The class had Show and Tell. The children love to share and show a fun item from Christmas. It is a great informal way for the class to practice speaking and presenting to an audience.

In math we started a new module that covers measuring. The class has been measuring with centimeter cubes. For a fun lesson the kids were paired together to complete a measuring activity. It is so important that children learn how to work cooperatively with another person. It is great to see the students taking on the role of teacher to help if their partner doesn’t understand a question or needs clarity on a topic. These students are so kind and patient with one another. It may get a little loud, but it is an important layer to add to teaching.

The students are so intrigued by the presentations and soak up the new knowledge. I believe it is important for children to see that the world is larger than the area where they live. Taking a deeper look into a country, especially specifically into a beloved holiday, helps the children see the similarities and differences they have with others a world away. Plus, it is fun. They love to try the treats, toys, and games from other places. I’m always surprised by how adventurous the students are with trying the new foods, I am certain the sugar helps entice them.

In addition to bringing light to foreign cultures and traditions, Christmas Around the World requires the students to practice speaking in front of an audience. This is the first project where the student is solely responsible for presenting their information. Speaking in front of a group of your peers is hard at any age. At St. James public speaking and presenting is valued and practiced frequently. The children start performing, speaking, and presenting to peers and adults at a very young age. This better equips them for higher education and their careers. Speaking with confidence is a skill that carries you far.

In first grade students practice reading and writing all of the time, in one way or another. To bring a little change in routine and motivation I asked the students to bring a stuffed animal from home to read to. I underestimated how much the students would enjoyed this. They were so excited to bring a stuffed animal from home to class and teach it news skills all week by reading to it. This will be happening again after the holidays!

During one of our reviews days in math the class practiced the doubles math facts. I didn’t give all of the instructions at first. Instead I told them we would be reviewing our doubles math facts and we went through a couple of drills. Then I handed each of them a dry erase marker and they had so many questions. I explained that they were going to write them on their desk - they thought I had lost it! The students asked me several times if I was sure they could write on their desk. I reassured them that Mrs. Thane had told me 2nd grade does it often and it cleans us easily. After that they were ready and listened so well! The class solved math facts independently and then with a partner. This is another activity that will have to be repeated!

Lower School holds a Thanksgiving program every year. To help decorate the door, the class made thankful turkeys. I love having conversations about gratitude with young children. They are so sweet and innocent. To an adult it looks simple, but for students this is a multiple step activity that takes concentration and a lot of hand muscle control. I sure am thankful for all of these precious children!

Every October two St. James Day school first grade traditions roll around. The first one is the temple building projects. Students and their parents combine forces to build a realistic ancient Mayan or Aztec temple. This aligns with what we study in social studies, a very basic and developmentally appropriate history of early American civilizations. Thankfully this project has fallen on days where the weather is beautiful and it a fun time for students to work with their parents to complete an academic project.

The second tradition is Book Character Day, always on Halloween or the closet day to it. Students come to school dressed as their favorite book character. They have to bring the book with them. All of lower school gathers in the commons. Each student stands in front of the audience full parents, introduces their self, and tells us who they are in the book. It’s a fun way to allow the students to dress up on Halloween and encourage literacy!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately. One afternoon, to take advantage of the cooler temperatures, the class read their fluency booklets outside. It is a simple way to help children get fresh air, meet sensory needs, and, of course, practice fluency. Becoming a fluent reader takes practice, a lot of it. Fluency is not just reading accurately, it’s about reading with expression (not sounding like a robot), the correct pace, and following the punctuation marks. Reading is teamwork, it takes everyone - the student, their parents, and me to ensure that the children are practicing their reading skills and working on fluency.

Research has proven again and again that students retain information better when multiple modes of learning are used. A child will remember something they built with more detail than something they had to write 10 times. So, to help them study this week’s spelling words, I had them build them out of playdough. This activity not only helps them study their spelling words, but it strengthens their fine motor skills. First the children had to roll out skinny “snakes” and then build their spelling words. Such a simple and fun way to study and exercise those tiny hand muscles.

Up next are temple projects! Fall is full of exciting activities!!

Mrs. Gordon