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)