November 11th-November 15th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

November 11th-November 15th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 2 Week 1

Main selection:  A Big Fish for Max

Weekly Question:  What does a family do together?

Amazing Words: chore, household, cooperation, rule, commute, subway, downtown, display

High-Frequency Words: catch, good, no, put, said, want

Phonics Target: digraphs sh, th; /ol/ sound in ball

Comprehension skills:  Sequence

Comprehension strategy: Predict; Set a purpose

Genres:  Animal Fantasy, Literary Nonfiction

Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 2 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home November 16th)
• Family Times gives various activities that can be done at home that connect to the concept we're learning this week. 
• Practice reading phonics and sight words for Unit 2, Week 1 (first column only). I will be sending home Reading Street Unit 2 sheets on Tuesday, November 12th.

PHONICS

Lively Letters (Sounds)

• Review each letter/letter pairs: p/b, t/d, k/g, f/v, qu, m/n, ng, a/o, j, s/z, ch, r/l, u/i, wh, e, x/y/c, w/h

Spelling 

• Skill(s): Tapping out sounds in words with CVC patterns (Consonant, Vowel, Consonant; such as 'cat') 
• Spelling words with digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck)
• Trick Words: as, has, into
• Taught Trick Word List: the, of, and, a, was, to, or, for, me, be, she, he, me

**Trick words are irregularly spelled words that each child is expected to be able to spell in their writing.**

Handwriting Without Tears

• Review formation of the following letters…c, o, s, v, w, t, a, d, g, u, i, e, l, k, y, j, p, r, n, m, h, b, f, q, x, z
• Alphabetical order  

Math in Focus

Chapter 4

Subtraction Facts to 10 

Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and a whole

Problem Solving Strategies 
- Guess and check

Objectives

      - Take away to subtract
                                        - Count on OR back to subtract
                                        - Use number bonds to subtract
                                        - Write and solve subtraction sentences.
                                        - Tell subtraction stories.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
 Students will continue to conduct their investigation about the moon's phases. This week we will continue to investigate the moon phases and learn more facts and figures about the Moon.

Social Studies

Thanksgiving Unit
We will be working on developing an understanding of life as a colonist and a Wampanoag Native American. Last week students learned about Pilgrims homes and different characteristics of them. This week we’ll learn about the different Native American homes. specific characteristics of each type, and Pilgrims' clothing for both boys and girls.
Second Steps—This week we will continue to build on our knowledge in identifying our own feelings.

 Specialists

MONDAY: NO SCHOOL!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music; Library

Writing Workshop

Six Traits of Writing~ Ideas

     This week students will write their stories about how Tom the Turkey escapes Thanksgiving dinner. Each student will develop their own story using details such as different characters, whether or not if Tom escapes or gets caught, and how he is either captured or escapes. I am excited to read each student's story!

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Predicate Expander of Where
     This week students will be practicing using the predicate expander of where (The snow drifts across the field.) by constructing their own from pictures and creating their own Thanksgiving and fall-themed activities.

This week’s mini-lessons will include… 
Students will also learn about conferencing… 
- What a whole-class conference is 
- How to give compliments to their peers 
- How to make constructive suggestions to improve their peer’s stories

Parent Reminders

1. Library day is on Friday. Please make sure you help your child remember to bring in their book in by the end of the week.

2. November Scholastic Catalog- November catalogs were sent home last week. Orders are due Wednesday, November 13th. 

3. Veteran Readers- On Thursday, November 7th, our class had a veteran come in to read to us during our morning literacy time. The students were able to learn why we celebrate Veterans' Day and ways that it is celebrated. Thank you to all of the men and women who have served and are serving in our military!

4. Reading Phonics & Sight Word Lists (Unit 2)- Unit 2 Cards will be handed back today, Tuesday, November 12th. Please practice Week 1 (the first column only) of your child's Reading Street word lists. I will be collecting the Reading Street Unit 2 sheets on Friday, November 15th to check-in with students for the first week of the unit. Thank you!

5. Dialogue Journal- A journal entry should be written each week. I hand out journals on Wednesday and the journal should come back on Friday or the following Monday.
6. Recess Gear- Due to the temperature slowly becoming colder, children need to wear or bring a coat, hat, and/or mittens to school in order to go out to recess. Please be sure to write your child's name on the tag or another convenient place on their gear. Thank you!
7. Photo Retakes are next Tuesday, November 19th. 

Welcome back! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Number Sense Math Games

This week's homework:
Reading Log (due on Friday) [Passed out on Tuesday]
Ten Frame Sentences! Recording Sheet (due on Friday) [Passed out on Tuesday]
Dialogue Journal #6 (due on Friday) [Passed out on Wednesday]
Tom the Turkey Comprehension Sheet (due on Friday) [Passed out on Tuesday]