv shows (Chicago Fire, Revenge, Hart of Dixie, The Voice), pumpkins, Halloween, chili, football, fall candles, leaves changing colors...the list can go on and on!

I thought I would link up with Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade.

Your TREAT...a FREEBIE!

Fall Conference Reminders

Since it's almost that time of year, I thought these reminders would be helpful!

There you have it! Happy Fall! Don't forget to link up with Farley!

Writer's Workshop

This month in writing we will be creating writing plans and then writing our small moment stories.

First off, we talked about our writing folders and handed out our "Book of Words".  Our class then learned about authors and how they create a writing plan before they start writing.  As the wonderful writers that we are, we created a plan and listed ideas to write about, in the front of our writing journals.  This will be a great reference for students who are stumped on what to write next.  Throughout the year we will focus on our first grade writing goals.  These are clearly stated on our "writing bulletin board" within the classroom.  As we continue to become stronger, more confident writers, the students will start feeling and seeing their own success in writing.  To help them visualize and think about their writing goals, I have posted these goals on the board with students' writing pieces to match each goal.

Here are a few pics from our writers workshop to get a clear idea on what we are doing within the classroom to reach those goals!

Word book found at my TPT store

Happy Writing!