Arrival - PALS time

I try to get my kids on task right when they get in the door in the morning.

As soon as they unpack their homework I pair them up quickly with another student who has also just come in and they complete an oral phonics/fluency activity called PALS. I was trained on this by my district last year and I love it. I kind of tweaked it to fit my style but I really have seen results!

It basically requires one student to be the "pointer" and the other to be the "reader" once they have completed both sides they switch roles.

 I have student numbers in my classroom and I alternate between "higher number" days and "lower number" days so they figure out whose student number is higher/lower and that is who points first.

I walk around and monitor this for correct behavior (on task, sitting correctly etc.) alot at the beginning of the year, so hopefully by now I don't have to address so many behaviors. 

When partners finish reading they either move to independent reading/AR (higher readers) or read with me at the back table(strugglers).

You can check out the PALs website by clicking  HERE

DQ's

The second half of first grade is definitely my favorite:) I love seeing all the things they can do now and how independent they've become.

One of the things I add to my partner reading portion of my Reading Workshop are "Door Questions" (I call them that because every year I have the questions hanging on the bathroom door.)

After the partners finish reading their book they go to the door and talk about each question. I start with one question and gradually add one at a time.

 I sit nearby and act like I'm doing something else:) and listen and take notes about any strengths or difficulties.

I also use these same questions as jumping off points during my shared reading lessons with the whole group and my guided reading groups. I really am amazed at the student's abiltiy to read these questions and the higher level thinking and sense of community created between partners.

Grinch Word Problems Freebie

               

Here's a fun Smartboard activity to do with your kids. I took it a step further and introduced multiplication with this. To get this free at TPT click HERE .

Holiday Frenzy!

Well four more days and it is finally time to get some rest. I just finished my parent gifts that I do every year...If you live near palmetto trees and nice landscaping guys they are an inexpensive way to give a pretty neat gift.