Week of February 14th-February 18th

 First Grade Newsletter

February 14th-February 18th

Literacy

**Unit 3 Reading Street Test on Monday**

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 1

Main selection:  Mama's Birthday Present

Weekly Question:  How can a surprise be a treasure?

Amazing Words: 

High-Frequency Words: about, enjoy, give, surprise, worry, would

Phonics Target: Vowel digraphs ai. ay; Single and plural possessives

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions

Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Realistic Fiction

PHONICS

Spelling 

• Skill(s):  
• Review: Suffix -s (rocks, bags, mats); Glued sounds (-an, -am); Bonus letters at the end of a word: ff, ll, ss (and sometimes zz); Use digraphs (sh, wh, th, ch, and -ck)
• Sentence: 
• Trick Words: 
• Review trick words and practice using in writing: the, of, and, a, is, his, as, has, in, into, we, he, she, be, me, or, for, you, your, I, they, was, one, said, from, have, do, does, were, are, who, what, when

**Trick words are irregularly spelled words that each child is expected to be able to spell in their writing.**

Math in Focus

Calendar & Money

        This week students will work on building their knowledge about the calendar and money through direction instruction, partner activities and independent practice.

Science

This week students will be focused on Economics this week. Our science units will continue after February break. If there is time for science this week, students will watch and interact with Mystery Science videos about how rainbows are made.

 

Social Studies

Reading Street

Our social studies learning this week is embedded in our reading program. We will be focusing on communities and change through our readings.  This week the children will work to answer the question "How can a surprise be a treasure?".

Second Steps

In Second Steps, students will continue to practice identifying their own emotions and ways to help calm their strong emotions.

Economics

This week students will expand on their knowledge about Economics. They will discuss people who work in our communities and their importance.

Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Art

THURSDAY: Music

FRIDAY: P.E.

Writing Workshop

This week students continue the morning work assignment that requires students to about two activities that they did over the weekend, including who was there, where the event took place, and how did the child feel about this event (favorite/worst part, sad, excited, etc.). Since students need to write about two events, we will be discussing transitional words to help students move from one event to another within their writing. The purpose of this exercise is for students to practice putting their ideas on paper through words and illustrations in narrative form.

                  
Parent Reminders

1.  Library on Monday- Please make sure your child has their library book in their backpack to return it and check out a new story!

 2.    Before school help is this Tuesday morning at 8AM.

 3. Please be sure your child returns their green school-to-home folder and their homework folder to school everyday.  Also, please check your child's school-to-home folder each day for important handouts. I will write about specific handouts that you should be looking for throughout the week in this section of the newsletter. Students should also have their red homework folders in their backpacks every day.

4.    Children should bring in a small healthy snack (separate from their lunch) to have in class at 9:50 a.m. Please make sure that it is nut-free and has no glass products.

5.  Math Homework: This week students should continue to practice their addition math facts to 10, practice identifying the 4 different coin values and names, and play the coin math game. After playing the math coin game, please fill out the recording sheet.

6. Valentine's Day- Students will be passing out valentines in the morning on Valentine's Day. Please do not send any candy or sweet treats in due to the severe allergies in our classroom.

7. 5th Grade Play: Shrek- We will be going to see the 5th grade play on Tuesday morning.

8. Valentine's Economics Extravaganza- On Thursday, the first grade will be having a celebration. There will be 9 different centers for students to complete with activities that touch on a range of academic subjects and 3 different "stores" for students to shop in. We need 3 parent volunteers to help with the 3 centers we will have in our room. Please let me know if you would like to volunteer through email or a Bloomz message. **Volunteers need to have proof of vaccination and CORI form completed.**

9. Fun Friday Movie- On Friday 2/18, the students will watch a movie in the afternoon to end our week. We will be watching the movie, Encanto. I have attached the Common Sense Media review if you would like a more in depth scope of the movie. Please let me know if you are not comfortable with your child watching the movie.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/encanto

  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mrs. Ash

Homework

Your child will bring home their red homework folder on Monday. Inside the folder is a reading log, math activity with materials, and individual login information for all of our online platforms. This week students should be reading for 10 minutes, write a letter in their journal, practice addition math facts to 10, rewatch the money video and play the math coin game. Please fill out the recording sheet for the coin game.

Your child also will bring home their Dialogue Journal (penpal journal). Please read my letter and have your child respond to it in 1 penpal letter. If I did not write your child a letter, your child can write to me about anything s/he wants. Once your child has finished his/her letter, return it to school. If I did not receive your child's journal last week, please have your child write a letter to me this week and I will check both letters once the journal is turned in.