PB10for10

Today's the day...PB10for10!  This is my first time participating in this event but I have read numerous posts in previous years so I thought why not give it a try!  So without farther ado here I go.

 

Shortcut by Donald Crews

This book is wonderful as he tells the story of walking on the railroad tracks home.  I love how the illustrations change from day to dusk to evening.  

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Kathryn Brown

In this story, an old woman finally befriends a dog after thinking he was gone for good.  This story is so touching.

The Library by Sarah Stewart Illustrated by David Small

Who doesn't want their house to be covered in books and the ending is perfect!

The Reader by Amy Hest Illustrated by Lauren Castillo

A winter day made perfect with a secret in the suitcase!  

My Mouth Is A Volcano! by Julia Cook Illustrated by Carrie Hartman

Hilarious book about saying anything and everything that pops into your mind at any moment...even if the moment is not right.  I can still hear my students saying "You're being a volcano!"

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills

Rocket was a favorite character in my first grade classroom last year.  My students fell in love with Rocket and Rocket became our class mascot.

Patches Lost and Found by Steven Kroll Illustrated by Barry Gott

A wonderful story about a girl who has nothing to write about or at least she thinks so.  My students really enjoyed her version of how her pet was lost and then found.

My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems

My class loved Elephant and Piggie.  When I shared this book, a few students were worried that their friendship was over.  After reading, we discussed how people can have many friends.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

I love the illustrations in this book and thinking about what the animals under our feet are doing and thinking.  

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White Illustrated by Megan Lloyd

In this story, Rebecca Estella hates pumpkins until she discovers that pumpkins can bring good things.  I have this story on tape (yup, cassette tape) from Scholastic.  I love the music in the background, the pumpkins carved and lined up to welcome the community to her farm.  It would not be fall without reading this book.

I hope I have given you a glance at some new to you books or made you think about some books that perhaps you "forgot" about on your shelf.  Thank you Cathy Mere and Many Robek for hosting and for the warm welcome!

Happy Book Loving!

Kathy

Gearing Up For #PB10for10

I will be trying my hand at something new on August 10th.  I will be joining @CathyMere and @MandyRobek for the picture book 10 for 10 celebration.  Now to narrow my choices to 10!

Snow Time Play

Friday marked not only the end of the week which was filled with 2 snow days and a 2 hour delayed start it also marked the end of the month of January.  Due to weather, we haven't had a full week of school since winter break.

To celebrate our January time together and as part of our school-wide positive reward, we went outside to play in the fresh snow.  The kiddos immediately made a bee-line for the playground equipment. Snow angels, foot prints with toes pointing in and toes pointing out marked the playground along with snow bathtubs (a hole in the snow big enough to take a bath inside).

Our squeals of delight will echo right into February.  

Dilemma

This week was to be the week of DIBELS in my first grade classroom.  Well someone needed to tell Mother Nature!  Two snow days later we are finally back to school after 5 days off  - including Friday inservice as well as the weekend.  I am lucky to have a part-time instructional aide who has been trained (in many sessions) to administer this assessment.  We are a great team together and I trust her to complete these assessments without me.  Truth be told, she is much better at doing them.

So what is the dilemma?  I just want my kids on the carpet with me, out reading from their book boxes, writing, doing Pop Se Koo with GoNoodle, riddling through math, exploring Ezra Jack Keats' character Peter and hearing/seeing that 4 of my students lost teeth during this snow break!

This morning a little girl with the thickest hair you ever did see came up to me and said, "Mrs. Wert, do you know I missed you so much I thought about calling you just to hear your voice?"  And another sweet pea just went on and on about how much she was looking forward to readers workshop because she needed to see her book from her book box!   And once that time came, one boy curled up on a large brown pillow, opened Clifford, read a few pages and started giggling...yes, giggling about the actions of Clifford and his faith owner Emily Elizabeth.  DIBELS...I thought...what DIBELS?

Later in the day, we settled into our author study time to revisit Ezra Jack Keats.  Cheers went up as the kiddos discovered that Archie from Goggles is in the book Hi, Cat and again later when they realized the Roberto from Dreams brings his mouse to the pet show as we examined Keats' Pet Show.  The kids are asking great questions and making wonderful connections between Keats' books.  DIBELS...I thought...what DIBELS?

Well, Wednesday came and went.  Thursday will soon be on the door step and we have only 3 kiddos completed with this go around of DIBELS.  I will take this dilemma because on Friday we celebrate our January with a snow time play...and my students have already chatted about how they will find something just right for smacking that snow covered tree on the playground!

Until the next time,
Kathy

Meet The Students

Meet the Teacher

Monday evening I had the pleasure of meeting 14 of my students and their families. Although my interactions with each student were only a few minutes in length, I learned so much about the students who will be learning with me this year.  

Each student created his/her own locker label and then selected said locker area.  A few students were amazed they could make the choice.

"You mean I get to decide where my locker will be Mrs. Wert?"

"I get to write my name on my label with a sharpie marker!  You know that's permanent."

"That's so cool...I am telling grandma about this one."

There were a few other items that students and parents took care of as well but each student ended their visit by choosing a book to take home.  Again, many students were excited to make the select on their own.

"I love Curious George and don't have this one."

"Hey...I read this one in kindergarten and I want to own it."

In the short amount of time I had with each student, I learned they carve choice, love books and can name some favorite characters, who lost some teeth already, a few who want to write like my students last year (they remember coming for a writing celebration) as well as who has a pet at home or a younger sibling.  They may have met the teacher but I certainly met the students!  

Kathy

Starting Anew

Year nine in first grade (20th year overall) kicks off on Monday the 25th with Meet the Teacher evening.  This year my school district is going 1:1.  I now have 21 iPad minis waiting but more importantly I have 21 sweet first graders coming soon.  So with my 20 years of teaching experience, I am starting anew with the nervousness and excitement of a brand new teacher.  My goals...

* implement student digital portfolios

*blog once a week

So it's time to get this year started anew.  Here's to a great year!

Kathy