December 11th-15th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

December 11th-15th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 4 

Main selection:  The Big Circle

Weekly Question:  How do animal communities work together to survive?
Amazing Words: enemy, extinct, boisterous, protect, crater, holler, swamp, bluff
High-Frequency Words: down, inside, now, there,       together
Phonics Target: Long o: o_e; Contractions (can't)

Comprehension skills: Sequencing
Comprehension strategy: Inferring

Genres:  Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Where" (Snowmen melt in the front yard.)
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 2 & 3 (second and third column). 

Fundations: Unit 6, Week 2

Students will learn about...

• Base word and suffix with the suffix -s
• Pluralization
• Narrative fiction vs. informational books 
• Reading with accuracy
• Sight Words: who, what, when
• Reading Selection: Jack's Bags

Math in Focus

Chapter 7

Numbers to 20
Prerequisite Skills: Count & compare to 10 , Make patterns (counting on/back)

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing patterns & relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Look for patterns

                               Objectives

                                                                                  - Count on from 10-20
                                  - Read and write 11-20 in numbers and words.
                                  - Use a place value chart to show numbers to 20.
                                  - Show objects up to 20 as tens and ones.

*                                      

Science

Light and Sound Waves
Last week students learned about the law of reflection by watching a demonstration using a ball. Students recorded what they saw with a scientific drawing and a small explanation in their science journals. This week students will carry out two different experiments using mirrors, a flashlight and target in order to test the law of reflection. 

Social Studies

Jan Brett Author Study 
Gingerbread Baby
   This week students will be read Gingerbread Baby, The Gingerbread Man, and The Gingerbread Girl. The students will have state which character they liked best and explain why they liked that character. 

Second Steps—This week Mrs. Labella will come into our classroom to continue to teach us about our emotions. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

     

This week students will write their rough drafts in a structured graphic organizer for writing a letter to someone. I will conference with each student and encourage them to put their own creative spin in their letters. After conferencing with each student, I will type their letters into a final draft for students to learn how to fold and put in an envelope. In each letter envelope, there will be a special Polar Express train ticket the other students will need in order to enter our classroom to watch the movie with us.

Polar Express Invitations 

     The week of December 19th, the first grade will be watching The Polar Express. Since the movie is going to be showing in our classroom, I thought it would be a fun idea for each student from our class to write a letter to two students (one from each of the other first grade classes). I explained to the students that this is a "top secret writing mission" for the next couple of weeks. This week, we will plan the important pieces of information that should be in our invitation (where, when, time, and what to bring to the movie). 
    
     I also have been asked how the students of our class will be able to "board" the Polar Express train if they do not have tickets. I explained to the class that they will be receiving a special piece of mail during the week of December 18th. :) 

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our class went to the library today. Please remind your child to bring back their library book by next Monday, December 18th. 
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3. Jan Brett Celebration-  If you have signed up to donate supplies for our celebration, please send in your supplies any time between today and Tuesday, December 19th. The supplies are due on Tuesday, December 19th at the latest. Thank you for your support!
4. Pajama Party- On Friday, December 22nd, there will be a pajama party for our class to celebrate our hard work over the past four months. Your child should have a clean pair of pajamas on and are allowed to bring their slippers to wear around school. Please do not bring in any valuable stuffed animals or blankets from home. Each student should have another pair of shoes to wear for outside.  
5. Reading Street Unit 2 Word Lists- This week have your child practice reading and spelling the words from column 2 and 3 on their Reading Street word lists. I will collect the lists on Friday, December 15th to have each child read the words in the second and third column. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Math Games

This week's homework:

  Reading Log (due on Friday)
 Number Bond Sentences Math Game  [Sent home on Tuesday]
 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
 December Celebrations Comprehension Sheet (due on Friday)