January 29th-February 2nd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 29th- February 2nd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 3

Main selection:  The Class Pet

Weekly Question:  What do we learn as animals grow and change?
Amazing Words: features, nibble, swoop, natural, wriggle, crumple, tumble, mature, nudges
High-Frequency Words: away, car, friends, house, our, school very
Phonics Target: Ending -es, Plural -es; Vowels: r-controlled or, ore

Comprehension skills: Fact and Opinion
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Expository Text
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 3 (third column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 27th for students to be tested on Week 3 words. 

Fundations: Unit 8, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Consonant blends and segmenting and spelling words with four sounds
• Sight Words: could, would, should

Math in Focus

Chapter 9

Length

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
Problem Solving Strategies  
- Act it out
- Use a diagram

           Objectives

                                    - Compare two lengths, using the terms tall/taller, long/longer, and short/shorter.
                 - Compare more than two lengths using the terms tallest, longest, and shortest.
                 - Use a common starting point when comparing lengths.
                 - Measure lengths using non-standard units and understand that using different non-standard units may give you different measurements for the same thing.

*                                      

Science

Physical Science 
Sounds Waves
     Last week students studied sound through an experiment with shoe boxes and three different sized elastic bands. They observed the difference of the sounds when plucked and even used a ruler to hold down the band while plucking the rubber band. After completing the experiment, each student recorded what they observed when plucking the different sized rubber bands in their science journals. 
This week students will be learning about how sound travels. Students will be using string, a plastic cup, and a spoon this week to experiment with how sound travels and will record their findings into their science journals. 

Social Studies

   We are beginning our Economics Unit this
week by developing an understanding of our 4
basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and
the difference between needs and wants. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: Early Release

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

     

Process Writing: Informative 
     This week students will be learning about the structure of informative writing pieces. Each student will find three facts about a specific topic. We will also be discussing how to write an introduction and closing sentence.

Framing Your Thoughts~ Predicate Expanders of Where
     Students will continue to finish their sentences and illustrations for the winter bare bone book. We will continue to practice using predicate expanders of how and begin writing sentences using all of the different parts we have learned so far.

                   Parent Reminders

1. We went to the library today. Make sure to return books by Friday or Monday morning!
2. There is an early release on Tuesday, January 30th. School will be dismissed at noontime. 
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes and tissues
4. Scholastic Book Club: February book catalogs went home today. Please send your orders and money in by Monday, February 5th!
5. Valentine Celebration (2/16)— $2.00 for supplies is due ASAP so we can order everything. All of our volunteer spots have been filled! Thank you to everyone who has offered to volunteer their time to help out at the celebration. We want to make sure everyone who wants to volunteer is able to for our class events. Your support is greatly appreciated. If you have not been able to volunteer, do not fear! There are more opportunities coming up!
7. We are in our 93rd day of school already! That means February 6th will be our 100th day of school. The children are encouraged to bring in 100 of something that can fit into a sandwich-size baggie. 
8. Missing Snow Pants!- A student in our class is missing a pair of snow pants. The snow pants are black bib styled pants that are size 6/6x and Iceburg brand. If you find these snow pants at your home, please return them to school with your child ASAP. Thank you!
9. Math Resources- There have been a couple of requests for extra math resources for children to use outside of school to continue practicing math skills and concepts. A list of resources will be posted on our class blog page and will be sent home later this week. Be on the lookout!

Have a great week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

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

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

 Coin Game & Math Fact Check-In #2  (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

January 22nd-26th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 22nd-26th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 2

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 26th for students to be tested on Week 2 words. 

Fundations: Unit 8, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Consonant blends and segmenting and spelling words with four sounds
• Sight Words: could, would, should

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

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will finish their recording sheets for the drum and rice experiment. They will also be conducting a vibration experiment with a cup of water and shoe box drum. After discussing their findings, students will record what they found. 

    

Social Studies

   We are beginning our Economics Unit this
week by developing an understanding of our 4
basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and
the difference between needs and wants.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will finish their winter barebone sentence and complete the final draft with a detailed illustration
      We will continue to practice writing how-to pieces. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. We went to library today. Make sure to return books by Friday or Monday morning!
2. We are beginning our Economics Unit this week by developing an understanding of our 4 basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and the difference between needs and wants.
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes. tissues, and paper towels. 
    4. Math Facts—Thank you for the feedback about how the practice is going at home. I have received a few notes about who is ready to be checked so I’ll do that this
week. Even if you feel your child has mastered this skill, please continue to practice these facts at home to build their automaticity. This week the focus will be on doubles facts (2+2=4, 3+3=6, 4+4=8, etc.) and double +1 rule (3+2=5, 1+2=3, 3+4=7, 4+5=9, etc.). I will be checking in with each student's progress with +0 and +1 rules. 
5. Scholastic Book Club: February book catalogs will be going home with students this week. Please your orders and money by Friday, February 2nd!

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

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

This week's homework:

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)

Tuesday: Math Fact Practice-Focus: Doubles & Doubles +1 Rule  (Daily)

Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

January 15th-19th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 15th-19th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 1

Main selection:  A Place to Play

Weekly Question:  How do places change?
Amazing Words: growth, population, teeter, public, makeshift, crooked, shuffle, spindly
High-Frequency Words: always, become, day, stays, things, nothing, everything
Phonics Target: Vowel sounds of y (my, funny); syllable pattern (hi, so, me)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres:  Realistic Fiction
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 16th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 1 (first column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 19th for students to be tested on Week 1 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 19th.

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

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will learn about vibrations and what it means by experimenting using cup drums, rice, and an unsharpened pencil. At the end of the experiment, students will record and reflect on what they observed.  

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; Music at West Parish

THURSDAY: P.E.

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. 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.
6. 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!
7. 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.
8. 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
Number Sense Math Games

This week's homework: 

Reading Log (due on Friday)

Color by Sum  (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

 MLK Comprehension (due on Friday)

January 8th-12th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 8th-12th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 6
**Unit 2 Test on Friday**

Main selection:  Honey Bees

Weekly Question:  How is an insect community like a community of people?
Amazing Words: individual, industrious, special, creep, slither, romp, eagerly, wander
High-Frequency Words: also, family, new, other, some, their
Phonics Target: Long e: ee (keep); Two syllable words with consonants next to each other (basket)

Comprehension skills: Comparing/Contrasting
Comprehension strategy: Questioning

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (People cheer on New Year's Eve!)

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 Wednesday) for Unit 2, Week 4-6 (fourth, fifth, and sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 2

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

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

*                                      

Science

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will learn about vibrations and what it means by experimenting using cup drums, rice, and an unsharpened pencil. At the end of the experiment, students will record and reflect on what they observed.  

     

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will be starting Unit 3 that gives students tools to identify and manage their own strong feelings. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Early Release

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Genre Writing~ Opinion
     This week students will be writing an opinion piece about their favorite food and giving reasons why it is their favorite.

New Year Resolutions

     This week students will finish their New Year's resolution pieces. 

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 using the elements necessary for a persuasive reading response. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. The class had library today. Our class' library time is Monday at 1 p.m. If you have any overdue books, please return them as soon as possible.  
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes 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. Scholastic Catalog- I sent home the January catalogs today. Please order or send in orders by Friday, January 12th.
6. Math Facts- I sent home math fact sheets to cut out, a Ziploc bag to keep them in, a ring and directions. Please begin practicing the +0 rule math facts (EXAMPLE: 1+0, 0+1, 2+0, 0+2, 3+0, 0+3, etc). Let me know if you have any questions!
7. Reading Passage—Starting next Monday, 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 wonderful week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

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

This week's homework:

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)

Tuesday: Addition Facts to 10  (Daily) [Begin with the +0 rule] [Sent home on Tuesday]

Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

Thursday: New Years Resolution Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]

January 1st-5th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 1st-5th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 5

Main selection:  Life in the Forest

Weekly Question:  How are plant and animal communities important to each other? 
Amazing Words: environment, require, thrive, inhale, slimy, sludge, capture, creature
High-Frequency Words: grow, under, water, around, food, find 
Phonics Target: Long e_e (Pete)/ Long u_e (use); Inflected Ending -ed (called, printed, fetched)

Comprehension skills: Author's Purpose
Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (The kitten pounced quickly on the sleeping boy.)
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 4 & 5 (fourth and fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• New glued sounds- ang, ing, ong, ung
• Pluralization
• Sight Words: why, try, my, by
• Unit 7 Story: King Sam

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

*                                      

Science
Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will be introduced to the second part of the unit: sound waves. Students will learn about vibrations and what it means by experimenting using cup drums, rice, and an unsharpened pencil. At the end of the experiment, students will record and reflect on what they observed.  

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will be finishing up our
Empathy Unit with a lesson on how to show care and concern.

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Genre Writing~ Opinion
     This week students will be writing an opinion piece about their favorite food and giving reasons why it is their favorite.

New Year Resolutions
     This week students will be learning about what a resolution is and brainstorming resolutions for our new school year. Students will write their resolution on a star and illustrate what they have decided to do or not do. The class' resolutions will be hung around the classroom to begin the new year. 

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will brainstorm winter subjects, predicates, and predicate expanders of where. Each student will write three barebone sentences using the winter themed vocabulary, but they will choose the sentence that they feel is their best sentence and they can draw a detailed picture for.
      We will also discuss and practice using the elements necessary for a persuasive reading response. 

     

                   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 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. Math Facts- Next week I will be sending home math fact sheets to cut out, a Ziploc bag to keep them in, a ring and directions. Stay tuned for more information!
6. Jan Brett Celebration was a huge success! Thank you again for all of the donations and parent volunteers who made this celebration possible.

Happy New Year! 

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) [Sent home on Tuesday]

Number bond Math Game Recording Sheet (due on Friday)

Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

Mitten Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]