#1stchat Archive

Weekly chat for excited 1st grade teachers who love to learn and share ideas. Participants are interested in a variety of topics including literacy, math, technology, play, inquiry, and being the best educators they can be!

Sunday August 5, 2018
8:00 PM EDT

  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:00 PM EDT
    Hey #1stchat! Time for our chat!! Please introduce yourself and where you are from. I am Amy from Iowa. I have a few weeks left until school starts.
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:00 PM EDT
    Happy Sunday! It's time for our #1stchat book study. I'm Val from Michigan. Happy to have Amy @hawkeye_teach24 moderating tonight's book chat for the last 3 chapters of Empower.
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    Melissa from MN. We do not start until after Labor Day, but I start with various trainings this week. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    I'm so excited to be moderating tonight. We will be using the Q1, Q2... A1,A2... Format this evening #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:03 PM EDT
    Hi Melissa, glad you are here! Our students start after Labor Day, too. #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:03 PM EDT
    Melissa so glad to have you here. You start trainings this week? Wow! We have a meeting the 15th but only because I am on two different committees all teachers start the 20. #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17
  • MrLee1stGrade Aug 5 @ 8:04 PM EDT
    Happy to be joining in on the chat tonight. Going into my 3rd year teaching 1st grade in Minnesota. #1stchat
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    I am responsible for some district technology, otherwise I would not start for a few weeks. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    Good to see you. Happy you're joining us tonight! #1stchat
    In reply to @MrLee1stGrade
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    Happy Sunday!! So glad to have you here. #1stchat
    In reply to @MrLee1stGrade
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:08 PM EDT
    Question 1 #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:08 PM EDT
    Q1 is on deck! #1stchat
  • FirstAtBat Aug 5 @ 8:09 PM EDT
    Hi all, back to school brain in full gear. A little late! Terry in Fl here. Hi #1stchat friends
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:09 PM EDT
    Hi Terry! Glad you are here! #1stchat
    In reply to @FirstAtBat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    A1: I was really thinking how writing would be a place I like to implement an adjustable system with some marker style in it #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    A1 I think an adjustable system would include self-selecting reading spots. My students have opportunity to read in various areas of the classroom that best suits their needs as readers. #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    Hi Terry, happy to see you. Hope you had an awesome first week of school! #1stchat
    In reply to @FirstAtBat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    I like this idea and use it often. I was wondering if I could expand it to guided reading in anyway while I was reading. #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    I have students work in the classroom where they think they learn best. I set up expectations early. I would like to gove more choices for math.#1stchat
  • FirstAtBat Aug 5 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    I have had only two days...no students yet. Lots to do, lots of meetings. It's all good. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:14 PM EDT
    I thought about choice boards in math for practicing facts. Though I still feel like it is me telling them what to do. #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17
  • FirstAtBat Aug 5 @ 8:14 PM EDT
    A1: i hope all systems are adjustable. Nothing should be fixed. #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:15 PM EDT
    Or, perhaps with strategy groups. Students could sign up for a strategy group that reflects one of their reading goals. They would be empowered to reflect on how it would support their learning. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    I love that idea! That would go along with the goal setting I'm implementing this year. #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    Getting the mind and body ready to meet those precious first graders is a lot of work in itself. #1stchat
    In reply to @FirstAtBat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    I agree. I do think that there are many fixed systems in schools. That we get stuck in the this is how it has always been. #1stchat
    In reply to @FirstAtBat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    Question 2 #1stchat
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    There are only so many ways to practice. Last year for word work I had a tic tac toe board, but yes it was still me telling them. One student came up with her own way, which is OK. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    Q2 is on deck! #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:20 PM EDT
    A2 I'm so excited. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    A2 I'm have many emotions. I'm nervous about what my principal will say. If I will have any push back. #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    Always excited about making adjustments that could improve learning opportunities for students. #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    That's a concern for many of us. You never know, until you try. I find that running some ideas buy him/her first can also be helpful. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    Agree! #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    Question 3 #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    Q3 is on deck! #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    I always feel like I am bothering her when I need to talk. But I want to show why this works to meet our district goal of student learning. #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • FirstAtBat Aug 5 @ 8:26 PM EDT
  • Woods1stgrade Aug 5 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    You could give them choices for ideas but then ask for them to come up with ways as well and add to the choices. Then Ss feel empowered to create ways to learn #1stchat
    • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:14 PM EDT
      I thought about choice boards in math for practicing facts. Though I still feel like it is me telling them what to do. #1stchat
      In reply to @mmhole17
  • Woods1stgrade Aug 5 @ 8:28 PM EDT
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    A3: We have sharing everyday. I meet with small groups throughout the day. Ss seem to share more of their likes in small groups. Having choices for students in reading and writing also helps to know them. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    A3: I feel like writing and math I ask them to share their stories and who they are or how they solved it daily. I want to incorporate it more into morning meeting. Looking for chances for them to bring problems they see to the class #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:30 PM EDT
    I like the idea that they could make the choices! I feel like I would need to model different choices to start the year but then let them come up with them. I am all about saying yes to student as long as it will help them. #1stchat
    In reply to @Woods1stgrade
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:30 PM EDT
    A3 Making connections & building relationships helps me discover their stories. Once that happens, I use it to support them. Last year, I celebrated each achievement one of my readers made. I had to constantly remind him of each success in order to move him forward. #1stchat
  • Woods1stgrade Aug 5 @ 8:31 PM EDT
    A3: we share in class meetings, during the day and this year I built in a quick reflection time at the end to talk about the day and to share. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:31 PM EDT
    I think a lot of mine happens in small groups. Have you ever share something out to the whole group from small groups with permission of course? #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:33 PM EDT
    Do you ever share it out to whole class with permission? #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:34 PM EDT
    I have. Many Ss lives when what they share in small group is shared with everyone. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:34 PM EDT
    I was thinking of doing a one line a day at the end of the day for them to write and maybe add to @Seesaw #1stchat
    In reply to @Woods1stgrade, @Seesaw
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:34 PM EDT
    A3 We have to improve in our observations, patience and listening skills so that we don't miss the stories they share. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    Question 2! #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    I know I need to do a much better job at listening with my full attention. I try to multi-task a little too much. #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    Question 4 is on deck. #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    Absolutely! Always with permission of course. Those provide the best learning opportunities for peers, too. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    Q4 is on deck! #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:38 PM EDT
    A4: This past year we did passion projects about space. I was really kicking myself that I didn't start it from the beginning so that students knew all choices they could use to present their learning. #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:39 PM EDT
    A4 We do loosely structured informational book clubs. Students choose their topic, information collection process, and how they present their learning to peers. This year's presentation included a few skits and 3D models. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:40 PM EDT
    Ohhh tell me more. What time of year do you do this? Was thinking of doing something like this in social studies. #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:41 PM EDT
    Did you partner students up for this? #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • kelliecacioppo Aug 5 @ 8:41 PM EDT
    Kellie 1st grade from Chicagoland- coming in late #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:42 PM EDT
    This past year they could research together but they each had to present a final project. However this year I'm going to do more with partner groups to build our team and class community. #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:43 PM EDT
    Welcome Kellie! Glad you could join! Love how your name is spelled. #1stchat
    In reply to @kelliecacioppo
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:44 PM EDT
    It's usually our last reading unit of the school year. Sometime students choose between 5-6 topics (based on books in our classroom library), sometimes they tell me the topic and I go to the public library and get books to match their topic choices. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:44 PM EDT
    Question 5/6 on deck. I'm going to combine them. #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:44 PM EDT
    Question 6 #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:45 PM EDT
    Q.5/6 is on deck! #1stchat
  • kelliecacioppo Aug 5 @ 8:45 PM EDT
    A3: giving Ss daily opportunities to share what they write with the class. They LOVE it ❤️#1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:46 PM EDT
    Do you just pose it, What do you want ot learn more about? #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:47 PM EDT
    A5: For me it is structuring it in such a way that it is beneficial for students. I know it is ok for them to struggle, but I want students to find some early success so they stay motivated.#1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:47 PM EDT
    A. 5/6 Not really a fear, more of a concern: Deciding how much or how little structure to provide. Each group of students is different. #1stchat
  • Woods1stgrade Aug 5 @ 8:47 PM EDT
    Because I’ll be kdg this year, we are doing it verbal. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24, @Seesaw
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:47 PM EDT
    A5: My biggest fear is timing. Giving too much time or not enough time. I'm excited to let my ss guide my teaching more and let them really hold the reins #1stchat
  • kelliecacioppo Aug 5 @ 8:48 PM EDT
    A4: absolutely love Ss choice with flexible seating- stationary bikes, cooshie tooshies, up high, library, living room, pillow headquarters. I love when they can determine where they do their best work and best thinking! #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:48 PM EDT
    That is a very good idea. I am trying to decide if I should start out verbal. However I want to have that physical copy to have them look back on their writing from the beginning of the year. #1stchat
    In reply to @Woods1stgrade, @Seesaw
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:49 PM EDT
    This is another concern of mine. #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:50 PM EDT
    You have bikes in your room? LOVE IT! #1stchat
    In reply to @kelliecacioppo
  • Woods1stgrade Aug 5 @ 8:50 PM EDT
    My biggest worry is myself and making sure I don’t rush us into my final plans, but to stay intentional and go slow at first . I just get so excited! #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:50 PM EDT
    Yes, I list all of their ideas. Then, I group similar ideas/topics together. Finally, students give me their top two choices based on the topics most interested in. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • mmhole17 Aug 5 @ 8:51 PM EDT
    I have been doing more screencasting of directions to help students that have difficulty reading. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24, @Woods1stgrade, @Seesaw
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:51 PM EDT
    I agree!! I just want to do all the things. #1stchat
    In reply to @Woods1stgrade
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:52 PM EDT
    I love that idea. #1stchat
    In reply to @valruckes
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:53 PM EDT
    I know what you mean. I have to remind myself that it's "their" plans and not "my" plans. Hard sometimes. #1stchat
    In reply to @Woods1stgrade
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:53 PM EDT
    I like that idea. I can file it on seesaw so they could go back to it. #1stchat
    In reply to @mmhole17, @Woods1stgrade, @Seesaw
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:54 PM EDT
    Question 7 #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:55 PM EDT
    The first step is sort of a brainstorming session. Peers come up with topic ideas that others had not considered. #1stchat
    In reply to @hawkeye_teach24
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:56 PM EDT
    Q7 is on deck! #1stchat
  • valruckes - Moderator Aug 5 @ 8:58 PM EDT
    A7 Keep asking myself this question: What am "I" doing, that my students could be doing instead? #1stchat
  • hawkeye_teach24 Aug 5 @ 8:58 PM EDT
    A7: I want to start by team collaboration-working with different groups and different ways to present ideas to the group. I very much like the start of the 20% project. I hoping to start with 10% a week. #1stchat