Friendly Measurements

Today we discussed measurement.  The students had fun using cubes, links, and rulers to measure their friends.
Math Standard:
Measurement & Data
Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units.

1. Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.

Measuring with a partner using nonstandard and standard units

Measurement doesn't always mean accuracy

Chinese Acrobats

On Tuesday, December 9th, the Bureau of Lecture's Chinese Acrobat group performed for our school.  Students watched in amazement as the acrobats showcased their athleticism, skill sets, and Chinese culture.  Thank you Enrichment Committee for bringing this to our school.  It was awesome!

Students enjoyed the balance techniques and props

Balancing a rice bucket

Homework Assignment

Homework:  Please respond to the question below. Read my sticky note and follow the directions.

Created with Padlet

Common Core:

Speaking & Listening
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

5. Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Corresponding College and Career Readiness (CCR) Anchor Standard

5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
Note on range and c

Matt Tavares visits Steward School

Today author/illustrator Matt Tavares visited Steward.  With over 15 books published, Matt took the kids through the writing process of writing and illustrating children's books.  Thank you TESPTO for making Matt's appearance at Steward possible.  My students loved the presentation.

Matt reading Mudball

Sketching a first grader, Matt shows the kids a quick "how-to" in drawing people.

Speaking & Listening

Comprehension and Collaboration

2. Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Meet the Interns

Miss S is getting her Master's in Reading

Meet our interns, Miss S and Miss A! These two lovely ladies help in the day to day prep work and assist in many activities such as math and story problem solving.  I am so lucky to have the extra support in the classroom.  The students are fortunate to have three teachers eager to help them. The interns have been working with students on addition and subtraction equations, one of our Common Core Standards.

Operations & Algebraic Thinking

Work with addition and subtraction equations.

7. Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false. For example, which of the following equations are true and which are false? 6 = 6, 7 = 8 – 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2.

Miss A is studying Early Childhood Education

  

Halloween Parade and Party

October was Spooktacular!  The Halloween party was a huge success!  One of our favorite books that we read several times was There Was An Old Lady Who Not Afraid of Anything.  This term we are learning to retell stories and identify the main characters of fictional stories. Essential Questions to ask your child after listening to the story:

• Who was the main character?
• Where does the setting take place?
• What were some of the items the Old Lady ran into?

Check out the easel in the picture below.  We are consistently sharing the pen and retelling stories.

Yummy fruit treats

An All-Star Football Player

                  I want to thank all the parents for preparing  tricks and  delicious treats!

Magicians, Flappers, Heroes, and Football Players

Look Whoo's Listening

October is here...We're hooting for good listeners! 

In the fall, listening skills are taught multiple times and in multiple ways.  After reading Lacy Walker Non-Stop Talker, the students had a class meeting to discuss the story.  

Our chart of response

After reading the story, the students made owls and wrote ways to be a good listener.  

Student work

I made a RAZ-Kids page!  It's an easy way to access the site!  Check it out!

Daily 5

Rise and Shine!  When the students come in, their morning work folders come out.  At this time, the students are working on the calendar concepts of: date, days of the week, and number recognition.  The kids love using the plastic sleeves and dry-erase markers to highlight what they know.

Student Work

In First Grade, our team uses “The Daily 5” during our Reading Block. The Daily 5 was developed by the 'Two Sisters' - Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.  It encompasses five literacy tasks which students complete daily while the teacher meets with small groups or confers with individuals.  I am proud to say that we are in our second year of implementation of the program.  Last year, we thought initially that The Daily 5 would be a wonderful management system, but we were in awe over the stamina, independence, and love of reading that was naturally occurring in our rooms.  In November, we will be welcoming parents to volunteer during our Reading Blocks to see it in action.  Be sure to ask your child which Daily Five activity he/she enjoys the most.

Listen to Reading

Work on Writing

Word Work

Read to Someone

Poem that we use for Read to Each Other

Fall Features

It was a pleasure meeting with all of you at Parent Seminar!  I truly look forward to working with you and your child this year.  This picture is our Pajama Day taken last Friday.  As a reward for filling the popcorn reward jar, the class earned a PJ Day!

Our Crazy Faces

 Classroom Reading Center Volunteers will begin November 1^st.  I will post a tentative schedule in mid-October.

Be sure to check out the Specialist Page located at the top of the blog.

 We will be having a Halloween Parade and party to follow on October 30^th at 2pm. 

   

This October the kids will be learning about the 6+1 Writing Trait of Ideas.  Look at the link below to see a spotlight on a writing feature.  

Meet Mrs. Truhart

Meet THE Teacher

 

 

​Hi! My name is Mrs. Truhart and I am going to be your first grade teacher!  This will be my seventh year teaching at Steward School but my thirteenth year teaching first grade. I love first grade and all the exploring, learning, and fun we get to have!

​I have a master’s degree in Elementary Education and I love to teach reading!  I could teach it all day!  I can’t wait to help you become a better reader and expose you to lots of new reading adventures.

I grew up in New York.  I love to go home and visit often.  I met my husband in college.  I have two pets: a fish and a yellow lab. I’ve lived many places and plan to travel to many more!  

This summer, I have been spending lots of timetraining my puppy Abbey Clover.  She has more energy than a room full of first graders!

I can’t wait to spend the next year learning and growing with you!

My Favorites

 

Food: Mashed potatoes

Movie: Polar

Express

Book Author: Elin Hilderbrand

Color: Hot Pink

Drink: Lemonade

Season: Summer​​​​​

Sports: Red Sox

Fast Food: Panera Bread Bakery

Animal: Giraffes

Hobbies: Sailing, skiing, and snowmobiling

 

 

​ There are a few things that I would like you to bring to school with you on the first day of school, so I have put them in order of priority for you:

Things to Bring

 

 

•

Supplies – The supply list can be found online atwww.topsfieldschools.org Please note that most supplies that you bring in will be pooled and used as community supplies for the classroom.

 

•

Family Photo - I know that going to a new classroom with a new teacher can sometimes make students feel nervous. I want all of the first graders in Room 301 to be excited to start school.  Please be sure to bring one family photo (parents, grandparents, siblings, pets, etc.) to school with you. I will be hanging the pictures up in the classroom.

 

•

Collage Materials – Within the first week or two of school, our class will be personalizing our writing notebooks with pictures and words of things that are important to us. Please gather materials such as personal photos, magazine clippings, words and/or letters to be used on your notebook.  

 

Enjoy the rest of your summer and I’ll see you soon!

 

Love,

Mrs. Truhart

My husband and Abbey boating

 

​

                                                 

Sailing Through First Grade 2013-2014

Enjoy all the wonderful moments of First Grade.  We have learned a lot from each other.    

Welcome to First Grade

 

 

 

Mrs. Truhart's First Grade Classroom

 

Take a tour of our classroom.  We are excited to share all the things that make Mrs. Truhart's room special.  Click on the link above as parts of our room come to life.

Pill bugs!

Salamanders...woodland critters

The terrarium

Looking at the underside of a millipede

Millipedes!

Lobster talk with Andy!

The Daily Five in our room