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]