April 28th-May 3rd Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 29th- May 3rd

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 1

Main selection: Tippy-Toe Chick, Go!

Weekly Question:  When does a problem need a clever solution?
Amazing Words: predicament, furious, grumpy, clever, intend, exhausted, batter, griddle
High-Frequency Words: along, behind, eyes, never, pulling, toward
Phonics Target: Dipthong ow, ou (town, loud); final syllable -le (able)

Comprehension skills: Character, setting, plot 
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres: Animal Fantasy, Folk Tale
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (Dogs excitedly bark.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home April 23rd)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Tuesday, April 30th) for Unit 5, Week 1 (first column). 

Fundations: Unit 11, Week 1 & 2

Students will learn about...

• Vowel-consonant-e syllable in one-syllable words
• Long vowel sounds
• Trick Words: friend, other, another, none, nothing
• Unit Story: Jake the Whale

Math in Focus

Chapter 14: Mental Math
Prerequisite Skills: Number bonds; Addition and Subtraction to 40

Thinking Skills
- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Make a systematic list
                                            - Work backward

           Objectives
- Mentally add 1-digit numbers, 1-digit number to a 2-digit number, and add a 2-digit number to tens.
- Mentally subtract 1-digit numbers, 1-digit number from a 2-digit number, and subtract tens from a 2-digit number.  

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Sun
     Last week students learned about how the Sun appears to move across the sky and began to look at some facts about the Sun. This week students will review the fact that the sun appears to move across the sky. Students will record evidence supporting the movement they see of the Sun, including using non-standard measurements to measure the Sun from the horizon and the length of a shadow of an object, during three periods throughout the day (arrival, after lunch, and before dismissal). After the data is collected, students will analyze the data that they collected and use it to better understand the other patterns in the sky we will discuss. 
     

Social Studies

Second Steps- This week the class will be learning how to include other people. Students will be listening to the story Can I Play Too?  and answering questions about how to problem solve in social situations. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Pen Pal Letters
     Each student will write to their pen pal this week. We will send our letters out as soon as they are finished!

Response to Text Writing- Expository/Informative
     This week students will be given the story, "Honey Bees" that we have already read in Reading Street this year. As a class, we will read the story together twice; once to remind the students of the events that happen in the story and the second time with the prompt in mind to find evidence to support the students' answers. Students will have 30 minutes to complete the writing of the prompt and a drawing.

Genre Writing: Expository/Informative 
     This week students will be learning about how to write informative sentences when writing about a topic or responding to a text. The class will begin to gather facts about the Sun to later use in an informative writing piece.

     

                   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. Dialogue Journals will be handed out on its regular day, Wednesday, April 24th. 
4. "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!
5. Scholastic Order- Please hand in and/or complete your orders by Friday, May 10th. 
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out.Thank you!
7. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and snacks. Thank you to those who have donated supplies!
8. Math Facts- Your child should have brought home one set of addition math facts to 10 and one set of subtraction math facts within 10. These facts need to practiced daily. It is important that each child has mastered most of these facts by the end of 1st grade. 
9. American Symbols Play- If your child came home with lines for our play before April vacation, please practice the lines and songs with your child. Stay tuned for more information!
10. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! This week, the first grade team will be sending home a newsletter about some exciting things we'll be doing to wrap up the school year. Stay tuned!

Enjoy the last few days of April! 

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)

School for Fish Math Activity (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]

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

April 22nd-April 26th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 22nd-26th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 6

Main selection: Henry and Mudge and Mrs. Hopper's House

Weekly Question:  What treasures can we share with neighbors?
Amazing Words: discover, dwell, resident, welcome, admire, sadness, substantial, tremendous
High-Frequency Words: across, because, dance, only, opened, shoes, told 
Phonics Target: Vowel Sound in moon: oo  (broom, hoop); Suffixes -ly, -ful (lightly, playful)

Comprehension skills: Cause and Effect
Comprehension strategy: Predict and Set Purpose

Genres: Realistic Fiction
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 5 & 6 (fifth and sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 10, Week 1 & 2

Students will learn about...

• Closed syllables with 5 sounds 
• Suffix -s, -ed, and -ing
• Adding a suffix (-s, -ed, and -ing) to closed syllables with 5 sounds 
• Sight Words: now, down, how, out, about, our
• Unit Story: The Skunk

Math in Focus

Chapter 13
**Chapter 13 Test on Wednesday, April 24th**
Addition and Subtraction to 40

Pre-requisite skills: Adding by making a 10, Adding and subtracting by grouping into 10s/1s, Relate addition and subtraction facts
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole



Problem Solving Strategies  
- Use a diagram/model
- Work backward

           Objectives
- Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number with/without regrouping
- Add 2 two-digit numbers with/without regrouping

*                                      

Science

Space Unit
Patterns of the Sky
     Last week students discussed knowledge that they already have about the Sun, Moon, and Earth, and their movement. Each student formed a question about what they wanted to know more about or a question about our discussion. This week students will be observing the Sun. 
Backyard Growers Enrichment

                                 Last week students were able to learn about our ecosystem. Students participated in 6 different stations that each had an important lesson to add to their knowledge about worms & honey bees, plants (parts, heredity and their needs), and how the ingredients from a cheese pizza all come from dirt. 

     

Social Studies

Second Steps- This week the class will be reviewing our STEPs to solving problems. We will also be practicing our steps to calming down when we feel strong emotions. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
"When I Grow Up" Class Book
   Our class has finished our book! Students worked so hard throughout the past month brainstorming, planning, and and perfecting their pieces to be published in the book. All of the illustrations are as detailed as the students' writing. They have created bright and intricate pictures to go with their writing. I am very excited to see the final product!

Pen Pal Letters
     This week students will be reading their new pen pal letters. Each student will brainstorm ideas to answer the questions that they have been asked by their pen pal and think of questions that they want to ask their pen pal. 

     

                   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. Dialogue Journals will be handed out on its regular day, Wednesday, April 24th. 
4. "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!
5. Scholastic Order- May Scholastic catalogs will be handed out today. Please hand in and complete your orders by Friday, May 10th. 
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out.Thank you!
7. Class Book: Our class book as been sent our for publishing! Thank you to everyone who ordered one. 
9. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and snacks. 
10. Math Facts- Your child should have brought home one set of addition math facts to 10 and one set of subtraction math facts within 10. These facts need to practiced daily. It is important that each child has mastered most of these facts by the end of 1st grade. 
11. American Symbols Play- If your child came home with lines for our play before April vacation, please practice the lines and songs with your child.
12. Poem in Your Pocket Day (4/26)- This Friday (4/26) is Poem in Your Pocket Day! I will be having students pick out poems that they love and writing them on a piece of paper. They will take home the poem to practice reading. On Friday, students will have a chance to share their poem with their classmates.

Welcome back! 

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)

Subtraction Math Facts Check-In Sheet (Wk 2) (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

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

April 8th-April 12th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 8th-12th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 5

Main selection: Peter's Chair

Weekly Question:  What treasures can we share at home?
Amazing Words: jealous, relatives, sibling, secret, porridge, collector, flourish, seriousness
High-Frequency Words: stood, room, thought, picture, remember
Phonics Target: Compound words (popcorn, flashlight); Vowel Digraphs ue, ui, ew (blue, fruit, flew)

Comprehension skills: Theme
Comprehension strategy: Story Structure

Genres: Realistic Fiction
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 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 10, Week 1 & 2

Students will learn about...

• Closed syllables with 5 sounds 
• Suffix -s, -ed, and -ing
• Adding a suffix (-s, -ed, and -ing) to closed syllables with 5 sounds 
• Sight Words: now, down, how, out, about, our
• Unit Story: The Skunk

Math in Focus

Chapter 13
Addition and Subtraction to 40

Pre-requisite skills: Adding by making a 10, Adding and subtracting by grouping into 10s/1s, Relate addition and subtraction facts
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole



Problem Solving Strategies  
- Use a diagram/model
- Work backward

           Objectives
- Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number with/without regrouping
- Add 2 two-digit numbers with/without regrouping

*                                      

Science
Space Unit
Patterns of the Sky
     Last week students discussed knowledge that they already have about the Sun, Moon, and Earth, and their movement. Each student formed a question about what they wanted to know more about or a question about our discussion. This week students will be observing the Sun. 
Backyard Growers Enrichment

                                 This week we will learn about plant parts and the different parts that we eat. 
     

Social Studies

   We finished our National Symbols Unit packet this week.
Second Steps- This week we will learned about two boys who used the strategies of fair ways to play during indoor recess. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Backyard Growers

THURSDAY: P.E.; Spring Celebration

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
"When I Grow Up" Class Book
   This week students will be conferencing with me about their completed rough draft. Students will copy their piece on their designated page of the book as well as draw & color their illustration.

     

                   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. If you have not signed and returned your child's report card envelope, please return it as soon as possible. Thank you! 
5. Class Book: All book orders and forms are due by Wednesday, April 10th. 
6. Wish List: paper towels, wet wipes, and snacks. 

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 Thursday)

Color by Sum (Due on Thursday) [Sent home on Monday]

 Dialogue Journal (Due on Thursday) [Sent home on Monday]

April 1st-April 5th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

April 1st- 5th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 4

Main selection:  A Southern Ranch

Weekly Question:  Why do we treasure special places?
Amazing Words: impression, memory, familiar, errand, favorite, stampede
High-Frequency Words: eight, moon, touch, above, laugh
Phonics Target: Vowel digraphs ie, igh (tie; high);  Consonant Patterns kn, wr (knot, write)

Comprehension skills: Facts and Details
Comprehension strategy: Questioning

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 4 (fourth column). 

Fundations: Unit 10, Week 1 & 2

Students will learn about...

• Closed syllables with 5 sounds 
• Suffix -s, -ed, and -ing
• Adding a suffix (-s, -ed, and -ing) to closed syllables with 5 sounds 
• Sight Words: now, down, how, out, about, our
• Unit Story: The Skunk

Math in Focus

Chapter 13
Addition and Subtraction to 40

Pre-requisite skills: Adding by making a 10, Adding and subtracting by grouping into 10s/1s, Relate addition and subtraction facts
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole



Problem Solving Strategies  
- Use a diagram/model
- Work backward

           Objectives
- Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number with/without regrouping
- Add 2 two-digit numbers with/without regrouping

*                                      

Science

Space Unit 
Patterns in the Sky
     Last week we finished up our physical science unit with the students sharing their communication devices to the whole class. This week students will begin to discuss patterns in the sky that include the behavior of the sun, moon and stars. 
     

Social Studies

   We started our National Symbols Unit last week. We learned about the Statue of Liberty, American flag, and the White House. This week we will learn about the bald eagle and Washington Monument.
Second Steps- This week we will learned about two boys who used the strategies of fair ways to play during indoor recess. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E. 

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
"When I Grow Up" Class Book
   Students did a great job coming up with careers they could have when they grow up! We had ideas from being teachers to being builders to professional sports players. This week we will continue to work on the planning stages of our “When We Grow Up” pieces. The students will finish their three reasons about the careers they chose. The next step in the planning process is to come up with four reasons why they want to have that profession with they grow up.

     

                   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. Spring Celebration (4/11)- The first grade will be having their first spring celebration this year on Thursday, April 11th (the Thursday before April vacation). We need 1 parent volunteer from our class to come in and help with our stations. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me through Bloomz or email. Thank you for your support!
5. April Scholastic Catalog- The April Scholastic orders are due today (Monday, April 1st). 
6. Curious George Field Trip-The first grade went to see the production of Curious George: The Golden Meatball at The North Shore Music Theater last week. The students has a blast watching the adventure of Curious George and the Man in Yellow Hat!
7. 'When We Grow Up' Class Book- We are continuing to work on our class book, "When We Grow Up". You have an opportunity to buy a copy of our class book through Schoolmate. The handout that came home in your child's folder gives information about how to order online and through check/cash. If you are interested in ordering, please place the order as soon as possible. All orders are due no later than Wednesday, April 11th. Thank you for you support!
8. Wish List- snacks, paper towels
9. Report Cards were sent home on Friday, March 22nd. Please sign the envelope and return it back to school as soon as possible. Thank you!

Have a great 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)

Subtraction Math Facts to 10 (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Red, White & Blue Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]