Daily Five Literacy Time!

As growing readers and writers in first grade, there are many different literacy components that students engage in during the reading/writing block of our day.  Our literacy time is based off of the Daily Five philosophy, which promotes choice and independence during reading and writing activities.  We believe this philosophy develops greater student engagement and meaningful reading/writing activities for the students.  Each day, the first grade students have the opportunity to choose between five categories that will promote what he/she is learning within the classroom.  These categories are Word Work, Read to Self, Work on Writing, Read to Someone and Listen to Reading.  Students work on 3 of these categories when they are not meeting in a small group.

Read to Self in action!

Making Words in Word Work!

 Small Group time with our instructional leveled books!

Read to Someone!

Apple Baking!

Since our apple orchard visit a couple of weeks ago, the first graders were able to use their harvested apples to create a yummy apple treat.  Our classes worked together to peel apples and add the necessary ingredients for a scrumptious baked apple crisp.  Of course this yummy food was served warm and a la mode!  Ask your little one what he/she thought of this dessert.

FFA Visitors!

Earlier this week, the Wellman Elementary First Graders enjoyed a special visit from some high school FFA representatives.  The FFA program stands for Future Farmers of America and promotes education about agriculture in our world and the growing process of these plants.  Since we are now in the season of fall, the FFA students focused activities on the life cycle of a pumpkin.  Students enjoyed hearing a pumpkin story, sharing descriptive pumpkin words, making a pumpkin bookmark and sequencing the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Apple Orchard

First grade got to enjoy the warm fall weather, Thursday afternoon exploring Wilson's Apple Orchard! Despite the bees, it was a great time. There is nothing quite like a ride on "Bessie" the famous tractor, with a group of 6 and 7 year olds. If you want to find joy...you will find it here!

We also enjoyed some apple tasting while visiting the orchard! We learned that you can't tell what an apple will taste like by looks alone.

We've Got Spirit!!

Our first grade friends have enjoyed the excitement of Mid-Prairie's homecoming week! On Monday we sported our red, white and blue. And Tuesday we were thrilled to take part in Dot Day! A whole day devoted to creativity and celebrating the things that make us each unique! The first graders below are working to design their own dots which were used to make the school wide dot collage below. We even enjoyed some mini dots for out afternoon snack on this fun day!

Many proud first graders wore our class color, blue, on Wednesday. Pajama day is ALWAYS a hit with the first grade crowd! Who doesn't love staying comfy and cozy all day long:) Friday we were ready to cheer on our favorite team, the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks in our black and gold!

GO HAWKS!

Introducing Zero the Hero!!

We would like to introduce a new face to our first grade families....our number loving friend known as 'Zero the Hero'.  Zero the Hero shows up on every 'zero' day of school as we count our way to 100! Each time Zero the Hero arrives he will drop off a special note along with a 'zero' treat.  Here are a few happy smiles caught in the classrooms when he arrived!

Our 'One of a Kind' Firsties!

During our first week and a half of first grade, the Wellman Elementary 1st graders have focused a lot of attention on how each of us is a 'one of a kind' and special for many reasons.  To help guide our discussion in this area we enjoyed the story of Elmer, written by David McKee.  In this story a kind, patchwork colored elephant does not want to 'stand' out from the others with his multiple colors and works hard to try to turn himself the color of gray like the other elephants.  However, through his learning journey he discovers how wonderful it is to be cherished and appreciated for his unique qualities just like each first grader.  Below are the first graders' patchwork elephants, reminding us of how special and unique we each are.