Love Week One with its BACK TO SCHOOL theme. Four delightful stories are used: First Day Hooray by Nancy Poydor, Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London, A Letter From Your Teacher by Shannon Olsen, and There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books by Lucille Colandro. Each day includes complete lesson plans, a welcome activity (to work on while waiting for everyone to arrive and get started) story for guided reading, vocabulary, anchor charts, comprehension activities, word work, writing, themed (week one back to school) activity or craft, math games (related to skills learning in math). Many of the pages offered are differentiated to meet the needs of different academic levels. Everything you need for the day will be included in the resource but the story itself. They can be found in the library or purchased and you can begin your classroom library. Each week will have 4 stories leaving day 5 for catch up, make up or your own idea. So let’s get started taking a PEEK!
Day One focuses on Nancy Poyder’s story First Grade Hooray. I like this because it talks about all the school helpers and on the first day provides an opportunity for students to see who all and where all these school helpers are. During Guided Reading students will talk about the title and characters in the story. The activity will be a Scavenger Hunt to find the various school helpers and their location. Ivy will take the students on a hunt around the school by giving clues. Students will also talk about how everyone in the story felt. (emotions) They were nervous, excited and sad. Students will do some data collecting here discovering how others felt and for younger students a picture (selfie). Word work includes the options of making words or ABC order. Comprehension also includes Whose Worry? and matching it to the characters on the chart. Writing includes an adorable interactive book about their first day. The lesson plans will provide step by step instructions and a suggested order for engaging student.
Day Two focuses on Jonathan London’s Froggy Goes to School. I like this story because it provides an opportunity to share how we get to school our names AND activities with All About Me. During Guided Reading students will talk about the title and characters in the story. In the story Froggy rides the bus to school. Students will share how they get to school and again do some data collection on how others get to school. For younger students there is a How We Go activity. Students will also talk about what Froggy loved…His Name Tag. Younger students will practice writing their names while others will focus on story elements. Word work includes vocabulary for posting and ABC order and Syllables. Other choices are available.e Comprehension also includes recalling in the story, Froggy had trouble staying in his seat and not talking. What is a rule in you class? Writing includes an All About Me poster with one made that Froggy did for you to share. And look at the adorable craft. Froggy in all his glory. I give suggestions in the plans for younger to more independent students.
Onto Day Three with A Letter From Your Teacher by Shannon Olsen. This story includes introducing morning greetings. All labels are ready for you to post and what fun you will have demonstrating these greetings with your class. Suggestions are given in the lesson plans. The story is perfect for Text to Self and there is a perfect All About Me Poster for you to hang on students lockers. Word work includes vocabulary and two choices of activities. Writing of course includes a Letter to YOUR Teacher. There are graphic organizers for pre writes and then a form letter for students to write. There is also an activity for younger student to share with their teacher. In the story it says that your teacher is anxious to listen to your EXCITING NEWS. Suggestions are given on how to set this up for the year.
And we end the week with There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books by Lucille Colandro. I love this story because it is a perfect opportunity to share “what is fiction“. Students will spend the day reading, retelling, sequencing and writing about school supplies. They will have an opportunity to make an adorable backpack with supplies in it. There is also a supply replacement list for you. Activities for laminating and placing in a center or on a felt board are provided.
Are you ready for Week Two with Rules and Safety?
