Open House (1st Grade)

I've always had a love for Open House and the excitement that it brings.  This year was extra special for me.  Can you believe that I've never done my own Open House?!  In my first few years of teaching, my schools in DSUSD didn't do an Open House.  And as a long-term substitute, the Open House that I "hosted" was mostly done by the actual teacher.  This was my first time planning the activities, and arranging the classroom the way I wanted. 

 Here is a panoramic shot of the whole classroom.  I hung student work on every inch of the classroom!

Fact Family Jellyfish and Dr. Seuss art hung from the ceiling.  Our Fraction Robots hung on the window blinds.  On the left Math wall, I displayed a project the students did on Google Slides.  Each desk has students' Timeline project and a folder with their work.

I hung plastic table cloths to make a smooth surface over the cabinets.  The students' Symmetrical Portrait was a family favorite.  I also hung a shape project students did on Google Slides.  The right cabinets have students' final writing piece for our Opinion Writing unit.

The ELA wall is where our anchor charts usually hang.  Last minute, I needed a small activity to fill the space.  Students wrote about why school "rocks" and showed off their best dance move!

The Shape Monsters were a fun project to wrap up our shape unit.  Students created their own monster and then wrote about its' attributes.  Last, they recorded a FlipGrid video where they showed their Shape Monster and read their writing.  The QR code on the wall took parents to the FlipGrid videos!

These were projects from our Architect STEAM project.  We researched famous structures around the world and students worked in groups to build models of them!

Plants PBL (1st Grade)

Our school requires 3 PBL's each year, 1 in each trimester, and we did a plant PBL for the 2nd trimester.  The Essential Question was about parent vegetables and their similarities/differences with the offspring vegetable.  Each group had their own bell pepper seeds that they planted.  After the seeds started sprouting, we transferred them into bigger pots.  We studied bell peppers, planted the seeds, and tended to the plants until they sprouted into new vegetables that we could study and compare to the parents.

 

Throughout the trimester, we studied plants through various experiments.  In the picture below, we planted Lima Beans and were able to watch the process of the beans sprouting through the "greenhouse" sandwich bags.

We also incorporated Writing and Math into our Plant PBL.  Students did an opinion piece about their favorite vegetable.  Students also collaborated with their groups to create a vegetable garden.   They were given a garden space and had to figure out where they could 6 tomato seeds, with 6 inches of growing space.  They used the tables to sketch out their plants, then transferred their design to a poster.

  

This was one of my favorite PBL's because the students were so engaged throughout the entire project.  Students were so curious and really learned to worked together (we had a few lessons about taking turns and how to be a good teammate).  And it was cute to see students take ownership of our class plant; making daily observations and taking turns watering it at recess!

Storms Research Projects (1st Grade)

To wrap up our weather unit, we did a research project that studied the different types of storms.  Students worked in groups of 3-4 students to gather information about their assigned part. Each student was assigned a specific question; what causes a storm, where do they happen, etc.  They typed their findings into a matrix via Google Classroom.

I differentiated by providing different research materials.  For my students who needed extra support, I gave them an outline that listed facts for each part, so they could research in simpler terms.  For my students who needed a challenge, I gave them online articles and informational texts, so they could research their part on their own.

After students completed their part of the matrix, they presented their research via FlipGrid.  Each group recorded a video where they read their research.  At Open House, parents read students' research (the completed matrix) and scanned QR codes to watch their child's presentation video.

Scoot! Review Game (2nd Grade)

We played "Scoot!" today to review place value and I have to say, it made for an excellent review game!  Students created and wrote a problem on their whiteboard before they "scooted" around the room.  The game is similar to "Musical Chairs."  When the music stopped, students sat at the closest desk and solved the problem on their recording sheet.

The whole review game only took about 10 minutes and students got lots of practice- 20 problems!  They also had the opportunity to create and solve their own problem.  This was fun because they tried to create challenging problems in an effort to trick their classmates! The recording sheet consisted of 20 blank boxes, which is great because it can be used for any subject.  I loved this review game and will definitely use it again!

Silly Sentences (2nd Grade)

We had so much fun practicing our Grammar skills and creating Silly Sentences!  Each student got an index card with a subject or predicate and had to find a partner that made the sentence complete.  Then, they worked together to write the complete sentence, underline the subject and box the predicate.  The fun part came when they illustrated their Silly Sentence!

Students worked in pairs, all over the classroom.  I loved hearing the conversations and ideas as they discussed how to add details to their pictures!  My favorite Silly Sentence was, "The green alien built a snowman!"

Do Unto OTTERS (2nd Grade)

Today, we learned about Respect and practiced the Golden Rule!  We have doing a lot of Read-Alouds with fun activities to teach students about the classroom routines and my expectations.  Today, we read the cutest story, "Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners." We brainstormed how we wanted others to treat us and did an Otter Directed Draw.  Students captioned their picture using the sentence frame, "I would like otters to ____."

Always remember, treat OTTERS the way you want to be treated!

NGSS Science Unit

I have to tell you about a wonderful new Teachers Pay Teachers store!  My sister, Miss Alison is an amazing teacher, in her 7th year of teaching Kindergarten.  Her teaching philosophy is all about providing students with hands-on exploration and meaningful learning experiences.  I loved working in her classroom because she is so passionate about teaching and really instills the love of learning and curiosity in her students.

She created engaging activities aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards!  The units can be used alone or along with the Mystery Science curriculum.  I've used two bundles in my classroom but she has a few; Plants and Animals,  Forces and Motion, and Living and Nonliving (freebie!).

I love these units!  They include daily lessons which made planning super easy.  There are also lists of suggested books and videos, so if you wanted supplemental activities (those who have the luxury of lots of Science time!), you don't have to waste time looking for other resources.

One of my favorite things about these units are the vocabulary cards!  First off, the clipart is adorable and consistent throughout the unit, so knowledge is easily transferred from instruction to independent work.  Second, the posters are simple, perfect for the little Kinder minds!  I hate when posters and anchor charts have too much information, it can be so overwhelming.  These posters are great for instruction and for students to refer to after the lesson.

I have worked with the Kindergarten classes at Alison's school and actually seen this unit used in the classrooms.  Students loved the Science block and I loved seeing students so engaged and using academic language.  Lessons are easily prepped, activities are engaging, and the units cover all the standards.  What more could a teacher ask for?!


Check out her new TPT store by clicking here!  Be sure to follow her and check back often because she is adding more science units!  Did I mention they're all aligned with NGSS?!  

Jumpstart Kindergarten

We're having lots of fun in our Jumpstart Kindergarten class!  Students are introduced to letters and numbers and each day we do an art project.  Students also practice handwriting, learn phonics skills, and explore early mathematical concepts.  Each morning we practice handwriting by tracing our name and alphabet letters.  It's wonderful to see the progress students make in such a short time!

One of the most important things students learn in this summer course, is the rules and structure of a classroom environment.  Students build social skills and learn behavior expectations.  Many students have never been in a structured classroom and the Jumpstart Kindergarten course is a great way for students to have some exposure so they are ready for Kindergarten success!

We learned the letter A on the first day and did tear-art to make an apple.  I love doing these daily art projects because students are able to practice their fine motor skills and listening to directions.  Students also learn to use scissors and glue sticks (their future Kindergarten teachers will thank me!).

SEA Round 3

I'm thrilled to be a part of IPSF's Summer Enrichment Academy again!  The SEA is such an amazing program, especially for the incoming Kindergarteners who are new to the school setting.  I'll be teaching the "Jumpstart Kindergarten" classes in both sessions.

I seem to always find opportunities in Kindergarten!  I would love to work with other grades but I'm thankful that this busy summer (and this past school year) is with content and grade-level skills that I am so familiar with.  I've loved teaching Kindergarten and have truly learned so much!

Zones of Regulation

Have you heard of the Zones of Regulation curriculum?!  It was developed to teach students to regulate their actions.  Students learn to manage their emotions by categorizing their feelings into the four zones and improving their ability to solve conflicts.  It was suggested in our Student Shadowing Professional Development, as a way for teachers to check in with students' emotions.

Teachers explained the observed pattern of students 'falling through the cracks' and not getting the support needed because they are not students with major behavior issues.  These students meet grade-level expectations and are not referred to intervention programs, but are not interacting with other students or communicating their struggles.  The Zones of Regulation tools can be used throughout the day.  Students learn to become conscious of their emotions and teachers learn about their students' feelings.  It's a win-win!  

This is one way to use the curriculum, students place their stick in the appropriate zone.  Students identify their zone when they come into the classroom each morning and can change zones as their feelings change.  It's a great way for students to feel validated and teachers to check in and connect with students.  For example, a student may not come in and discuss their stressful morning without being prompted.  But when they identify their zone, the teacher can quickly check the zones and follow up with those students; "I noticed that you started the day in the blue zone, how's your day going?"  Teachers can easily identify and support students who may be overshadowed by students with behavior issues. 

At my school site, there is a break area for students to take a break and get themselves back to the green zone.  Students are becoming aware of their emotions and learning to solve problems independently!

I loved learning about the different zones and can't wait to implement this in my classroom!

Magnetic Board

I absolutely love this magnetic board I saw in a TK classroom!  I had to take pictures, it's so genius!  The teacher had lots of different manipulatives and had everything organized so well.  There were 2 magnet areas for students to build and explore.  A picture on the right reminded students how to clean up the area.

 

 Students could build words, unifix cubes, or interlocking gears.

All the bins were labeled with pictures to help students put all the pieces away properly!

The pipes were my favorite!  All the pieces had magnets on the back of them.  Students used the pipes and connecting pieces to build a tunnel, then they dropped a marble to travel through.  Students were working together to build little marble mazes, so fun watching them collaborate and problem-solve!







Talk about STEAM learning!  I would love to have an exploration area like this in my classroom!

New Email

I have a new email!
Please email me at MissRachelRoss11@gmail.com or RachelRoss@iusd.org.

Summer Enrichment Academy

I taught "Fly Into First" in the first session.  I had a small group of 7 students which was great because I had a lot of time to work one-on-one with some students.  Before the session began, I met with a friend who taught first grade.  We discussed daily routines and skills students would learn in first grade.  Each day in the SEA, I did lessons to introduce students to new skills so students would have a head start in the new school year.  With such a small group, we had lots of opportunities to share work and partner talk.  We had so much fun playing math games, and practicing numbers, writing and high-frequency words!

I taught "Jumpstart Kindergarten" in the second session.  This is a great opportunity for students to be introduced to the school setting before the school year starts.  I had an amazing Instructional Assistant who knew most of the students from the first session of "Kinderfun."  Each day, we introduced alphabet letters and numbers.  We practiced writing our names and learned to use scissors and glue.  We did fun activities with bubbles and chalk so students could practice social skills too.  It was really cool to see how much students learned in the short summer session!  I'm so excited for these students to start Kindergarten!