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]