First Grade Newsletter
September 16th-20th
Literacy
Literacy Assessments
Last week the students completed their Fall DIBELs, which will help drive my reading instruction for each child.
Last week the students completed their Fall DIBELs, which will help drive my reading instruction for each child.
I was also able to conference with each student individually to assess their reading level and begin a personalized collection of books for them to read during independent reading.
Reading Street: Unit R*
Main selection: Tip and Tam/The Big Top
Weekly Question: What is outside our door?/What can we do with our neighborhood friends?
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Comprehension skills: characters, setting
PHONICS
Lively Letters (Sounds)
- Review stories and sounds for each letter pair: m/n, ng, s/z, a/o, j/ch, r/l, u/i, x/y/c, w/wh/h, e
- Last week’s letter pairs: p/b, t/d, k/g, f/v, qu
Handwriting Without Tears
- Review formation of the following letters…t, b, f, n, m, c, a, i, r, o, g, d, s, e, u, l, h, k
- Alphabetical order
*Please note that Handwriting Without Tears and Lively Letters are very fast paced reviews of the alphabet letter sounds and formations taught extensively in Kindergarten.
Math in Focus
Chapter 1
Pre-requisite skills and number sense
Objectives
- Count from 0 to 10 objects
- Read and write 0 to 10 in numbers and words
- Compare two sets of objects by using one-to-one correspondence
- Identify the set that has more, fewer, or the same number of objects
- Identify the number that is greater than or less than another number
- Identify the number that is greater than or less than another number
- - Make number patterns
*Please note: Math instruction in this unit is reviewing groundwork established in Kindergarten. We will be building upon these skills as we progress through the future math units.
Science
Space Unit
Patterns in the Sky
Last week students were introduced in patterns in the sky, beginning with the sun. Students were able to discuss knowledge that they already had about the Sun and observed the sun in the morning, mid-afternoon, and late afternoon. This week each student will form a question about what they want to know more about or a question about our discussion. Students will also be analyzing the data that they have collected observing the Sun and use it as evidence to support an important pattern the Sun repeats.
Patterns in the Sky
Last week students were introduced in patterns in the sky, beginning with the sun. Students were able to discuss knowledge that they already had about the Sun and observed the sun in the morning, mid-afternoon, and late afternoon. This week each student will form a question about what they want to know more about or a question about our discussion. Students will also be analyzing the data that they have collected observing the Sun and use it as evidence to support an important pattern the Sun repeats.
Social Studies
Last week, we developed our classroom rules and logical consequences together. This week we will continue to engage in friendship-building, cooperative exercises, always emphasizing the importance of friendship, unity, and cooperation.
Our social studies learning this week is embedded in our reading program. We will be focusing on families and community through our readings. This week the children will work to answer the question “What is outside our door?” and "What can we do with our neighborhood friends?"
Second Steps
Last week students reviewed the four rules for listening (eyes watching, ears listening, voice quiet, and body still). This week students will begin to learn about the four ways listeners can focus their attention. We use our attent-o-scopes to keep ourselves from being distracted and there are three parts of our bodies we use to listen: our ears, eyes, and brains.
Second Steps
Last week students reviewed the four rules for listening (eyes watching, ears listening, voice quiet, and body still). This week students will begin to learn about the four ways listeners can focus their attention. We use our attent-o-scopes to keep ourselves from being distracted and there are three parts of our bodies we use to listen: our ears, eyes, and brains.
Specialists
MONDAY: Music
TUESDAY: P.E.
WEDNESDAY: Music
THURSDAY: P.E.
FRIDAY: Art, Music; Library
This week students will continue our morning work assignment that requires students to draw and write about one or more activity that they did over the weekend. The purpose of this exercise is for students to practice putting their ideas on paper through words and illustrations.
Process Writing- Brainstorm Booklet
This week students will create a 'heart inventory', where students will draw and label people, places, and things that are close to their heart.
Writer's Workshop: Ideas
This week students will listen to a read aloud of It Came In The Mail. This story is about a boy who never received mail and decided that one day he was going to write a letter to his mailbox. After the read aloud, students will write a letter to their own mailboxes asking the mailbox to send them something that they wish to be sent.
Process Writing- Brainstorm Booklet
This week students will create a 'heart inventory', where students will draw and label people, places, and things that are close to their heart. Writer's Workshop: Ideas
This week students will listen to a read aloud of It Came In The Mail. This story is about a boy who never received mail and decided that one day he was going to write a letter to his mailbox. After the read aloud, students will write a letter to their own mailboxes asking the mailbox to send them something that they wish to be sent.
Parent Reminders
1. Wish list: Thank you so much to everyone who sent in school supplies. Our classroom is supplied and ready for a great school year! A wish list will be posted on the blog throughout the year if you would like to donate to our class2. Please be sure your child returns their school folder to school everyday. Also, please check it each day for important handouts and homework assignments. I will write about specific handouts that you should be looking for throughout the week in this section of the newsletter.
3. Children should bring in a small healthy snack (separate from their lunch) to have in class at 9:40 a.m. Please make sure that it is nut-free and has no glass products.
4. Scholastic book order: I sent home the September catalog last week. I will send these home monthly. Please do not feel obligated to participate every month, but the prices are great and it’s a great way to build your child’s home library and add to our classroom selection. A handout will be attached to this month’s catalog explaining more about Scholastic orders. September’s order is due on Friday, September 20th.
5. Meet the Teacher Night is coming up. Thursday, September 26th 5:00-6:00pm. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you! Please note—This is an adult-only evening.
6. The first-grade team is in the process of planning our first field trip to the Topsfield Fair. We will be Thursday, Wednesday, October 10th. The field trip permission slips will be going home this week. If your child needs a school lunch made, please contact me as soon as possible or write a note on the back of the permission slip. I am looking for 3 parent volunteers who would like to chaperone. Please contact me on Bloomz or through email if you are interested! Please note: You will need to be CORI checked in order to chaperone.
7. Help needed—Room Parents: I am looking for two room parents who can share the class contact list. Room parents coordinate calling parents for special classroom celebrations.
6. The first-grade team is in the process of planning our first field trip to the Topsfield Fair. We will be Thursday, Wednesday, October 10th. The field trip permission slips will be going home this week. If your child needs a school lunch made, please contact me as soon as possible or write a note on the back of the permission slip. I am looking for 3 parent volunteers who would like to chaperone. Please contact me on Bloomz or through email if you are interested! Please note: You will need to be CORI checked in order to chaperone.
7. Help needed—Room Parents: I am looking for two room parents who can share the class contact list. Room parents coordinate calling parents for special classroom celebrations.
Have a fantastic week!
Miss Biggar
Homework
Monday: Reading Log (due on Friday)
Tuesday: Match the Numbers! Math Game (Daily**)
[If a homework activity has "daily" in place of a due date, this means the activity should be completed daily throughout the week.]
Tuesday: Match the Numbers! Math Game (Daily**)
[If a homework activity has "daily" in place of a due date, this means the activity should be completed daily throughout the week.]
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