May 27th-May 31st Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 27th-31st

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 5

Main selection: Alexander Graham Bell: A Great Inventor

Weekly Question:  How can a great idea change the way we live?
Amazing Words: determined, inventor, stable, technology, stalled, biplane, sketch, speech
High-Frequency Words: built, early, learn, science, through
Phonics Target: Vowel pairs: aw, au  (draw, launch); syllable pattern- diphthongs/digraphs (toybox)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Text Structure

Genres: Biography
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 1,2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs., been, little, own, want 

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120
**Chapter 16 Test on Wednesday, May 30th**

Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills

- Comparing

- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  

                                            - Look for patterns

           Objectives

- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.

- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.

- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.

- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.

- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Moon & Stars
     This week students will learn about the facts and figures of the moon. Students will also learn about the stars throughout this week. 
Life Science
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
This week students will be brainstorming ideas about the essential questions for this unit, "What do we know about birds?", "What birds to do we know?", and "What details do we know about them?". Students will also learn about the different external parts of a bird and discuss the different types of beaks.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week the students will be learning about the last famous American, Annie Oakley, and discussing her qualities and traits.

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

This week students will be completing the planning stages of a letter to a Kindergartener and finishing up any unfinished writing.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week. We will be going to the Scholastic Book Fair during our library time to preview the books. 
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!
5. Scholastic Catalog- I will be sending home the June Scholastic catalog this week. All orders are due on Wednesday, June 5th. 
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 and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. 
9. Celebration of Learning- Thank you to everyone who made it last Thursday to Celebration of Learning! 
10. Stone Zoo- The children had so much fun at the zoo last Friday! They did a great job being the experts of their animal they researched and sharing information with the rest of their group.
11. Biography Project- Each child was assigned a famous American last week to research. The biography project is due on Friday, May 31st.
13. American Symbols Play is Friday, June 14th from 9:30 to 10:30 in our school gymnasium. The kids have been busy practicing. We hope you can make it!

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

Biography Project

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]
Math Fact Check-In (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Biography Project (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday, May 21st]

May 20th-May 24th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 20th-24th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 4

Main selection: Simple Machines

Weekly Question:  How do great ideas make our lives easier?
Amazing Words: convenient, equipment, gadget, engine, furnace, pilot, steer, cellar
High-Frequency Words: against, goes, heavy, kinds, today
Phonics Target: Diphthongs: oi, oy  (oil, boy); Suffixes -er, -or (painter, sailor)

Comprehension skills: Main Idea and Details
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres: Expository Text, Literary Nonfiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 4 (fourth column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 1,2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs., been, little, own, want 

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120

Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills

- Comparing

- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  

- Look for patterns

           Objectives

- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.

- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.

- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.

- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.

- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Moon
     This week students will learn about the phases of the moon.
Animal Projects
This week students will individually share the animal that they researched with the rest of the class. Students will answer questions from their classmates and show off their illustration through a 'gallery walk'.

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week students reviewed what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. They also completed their two traits and examples about John Henry. This week we will learn about the Wright Brothers and brainstorm trait examples.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Book Fair (Preview)

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Book Fair (Purchase)

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Stone Zoo Field Trip

Writing Workshop
Spring Barebone Book
     This week students will be writing a spring-themed sentence using the different parts of a sentence our class has learned this year. Students will write a final draft of the sentence and our class will publish our class' sentences in a spring barebone sentence book.

Genre Writing- Expository/Informative Writing
     This week students will begin to organize the facts they have gathered about the Sun into the format of an expository piece of writing. The class will learn sentence starters for the three sections of an expository text (introduction, facts, and conclusion) and will complete a final draft of these facts on special Sun paper.

     

                   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. Scholastic Catalogs- May catalog orders came in last week. Happy reading! 
5. 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!
6. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
7. Biography Project- I sent home the paper for the biography project with your child's name and person they are to research on Monday, May 20th. The project will be due this Friday, May 30th. Each child will have a chance to share their biography project to their classmates the following week. 
8. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will be administering DIBELS.
9. Celebration of Learning is this Thursday, May 23rd at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
10. Stone Zoo- Everyone has their permission slip in to go to the zoo! The students are all very excited for Friday!
11. American Symbols Play- Please continue to practice lines and songs at home. Stay tuned for more information. We hope you can make it!
12. Book Fair- The Book Fair is open! Our class had their preview day of the fair today (Monday, 5/20). Their wish lists were sent home in their green homework folders. Our class purchase day is Wednesday, May 22nd at 9:05 a.m. If you choose to purchase books through the book fair, please send in the money for the books and the wish list specifying which books your child is able to buy (a circle, star, etc.). This will help make the purchase time slot move smoother. The book fair will be open on the night of Celebration of Learning (Thursday, May 23rd) as well if you would like to go and choose a book with your child. 

I hope 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

Biography Project

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Money Review (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Biography Project (due on Friday, May 30th) [Sent home on Monday, May 20th]

May 13th-May 17th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 13th-17th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 3

Main selection: Dot & Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery

Weekly Question:  How do we solve mysteries?
Amazing Words: explanation, riddle, wonder, confused, encouragingly, case, suspects
High-Frequency Words: among, another, instead, none
Phonics Target: Vowel Patterns: oo  (hood, took); Added Endings (learns, brushed, eating)

Comprehension skills: Compare and Contrast
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres: Informational Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 3 (third 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
• Unit 11 Test on Friday, May 17th

Math in Focus

Chapter 15: Calendar and Time
**Chapter 15 Test on Wednesday, May 15th**
Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills
- Identifying patterns and relationships
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Deduction
- Act It Out
                                            - Use a diagram

           Objectives
- Use the term "o'clock" to tell time to the hour.
- Use the term "half past".
- Read and show time to the hour and half hour on an analog and digital clock.
- Relate time to daily activities.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Moon
    This week students will begin looking at the moon and it's pattern in the sky. We will begin by experiencing the moon through observation. The students will learn about the different phases of the moon.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week students reviewed what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. They also completed their two traits and examples about Ruby Bridges. This week we will learn about John Henry and brainstorm trait examples.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: Early Release!

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Spring Barebone Book
     This week students will be writing a spring-themed sentence using the different parts of a sentence our class has learned this year. Students will write a final draft of the sentence and our class will publish our class' sentences in a spring barebone sentence book.

Genre Writing- Expository/Informative Writing
     This week students will begin to organize the facts they have gathered about the Sun into the format of an expository piece of writing. The class will learn sentence starters for the three sections of an expository text (introduction, facts, and conclusion) and will complete a final draft of these facts on special Sun paper.

     

                   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!
5. May Scholastic- May Scholastic orders will be coming in this week!
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, snacks
8. Animal Project- I sent home the paper for the animal project with your child's name and animal they are to research. The project is due on Friday, May 17th. Each child will have a chance to share their animal project to their classmates the following week. 
9. End of the Year Assessments will begin in the next coming weeks. 
10. Celebration of Learning is on Thursday, May 23rd at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
11. Stone Zoo field trip is on May 24th. Permission slips are due this Friday (May 17th)!

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)

100s Chart Activity (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Animal Project (due on Friday, May 17th) [Sent home on Monday, May 6th]

May 6th-May 10th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 6th- May 10th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 2

Main selection: Mole and the Baby Bird

Weekly Question:  How can we look at things in a different way?
Amazing Words: freedom, miserable, selfish, shrug, ignore, fond, proper, scarcely
High-Frequency Words: loved, wood, should, door
Phonics Target: Vowel Patterns: ow, ou  (show, out); Syllables C/CV, VC/V (baker, second)

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions
Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres: Animal Fantasy
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (The kids play loudly on the playground.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 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 5, Week 2 (second 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 15: Calendar and Time
Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills
- Identifying patterns and relationships
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Deduction
                                            - Act It Out
                                            - Use a diagram

           Objectives
- Use the term "o'clock" to tell time to the hour.
- Use the term "half past".
- Read and show time to the hour and half hour on an analog and digital clock.
- Relate time to daily activities.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Sun
    Last week students reviewed the fact that the sun appears to move across the sky. Students recorded 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 was collected, students analyzed the data that they collected and will use it to better understand the other patterns in the sky we will discuss. 
This week students will continue to gather facts and figures about the Sun. Students will learn that the Earth spins on an axis to create day and night. We will also begin to learn about the moon. 
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week students began to learn about what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. This week students will learn about Ruby Bridges and will be discussing what qualities and traits she had as well as why she had those specific traits.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Library

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop
Spring Barebone Book
     This week students will be writing a spring-themed sentence using the different parts of a sentence our class has learned this year. Students will write a final draft of the sentence and our class will publish our class' sentences in a spring barebone sentence book.

Pen Pal letters
     This week we will be sending our second letters to our Gloucester pen pals. The students' letters are packed full of interesting questions. They are very excited to receive a letter back!

Timed Write #7
     This week students will complete their seventh timed writing. These 5 minute exercises are used to assess the progression students make in writing fluency using different narrative writing prompts.

Genre Writing- Expository/Informative Writing
     This week students will begin to organize the facts they have gathered about the Sun into the format of an expository piece of writing. The class will learn sentence starters for the three sections of an expository text (introduction, facts, and conclusion) and will complete a final draft of these facts on special Sun paper. 

     

                   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!
5. Scholastic Book Order-May catalog orders were confirmed and will be shipped early this week. Thank you!
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 and snacks!! Thank you so much for your donations! 
8. May Newsletter- News! News! News! Last week a newsletter was sent home outlining and explaining the important dates in the last two months of school for first grade. 
9.  Stone Zoo Field Trip-The first grade will be going to the Stone Zoo on Friday, May 24th. Three parent volunteers are needed for our class. Thank you to those who have already reached out! I will be getting back to you as soon as possible. 

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)

President's Day Activity (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

ALL Math Facts (Addition & Subtraction) 
Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Animal Project (due on Friday, May 17th) [Sent home on Monday, May 6th]