April 24th-28th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 24th-28th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 1

Main selection: Tippy-Toe Chick, Go!

Weekly Question:  When does a problem need a clever solution?
Amazing Words: predicament, furious, grumpy, clever, intend, exhausted, batter, griddle
High-Frequency Words: along, behind, eyes, never, pulling, toward
Phonics Target: Dipthong ow, ou (town, loud); final syllable -le (able)

Comprehension skills: Character, setting, plot 
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres: Animal Fantasy, Folk Tale
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (Dogs excitedly bark.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Monday, April 24th) for Unit 5, Week 1 (first column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Multi-syllabic words (cactus)
• Trick Words: people, month

Math in Focus

Chapter 15: Calendar and Time
Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills
- Identifying patterns and relationships
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Deduction
                                            - Act It Out
                                            - Use a diagram

           Objectives
- Use the term "o'clock" to tell time to the hour.
- Use the term "half past".
- Read and show time to the hour and half hour on an analog and digital clock.
- Relate time to daily activities.

*                                      

Science

Weather & the Seasons
     The students brought home a weather study guide before vacation. Use this to study. The Weather Unit test will be this week.
     

Social Studies

Second Steps- The week before break we learned how to handle name calling using our calming down strategy as well as the steps to problem solving. This week we will be reviewing everything we have learned in our Second Steps program. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
     This week students will continue to work on their how-to books that we had to put on hold for a couple of weeks. Most students are completing their rough drafts and conferencing with me on their sentences. Each student's writing continues to improve as the weeks go on. Keep up the great work first graders!

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our library time is Mondays at 1 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by the Friday before or Monday morning.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. Dialogue Journals will be handed out on Tuesday, April 11 and due back on Thursday, April 13th. 
4. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you  discuss. Thanks!
5. Before School help- Thursday at 8 a.m.
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out.Thank you!
7. "Poem in Your Pocket Day" is Friday, April 28th. It is also alliteration day so dress up like something that begins with the same letter as your name. Students will be choosing a poem to keep in their special  pocket that we'll be making in class. They'll get to share it with anyone who asks them. It should be a really fun literacy day!
8. Anyone ready to be checked in for Math Facts? Just send in a note and I'll check in with your child. Thanks!
9. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and tissues. 
10. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Next week, the first grade team will be sending home a newsletter about some exciting things we'll be doing to wrap up the school year. Stay tuned!
12. Weather Unit Test- A study guide for our Weather unit was sent home on Thursday, April 13th. Please have your child review the packet.  The unit test will be this week.

Enjoy the last week of April! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Math Facts (Addition and Subtraction)

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

Thursday: Comprehension (due on Friday)

April 10th-13th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 10th-13th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 5

Main selection: Henry and Mudge and Mrs. Hopper's House

Weekly Question:  What treasures can we share with neighbors?
Amazing Words: discover, dwell, resident, welcome, admire, sadness, substantial, tremendous
High-Frequency Words: across, because, dance, only, opened, shoes, told 
Phonics Target: Vowel Sound in moon: oo  (broom, hoop); Suffixes -ly, -ful (lightly, playful)

Comprehension skills: Cause and Effect
Comprehension strategy: Predict and Set Purpose

Genres: Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The sun shines in the afternoon.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 4, Week 6 (sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 11, Week 2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Vowel-consonant-e syllable in one-syllable words
• Long vowel sounds
• Trick Words: none, nothing
• Unit Story: Jake the Whale

Math in Focus

Chapter 13
Addition and Subtraction to 40
**Chapter 13 Test on Wednesday, April 12**

Pre-requisite skills: Adding by making a 10, Adding and subtracting by grouping into 10s/1s, Relate addition and subtraction facts
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole



Problem Solving Strategies  
- Use a diagram/model
- Work backward

           Objectives
- Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number with/without regrouping
- Add 2 two-digit numbers with/without regrouping

*                                      

Science

Weather & the Seasons
     This week we will be reviewing the different weather tools, what type of weather they measure, and where we could see them out in our community. 
     

Social Studies

Second Steps- Last week we learned how to handle name calling using our calming down strategy as well as the steps to problem solving. This week we will be reviewing everything we have learned in our Second Steps program. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: No School!

Writing Workshop
"When I Grow Up" Class Book
   Our class has finished our book! Students worked so hard throughout the past month brainstorming, planning, and and perfecting their pieces to be published in the book. All of the illustrations are as detailed as the students' writing. They have created bright and intricate pictures to go with their writing. I am very excited to see the final product!

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our library time is Mondays at 1 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by the Friday before or Monday morning.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. Dialogue Journals will be handed out on Tuesday, April 11 and due back on Thursday, April 13th. 
4. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you  discuss. Thanks!
5. Before School help- Thursday at 8 a.m.
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out.Thank you!
7. Friday, April 14th there is no school. 
8. Class Book: I sent home a handout Monday, April 3rd about purchasing one of the hard covered class books we will be publishing. Please send me an email or note in your child's folder if you would like to purchase one. Once I receive your note or email, I will send home an order form. Please return the order form by Wednesday, April 12th. 
9. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and tissues. 
10. Class Picture- Our class picture was taken today, Monday, April 10th. Please have your child bring in their photo slip before Thursday, April 13th. Thank you!
11. Movie Showing- On Thursday afternoon (April 13), I will be showing the movie Sing! with a snack of Skinny Pop popcorn and water. A handout will be sent home tomorrow (Tuesday, April 11) with information on both the movie and snack. If you have a concern with your child watching the movie and/or eating the snack, please let me know.
12. Weather Study Guide- A study guide for our Weather unit will be sent home on Thursday, April 13th. Please have your child review the packet over vacation week. We will be having our test the week we come back from break (April 24-28). 

Have a great vacation! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Math Facts (Addition and Subtraction)

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

Thursday: No Homework!

April 3rd-7th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 3rd-7th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 5

Main selection: Peter's Chair

Weekly Question:  What treasures can we share at home?
Amazing Words: jealous, relatives, sibling, secret, porridge, collector, flourish, seriousness
High-Frequency Words: stood, room, thought, picture, remember
Phonics Target: Compound words (popcorn, flashlight); Vowel Digraphs ue, ui, ew (blue, fruit, flew)

Comprehension skills: Theme
Comprehension strategy: Story Structure

Genres: Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The sun shines in the afternoon.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 4, Week 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 11, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Vowel-consonant-e syllable in one-syllable words
• Long vowel sounds
• Trick Words: friend, other, another
• Unit Story: Jake the Whale

Math in Focus

Chapter 13
Addition and Subtraction to 40

Pre-requisite skills: Adding by making a 10, Adding and subtracting by grouping into 10s/1s, Relate addition and subtraction facts
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole



Problem Solving Strategies  
- Use a diagram/model
- Work backward

           Objectives
- Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number with/without regrouping
- Add 2 two-digit numbers with/without regrouping

*                                      

Science

Weather & the Seasons
     This week we will be talking about what types of weather go with each of the four seasons (fall, winter, summer and spring). We will also be discussing what type of clothing we wear in each season.       
     

Social Studies

   We will be finishing our National Symbols Unit packet this week.
Second Steps- Last week we learned how to invite students into join activities using the four problem-solving steps (S-Say the problem. T-Think of solutions, E-Explore consequences, and P- Pick the best solution). This week we will be discussing how to handle name calling. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
"When I Grow Up" Class Book
   Students have finished their four square and the four facts about the career they chose. The next step is putting these facts into five sentences starters explaining why students want to be the profession they chose when they grow up. After students finish their sentences, I will conference with them and then they will be given the rough draft paper to put the sentences into a complete paragraph. Once I conference with students who have completed the rough draft, students will copy their piece on their designated page of the book as well as draw & color their illustration.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our library time is Mondays at 1 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by the Friday before or Monday morning.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. Scholastic book order- I will be placing the orders at the beginning of this week and I will keep you up to date on when the orders will arrive.
4. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you discuss. Thanks!
5. Before School help- Thursday at 8 a.m.
6. If you have not signed and returned your child's report card envelope, please return it as soon as possible. Thank you!
7. Tuesday, April 4th is a full day of school for students. 
8. Class Book: I sent home a handout today about purchasing one of the hard covered class books we will be publishing. Please send me an email or note in your child's folder if you would like to purchase one. Once I receive your note or email, I will send home an order form. Please return the order form by Wednesday, April 12th. 
9. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and tissues. 
10. Class Picture- Our class picture will be taken on Monday, April 10th. Please have your child bring in their photo slip if you would like to purchase a copy. Thank you!

Have a fantastic first week of April! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Math Facts (Addition and/or Subtraction)

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)
Tuesday: Math Facts (Check-in on Friday)
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)

Thursday: Comprehension (due on Friday)