May 29th-June 2nd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 29th-June 2nd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 6

Main selection: The Stone Garden

Weekly Question:  What can happen when someone has a new idea?
Amazing Words: accomplish, doubt, original, glider, (un)manned, soar, exclaim
High-Frequency Words: answered, carried, different, poor
Phonics Target: Prefixes: un-, re-  (undo, remove); long o & i (gold; wild)

Comprehension skills: Theme
Comprehension strategy: Inferring

Genres: Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "What/Whom" (She brushes my hair.)
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 Friday) for Unit 5, Week 6 (sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 13, Week 2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Adding -es ending to words with digraphs and blends (i.e. lunches, brushes)
• Trick Words: look, good, new

Math in Focus

Chapter 19: Money
Prerequisite Skills: Know penny, nickel, dime and quarter, Use pennies to buy things

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
- Analyzing parts and whole

                        Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Make a systematic list
                                            - Make suppositions

           Objectives
- Recognize and name penny, nickel, dime and quarter.
- Understand the symbol for cents.
- Skip-count to find the value for a set of coins of equal value.
- Choose the correct value of coins when buying items.
- Count money up to $1 using the counting on strategy. 

*                                      

Science

Invention Unit
     We will reread the book about the Wright Brothers and look at bird feathers up close to see how they help a bird fly.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
     Students will be finishing the traits and illustrations in their packets for each of the famous Americans we read and discussed.

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Talent Show

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

     Students continue to draft, revise, and publish their cause and effect writing project. Our next writing piece will be a persuasive piece. The students will be writing a letter to an incoming Kindergartener telling them how great first grade is and all of the reasons why!

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our last library day was Monday, May 22nd. Please make sure that your child's books are returned no later than Monday, June 5th.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "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. Wish List: Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. Scholastic Book Club June catalogs will go home tomorrow. Orders are due by Tuesday, June 6th so books come in before summer break. (Online order code- P9JVK)
9. End of the Year Assessments- We will administer the GRADE (tests reading comprehension) this week. Our End of the Year Reading Street test will be given next week. It assesses all reading skills taught this school year. 
10. Stone Zoo field trip is on Wednesday, June 14th. Chaperones a letter with more information will be going home this week.
11. Animal Project- Due on Friday, June 2nd.
12. Our Patriotic Presentation was a HUGE success! The students did a wonderful job showing off everything they have learned about our National Symbols. I am so proud of them and all of their hard work! Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make it special!

Have a wonderful week! 

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 Facts
Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday)

Thursday: Animal Project (due on Friday, June 2nd)

May 22nd-May 23rd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 22nd-26th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 5

Main selection: Alexander Graham Bell: A Great Inventor

Weekly Question:  How can a great idea change the way we live?
Amazing Words: determined, inventor, stable, technology, stalled, biplane, sketch, speech
High-Frequency Words: built, early, learn, science, through
Phonics Target: Vowel pairs: aw, au  (draw, launch); syllable pattern- diphthongs/digraphs (toybox)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Text Structure

Genres: Biography
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
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 Friday) for Unit 5, Week 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 13, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Adding -es ending to words ending with x, s, and z
• Trick Words: being, their, first

Math in Focus

Chapter 17: Addition & Subtraction to 100
**Chapter 17 Test will be on Thursday, May 25th**
Prerequisite Skills: Make 10s/1s, Add/Subtract 10s/1s with and without regrouping, relate addition/subtraction facts, check answers to addition and subtraction using related facts

Thinking Skills
- Deduction
- Identifying patterns and relationships

                        Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Simplifying the problem
                                            - Guess and check

           Objectives
- Add a 2-digit number to a 1 or 2-digit number with and without regrouping.
- Subtract 1 or 2-digit number from a 2-digit number without regrouping.

*                                      

Science

Invention Unit
     Last week students began their airplane drawings and will finish them this week.  We have read about the Wright Brothers, inventors of the airplane and this week we will discuss the three different types of feathers on a bird and their purpose.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week we learned about John Henry and the Wright brothers as well as some of their qualities and traits. This week we will learn about our last famous American and find some of his traits plus evidence to support them.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Writing Project
     This week students will continue to work on what the animal would ask for or need if they gave them that object and what it would do with it.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. We went to the library today. Please make sure that your child's book is returned either on Friday or next Monday.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "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. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. Early release- Tuesday, May 23rd at noon
9. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will continue DIBELS testing this week.
10. Celebration of Learning was a fun night! Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate your child's growth this year!
11. Stone Zoo- A field trip permission slip will be going home tomorrow. The permission slips are due back on Friday, May 26th.
12. Animal Project- Each child picked (from a hat) an animal we'll see at the Stone Zoo next month. This project is due on Friday, June 2nd.
13. Our Patriotic Presentation is this Friday, May 26th from 9:30 to 10:30 in our school auditorium (cafeteria). Please do not arrive prior to 9:15. The kids have been busy practicing. We hope you can make it!

Have a fantastic week! 

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: Animal Project (due on Friday, June 2nd)

May 15th-19th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 15th-19th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 4

Main selection: Simple Machines

Weekly Question:  How do great ideas make our lives easier?
Amazing Words: convenient, equipment, gadget, engine, furnace, pilot, steer, cellar
High-Frequency Words: against, goes, heavy, kinds, today
Phonics Target: Diphthongs: oi, oy  (oil, boy); Suffixes -er, -or (painter, sailor)

Comprehension skills: Main Idea and Details
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres: Expository Text, Literary Nonfiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
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 Friday) for Unit 5, Week 4 (fourth column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs.
• Unit Test on Wednesday, May 17th

Math in Focus

Chapter 17: Addition & Subtraction to 100
Prerequisite Skills: Make 10s/1s, Add/Subtract 10s/1s with and without regrouping, relate addition/subtraction facts, check answers to addition and subtraction using related facts

Thinking Skills
- Deduction
- Identifying patterns and relationships

                        Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Simplifying the problem
                                            - Guess and check

           Objectives
- Add a 2-digit number to a 1 or 2-digit number with and without regrouping.
- Subtract 1 or 2-digit number from a 2-digit number without regrouping.

*                                      

Science

Invention Unit
     Last week students began their airplane drawings and will finish them this week.  We will be reading about the Wright Brothers, inventors of the airplane as well as discuss the three different types of feathers on a bird and their purpose.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week we learned about Ruby Bridges and some of her qualities and traits. This week we will learn about John Henry and find some of his traits plus evidence to support them.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Book Fair

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Book Fair

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Writing Project
     This week students will continue to work on what the animal would ask for or need if they gave them that object and what it would do with it.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week! 
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "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. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. Biography Project- I sent home the paper for the biography project with your child's name and person they are to research on Monday, May 8th. The project will be due this Friday, May 19th. Each child will have a chance to share their biography project to their classmates the following week. 
9. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will be administering DIBELS.
10. Celebration of Learning is this Thursday, May 18th at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
11. Stone Zoo- A field trip permission slip will be going home tomorrow. The permission slips are due back on Friday, May 26th. Since our field trip is being sponsored by our amazing PTO, it is free for students! Also, Chaperones have been selected and received confirmation today. Thank you to everyone who offered to volunteer!
12. Book Fair- Your child's wish list went home today. Our shopping day is on Wednesday, May 17th. 
13. Our Patriotic Presentation is next Friday, May 26th from 9:30 to 10:30. Stay tuned for more information. Hope you can make it!

I hope you had a Happy Mother's Day! Bring on the sunshine and warm temperatures! 

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: Biography Project (due on Friday, May 19th)

May 8th-12th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 8th-12th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 3

Main selection: Dot & Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery

Weekly Question:  How do we solve mysteries?
Amazing Words: explanation, riddle, wonder, confused, encouragingly, case, suspects
High-Frequency Words: among, another, instead, none
Phonics Target: Vowel Patterns: oo  (hood, took); Added Endings (learns, brushed, eating)

Comprehension skills: Compare and Contrast
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres: Informational Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
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 Friday) for Unit 5, Week 3 (third column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs.

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120
**Chapter 16 Test will be this week**
Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Look for patterns

           Objectives
- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.
- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.
- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.
- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.
- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

Invention Unit
     This week we will explore why scientists look at birds and how that helped them to develop the airplane. Students will also draw three different views of an airplane (side, top down and front views). 
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week students began to learn about what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. This week students will be learning about Ruby Bridges and discussing what qualities and traits she had as well as why she had those specific traits.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
How-To Writing
     This week students will be putting the last few touches on their final drafts of their how-to writing and completing the colorful cover.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Writing Project
     This week students will continue to work on what the animal would ask for or need if they gave them that object and what it would do with it.

     

                   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. "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. Wish List: paper Clorox wipes
8. Biography Project- I sent home the paper for the biography project with your child's name and person they are to research. The project will be due on Friday, May 19th. Each child will have a chance to share their biography project to their classmates the following week. 
9. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will be administering ENI (number sense).
10. Celebration of Learning is next Thursday, May 18th at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
11. Stone Zoo field trip is on June 14th. A permission slip will be going home next week. 

Have a fantastic week! 

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: Biography Project (due on Friday, May 19th)

May 1st- 5th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 1st-5th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 2

Main selection: Mole and the Baby Bird

Weekly Question:  How can we look at things in a different way?
Amazing Words: freedom, miserable, selfish, shrug, ignore, fond, proper, scarcely
High-Frequency Words: loved, wood, should, door
Phonics Target: Vowel Patterns: ow, ou  (show, out); Syllables C/CV, VC/V (baker, second)

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions
Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres: Animal Fantasy
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (The kids play loudly on the playground.)
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 Friday) for Unit 5, Week 2 (second column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 2 

Students will learn about...

• Reading two syllable words with V_E syllables
• Trick Words: been, little, own, want
• Unit Story: Jackson

Math in Focus

Chapter 15: Calendar and Time
**Chapter 5 Test on Monday, May 1st**
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

Science will be on hold until the class is finished with the Quality & Traits Unit. We will continue to review science topics that have already been taught as we continue throughout the year.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week students will begin to learn about what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
How-To Writing
     This week students will be publishing their final drafts of their how-to writing with a final copy of their steps and detailed illustrations. The how-to writing pieces will be completed with a colorful cover.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Writing Project
     Last week students have picked an animal and object they would give to their particular animal. This week students will work on what the animal would ask for or need if they gave them that object and what it would do with it.

     

                   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. "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. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and tissues. 
8. May Newsletter- News! News! News! On Tuesday, May 2nd a newsletter will be sent home outlining and explaining the important things that will be happening in the last two months of school for first grade. 

Have a great week! 

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)