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]