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]