May 28th-June 1st Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 28th-June 1st

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 6

Main selection: The Stone Garden

Weekly Question:  What can happen when someone has a new idea?
Amazing Words: accomplish, doubt, original, glider, (un)manned, soar, exclaim
High-Frequency Words: answered, carried, different, poor
Phonics Target: Prefixes: un-, re-  (undo, remove); long o & i (gold; wild)

Comprehension skills: Theme
Comprehension strategy: Inferring

Genres: Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "What/Whom" (She brushes my hair.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 6 (sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 13, Week 2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Adding -es ending to words with digraphs and blends (i.e. lunches, brushes)
• Trick Words: look, good, new

Math in Focus

Chapter 17: Addition and Subtraction within 100
Prerequisite Skills: Making tens and ones, adding tens and ones with regrouping, subtracting tens and ones

Thinking Skills
- Deduction
- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Simplify the problem
                                            - Guess and check

           Objectives
- Add a 2-digit number and a 1-digit number without regrouping.
- Add two 2-digit numbers without regrouping.
- Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number without regrouping.
- Subtract two 2-digit numbers without regrouping.

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     Last week students learned all about importance of the job bees do to help plants grow with a fun relay race helped show students how hard bees work to pollinate plants. This week is our last lesson of our Backyard Growers unit. Students will review everything that they have learned over the last 10 weeks.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week the students will begin sharing their famous American reports with the rest of the class.

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

     Our next writing piece will be a persuasive piece. The students will be writing a letter to an incoming Kindergartener telling them how great first grade is and all of the reasons why! This week we will be brainstorming and beginning to write rough draft letters.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week.
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!
4. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
5. Wish List: Paper towels. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
6. Scholastic Book Club June catalogs will go home tomorrow. Orders are due by Friday, June 8th so books come in before summer break. 
7. End of the Year Assessments- Our End of the Year Reading Street test will be given next week. It assesses all reading skills taught this school year. 
8. Stone Zoo field trip is on Wednesday, June 14th. Chaperones a letter with more information was sent home on Friday last week. Permission slips will be sent home today. Please return the completed slip by Friday, June 8th.
9. Animal Project- Due on Friday, June 1st.
10. Our Patriotic Presentation was a HUGE success! The students did a wonderful job showing off everything they have learned about our National Symbols. I am so proud of them and all of their hard work! Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make it special!

Have a wonderful 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
Moon Log
Animal Report

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Zero the Hero Math Game (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Moon Log (due on Friday, June 1st) 
Animal Project (due on Friday, June 1st) 

May 21st-25th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 21st-25th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 5

Main selection: Alexander Graham Bell: A Great Inventor

Weekly Question:  How can a great idea change the way we live?
Amazing Words: determined, inventor, stable, technology, stalled, biplane, sketch, speech
High-Frequency Words: built, early, learn, science, through
Phonics Target: Vowel pairs: aw, au  (draw, launch); syllable pattern- diphthongs/digraphs (toybox)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Text Structure

Genres: Biography
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 13, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Adding -es ending to words ending with x, s, and z
• Trick Words: being, their, word, work, write

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120
**Chapter 16 Test on Wednesday, May 23rd**

Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills

- Comparing

- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  

                                            - Look for patterns

           Objectives

- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.

- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.

- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.

- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.

- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     Last week students learned about the five things plants need in order to grow through a scavenger hunt and by planting their own seeds. This week students will learn all about importance of the job bees do to help plants grow. A relay race may be involved to help show students how hard bees work to pollinate plants. 

     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week the students will begin sharing their famous American reports with the rest of the class.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Book Fair (Preview) 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Book Fair (Purchase)

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music; Patriotic Performance

Writing Workshop

This week students will be completing the planning stages of an autobiography.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week. We will be going to the Scholastic Book Fair during our library time to preview the books. 
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. Scholastic Book Fair- Our class will be going to the book fair this week. Our preview day is Monday, May 21st and our purchase is Wednesday, May 23rd. 
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
7. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will begin DIBELS and easyCBM testing this week.
9. Celebration of Learning is this Thursday, May 24. Come enjoy some of the skills your child has learned this year! I hope to see you all there!
10. Stone Zoo- A field trip permission slip will be going home next Tuesday. The permission slips are due back on Friday, June 8th.
11. Animal Project- Each child picked (from a hat) an animal we'll see at the Stone Zoo next month. This project is due on Friday, June 2nd.
13. Our Patriotic Presentation is this Friday, May 25th from 9:15 to 10:15 in our school gymnasium. The kids have been busy practicing. We hope you can make it!

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
Moon Log

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Zero the Hero Math Game (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Moon Log (due on Friday, June 1st) 
Invention Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]

May 14th-18th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 14th-18th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 4

Main selection: Simple Machines

Weekly Question:  How do great ideas make our lives easier?
Amazing Words: convenient, equipment, gadget, engine, furnace, pilot, steer, cellar
High-Frequency Words: against, goes, heavy, kinds, today
Phonics Target: Diphthongs: oi, oy  (oil, boy); Suffixes -er, -or (painter, sailor)

Comprehension skills: Main Idea and Details
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres: Expository Text, Literary Nonfiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 4 (fourth column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs.
• Unit Test on Wednesday, May 16th

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120

Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills

- Comparing

- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  

- Look for patterns

           Objectives

- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.

- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.

- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.

- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.

- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

     Backyard Growers Enrichment
     This week students will learn about the five things plants need in order to grow through a scavenger hunt and by planting their own seeds. 

Social Studies

Second Steps- Last week we learned how to handle name calling using our calming down strategy as well as the steps to problem solving. This week we will be reviewing everything we have learned in our Second Steps program. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
How-To Writing
     This week students will be completing their final drafts of their how-to writing and completing the colorful cover.

     

                   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. Scholastic Catalogs- May catalog orders are due on Friday, May 18th. 
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
7. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. Biography Project- I sent home the paper for the biography project with your child's name and person they are to research on Monday, May 8th. The project will be due this Friday, May 18th. Each child will have a chance to share their biography project to their classmates the following week. 
9. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will be administering DIBELS.
10. Celebration of Learning is this Thursday, May 24th at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
11. Stone Zoo- A field trip permission slip will be going home on Monday, May 29th. Since our field trip is being sponsored by our amazing PTO, it is free for students! Also, Chaperones have been selected and received confirmation today. Thank you to everyone who offered to volunteer! 
12. Our Patriotic Presentation is next Friday, May 25th at 9:15. Stay tuned for more information. Hope you can make it!

I hope you had a Happy Mother's Day! Bring on the sunshine and warm temperatures! 

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
Moon Log
Biography Project

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Money Review (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Moon Log (due on Friday, June 1st) 
Biography Project (due on Friday, May 18th) [Sent home on Monday, May 7th]

May 7-11 Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 7th-11th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 3

Main selection: Dot & Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery

Weekly Question:  How do we solve mysteries?
Amazing Words: explanation, riddle, wonder, confused, encouragingly, case, suspects
High-Frequency Words: among, another, instead, none
Phonics Target: Vowel Patterns: oo  (hood, took); Added Endings (learns, brushed, eating)

Comprehension skills: Compare and Contrast
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres: Informational Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 3 (third column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs.

Math in Focus

Chapter 14: Mental Math
Prerequisite Skills: Number bonds; Addition and Subtraction to 40

Thinking Skills
- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Make a systematic list
                                            - Work backward

           Objectives
- Mentally add 1-digit numbers, 1-digit number to a 2-digit number, and add a 2-digit number to tens.
- Mentally subtract 1-digit numbers, 1-digit number from a 2-digit number, and subtract tens from a 2-digit number.  

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     Last week students learned about the process of different parts of a cheeseburger and how they all start from dirt. This week students will learn about the five things plants need in order to grow through a scavenger hunt and by planting their own seeds.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week students reviewed what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. They also completed their two traits and examples about Ruby Bridges and began their trait examples for John Henry as well as the Wright Brothers. This week students will be completing their John Henry and Wright Brother traits and learning about our new famous American.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
How-To Writing
     This week students will be completing their final drafts of their how-to writing and completing the colorful cover.

Pen Pal Letters
     The class will be sending their letters out this week. This letter included fantastic illustrations from the students included with their letters.

     

                   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. Before School help- Thursday at 8 a.m.
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
7. Wish List: paper Clorox wipes
8. Biography Project- I sent home the paper for the biography project with your child's name and person they are to research. The project will be due on Friday, May 18th. Each child will have a chance to share their biography project to their classmates the following week. 
9. End of the Year Assessments will begin in the next coming weeks. 
10. Celebration of Learning is on Thursday, May 22nd at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
11. Stone Zoo field trip is on June 14th. A permission slip will be going home in a couple of weeks. 

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
Moon Log
Biography Project

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

President's Day Activity (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Moon Log (due on Friday, June 1st) 
Biography Project (due on Friday, May 18th) [Sent home on Monday, May 7th]

April 30-May 4 Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 30th- May 4th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 2

Main selection: Mole and the Baby Bird

Weekly Question:  How can we look at things in a different way?
Amazing Words: freedom, miserable, selfish, shrug, ignore, fond, proper, scarcely
High-Frequency Words: loved, wood, should, door
Phonics Target: Vowel Patterns: ow, ou  (show, out); Syllables C/CV, VC/V (baker, second)

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions
Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres: Animal Fantasy
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (The kids play loudly on the playground.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 2 (second column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 2 

Students will learn about...

• Reading two syllable words with V_E syllables
• Trick Words: been, little, own, want
• Unit Story: Jackson

Math in Focus

Chapter 15: Calendar and Time
**Chapter 15 Test on Friday, May 4th**
Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills
- Identifying patterns and relationships
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Deduction
                                            - Act It Out
                                            - Use a diagram

           Objectives
- Use the term "o'clock" to tell time to the hour.
- Use the term "half past".
- Read and show time to the hour and half hour on an analog and digital clock.
- Relate time to daily activities.

*                                      

Science

Backyard Growers Enrichment
     Last week students learned about the life cycle of a plant and seeds. This week students will learn about the five things plants need in order to grow through a scavenger hunt and by planting their own seeds.
     
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week students will begin to learn about what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. Students will also be learning about Ruby Bridges and discussing what qualities and traits she had as well as why she had those specific traits.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.; Backyard Growers

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
How-To Writing
     This week students will be publishing their final drafts of their how-to writing with a final copy of their steps and detailed illustrations. The how-to writing pieces will be completed with a colorful cover.

Pen Pal letters
     This week we will be sending our second letters to our Gloucester pen pals. The students' letters are packed full of interesting questions. They are very excited to receive a letter back!

     

                   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. Scholastic Book Order-May catalogs will be sent home this week. Please return or make orders by Friday, May 18th. 
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out.Thank you!
7. Wish List: paper towels!! Thank you so much for your donations! 
8. May Newsletter- News! News! News! This week a newsletter will be sent home outlining and explaining the important things that will be happening in the last two months of school for first grade. 
9. Moon Log- A May calendar with the description of this observation log will go home on Tuesday, May 1st. Please return the completed log back on Friday, June 1st. 

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
Coin Games
Moon Log

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

President's Day Activity (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Moon Log (due on Friday, June 1st) [Sent home on Tuesday, May 1st]