Habitats, Living / Non Living and Zoo Animals

I know!  I know!  I am pushing it trying to combine all of these things into one week.  But HEY!  A teacher's gotta do what a teacher's gotta do.   Most of you know that I am not a fan of the "standard" reading book.  I prefer to use "picture" books, relevant authors and materials designed for toward each child's reading level and needs.  How can I get all of that if I make ever kid read the same story from the same stuffy reading book?

I will admit that look through the teachers manual to take note of skills and align them to state standards and such.  So, this week I am focusing on several skills from the story "The Forest" in the Houghton Mifflin reading series.

I am adding some things I made to TpT.  Take a look and I hope they help out. 

I am also using Deanna Jumps Zoo Unit.  LOVE HER!!! 

Partying With the Presidents

We spent the week hangin' out with George and Abe.  The kids sure loved learning as much as they could about these two guys!  I  decided (with the suggestion of my teaching neighbor) to incorporate Dental Health into the President Unit too.  George did have "wooden teeth" you know?  Or did he??

There are some great units on Teachers Pay Teacher.  I am TOTALLY addicted to this website.  Love, love, love all of you who work so hard to make these wonderful units and then share them with the rest of us.

Gingerbread Theme

I tried to use a Gingerbread Theme for the past week and half.  We received several inches of snow and ice last week causing school to be called off on Thursday and Friday.  That unfortunately threw a wrench into my plans.  However, we are at school on Monday and Tuesday this week before heading off for the holiday break.  I will be able to accomplish alot with these two days.

Welcome to Mrs. Kerber's First Grade Class

Hello!
My name is Elaine Kerber.  I am lucky and blessed enough to have been "called" to enrich the lives of children by teaching First Grade.  My school is unusual for a few reasons.  First, this is the first year we are open.  Yep!  A brand new building and it is beautiful.  Second, this building houses only Kindergarten and First Grade students.  We are an amazing size due to the fact that there are nine Kindergarten classes (all day Kindergarten Classes) and eight First Grade classes.  In total, there are aproximately 425 little angels filling the classrooms and hallways.  Our sister school is a half mile down the road.  That is where students in grades 2-5 attend.   That building educates aproximately 800 students.

For ten years I taught Second Grade.  I loved every minute of it!  This is my first year as a First Grade teacher and it is amazing!  I love my "little ones" to pieces.  We are having an outstanding time learning, discovering and growing together. 

I will be using this blog to post some of the many things we do in this classroom.  Hopefully someone out there will find it helpful in their own teaching.  I am even looking for suggestions to help myself grow and learn as an educator.

I find so many wonderful things out in the cyber world.  Some things I post will be variations of what I have found and tweaked to fit the needs of my class.  Others, will be units and lessons I developed on my own or with the help of my wonderful colleagues.

ENJOY!