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]