January 21st-January 25th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 21st-25th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 1

Main selection:  A Place to Play

Weekly Question:  How do places change?
Amazing Words: growth, population, teeter, public, makeshift, crooked, shuffle, spindly
High-Frequency Words: always, become, day, stays, things, nothing, everything
Phonics Target: Vowel sounds of y (my, funny); syllable pattern (hi, so, me)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres:  Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (People cheer loudly!)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 22nd)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 1 (first column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 25th for students to be tested on Week 1 words. 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 3

Students will learn about...

• New glued sounds- ank, ink, onk, unk
• Review glued sounds- ang, ing, ong, ung
• Pluralization
• Sight Words: put, two
• Unit 7 Story: King Sam
• Unit 7 Test is on Friday, January 19th.

Math in Focus

Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Guess and Check
- Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems
       We are beginning to do some explicit instruction around money. We will begin by identifying coins by name and how much they are worth.  

*                                      

Science

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will finish their recording sheets for the drum and rice experiment. They will also be conducting a vibration experiment with a cup of water and shoe box drum. After discussing their findings, students will record what they found. 

    

Social Studies

   We are beginning our Economics Unit this
week by developing an understanding of our 4
basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and
the difference between needs and wants.

Mrs. LaBella kicked off her safety unit last Thursday! The students review the 3 R's to remember how to stay safe and the Never-Never rules. She will be coming in this Thursday to further discuss how to stay safe. Each session she comes in, she will be handing out a homework assignment to the students. Her assignments need to be done with an adult to go through the paper and discuss what the child has learned during each session. Mrs. LaBella has promised the children who bring in all 6 homeworks a special prize. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will finish their winter barebone sentence and complete the final draft with a detailed illustration

Writing Fluency-This week the class will complete their fourth fluency prompt. Each fluency prompt will be 5 minutes long. One minute for students to brainstorm ideas about the prompt's sentence starter and 4 minutes to write their ideas. The goals for each fluency prompt are to see growth in the number of words students write and to see students applying grammar and writing skills they are learning throughout the year. 
Genre Writing- Opinion
      This week students will begin to discuss the components of an opinion piece of writing. We will discuss the meaning of opinion, explore our opinions on different topics, and look at key components of an opinion writing prompt.
      We will continue to practice writing how-to pieces. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. We did not go to library today due to no school on Monday. Make sure to return books by Friday or Monday morning!
2. We are beginning our Economics Unit this week by developing an understanding of our 4 basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and the difference between needs and wants.
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes, tissues, and paper towels. 
    4. Math Facts—Thank you for the feedback about how the practice is going at home. I have received a few notes about who is ready to be checked so I’ll do that this
week. Even if you feel your child has mastered this skill, please continue to practice these facts at home to build their automaticity. This week the focus will be on doubles facts (2+2=4, 3+3=6, 4+4=8, etc.) and double +1 rule (3+2=5, 1+2=3, 3+4=7, 4+5=9, etc.). I will be checking in with each student's progress with +0 and +1 rules. 
5. Scholastic Book Club: February book catalogs will be going home with students this week. Please send in your orders and money by Friday, February 8th!

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Number Sense Math Games
Addition to 10 Math Facts

This week's homework:

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)

Tuesday: Math Fact Practice-Focus: Doubles & Doubles +1 Rule  (Daily)
Let's Go Shopping! Coin Game (Daily)

Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

January 14th- January 18th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 14th-18th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 6
**Unit 2 Test on Friday**

Main selection:  Honey Bees

Weekly Question:  How is an insect community like a community of people?
Amazing Words: individual, industrious, special, creep, slither, romp, eagerly, wander
High-Frequency Words: also, family, new, other, some, their
Phonics Target: Long e: ee (keep); Two syllable words with consonants next to each other (basket)

Comprehension skills: Comparing/Contrasting
Comprehension strategy: Questioning

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (People cheer on New Year's Eve!)

Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Wednesday) for Unit 2, Week 6 (sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 7, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• New glued sounds- ang, ing, ong, ung
• Pluralization
• Sight Words: why, try, my, by
• Unit 7 Story: King Sam

Math in Focus

Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                     - Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems
       We are beginning to do some explicit instruction around money. We will begin by identifying coins by name and how much they are worth.  

*                                      

Science

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will review what they have learned about vibrations and its means by experimenting using cup drums, rice, and an unsharpened pencil. At the end of the experiment, students will record and reflect on what they observed.  

Social Studies

   We will finish up our calendar-based lesson
on Dr. Martin Luther King this week. We’ll also
begin our Economics Unit by developing an
understanding of our 4 basic needs (food,
clothing, shelter, love).

Second Steps—Last week students learned about how to identify their emotions. This week they will be learning what to do when they have strong feelings in social situations. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will finish their three basic barebone sentences (a subject and a predicate; Example: Snowmen stand.) I will conference with each student to discuss which sentence they want to use and correct spelling errors. Each student will write take their chosen sentence and add a descriptive predicate expander of where to their barebone sentence. Students will have another conference to correct spelling errors and discuss the predicate expander chosen. After the second conference, they will be given the final draft paper to copy their sentence onto and illustrate a detailed picture. 

Genre Writing~ Opinion
     Last week students wrote about their favorite food. This week students will begin to brainstorm their least favorite food. They will be thinking about reasons why using four of their senses. 

New Year Resolutions
    This week students will write their resolution on a star and illustrate what they have decided to do or not do. The class' resolutions will be hung around the classroom to begin the new year. 
      We will also discuss and practice writing how-to pieces. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. The class had library today. Our class' library time is Monday at 1 p.m. If you have any overdue books, please return them as soon as possible.    
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Glue sticks. If you have brought in supplies, thank you for your donations!
4.  Reminder: We will have outdoor recess as long as it is at least 20F, so please send your child with a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves. Also, please label all of your child's winter clothing. Some children have a hard time identifying their own clothing. Thank you!
5. Math Facts—In your child’s homework this week, there is a form for you to fill out. We are just trying to get an idea of how the new Math facts homework is going. We will do this again in a few weeks.
6. Reading Passage— I will be sending home a reading passage for your child to practice reading. Since each student is in a different place with their reading ability, they will be practicing different skills. Please read through the directions on the back, which will tell you what to do. Thank you for supporting your child with their reading!
7. Journal Homework: Now that we are just about at the halfway point in first grade,
your child should write a minimum of 5 sentences in their journal letter.
8. Shoe tying and coat zippering…with the winter season upon us, there are many opportunities for your child to tie their shoes and zipper their coat in school. Please help them practice this life skill at home.

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

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

This week's homework: 

Reading Log (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]
Fluency Reading (due on Thursday) [Sent home on Monday]

Addition Math Fact Check-In  (Due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

 MLK Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

January 7th-January 11th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 7th-11th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 5

Main selection:  Life in the Forest

Weekly Question:  How are plant and animal communities important to each other? 
Amazing Words: environment, require, thrive, inhale, slimy, sludge, capture, creature
High-Frequency Words: grow, under, water, around, food, find 
Phonics Target: Long e_e (Pete)/ Long u_e (use); Inflected Ending -ed (called, printed, fetched)

Comprehension skills: Author's Purpose
Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (The kitten pounced quickly on the sleeping boy.)
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 (see white sheet sent home Wednesday) for Unit 2, Week 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 6 Week 2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Base word and suffix with the suffix -s
• Pluralization
• Narrative fiction vs. informational books 
• Reading with accuracy
• Sight Words: who, what, when, where, here, there
• Reading Selection: Jack's Bags
• Unit 6 Test on Wednesday, January 9th

Math in Focus

**Chapter 7 Test on Monday, January 9th**
Chapter 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Guess and Check
                                     - Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems

*                                      

Science

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
     This week students will learn about vibrations and what it means by experimenting using cup drums, rice, and an unsharpened pencil. At the end of the experiment, students will record and reflect on what they observed.  

     

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will be starting Unit 3 that gives students tools to identify and manage their own strong feelings. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: Early Release

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Genre Writing~ Opinion
     Last week students began writing an opinion piece about their favorite food by brainstorming their favorite food and giving up to 4 reasons why it is their favorite. This week students will begin to put their thoughts into a more formal format of a persuasive paragraph using a graphic organizer beginning with an introduction sentence and 2-3 persuasive supporting reasons.

New Year Resolutions
     Last week students learned about resolutions and brainstormed resolutions for our new school year. This week students will write their resolution on a star and illustrate what they have decided to do or not do. The class' resolutions will be hung around the classroom to begin the new year. 

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     Last week students continued to write winter subjects, predicates, and predicate expanders of where to create barebone sentences. Each student wrote three barebone sentences using the winter themed vocabulary. This week each student will choose 1 sentence that they feel is their best sentence. They will write their sentence on final draft paper and illustrate what they wrote about.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. The class had library today. Our class' library time is Monday at 1 p.m. If you have any overdue books, please return them as soon as possible.  
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Glue sticks, Clorox wipes and paper towels
4.  Reminder: We will have outdoor recess as long as it is at least 20F, so please send your child with a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves. Also, please label all of your child's winter clothing. Some children have a hard time identifying their own clothing. Thank you!
5. Scholastic Catalog- I sent home the January catalogs today. Please order or send in orders by Friday, January 18th.
6. Math Facts- I will be checking in with each student on their math fact rules +0, +1, +2. Next week, I will send home the rest of the addition math fact rules. 
7. Reading Passage—Starting this Monday (today), I have sent home a reading passage for your child to practice reading. Since each student is in a different place with their reading ability, they will be practicing different skills. Please read through the directions on the back, which will tell you what to do. Thank you for supporting your child with their reading.
8. Journal Homework: Now that we are just about at the halfway point in first grade,
your child should write a minimum of 5 thoughts/sentences in their journal letter.
9. Shoe tying and coat zippering…with the winter season upon us, there are many opportunities for your child to tie their shoes and zipper their coat in school. Please help them practice this life skill at home.

Have a wonderful week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

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

This week's homework:

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday)

Tuesday: Addition Math Facts to 10 (Part 2)  (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]

December 31st-January 4th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

December 31st- January 4th

Literacy

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). 

Fundations: Unit 6 Week 2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Base word and suffix with the suffix -s
• Pluralization
• Narrative fiction vs. informational books 
• Reading with accuracy
• Sight Words: who, what, when, where, here, there
• 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
Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
   This week students will review the vocabulary 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. Students will also be introduced to the second part of the unit: sound waves. 

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will review identifying emotions in ourselves and on other people. We will discuss where to look for clues (people's faces and body language) using two specific scenarios. Students will remember identifying emotions through 'The Feelings Song'. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School

TUESDAY: No School! Happy 2019!

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

Genre Writing~ Opinion
     This week students will be writing an opinion piece about their favorite food and giving reasons why it is their favorite.

New Year Resolutions
     This week students will be learning about what a resolution is and brainstorming resolutions for our new school year. Students will write their resolution on a star and illustrate what they have decided to do or not do. The class' resolutions will be hung around the classroom to begin the new year. 

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will continue to write winter subjects, predicates, and predicate expanders of where to create barebone sentences. Each student will write three barebone sentences using the winter themed vocabulary, but they will choose the sentence that they feel is their best sentence and they can draw a detailed picture for.
      We will also discuss and practice using the elements necessary for a persuasive reading response. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week.
2. Please make sure to pack a snack and water for your child each day. 
3.Wish list- Snacks, Clorox wipes and paper towels
4.  Reminder: We will have outdoor recess as long as it is at least 20F, so please send your child with a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves. Also, please label all of your child's winter clothing. Some children have a hard time identifying their own clothing. Thank you!
5. Math Facts- This week I am having students practice their math facts (Rule +0, +1, +2) at home for math homework. I will be checking in with each student next week beginning on Monday. Thank you to those who have sent me notes about your child being ready for a check-in. I still want those children practicing their math facts this week to be ready for the check-in next week. Thank you for your support!
6. Jan Brett Celebration was a huge success! Thank you again for all of the donations and parent volunteers who made this celebration possible.

Happy New Year! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

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

This week's homework:

Reading Log (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Math Facts Practice (Daily)

Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]