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]