March 25th-March 29th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

March 25th- 29th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 3

Main selection:  A Trip to Washington D.C.

Weekly Question:  What treasures can we find in our country?
Amazing Words: nation, symbol, tourist, abandon, splinter, sunken, harbor, statue
High-Frequency Words: found, mouth, once, took, wild
Phonics Target: Vowel digraphs oa, ow (coat; snow); Three Consonant Blends (splash)

Comprehension skills: Facts and Details
Comprehension strategy: Important Ideas

Genres:  Expository Text
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The sun shines in the afternoon.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 4, Week 3 (third column). 

Fundations: Unit 9, Week 1 & 2

• Students will learn about...

  • Closed syllables with short vowels
  • Closed syllable vs. open syllable
  • Vowel team sounds: ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, oi, oy
  • Sight Words: between, each
  • Unit Story: Fred the Frog
  • Unit 9 Test on Wednesday, March 27th

Math in Focus

Chapter 12
**Chapter 12 test on Wednesday, March 27th**

Numbers to 40

Pre-requisite skills: Count on from 10-20, Read place value charts, Compare/order numbers to 20, Make number patterns (skip counting 10-20). 

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole
- Sequencing and comparing

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Look for patterns
- Use before-and-after concept

           Objectives
- Count on/Read/Write numbers 21-40 in numbers and words.
- Use a place-value chart to show numbers to 40
- Show objects to 40 as tens and ones
- Use a strategy to compare numbers to 40
- Compare and order numbers to 40 
- Find the missing number in a number pattern

*                                      

Science

Space Unit
Patterns in the Sky
     This week our next unit begins! Students have already taken a pre-test about patterns in the sky to gather information about students' knowledge. The first lesson will be an introduction into patterns in the sky and beginning to observe the sun. 

     

Social Studies

   We are starting our National Symbols Unit this week. We will learn about four American symbols (American flag, Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, and the White House) in depth starting with the American flag. 
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: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: Curious George; P.E. 

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Six Traits of Writing: Organization
     This week students will listen to a story all about emotions and how those emotions are described with specific words, phrases and illustrated with specific colors. After reading the story, I will have students choose an emotion we discuss and brainstorm. I will give students 3 minutes to finger paint a picture that they felt showed the emotion they chose. This week, students will be continuing to think of specific words to go with different emotions. 

Genre Writing: When I Grow Up
     This week students will finish brainstorming everything they know about the career they want to be when they grow up. Then using the information each student put on their brainstorming page, students will begin to formulate reasons and organize the reasons into a graphic organizer with an introduction and conclusion. 

This week's mini-lesson will include...
- What is voice? 
- How does word choice help with voice? 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our library time is Mondays at 1 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by the Friday before or Monday morning.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you discuss. Thanks!
4. Report cards were sent home on Friday, March 22nd. Please sign the orange envelope and return it to me this week. Thank you!
5. April Scholastic Catalog- The April Scholastic catalogs will be sent home this week. April orders are due on Monday, April 1st. 
6. Curious George Field Trip-On Thursday, March 28th, the West Parish first grade will be going to see the production of Curious George: The Golden Meatball at The North Shore Music Theater. We will leave shortly after school begins and we will be back in time for recess and lunch. 
7. American Symbols Play- The first grade will be putting on a play about American symbols at the end of the year. The students are very excited about this. More information will be sent home soon!
8. Wish List- snacks, paper towels
9. Friday Science Lesson- This Friday, March 29th we will be going outside for our first Patterns in Sky lesson to observe the Sun. Each child needs a pair of sunglasses to complete this lesson. Please have your child bring in their own pair of sunglasses to use. Thank you!

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)
Reading Street Reading Word List

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

Math Number Sense Games
Coin Games
Sight Word Reading & Spelling

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

Zero the Hero Math Game & Recording Sheet (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday] 

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