January 30th-February 3rd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 30th- February 3rd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 4

Main selection:  Frog and Toad Together

Weekly Question:  What changes happen in a garden?
Amazing Words: gardener, nature, sprout, dim, shade, sprinkling, humongous
High-Frequency Words: afraid, again, few, how, read, soon
Phonics Target: Adding endings; Vowel r-Controlled ar

Comprehension skills: Author's Purpose
Comprehension strategy: Visualize

Genres:  Animal Fantasy
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The goose honked nervously this morning.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 4 (fourth column). Please return sheet by Friday, February 3rd for students to be tested on Week 4 words. 

Fundations: Unit 8, Week 2

Students will learn about...

• Consonant blends and segmenting and spelling words with four sounds (review)
• Baseword and suffix -s (review)
• Digraph blends (lunch)
• R-controlled vowels (er, ir, ur)
• Sight Words: her, over, number
• Unit Story: The Pink Dress

Math in Focus

Chapter 8
**Chapter 8 test will be on Monday, January 30th**

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems
       We are beginning to do some explicit instruction around money. We will begin by identifying coins by name and how much they are worth.  

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     This week the lesson is called “Dirt Made
My Lunch.” The students will be deconstructing
a cheeseburger and filling out a sheet explaining
how dirt makes a pizza.

Social Studies

   We are beginning our Economics Unit this
week by developing an understanding of our 4
basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and
the difference between needs and wants. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: Early Release

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

     

Six Traits of Writing: Organization 
     The students are off to a great start with understanding the format and elements necessary for a “How-to” book. Last week the students began writing the steps for “How to Eat an Oreo Cookie.” Each student had a chance to share their version with the class. In the meantime, the students will be picking a topic that they know a lot about and begin writing their own “How-to” guide.
We will also discuss and practice using the elements necessary for a persuasive reading response.
This week’s mini-lessons will include…
- Transition words to continue the flow of
our writing.
- Uppercase, spacing and punctuation
- How to organize our writing

                   Parent Reminders

1. We went to the library today. Make sure to return books by Friday or Monday morning!
2. There is an early release on Tuesday, January 31st. School will be dismissed at noontime. 
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes and tissues
4. Before School Help-  Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. 
5. Scholastic Book Club: February book catalogs went home last week. Please send your orders and money in by Friday, February 3rd!
6. Valentine Celebration (2/16)— $2.00 for supplies is due ASAP so we can order everything. All of our volunteer spots have been filled! Thank you to everyone who has offered to volunteer their time to help out at the celebration. We want to make sure everyone who wants to volunteer is able to for our class events. Your support is greatly appreciated. If you have not been able to volunteer, do not fear! There are more opportunities coming up!
7. We are in our 94th day of school already! That means February 7th will be our 100th day of school. The children are encouraged to bring in 100 of something that can fit into a sandwich baggie. 

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 Friday)
Tuesday: Coin Game  (due on Friday)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)

Thursday: Comprehension (due on Friday)

January 23rd-27th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 23rd-27th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 3

Main selection:  The Class Pet

Weekly Question:  What do we learn as animals grow and change?
Amazing Words: features, nibble, swoop, natural, wriggle, crumple, tumble, mature, nudges
High-Frequency Words: away, car, friends, house, our, school very
Phonics Target: Ending -es, Plural -es; Vowels: r-controlled or, ore

Comprehension skills: Fact and Opinion
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (People cheer loudly!)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 3 (third column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 27th for students to be tested on Week 3 words. 

Fundations: Unit 8, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Consonant blends and segmenting and spelling words with four sounds
• Sight Words: could, would, should

Math in Focus

Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems
       We are beginning to do some explicit instruction around money. We will begin by identifying coins by name and how much they are worth.  

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     Last week, the students learned about
composting and vermiculture. They learned
about worms and got to see them firsthand!
This week the students will learn about the

parts of a plant.

Social Studies

   We are beginning our Economics Unit this
week by developing an understanding of our 4
basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and
the difference between needs and wants.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will finish their winter barebone sentence and complete the final draft with a detailed illustration
      We will continue to practice writing how-to pieces. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. We went to library today. Make sure to return books by Friday or Monday morning!
2. We are beginning our Economics Unit this week by developing an understanding of our 4 basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and the difference between needs and wants.
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes. tissues, and paper towels. 
    4.  The Wizard of Oz-Our class went and saw the fifth grade play last week on Thursday. Congratulations to all of the fifth graders on a fantastic performance!
    5. Before School Help-  Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. 
    6. Math Facts—Thank you for the feedback about how the practice is going at home. I have received a few notes about who is ready to be checked so I’ll do that this
week. Even if you feel your child has mastered this skill, please continue to practice these facts at home to build their automaticity. 
7. Scholastic Book Club: February book catalogs will be going home with students. Please your orders and money by Friday, February 3rd!
8. Valentine Celebration—$2 donation for supplies is due on Thursday so we can have
the order shipped in time for the party.

Have a fantastic 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 Friday)
Tuesday: Math  (due on Friday)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)

Thursday: Comprehension (due on Friday)

January 17th-20th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 17th-20th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 2
**We will be finishing Week 1 on Tuesday and beginning Week 2 on Wednesday**

Main selection:  Ruby in Her Own Time

Weekly Question:  What do we learn as we grow and change?
Amazing Words: attempt, event, timeline, famous, flatter, correct, lovely, common
High-Frequency Words: any, enough, ever, every, own, sure, were
Phonics Target: Consonant Patterns ng, nk (hang; pink); Compound Words

Comprehension skills: Compare and Contrast
Comprehension strategy: Inferring

Genres:  Animal Fantasy
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (People cheer loudly!)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 2 (second column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 20th for students to be tested on Week 2 words. 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• New glued sounds- ank, ink, onk, unk
• Review glued sounds- ang, ing, ong, ung
• Pluralization
• Sight Words: put, two
• Unit 7 Story: King Sam
• Unit 7 Test is on Friday, January 20th.

Math in Focus

Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems
       We are beginning to do some explicit instruction around money. We will begin by identifying coins by name and how much they are worth.  

*                                      

Science

Solids, Liquids and Gases Unit
         We finished up our Matter Unit last week
we our final few experiments. They students or
should I say, Scientists, did a great job! Keep
studying their study guide and our test will be
on Thursday.
     For the next 5 weeks, we will have a
Backyard Growers Enrichment. Last week, the
students learned about the Garden Ecosystem.
This week the focus will be about composting and vermiculture.  

Social Studies

   We will finish up our calendar-based lesson
on Dr. Martin Luther King this week. We’ll also
begin our Economics Unit by developing an
understanding of our 4 basic needs (food,
clothing, shelter, love).

Second Steps—Last week students learned about how to identify their emotions. This week they will be learning what to do when they have strong feelings in social situations. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will finish their three basic barebone sentences (a subject and a predicate; Example: Snowmen stand.) I will conference with each student to discuss which sentence they want to use and correct spelling errors. Each student will write take their chosen sentence and add a descriptive predicate expander of where to their barebone sentence. Students will have another conference to correct spelling errors and discuss the predicate expander chosen. After the second conference, they will be given the final draft paper to copy their sentence onto and illustrate a detailed picture. 
      We will also discuss and practice writing how-to pieces. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week.  
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes. tissues, and paper towels
4.  Reminder: We will have outdoor recess as long as it is at least 20F, so please send your child with a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves. Also, please label all of your child's winter clothing. Some children have a hard time identifying their own clothing. Thank you!
5. Before School Help- The day for extra help has been changed to Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. 
6. Math Facts—In your child’s homework this week, there is a form for you to fill out. We are just trying to get an idea of how the new Math facts homework is going. We will do this again in a few weeks.
7. Reading Passage— I will be sending home a reading passage for your child to practice reading. Since each student is in a different place with their reading ability, they will be practicing different skills. Please read through the directions on the back, which will tell you what to do. Thank you for supporting your child with their reading!
8. Journal Homework: Now that we are just about at the halfway point in first grade,
your child should write a minimum of 5 sentences in their journal letter.
9. Shoe tying and coat zippering…with the winter season upon us, there are many opportunities for your child to tie their shoes and zipper their coat in school. Please help them practice this life skill at home.

Have a fantastic 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 Friday)
Tuesday: Color by Sum  (Daily)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)

Thursday: MLK Comprehension (due on Friday)

January 9th-13th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 9th-13th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 1
**Unit 2 Test next Tuesday**

Main selection:  A Place to Play

Weekly Question:  How do places change?
Amazing Words: growth, population, teeter, public, makeshift, crooked, shuffle, spindly
High-Frequency Words: always, become, day, stays, things, nothing, everything
Phonics Target: Vowel sounds of y (my, funny); syllable pattern (hi, so, me)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres:  Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (People cheer loudly!)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Wednesday) for Unit 3, Week 1 (first column). 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 2

Students will learn about...

• New glued sounds- ank, ink, onk, unk
• Review glued sounds- ang, ing, ong, ung
• Pluralization
• Sight Words: put, two
• Unit 7 Story: King Sam

Math in Focus

Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping.
                 - Solve real world problems

*                                      

Science

Solids, Liquids and Gases Unit
     Before the break, we did not finish our
Matter unit. We will review the vocabulary we
have already learned (matter, mass, solid, liquid,
gas, etc) and learn some new terms (evaporate,
condensation). We will also be solidifying our
understanding about the three states of matter
when it comes to water.

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will be starting Unit 3 that gives students tools to identify and manage their own strong feelings. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: Early Release

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will finish their three basic barebone sentences (a subject and a predicate; Example: Snowmen stand.) I will conference with each student to discuss which sentence they want to use and correct spelling errors. Each student will write take their chosen sentence and add a descriptive predicate expander of where to their barebone sentence. Students will have another conference to correct spelling errors and discuss the predicate expander chosen. After the second conference, they will be given the final draft paper to copy their sentence onto and illustrate a detailed picture. 
      We will also discuss and practice using the elements necessary for a persuasive reading response. 

    

                   Parent Reminders

1. The class had library today. Our class' library time is Monday at 1 p.m. If you have any overdue books, please return them as soon as possible.  
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes and paper towels
4.  Reminder: We will have outdoor recess as long as it is at least 20F, so please send your child with a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves. Also, please label all of your child's winter clothing. Some children have a hard time identifying their own clothing. Thank you!
5. Before School Help is on Wednesday mornings at 8. We are focusing on Math fundamentals and basic number sense. If you would like your child to join, please send me an email/note.
6. Math Facts- I sent home math fact sheets to cut out, a Ziploc bag to keep them in, a ring and directions. Let me know if you have any questions.
7. Reading Passage—Starting on next Monday, I will be sending home a reading passage for your child to practice reading. Since each student is in a different place with their reading ability, they will be practicing different skills. Please read through the directions on the back, which will tell you what to do. Thank you for supporting your
child with their reading.
8. Journal Homework: Now that we are just about at the halfway point in first grade,
your child should write a minimum of 5 sentences in their journal letter.
9. Shoe tying and coat zippering…with the winter season upon us, there are many opportunities for your child to tie their shoes and zipper their coat in school. Please help them practice this life skill at home.

Have a wonderful 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 Friday)
Tuesday: Addition Facts to 10  (Daily)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)
Thursday: Comprehension (due on Friday)

January 3rd-January 6th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 3rd-6th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 6
**Unit 2 Test next Tuesday**

Main selection:  Honey Bees

Weekly Question:  How is an insect community like a community of people?
Amazing Words: individual, industrious, special, creep, slither, romp, eagerly, wander
High-Frequency Words: also, family, new, other, some, their
Phonics Target: Long e: ee (keep); Two syllable words with consonants next to each other (basket)

Comprehension skills: Comparing/Contrasting
Comprehension strategy: Questioning

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (People cheer on New Year's Eve!)
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 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• New glued sounds- ang, ing, ong, ung
• Pluralization
• Sight Words: why, try, my, by
• Unit 7 Story: King Sam

Math in Focus

Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping.
                 - Solve real world problems

*                                      

Science

Solids, Liquids and Gases Unit
     Before the break, we did not finish our
Matter unit. We will review the vocabulary we
have already learned (matter, mass, solid, liquid,
gas, etc) and learn some new terms (evaporate,
condensation). We will also be solidifying our
understanding about the three states of matter
when it comes to water.

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will be finishing up our
Empathy Unit with a lesson on how to show care and concern.

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will brainstorm winter subjects, predicates, and predicate expanders of where. Each student will write three barebone sentences using the winter themed vocabulary, but they will choose the sentence that they feel is their best sentence and they can draw a detailed picture for.
      We will also discuss and practice using the elements necessary for a persuasive reading response. 
 

    

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week.
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes and paper towels
4.  Reminder: We will have outdoor recess as long as it is at least 20F, so please send your child with a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves. Also, please label all of your child's winter clothing. Some children have a hard time identifying their own clothing. Thank you!
5. Before School Help is on Wednesday mornings at 8. We are focusing on Math fundamentals and basic number sense. If you would like your child to join, please send me an email/note.
6. Math Facts- Next week I will be sending home math fact sheets to cut out, a Ziploc bag to keep them in, a ring and directions. Stay tuned for more information!
7. Jan Brett Celebration was a huge success! Thank you again for all of the donations and parent volunteers who made this celebration possible.

Happy New Year! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Tuesday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)
Tuesday: Math Worksheets  (due on Friday)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)
Thursday: Comprehension (due on Friday)