February 26th- March 2nd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

February 26th- March 2nd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 6

Main selection:  Where Are My Animal Friends?

Weekly Question:  What do animals do when the seasons change?
Amazing Words: hibernate, migrate, autumn, weary, freeze, bitterly, temperature
High-Frequency Words: before, does, good-bye, oh, right, won't
Phonics Target: Comparative Endings -er, -est; Consonant Pattern -dge

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions
Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres:  Drama
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The goose honked nervously this morning.)
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, Weeks 1-6 (all columns). 

Fundations: Unit 9, Week 1 & 2

Students will learn about...

• Closed syllables with short vowels
• Closed syllable vs. open syllable
• Vowel team sounds: ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, 
• Sight Words: say, says
• Unit Story: Fred the Frog

Math in Focus

Chapter 11
Picture Graphs and Bar Graphs

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
- Classifying 

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Make a systematic list

           Objectives
- Collect and organize data
- Show and understand data shown in a picture graph (also using symbols).
- Draw a picture graph.
- Make a tally chart.
- Show and understand data shown in a bar graph.

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     This week our Backyard Growers enrichment program begins! This is a great opportunity for the children to learn science content through a local organization with hands-on activities. The first lesson will be about the garden ecosystem. 

Social Studies

   Economics Unit- This week we will review everything we have learned about goods, services, needs, and wants. We will have our final Economics test to wrap up the unit.
Second Steps- We are wrapping up our Emotional Management unit this week with a lesson on managing worry.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; 101 Dalmations Play

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Pen Pal Letters
     This week students will receiving a letter from another first grade student in Gloucester. Each student will read and respond to their pen pal's letter using our letter format (greeting, body, closing, & signature). Students will be asking their pen pals questions to gather information about him/her. 

This week's mini-lesson will include...
- Letter format
- How to respond to a letter
- Grammar (punctuation, uppercase)

     

                   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. Please make sure to record the comprehension questions you discuss with your child on the reading log each night. Thank you!
4. Math Homework-This week's math homework is Collect 25. This activity as well as the two other coin activities can be played weekly to help students continue to practice trading and exchanging coins. 
5. Scholastic Book Club: March catalogs will be going home with students this week.  
6. Shoe tying- When your child wears snow boots to school, they have up to 6 opportunities to tie their shoes. Please help your child learn this important life skill.
7. Our Valentine Celebration was HUGE success! The kids had lots of fun using money to shop for goodies. Thank you again for all of your donations and support!
8. Spring Conferences (3/16)- I will be sending home conference sign-up sheets to a few select students. If you receive one, please return your sheet ASAP. I hope to be sending confirmation slips home with your conference time early next week. Thanks!
9. On Friday, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' birthday. We will have a special, surprise guest reader! 
10. Math Facts- I will be checking in on your child's progress with the addition math facts. If they have the majority of the math facts mastered, I will send home the subtraction fact cards. Keep up the good work! 

Welcome back! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Math Number Sense Games
Coin Games

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

 Collect 25 Game & Math Facts  (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Dr. Seuss Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]