March 19th-23rd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

March 19th- 23rd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 3

Main selection:  A Trip to Washington D.C.

Weekly Question:  What treasures can we find in our country?
Amazing Words: nation, symbol, tourist, abandon, splinter, sunken, harbor, statue
High-Frequency Words: found, mouth, once, took, wild
Phonics Target: Vowel digraphs oa, ow (coat; snow); Three Consonant Blends (splash)

Comprehension skills: Facts and Details
Comprehension strategy: Important Ideas

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The sun shines in the afternoon.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 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 4, Week 3 (third column). 

Fundations: Unit 10, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• Adding suffix -ed, -ing, -es to closed syllable words with 5 sounds 
• Sight Words: out, about, our
• Unit 10 Test on Friday

Math in Focus

Chapter 12

Numbers to 40

Pre-requisite skills: Count on from 10-20, Read place value charts, Compare/order numbers to 20, Make number patterns (skip counting 10-20). 

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole
- Sequencing and comparing

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Look for patterns
- Use before-and-after concept

           Objectives
- Count on/Read/Write numbers 21-40 in numbers and words.
- Use a place-value chart to show numbers to 40
- Show objects to 40 as tens and ones
- Use a strategy to compare numbers to 40
- Compare and order numbers to 40 
- Find the missing number in a number pattern

*                                      

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

   We are starting our National Symbols Unit this week. We will learn about four American symbols (American flag, Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, and the White House) in depth starting with the American flag. 
Second Steps- Last week we learned about the last two steps in how to solve problems, E-Explore consequences and P-Pick the best solution. This week we will be talking about fair ways to play. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Six Traits of Writing: Organization
     This week students will listen to a story all about emotions and how those emotions are described with specific words, phrases and illustrated with specific colors. After reading the story, I will have students choose an emotion we discuss and brainstorm. I will give students 3 minutes to finger paint a picture that they felt showed the emotion they chose. This week, students will be continuing to think of specific words to go with different emotions. 

Genre Writing: When I Grow Up
     This week students will begin to eliminate and focus on 2 careers that they want to have when they grow up. They will brainstorm 3 reasons for each career. Once they choose 2 careers with 3 reasons each, they will choose one career to write their final paper on. The students will edit their reasons and organize the reasons into a graphic organizer with an introduction and conclusion. 

This week's mini-lesson will include...
- What is voice? 
- How does word choice help with voice? 

     

                   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. "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. Report cards will be sent home on Friday, March 23rd. Please sign the envelope and return it to me next week. Thank you!

Have a fantastic week! 

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)

All Addition Math Facts (Daily) 

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Magic Pot Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]