Constitution Day

On September 17, children across our country learn about the Constitution!  In first grade, we took the Preamble and learned what our nation's leaders wanted our new country to be like.  We decided that the words they used described something big, like a whole country!  We then thought of ways we could change the words to be about a smaller group - the Harlan First Graders!  Here is what we came up with:

We also created our own flags! 

Happy Constitution Day!

Here Comes the Tooth Fairy!

Exciting news! Room 112 has lost its first tooth of the year!

We are growing up so fast!  :)

Specials Schedule for the Week of 9/14-9/18

Monday (A) - Music
Tuesday (B) - Media Center
Wednesday (C) - PE and Music
Thursday (D) - Art
Friday (A) - Music

Please remember to return library books on days we visit the media center and bring gym shoes on days we have PE.

A Peek into Our First Week!

We have had such an amazing first week of first grade!  We played lots of "getting to know you" games, reviewed the Harlan Habits of Respect, Responsibility and Kindness, and began to build our classroom community!  Here are a few of our favorite first week activities:

We discussed how everyone gets a little nervous now and then, and that being nervous can also be called having the jitters!  We read the book First Day Jitters to see how the main character felt on her first day of school.  The children loved it when, and the end, we find our that Sarah is actually the teacher and not one of the students!  To help with our first day jitters, we made our own jitter juice:

This included a mix of no-more-jitters, a magic potion and color-changing bubbles!

We all decided that not only did our Jitter Juice taste delicious, but it did the trick!  No one was nervous after taking a few sips!

At the end of our first day, we played with a special play dough called The Magic Mix!  This all-white dough came with a very special poem that explained its magic:

Magic Play Dough,

Oh so white,

I make this wish

with all my might!

If another color does appear,

its sure to be a GREAT school year!

After saying the magic words, we began squishing and mushing our dough.  Right before our eyes, our once white dough started changing colors!  It looks like everyone will have a great first grade year!

Not only did we have a blast in Room 112 this week, we also visited our specials classes (also known as Unified Arts or UA classes) for the first time this year!

Here we are on our first day of music with Mrs. Cooper

In our first visit to the media center with Mrs. Stayer

In PE with Mr. Price

And enjoying being creative in art with Mr. Fackler

Finally, in Reader's Workshop, we reviewed the different ways to read a book.  Each student was given a book mark to help them remember that books can be read by looking at the pictures, reading the words or retelling a familiar story.  As the children practiced using the skill they felt most comfortable with, they used the book mark to point out how they were choosing to read a book from our classroom library.

I can already tell that this is going to be a GREAT year!  

Specials Schedule for the Week of 9/7 - 9/11

Monday - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday (A) - Music
Wednesday (B) - Media Center
Thursday (C) - PE & Music
Friday (D) - Art

Available Sign Ups

Hello!

Please see the below list of sign ups for our classroom this year.  Additional lists will be added as needed for conferences and other activities.  If you are interested in any of the following, please feel free to sign up using the same account that was used for kindergarten conferences last year.

All of these sign ups will remain active throughout the year and can be found at anytime on our blog along the lefthand side.  If you are viewing the blog from a mobile device, please make sure you view it on "web version" to be able to see the sign ups.

Morning Managers
The duties of a Morning Manager are to assist Room 112 in getting our day started.  These duties may include helping with snow pants, coats and boots, collecting and returning library books, and going through homework folders to collect homework, notes and/or money.  Morning Managers complete their jobs from 8:45 - 9:00am.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4ba4a822a46-morning1

Fresh Fruit Fridays
Every Friday in Room 112 is Fresh Fruit Friday!  We are asking that any families who are interested to contribute a morning fruit snack for the whole class (22 students) on Fridays.  While we love classic fruits like strawberries, apples and grapes, we would love to try different fruits such as kiwi, mangoes and figs!  Fruit can be dropped off in the morning, or sent in with your child.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4ba4a822a46-fresh2

Mystery Readers
Any family members that are interested in becoming a mystery reader can choose from the following dates.  Mystery readers join us on Fridays and typically stay from 3:15-3:30pm.  Please check in with the office when you arrive and they will call our room to let us know you are here.  Please wait outside our room while I give clues as to your identity for the children to guess.  You are welcome to bring books from home, as well as borrow one from our school or classroom library.  Remember, please don't tell your children you are coming...it's a secret!  :)

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4ba4a822a46-mystery2

Welcome to Room 112!

Hello First Grade Families!

It was a pleasure meeting so many of you and your children yesterday!  I can already tell we are going to have an amazing year full of learning and adventures!  I also wanted to take this opportunity to go over some important reminders for the first week of school.

Please remember ...

• school begins at 8:44am on Tuesday, September 8
• the tardy bell will ring at 8:49am
• pack 2 peanut/tree nut free snacks separately from your child's lunch box
• our first PE class will be on Thursday, September 10 - please send gym shoes
• school dismissal is 3:50pm

If you have not already done so, please send in the completed dismissal and allergy forms to school on Tuesday.  If I have not received them by lunch, I will contact you to see how your child is going home the first day.

I am looking forward to the start of a great year!  Have a wonderful long weekend and I will see everyone on Tuesday!

Best Wishes, 

Mr. Kefgen