Monday, June 11, 2018

June 11-June 15 Newsletter


First Grade Newsletter
June 11th-June 15th

Literacy
Reading Street: End of the Year Test
The students worked very hard and did their best on their End of the Year Reading Street test. They should be very proud of their effort!


Fundations: Unit 14, Week 2

Students will learn about...
  • Review all concepts taught (baseword/suffix including -s, -es, -ing, -ed; digraphs, blends, glued sounds, silent -e words)
  • Trick Words: may, day, way
  • Later in the week, we'll be reviewing trick words we have learned this year through some spelling games. 
Math in Focus


Chapter 19: Money
**Chapter 19 test will be this week**
Prerequisite Skills: Know penny, nickel, dime and quarter, Use pennies to buy things

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Make a systematic list
                                            - Make suppositions

           Objectives
- Recognize and name penny, nickel, dime and quarter.
- Understand the symbol for cents.
- Skip-count to find the value for a set of coins of equal value.
- Choose the correct value of coins when buying items.
- Count money up to $1 using the counting on strategy. 


*                                      
Science
 Backyard Growers
Today the students had a chance to harvest the lettuce they planted a few weeks ago and garlic that they helped plant in the fall. Tomorrow will be a tasting day. Yum!
     
Social Studies

Flag Day
We'll be reviewing what we learned about the American Flag to help celebrate the flag's birthday!
    
 Specialists


MONDAY: Music; Harvest Day!
TUESDAY: P.E.; Salad Tasting Day
WEDNESDAY: Music
THURSDAY: P.E.; Stone Zoo Field Trip
FRIDAY: Art; Music; Disney Nature Movie


Writing Workshop

     The students are working on drafting and publishing their informative letter to their new second grade teacher introducing themselves. They will include some of their traits, strengths, weaknesses and a question.
     In our final writing project for the school year, they will reflect upon various aspects of the year in a homemade First Grade Memory Book.




     
                   Parent Reminders

1. All library books were due last week. You'll be contacted if your child has any outstanding books.
2. "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!
3. End of the Year Luau- To celebrate all that we have accomplished this year, the students and teachers are going to have a First Grade Luau on the last day of school, Tuesday June 19th. 
5. Stone Zoo field trip is this Thursday, June 14th. A notice will go home tomorrow with reminders.
6. **Homework Changes**- We will continue to eliminate homework assignments as the school year winds down. Last week was our last week for our dialogue journals and math. This week will be our last week for reading logs. 

Have a fantastic week! Stay cool!

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)


Monday, June 4, 2018

June 4th-8th Newsletter



First Grade Newsletter
June 4th-June 8th

Literacy
Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 6 & Review
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 phonics & sight words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 5 (Column 1-5). 
Fundations: Unit 14, Week 1

Students will learn about...
  • Review all concepts taught (baseword/suffix including -s, -es, -ing, -ed; digraphs, blends, glued sounds, silent -e words)
  • Trick Words: water, called
Math in Focus


Chapter 17: Addition and Subtraction within 100
**Chapter 17 Test on Tuesday, June 5th**
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
This week the students will take some time to teach the class about their animal they researched and that we will see at the Stone Zoo next week! I can't wait to learn some new, interesting facts!
     
Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
     The students did a great job identifying and explaining qualities and traits of the famous Americans as well as in folktales and legends.
Second Steps 
Review all of the strategies learned throughout the year. 
 Specialists


MONDAY: Music
TUESDAY: P.E.
WEDNESDAY: Field Day!
THURSDAY: P.E. (Make-up Field Day)
FRIDAY: Art; Music


Writing Workshop

     Last week the students started their persuasive letter to an incoming Kindergarten student about how great first grade is. They came up with some great reasons! They will write a final copy this week!
     Later in the week, they will begin writing an informative letter to introduce himself or herself to their new second grade teacher.




     
                   Parent Reminders

1. All library books are due back 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. End of the Year Assessments- We will administer the End of the Year Reading Street test this week. It assesses all reading skills taught this year. 
5. Field Day- On Wednesday, June 6th we have field day! Please have your child wear purple. If field day is postponed due to weather, the make up date is Thursday, June 7th.
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. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. Scholastic Book Club June catalogs went home on Monday, June 4th. Orders are due by Friday, June 8th so books come in before summer break. (Online order code- P9JVK)
9. End of the Year Luau- To celebrate all that we have accomplished this year, we're going to have a First Grade Luau on the last day of school, Tuesday June 19th. I will be sending out a list of things we need. Please write your name next to the items you can donate and I will send you a confirmation. Stay tuned! 
10. Stone Zoo field trip is next Thursday, June 14th. Please turn in permission slips no later than Friday, June 8th.
11. Animal Project- If your child has not turned in their animal project, please turn it in as soon as possible. Our first animal project share is tomorrow. 
12. **Homework Changes**- We will begin to eliminate homework some homework assignments as the school year winds down. Last week was our last week for reading comprehension work. This week will be our last week for reading passages and journal writing. For Math homework, I have sent home a recording sheet for the Zero the Hero game. 

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


This week's homework:
 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Zero the Hero Math Game Recording Sheet (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]
 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]