Today, we will begin our first author study of the year as we read aloud First Grade, Here I Come! by Nancy Carlson. Throughout the story, students will be encouraged to practice text to self connections by sharing similarities between themselves and each of the characters. Further emphasizing the story element of character, students will be asked to identify statements that are true for each character. Students will have the opportunity to select a favorite character, create an illustration of that character, and write about their selection. Carlson’s books are often enjoyed by children as they use simple text and colorful illustrations to deliver positive messages about childhood topics (school, friendship, attitude, wellness, etc.). She is selected as our first author study as these topics readily lend themselves to building our classroom community as we learn more about one another. We will continue to share Carlson’s books throughout the next few weeks.
Our Habitats
Trimester 3 has just begun and first graders are beginning a unit on animals, classifications and habitats. Before we can dive deep into the six