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]