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)