Dr. Baker's Happy Campers!

This year our Grade 1 classroom is led by Dr. Charity Baker, and the class of “Dr. Baker’s Happy Campers” is off to a great start! The students are loving the freshly decorated room and the engaging lessons.

Each morning, the children engage in prayers, a shared song, calendar time, and the pledges. They then jump right into hands-on activities from the Collaboration Station. The children’s Tinker Tubs are filled weekly with a range of activities to support creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and FUN with their tablemates!

Reading is serious business in first grade! Students participate in daily independent and partner reading.  Each week Dr. Baker introduces a specific reading skill or strategy. After participating in a mini-lesson related to the skill, students engage in reading centers that provide opportunities for independent practice. 

The students are also working diligently to grow as authors! After participating in a writing lesson, students complete their own work. The students love taking their place in the Author Chair and sharing their ideas! Students are also practicing invaluable listening and speaking skills during this time, as they solicit questions and friendly comments from their peers.

Movement and math are two other important parts of the day, and Dr. Baker loves to combine them! Students engage with a variety of math manipulatives and role-playing as they practice using math strategies to follow math rules.

The campers headed outdoors to identify clouds as a part of their science unit on weather. Students are learning about the six features of weather: temperature, cloudiness, wind, air pressure, humidity, and precipitation. Students enjoyed working with their “huddle buddies” to discuss science prompts and identify clouds. The highlight was making their own clouds in a jar!