December 17th-December 21st Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

December 17th-21st

Literacy

This week we will be reviewing concepts and skills from previous weeks of Reading Street.

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 4 

Main selection:  The Big Circle

Weekly Question:  How do animal communities work together to survive?

Amazing Words: enemy, extinct, boisterous, protect, crater, holler, swamp, bluff

High-Frequency Words: down, inside, now, there, together

Phonics Target: Long o: o_e; Contractions (can't)

Comprehension skills: Sequencing

Comprehension strategy: Inferring

Genres:  Fiction

Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Where" (Snowmen melt in the front yard.)

Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 2 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home November 16th)
• Practice reading words for Unit 2, Week 4 (fourth column) as well as from Weeks 1-3. 

Fundations: Unit 6, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Base word and suffix with the suffix -s
• Pluralization
• Narrative fiction vs. informational books 
• Reading with accuracy
• Sight Words: are, were
• Reading Selection: Jack's Bags

Math in Focus

Chapter 7

Numbers to 20
Prerequisite Skills: Count & compare to 10 , Make patterns (counting on/back)

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing patterns & relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Look for patterns

                               Objectives

                                                                                  - Count on from 10-20
                                  - Read and write 11-20 in numbers and words.
                                  - Use a place value chart to show numbers to 20.
                                  - Show objects up to 20 as tens and ones.

*                                      

Science

Light and Sound Waves
Last week students carried out two different experiments using mirrors, a flashlight and target in order to test the law of reflection. This week students will learn about concave and convex curves as well as how light's reflection changes with each curve.  Students will be wrapping up our lesson on the law of reflection by using paint and their hand prints. 
 Gingerbread Ingredient Smell Test: Students will be challenged to explore their sense of smell as they investigate the question, "Do all things have odor?" They will also determine whether the ingredients are solids or liquids. 

Social Studies

Jan Brett Author Study 

   Through the story Annie and the Wild
Animals, children will learn about animals that
hibernate /migrate during the winter. They will
create a bird feeder for those animals that
stay and adapt to the change of the season.

Second Steps—We are continuing our
Empathy Unit by discussing ____________.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: Sing-a-Long; Jan Brett Celebration

FRIDAY: Polar Express; Early Release

Writing Workshop

Six Traits of Writing~ Ideas

Jan Brett Mittens     
This week the students will be putting their final touches on their animal riddles that will be a part of our Jan Brett celebration and hang out in the hallway for other students and visitors to enjoy. They turned out fantastic! 

Tom the Turkey
     This week students will be conferencing with me about their stories and writing their final drafts that include illustrations. 

Gingerbread Story Endings
     Last week students listened to  the stories, The Gingerbread Baby and The Gingerbread Man. At the end of the week, the students needed to choose which story they wanted to write an alternative ending for. Once the student chose the story, they began to brainstorm their ideas for their endings. This week students will write and illustrate the endings to their story. 

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our class went to the library today. Students will be allowed to take library books home for the holidays. If you have received a slip for an overdue book, please return it as soon as possible. 
2. Early Release Friday, December 21st.
3. Jan Brett Celebration-Thank you for supporting our class by donating supplies and/or taking the time to come volunteer in the classroom! We are very excited for Thursday!
4. Pajama Party- On Friday, December 21st, there will be a pajama party for our class to celebrate our hard work over the past four months. Your child should have a clean pair of pajamas on and are allowed to bring their slippers to wear around school. Please do not bring in any valuable stuffed animals or blankets from home. Each student should have another pair of shoes to wear for outside.
5.   Winter break practice packets- Reading is essential in first grade and it is imperative your child continues to read throughout the break as well as practice letter and number formation. On Thursday, December 20th, I will be sending a practice packet home for your child to use during winter break that includes decodable readers, a number formation guide, and letter formation guides. 
6. Holiday Break Reading Challenge- On Thursday (12/20), I will be sending home a reading log for students to complete over break. The logs will be due on our first day back, Wednesday, January 2nd. The reading log is a challenge to add some excitement for the students. 
7. Homework- All homework will be sent home on Monday for this week. Please complete the activities in the packet that was sent home today, Monday December 17th and return on Friday, December 22nd at the latest.

Have a fantastic week! Happy Holidays!

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Math Number Sense Games

This week's homework: 

Reading Log (due on Friday)
 Number Bond Math Game  (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]
Dialogue Journal Letter (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday
Holiday Tree Comprehension Sheet (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]