November 28th-December 2nd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

November 28th-December 2nd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 2

Main selection:  The Farmer in the Hat

Weekly Question:  How is a school a community?
Amazing Words: 
High-Frequency Words: be, could, horse, of, old, paper
Phonics Target: Long a: a_e; Consonants c /s/; g /j/

Comprehension skills: Cause and Effect
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Realistic Fiction
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 2 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home November 16th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Wednesday) for Unit 2, Week 2 (second column). 

Fundations: Unit 5, Week 1

**Students will take the Unit 5 Fundations test at the end of this week.**
Students will learn about...

• Two new glued or welded sounds: /am/ and /an/ as in 'ham' and 'pan'. 
• Observe the form of a narrative story (character, setting, and main events) 
• Story: The Big Mess
• Sight words: from, have, do, does
• Trick Word reading test is on Wednesday and spelling test is on Thursday. 

Math in Focus

Chapter 5

Shapes and Patterns

Thinking Skills
- Induction; Analyzing patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Guess and check
 
                               Objectives

                                                                                  - Identify, classify, describe, and sort plane and solid shapes.
                                  - Divide shapes into two and four equal parts and describe the parts.
                                  - Describe the whole as the sum of its parts.
                                  - Combine and separate plane and solid shapes.

*                                      

Science

Introduction to Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Observing Matter 

- Ways that matter can be grouped 

- Ways that matter can change

- 3 different forms of matter--solids, liquids, and gases.

 

Social Studies

          Jan Brett Author Study 

The Mitten

Animal Riddles: Students will come up with
animal clues and make an interactive writing
piece for others to guess their animal.
Vocabulary: admire, jostle, commotion

Second Steps—We are continuing our
Empathy Unit by thinking about how people’s
emotions can change.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Six Traits of Writing~ Ideas

     The students did a great job of coming up with ideas about how our feathery friend, Mr. Turkey, would escape Thanksgiving dinner. This week students will be learning about conferencing and I will conference with each student about their writing.

Framing Your Thoughts~ First Barebone Book
The students will be finishing their individual pages of our first class barebone book and by the end of the week, the book will be bound and published! This week the students will be introduced to another part of the Framing Your Thoughts sentence structure. The predicate expander of where allows students to add detail to their barebone sentences. Students will be practicing writing barebone sentences using all of the parts we have learned so far.

This week’s mini-lessons will include… 
Students will also learn about conferencing… 
- What a whole-class conference is 
- How to give compliments to their peers 
- How to make constructive suggestions to improve their peer’s stories

                   Parent Reminders

1. Due to the book fair, we did not have library today.
2. Book Fair is here! Our class will have a
chance to preview the fair this Tuesday and
their book wish lists will be go home. Then,
we’ll shop for books on Thursday. Catalogs
went home last week.
3. Throughout the month of December, we will
be working on an author study of Jan Brett’s
books. Before we break for the upcoming
vacation, we will have a Jan Brett
celebration. Our Jan Brett Celebration will be on
Wednesday, December 21 st . A letter will be
going home today with more information.

Welcome back! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)
Tuesday: Math Worksheets (due on Friday)
Wednesday: The Farmer in the Hat Comprehension (due on Friday)

November 21st-November 23rd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

November 21-23rd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 1

Main selection:  A Big Fish for Max

Weekly Question:  What does a family do together?
Amazing Words: chore, household, cooperation, rule, commute, subway, downtown, display
High-Frequency Words: catch, good, no, put, said, want
Phonics Target: digraphs sh, th; /ol/ sound in ball

Comprehension skills:  Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Predict; Set a purpose

Genres:  Animal Fantasy, Literary Nonfiction
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 2 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home November 16th)
• Family Times gives various activities that can be done at home that connect to the concept we're learning this week. 
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Wednesday) for Unit 2, Week 1 (first column). 

Fundations: Unit 5, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Two new glued or welded sounds: /am/ and /an/ as in 'ham' and 'pan'. 
• Observe the form of a narrative story (character, setting, and main events) 
• Story: The Big Mess
• Sight words: from, have, do, does

Math in Focus

**Due to students needing more time to practice the concepts at the end of Chapter 4, the test will be on Tuesday, November 22nd**
Chapter 4

Subtraction Facts to 10 

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies 
                                     - Guess and check

                               Objectives

                                                                                  - Take away to subtract
                                        - Count on OR back to subtract
                                        - Use number bonds to subtract
                                        - Write and solve subtraction sentences.
                                        - Tell subtraction

*

Science

We will not be starting a new science unit until after Thanksgiving. We will continue with some Science mini-lessons while our main focus is on Social Studies. 
Our science learning is embedded in our reading program. This week we will be focusing on observing wild animals to gather information about them.

Social Studies

Thanksgiving Unit
We will be working on developing an understanding of life as a colonist and a Wampanoag Native American. We will be learning about the chores colonist and Native American children were responsible for and the activities both groups of children did for fun.
Second Steps—We began our Empathy Unit last week with identifying feelings. This week we are learning about how a person's feelings can change about the same situation.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Early Release

THURSDAY: NO SCHOOL

FRIDAY: NO SCHOOL

Writing Workshop

Six Traits of Writing~ Ideas

     This week we will be reading a story about a great Thanksgiving escape! Students will have to brainstorm ways to escape a Thanksgiving dinner and write sequential steps to help a feathery friend out. 

Framing Your Thoughts~ First Barebone Book
The students will be finishing their individual pages of our first class barebone book. To complete the book, we will make a cover and then have the book bound. 

This week’s mini-lessons will include…

• Use uppercase at the beginning & punctuation at the end
• Use spacing between words
• How to write an introduction and closing
• Writers reread their writing to see if it makes sense and stays on topic.

                   Parent Reminders

1. Library day was today. Please make sure you help your
child remember to bring in their
book for next Monday.
2. Early Release for Thanksgiving break on Wednesday, November 23rd at 12 noon.
3. Math—Please continue to work on number formation at home. The students are writing a lot of numbers backwards, which is confusing them when trying to solve their math problems. Thanks for your support!
4. Unit 2 Reading Street Card due on Tuesday.
5. The students will take the District GRADE Assessment (standardized comprehension test) this week.
6. Book Fair is here! Our class will have a chance to preview the fair on Tuesday, November 29th and will shop for books on Thursday, December 1st. Catalogs will go home this week.
7. Over Thanksgiving break...please continue to have your child read daily. 
8. Trick Word Test…due to the craziness of this week, we will have our trick word reading and spelling test the week of November 28th. Please have your child practice spelling and reading the trick words on the study guide I sent home last Friday.
9. It’s just about hat and glove season…please label everything, if possible. Sometimes the children have a hard time identifying their
own clothes.
10. Unit 1 Reading Street test…Overall the
students did a really good job on this test
last week. They all worked really hard and
gave their best effort. It’s amazing how
much they’ve grown already since the first
day of school! As I tell them in class before
every test, there are two reasons we take
these assessments. First it’s to give them a
chance to “show off” everything they’ve
learned so far and feel proud of themselves.
The second reason is so that I can learn
what they don’t know and still need to
practice some more. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Wednesday)
Tuesday: Comprehension (due on Wednesday)

November 14th-18th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

November 14-18th

Literacy

*End of Unit 1 Test will be on Tuesday*
Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 1

Main selection:  A Big Fish for Max

Weekly Question:  What does a family do together?
Amazing Words: chore, household, cooperation, rule, commute, subway, downtown, display
High-Frequency Words: catch, good, no, put, said, want
Phonics Target: digraphs sh, th; /ol/ sound in ball

Comprehension skills:  Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Predict; Set a purpose

Genres:  Animal Fantasy, Literary Nonfiction
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 2 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home November 16th)
• Family Times gives various activities that can be done at home that connect to the concept we're learning this week. 
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Wednesday) for Unit 2, Week 1 (first column). 

Fundations: Unit 5, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Two new glued or welded sounds: /am/ and /an/ as in 'ham' and 'pan'. 
• Observe the form of a narrative story (character, setting, and main events) 
• Story: The Big Mess
• Sight words: from, have, do, does

Math in Focus

**Chapter 4 Test on Friday**
Chapter 4

Subtraction Facts to 10 

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies 
- Guess and check

Objectives

                                                                                  - Take away to subtract
                                        - Count on OR back to subtract
                                        - Use number bonds to subtract
                                        - Write and solve subtraction sentences.
                                        - Tell subtraction

*

Science

We will not be starting a new science unit until after Thanksgiving. We will continue with some Science mini-lessons while our main focus is on Social Studies. 
Our science learning is embedded in our reading program. This week we will be focusing on observing wild animals to gather information about them.

Social Studies

Thanksgiving Unit
We will be working on developing an understanding of life as a colonist and a Wampanoag Native American. We’ll wrap up learning about each of their homes and move onto learning about what they wore.
Second Steps—We began our Empathy Unit last week with identifying feelings. This week we are learning the similarities and differences of emotional expressions and body language in specific situations.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: Early Release

FRIDAY: Music & Art

Writing Workshop

Six Traits of Writing~ Ideas

     This week we will wrap up and complete all of the writing that we started over the past couple of weeks (falcon and owl pieces as well as the students' own stories). 

Framing Your Thoughts~ First Barebone Book
The students will begin brainstorming subjects (nouns) and predicates (verbs) that have to do with Fall. Each student will write and illustrate a sentence that will be bound in a book and put in our classroom library.

This week’s mini-lessons will include…

• Use uppercase at the beginning & punctuation at the end
• Use spacing between words
• How to write an introduction and closing
• Writers reread their writing to see if it makes sense and stays on topic.

                   Parent Reminders

1. Library day was today. Please make sure you help your
child remember to bring in their
book for next Monday.
2. Early Release for parent conferences on Thursday (11/17). Please let me know if you are unable to make the time slot you signed up for. 
3. Math—Please continue to work on number formation at home. The students are writing a lot of numbers backwards, which is confusing them when trying to solve their math problems. Thanks for your support!
4. Support our Troops! There are bins in the lobby for donations. A notice went home about it last week. Please consider donating!
5. Trick Word Test…we will have a trick word reading and spelling test next week. I will send home a study guide for you to practice with your child.
6. It’s just about hat and glove season…please label everything, if possible. Sometimes the children have a hard time identifying their
own clothes.

I hope you had a nice Veterans' Day! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)
Tuesday: Math (due on Friday)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)
Thursday: Comprehension-Monkey Story (due on Friday)

November 7th-11th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

November 7-11th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 1 Week 6

Main selection:  Animal Park

Weekly Question:  What can we learn about wild animals by watching them?
Amazing Words: 
High-Frequency Words: home, into, many, them
Phonics Target: Short u: u; Final Consonant Blends

Comprehension skills:  Cause and Effect
Comprehension strategy: Text Structure

Genres:  Literary Nonfiction
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 1 Family Talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6 week overview of the unit. 
• Family Times gives various activities that can be done at home that connect to the concept we're learning this week.
• Practice reading phonics and sight words for Unit 1, Week 6 (last column only).   

Fundations: Unit 4 (Week 2 of 2)

Students will learn about...

• The letter ‘a’ followed by the double ll sounds like /o/ (i.e., fall). 
• Observe the form of a narrative story (character, setting, and main events) 
• Story: The Big Mess
• Sight words: was, one, said

Math in Focus

Chapter 4

Subtraction Facts to 10 

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies 
- Guess and check

Objectives

      - Take away to subtract
                                        - Count on OR back to subtract
                                        - Use number bonds to subtract
                                        - Write and solve subtraction sentences.
                                        - Tell subtraction

*

Science

We will not be starting a new science unit until after Thanksgiving. We will continue with some Science mini-lessons while our main focus is on Social Studies. 
Our science learning is embedded in our reading program. This week we will be focusing on observing wild animals to gather information about them.

Social Studies

Thanksgiving Unit
We will be working on developing an understanding of life as a colonist and a Wampanoag Native American. We’ll start by learning about each of their homes.
Second Steps—We began our Empathy Unit last week with identifying feelings. This week we are learning the similarities and differences of emotional expressions and body language in specific situations.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: NO SCHOOL!

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: NO SCHOOL!

Writing Workshop

Six Traits of Writing~ Ideas

     This week we will continue the steps to writing our very first story. Each student has picked a topic and finished their Five Finger Planners. Students will be focusing on putting their five most important ideas into complete sentences. Once they have written their five sentences, they will focus on putting the sentences into a story format. Our focus when writing complete sentences is that our sentences make sense, have an uppercase at the beginning and punctuation at the end, and have spacing between words.

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Connector and Predicate Expander of Where

     This week students will be reviewing the role the connector ('and') plays in a sentence and the predicate expander of where. Students will practice using these parts in a sentence during literacy centers and convention writing time. 

This week’s mini-lessons will include…

• Use uppercase at the beginning & punctuation at the end
• Use spacing between words
• How to write an introduction and closing
• Writers reread their writing to see if it makes sense and stays on topic.

                   Parent Reminders

1. Library day was today. Please make sure you help your
child remember to bring in their
book for next Monday.
2. No school on Tuesday (11/8) and Friday

(11/11).
3. Unit 1 Reading Cards due NEXT

Tuesday (11/15).
3. Math—Please continue to work on number formation at home. The students are writing a lot of numbers backwards, which is confusing them when trying to solve their math problems. Thanks for your support!
4. Support our Troops! There are bins in the lobby for donations. A notice went home about it last week. Please consider donating!
5. Homework—Due to the nature of this crazy week, we will have less homework. I’ll send home Math homework on Monday, no homework on Thursday and the Reading log is due on Thursday this week.
6. Just a heads up…I will be attending a
Professional Development Conference
outside of school on Wednesday and Thursday.

Have a great week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Thursday)
     Math (due on Thursday)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Thursday)