February 4th-February 8th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

February 5th- 9th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 3

Main selection:  The Class Pet

Weekly Question:  What do we learn as animals grow and change?

Amazing Words: features, nibble, swoop, natural, wriggle, crumple, tumble, mature, nudges

High-Frequency Words: away, car, friends, house, our, school very

Phonics Target: Ending -es, Plural -es; Vowels: r-controlled or, ore

Comprehension skills: Fact and Opinion

Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Expository Text

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 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 3 (third column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 27th for students to be tested on Week 3 words. 

Fundations: Unit 8, Week 1

Students will learn about...

• Consonant blends and segmenting and spelling words with four sounds
• Sight Words: could, would, should

Math in Focus

Chapter 9

Length

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
Problem Solving Strategies  
- Act it out
- Use a diagram

           Objectives

                                    - Compare two lengths, using the terms tall/taller, long/longer, and short/shorter.
                 - Compare more than two lengths using the terms tallest, longest, and shortest.
                 - Use a common starting point when comparing lengths.
                 - Measure lengths using non-standard units and understand that using different non-standard units may give you different measurements for the same thing.

*                                      

Science

This week students will be learning about how sound travels. Students will be using string, a plastic cup, and a spoon this week to experiment with how sound travels and will record their findings into their science journals. 

Alternatives

     Last week the West Parish first grade was able to enjoy a lesson run by Change is Simple. Change is Simple is an organization that better helps the environment through educating communities about reuse, recycle, and alternatives for harmful materials that we use to package our food. The class played two games and was able to learn more about alternative food packaging that they could use in their own life.

Social Studies

   Economics Unit- This week we will shift gears to learn about goods and services. The students will sort pictures into two piles, goods and services and determine which ones fulfill a need or a want. 
Second Steps- We are continuing our safety unit with Mrs. LaBella this week. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Genre Writing- Opinion
      This week we will review 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 went to the library today. Make sure to return books by Friday or Monday morning!
2. Book Swap- The book swap is here! Students will be able to bring in books that they do not want at home to donate towards the school wide books swap. During the week of the swap, students will be able to go find new books from the collection of donated books. If students do not donate books, they will be able to come in and get books for 25 cents each. 
3.Wish list- Paper towels
4. Scholastic Book Club: February book orders are due on Friday, February 8th. Please send in or order online before or on Friday. Thank you! 
5. Valentine Celebration (2/14)— A supply list was given to Katharine Worth, our room parent, to contact volunteers to donate supplies for our Valentine celebration. Please let her know if you would like to donate any supplies. Thank you for your support!
6. February 8th will be our 100th day of school! The children are encouraged to bring in 100 of something that can fit into a sandwich baggie. 
7. Shoe tying- When your child wears snow boots to school, they have up to 6 opportunities to tie their shoes. Please help your child learn this important life skill. 
8. Lexia Competition- This week is the first week (out of four weeks) of the Lexia competition. The class with the most students who have completed 45 minutes or more for each week by the end of February will win.

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)

Reading Fluency Passage

Number/Letter Formation

Math Number Sense Games

Addition Math Facts to 10

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

 Collect 25 Recording Sheet  (Daily) [Sent home on Monday]

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

Goods & Services Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]