WOW! How has it already been four weeks of school? Students have recently practiced their knowledge of fact families within 10. They quiz each other using fluency cards and creating math mystery stories for their partner to solve. Students are mastering the skill of subatizing: quickly and accurately recognizing the number of items in a set without counting. They use “5-group cards” to practice this skill.

First graders participate in small group learning every day. Small groups consist of literacy and math activities that reinforce what they have already learned. Students also participate in a small group with the teacher where they are introduced to new concepts and also build upon mastered skills.

Recently, students explored different ways to have fun with apples. They created an apple boat and tested its ability to float, painted apple trees with apples cut in half, and even tried to balance them on their heads. Did you know there is a hidden star inside of apples? Students also enjoyed taste-testing different types of apples.

What an exciting start to first grade! The first couple weeks have been filled with learning, building friendships, and exploring new routines.

In the classroom, students have been practicing their writing skills in fun ways—using sand trays, writing notebooks, and hands-on activities. They’ve also been busy with building projects, puzzles, and creative play. By using STEM bins in the mornings students get to “play” while also strengthening their problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Morning routines are already off to a great start, with students unpacking, completing their check-in routine, and settling into the day with confidence and independence. It’s wonderful to see how quickly they are adjusting to first grade expectations.

Play and exploration have also been a big part of our days! From building with blocks and Legos to imaginative play with animals and connecting pieces, students are developing cooperation skills and showing so much creativity.

We are so proud of how hard these first graders are working already. The energy, smiles, and excitement in the classroom are the perfect start to a great year ahead!

There’s something magical about a school musical — the lights, the costumes, the weeks of preparation, and of course, the boundless energy of students taking center stage. This year’s production, The Little Mermaid, was a true showcase of talent and teamwork. From the powerful solos to the perfectly timed choreography, every scene reflected the dedication and passion of our young performers. Behind the scenes, students worked just as hard — managing props, designing sets, and ensuring every song and line was stage-ready.

The lead roles were performed in a way that was both entertaining and emotionally moving. Supporting roles added depth and humor. The ensemble filled the stage with energy and harmony, transforming group numbers into full-blown spectacles. It was refreshing to witness the power of live performance — a reminder of how creativity, collaboration, and courage can come together to create something truly unforgettable.

Our last compliment circle of the year was a sweet one. The class cheered when I told them we were going to circle up and start the day with positivity. It is always a great way to start the day and end the year. I will miss these kindhearted kiddos!

First grade participated in their first field day!

It has been a phenomenal year. I will always remember this group of students and can’t wait to see what their future holds.

First grade has been learning about time. Two fun ways the class was able to learn about time in an interactive way was building the time using twizzlers as the clock hands. In first grade, o’clock and half past are covered in telling time. We started with o’clock and then moved to half past. Twizzlers weren’t the favorite of many students, but they had fun using candy to show me their times. Another opportunity the students did to practice telling time by the hour and half hour was a roll and build game. I partnered the students and gave them a dice that would tell them the hour, a mini clock, and a dice that had :30 and :00 on the sides. Each player took a turn and rolled the dice, said the time, and then built the time on the mini clock. I think they like this game more than the twizzler time! It’s also an easy set up game they can continue to play the remainder of the school year.

The annual first grade trip to Historic Washington State Park took place on Monday. A great time was had by all and the weather was perfect. Seeing how Arkansans lived in the 1800 is fascinating. It is so beneficial for the students to see, and be able to experience firsthand, how others used to live and how far America has come in a little bit over 200 years! It always amazing the students to see the small beds and iron making. To see how people had to make their own clothes and provide everything for themselves from shelter to food to clothing is a remarkable thing to experience.

We are winding down the school year. So much more to have and things to learn!

Ms. Claire

With this week being Holy Week, I wanted to have the students learn about Jesus’ journey to the Resurrection. The class and I sat down, talked, and read through the Resurrection Eggs. The dozen eggs go through Jesus’ coming into Jerusalem, to Mary and Martha finding the tomb empty. I don’t have any pictures of us going through the story, but the children were silent as we went through each egg and discussed Jesus’ journey to the cross.

For a light-hearted activity, I had the class use paper strips to design their eggs. The next day, they wanted to write about their eggs, so, of course, I let them. Anytime they want to write, we find the time to write! This time did not disappoint – these are some of my favorite writings they have done this year. The creativity and sweetness of these stories are just what we needed before Easter break. The children were so proud of their writing that they wanted to stand in front of the class and share their egg and story with everyone. Their bravery and support for one another make me so proud to be their teacher!

First grade has been busy learning about shapes, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional. It can be tricky to keep all of the characteristics organized, so the class had some fun to help remember the features of the different shapes. When learning about the 2D shapes, I pulled out the geoboards. I would give the students several characteristics; for example, a closed shape with three straight sides and no square corners, then I would say “Go,” and they would make the shape. Not all shapes were as easy to build as the triangle; the students were challenged when they were told to make a closed shape with six straight sides. The hexagon and pentagon were difficult, but by having the students build the shapes with their hands, they were able to grasp and conceptualize the shapes.

When working with 3D shapes, the students built two different types of structures using two different materials. First, the students constructed 3D shapes using marshmallows and toothpicks. This allowed them to see that these shapes can be measured in three dimensions, not just length and width, but also in height. Then they had to work in teams to build a structure using 3D foam or wooden blocks. This activity enabled them to see how the depth of these shapes allows them to be stacked or not, and to problem-solve when there weren’t enough or the right sizes of shapes they wanted. After building their structures, they had to discuss which shape was used on the bottom and why they chose that shape, as well as defend why they chose not to use certain shapes. It was a great activity to help better understand and apply the shapes, and an even better activity to help the students practice communication skills and compromise.