Happy 2014!

January brings a very busy month for First Grade!  Teachers are  doing mid year reading, writing & math assessments on all students and checking to be sure all kiddos are on track for end of year expectations!  It will be here before we know it!  Students are also busy working on a huge PBL (Project Based Learning) activity showcasing America for "Bear Creek Around the World".  Be sure to come to see the big event this Thursday evening in the gym.  We have been integrating lots of state standards into this project -- USA Symbols, research, survey taking, data gathering, graphing, place value, patterns, skip counting, cooperative learning, listening & speaking, writing... and so many more I can't remember them all!  Big projects are always a great way to really develop first grade skills that students must have before entering 2nd grade.  I did put together a little (5+ minute) iMovie when the kids were creating a USA flag in small groups this past week.  We used this activity to introduce place value (understanding tens & ones) and we will continue working with place value for the next several weeks.  If your child does not know how to skip count yet by 10's, 5's & 2's to 120... please practice this at home!!! Yes - to 120 (that was not a typo!)   Enjoy a little patriotic love: