Loving the fall air!

Here's a glimpse at another week in 1st grade!

PAJAMA (and crazy / mismatched socks!) Day!

 

Congratulations to our Star Student, Kiran!

 

Thanks Mrs. Talley for coming in for small groups!  Also, thank you to Mr. Jaje for coming in on Tuesday!  We were so busy with out activities that I forgot to take a picture.  :(

These are some of our students practicing their spelling words and recognizing proper nouns!  They are allowed to go to the white board area when they have completed all of their reading work. 

Thanks to Mr. Talley for coming in to read with us!

 

We've been working on our phonics skills by sound tracking.  The students LOVE this activity. 

 

 We start by me saying a word to the class.  For example, "run".  The students check their letters to see if their letter belongs in the word.  If yes, they come up to the front and form their word.  Then, I'll say "I have run.  Now I want 'ran'." and the student that's holding the sound that has changed sits down and the person holding the new sound takes his/her place.  It's an excellent way to learn sound and letter correlation!  It helps us with our spelling, too.

Our Fun Friday this week was SHOW AND TELL!  We were excited to share our treasures with the class.  :) 

We used several strategies to understand sums of 10.  We used pennies, a dice and this rainbow sheet.  The students used it to recognize which numbers added together equal 10.  We have a math test on Monday!

 

We've also been recognizing common and proper nouns.  Here is the chart I have in the classroom for students to use as a reference:

This upcoming week, we will be covering:

Math:  reading thermometer / non-standard linear measures / personal foot and standard foot

Science:  weather investigation / weather safety & public speaking / observe changes in water

Reading:  Junior Great Books week!  (The Mouse and The Wizard)

Writing:  informative / explanatory text

Week of Oct. 22

What will be covering this week:

Math: 
*  Introducing dimes
*  Counting dimes, nickels and pennies
*  Data and line plots
*  Domino addition

Reading:
*  Retelling a story (summarizing)
*  Proper nouns

Science:
*  Weather safety
*  Weather words
*  Weather patterns and scenarios

Writing:
*  Personal narrative

"HIGHWAY! U.S.A.!"

So... What were we up to this past week?  Here's some snapshots of our class!  

 

 

Thanks Mrs. Jaje for doing small groups with us!!

 We've started our unit on weather!  Here's us hard at work on our weather dictionaries.

We loooove learning about weather! 

 Thanks Mr. Randklev for reading to us!

... And Mrs. Gunter, too!

Mrs. Wamboldt helping us with our "Favorite Weather" mini-book!

Caden working hard on our dry-erase math sheets.

Some of our students receiving cool Boosterthon prizes!

Moe's Night for our class!  Yum...

Yay!!  The Boosterthon Fun Run is FINALLY here!  Go Ms. Chin's SUPERSTARS!

 ... The students EXHAUSTED after the Fun Run.  :)  

 Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!!  

- Ms. Chin  

Week of 10-15-12

Math:  Telling time to the half hour, frames and arrows, count up and back with a calculator
Reading:  Proper nouns, "a" sound, summarizing
Social Studies / Science:  Weather
Writing:  Informational

Week of September 24

Math:  Unit 2 review and test, word problems, even and odd number patterns

Reading:  Junior Great Books - The Black Hen's Egg

Writing:  Brainstorming, using a graphic organizer, writing a draft and a final copy about someone who takes care of them.  Editing symbols. 

Social Studies:  Discussing and comparing deserts, wetlands and mountains as well as the animals that live there

Links for the Classroom

www.ixl.com

http://hosted115.renlearn.com/51385
(AR Quizzes)

www.starfall.com

Week of September 17

Math:  Counting pennies and nickels, addition and subtraction number models, solving number stories

Reading:  Determining the main idea and details, identifying nouns

Social Studies:  Oceans, deserts

Writing:  Sequence of events

Homework

All first grade homework is assigned as follows:

Monday:  Math

Tuesday:  Phonics

Wednesday:  Math

Thursday:  Themed assignment

September 10 Week

Math:  Analog clocks and telling time to the hour, length (shortest to longest), pennies, nickels

Reading:  Predictions, non-fiction

Social Studies:  Mountains, wetlands, oceans

Writing:  Period, exclamation point or question mark, graphic organizers

Coming up on Week 5

I hope everyone has wonderful 3-day weekend!  I kept hearing all week from the students about their upcoming trips.  :)

Note:  Class pictures are now being uploaded to the class Shutterfly account.  It is easier to organize photos there and it keeps pictures of your children private since you need to be invited to join.  I uploaded a bunch today so please sign up and check them out!  :)  Please let me know if you did not receive an invite.

Here's what's coming up for WEEK 5:

Math:  Discussing how we use numbers in everyday life, complements of 10, calculators, analog clocks

Writing:  Graphic organizers, acrostic poems

Reading:  Continuing to make predictions, understand sequence of events, characters and settings as well as learning about question marks and exclamation points

SS:  Continuing landforms, water cycle, wetland animals

*These are tentative plans to give you an idea of what will be covered.  It is adjusted based on class needs. 

First Day Activities

Week of August 20

Welcome to Week 3!

We will be focusing on the following topics:

Social Studies:  Georgia, United States, compass rose, American symbols (the flag, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, The Great Seal, The White House, an Eagle, etc.)  *Test on Friday*

Math:  Calendar, introducing math materials, weather and temperature

Phonics:  Finishing poppers (p, b, t, d, ch, j, k, g) , beginning leakers (f, v, s, z, sh, zh, th, th)

Reading:  Predictions, sequence of events, characters and setting.  *Test over the story, "I Can! Can You?" on Friday*

Writing:  Using a graphic organizer to organize ideas

1st Grade in Rm 7!

Welcome to our classroom blog!

It is my goal that this website will be a useful resource to keep you updated on our classroom activities and provide answers to your questions.  I will be sharing what we have been learning, posting pictures from our class, listing the weekly homework assignments, and making classroom announcements.

Please check this blog regularly for updates!

Class Roster

Deem
Brooklyn
Kelsey Bailey
Kelsey Brock
Emir
Ariana
Vincent
Nicholas
Aiden
Sophia
Ethan
Austin
Payton
Makayla
Ellie
Yoshua
Dillon
Tosin
Gabriella
Betsi
Arleny
Dory
Reza
John Lawson
Oliver

Sight words

Help your child become a fluent reader! 

Below is a list of sight words that students should be able to read by the end of 

first grade.  Sight words are words that cannot be sounded out or are found 

frequently in reading passages.  When students are able to recognize these words 

quickly they become more fluent readers.

(Click on the image to see a larger version) 

SSEF

Overview & Mission

The Sarah Smith Education Foundation
Supporting Every Classroom and Every Child

Our Mission
The Sarah Smith Education Foundation is a not-for-profit fundraising organization supporting the school’s pursuit of excellence in education. The funds we raise enrich the learning environment available to every classroom and every child at Sarah Smith Elementary. The generosity of our supporters allows us to offer a curriculum not available at any other public elementary school in Atlanta.

Investing in Education
Ten years ago, our administration dreamed of Sarah Smith becoming the world-class school that it is today.  But in times of economic short falls, APS funding of curriculum is not always consistent. A gap existed between their vision and reality.  In 2005, the SSEF was founded to give our school the ability to raise funds to reach longer-term academic goals. Over the years, support of the SSEF has grown and our students are reaping the benefits.  With the generous support of our parents and community, in 2012-2013 the SSEF will spend just over $255,000 on curriculum and programs that make our school great.  Please take a moment and check out the Curriculum Narrative.  It is a comprehensive list of all programs that will receive funding in 2012-13.

Make Your Gift Today
Please help us to reach our goal, make your gift today!
Donate Here

I.B.

The I.B. Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.


The Learner Profiles 
Inquirers: They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
 
Knowledgeable: They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

Communicators: They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

Principled: They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

Open-minded: They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

Caring: They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Risk-takers: They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

Balanced: They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

Reflective: They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.          
First Grade IB units for the 2011-1012 School Year

Helping Others 
Central Idea:
Helping those in need helps in understanding our rights and responsibilities
as members of a community.

Key concepts: function, connection, responsibility, reflection

Related concepts: citizenship, relationships, interdependence

Lines of inquiry
•Volunteerism
•How positive actions contribute to a caring community
•How one’s actions affect others


My Country/My World
Central Idea:
Understanding cultures helps us to better understand the world.

Key concepts: form, connection, perspective

Related concepts: diversity, measurement, acceptance

Lines of inquiry
•Similarities/differences among countries
•How countries influence each other
•Elements of a culture


Heroes
Central Idea:
Individuals, past and present, influence culture.

Key concepts: change, connection, perspective

Related concepts: pattern and function, magnetism, acceptance

Lines of inquiry
•Character traits of American heroes
•Lifestyles of past and present
•Why individual contributions can withstand the test of time.


Weather All Around 
Central Idea:
Weather affects people’s lives.

Key concepts: form, change, causation

Related concepts: data handling, atmosphere, time

Lines of inquiry
•What is weather
•Instruments that measure weather
•Seasonal differences in weather 


Working Together
Central Idea:
People in a community cooperate in order to address the needs of daily life.

Key concepts: function, connection, responsibility

Related concepts: communication, cooperation, number sense

Lines of inquiry
•The meaning of division of labor
•The purpose of dividing labor
•Respectful membership in a community
•Comparison of division of labor a home and at school


Animal Survival 
Central Idea:
Animal groups have characteristics that lead to their survival.

Key concepts: form, function, causation, connection

Related concepts: conservation, habitat, shape and space

Lines of inquiry
•Physical characteristics of animals
•Animal classifications
•How animals adapt to their environment




Visit I.B.'s website at www.ibo.org

FAQ

Wishlist

Quart-size zip lock bags

Scotch tape (just the roll of tape without the dispenser)

Crayola crayons

Gift card to Lakeshore Learning   :)  

Classroom Procedures

Our school day starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m.  Please plan accordingly.

Due to our early lunch, we have snack time every day at 12:40 p.m.  Please send a daily nutritious snack with your child. 

We love celebrating birthdays!  You are welcome to bring a special birthday treat for the class to enjoy.   No candles, please.  Any birthday treats will be shared at 1:50 p.m. to avoid an interruption to our instructional schedule.  Birthday party invitations may also be handed out as long as EVERY child receives one.  We do not want any kids to feel left out! 

Your child will have homework Monday through Thursday.  Homework will consist of work that reinforces the skills taught at school in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies or Science.  Some of it may require your help, but most homework will be something your child can complete independently.  Homework needs to be turned in the following day.  I will not assign grades to this work but I will record that it was completed and turned in on time. Every three weeks we will complete a Junior Great Book story so there will be additional reading assigned. Reading for at least ten minutes every night and practicing basic math facts is also an expectation in our classroom to benefit your child.  Thank you for helping your child with this responsibility.

You will receive progress reports on Friday every two weeks.  These reports will give you a general idea of things your child needs to work on at home, as well as let you know the areas in which your child is excelling.  This will also include any necessary notes to be reviewed and signed by you.  Please sign and return this weekly report form on Monday. 

Class Schedule

About The Teacher

Hello!  My name is Jeannie Chin and I would like to welcome you to first grade at Sarah Smith Elementary.  I am THRILLED to have your child in my class. We will be learning a LOT and I have so many fun and exciting things planned for this year!

I received my bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and my masters degree in elementary education from Niagara University in New York.  I am certified to teach Pre-K through 8th grade in both New York and Georgia.  Before attending graduate school, I spent time teaching English to adults overseas.  I absolutely LOVE teaching.  I can’t imagine pursuing any other career.  I am very excited about teaching first grade here at Sarah Smith!

I look forward to working with you and your child.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.  I can be reached at jchin@atlanta.k12.ga.us or you may leave me a message with the school and I will return your call as soon as I can.  (404.802.3850)

Thank you for your support!

- Ms. Chin

Some of my favorite things:

TRAVELING, my family and friends, teal, peanut buttery chocolate and dark chocolate, children's books, trying new things and the television show "Friends" (I have the whole season!) .

(St. Malo, France)