January 13th-January 17th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

January 13th-17th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 1

Main selection:  A Place to Play

Weekly Question:  How do places change?

Amazing Words: growth, population, teeter, public, makeshift, crooked, shuffle, spindly

High-Frequency Words: always, become, day, stays, things, nothing, everything

Phonics Target: Vowel sounds of y (my, funny); syllable pattern (hi, so, me)

Comprehension skills: Sequence

Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres:  Realistic Fiction

Written Expression: Predicate Expander "How" (People cheer loudly!)

Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 13th)
• Practice reading words (see blue sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Week 1 (first column). Please return sheet by Friday, January 17th for students to be tested on Week 1 words. 

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 digraphs (sh, th, ch, wh, ck) & blends (st, mp, br, sl)
• Spelling CVC words with suffix -s
• Trick Words: 
• Taught Trick Word List: the, of, and, a, was, to, or, for, me, be, she, he, me, as, has, into, you, your, I , was, one, said, from, have, do, does, are, were

**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 8

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Prerequisite skills: Add/Subtract 0, use fact families to solve problems, addition facts (expanded form 10 + __, compare numbers to 19)
Thinking Skills
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Guess and Check
- Solve part of the problem

           Objectives

                                    - Use different strategies to add 1- and 2- digit numbers.
                 - Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number with and without regrouping. 
                 - Solve real world problems
       We are beginning to do some explicit instruction around money. We will begin by identifying coins by name and how much they are worth.  

*                                      

Science

Physical Science Unit

Light and Sound Waves
    Last week students discussed the three types of objects: transparent, translucent, and opaque. This week they will be experimenting with six different materials. They will be making predictions as to what they think the object is (transparent, translucent or opaque) and then using their flashlight to test the material. After they have tested a material, they will record the outcomes.

    

Social Studies

   Our calendar-based theme for the next two weeks will be able New Year's resolutions and the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Second Steps—We will be discussing how to show care and concern towards other people. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music; Library

Writing Workshop

Framing Your Thoughts ~ Winter & Holiday Barebone Sentence Book
     This week students will write and illustrate their final drafts of their winter and holiday barebone sentence.

Genre Writing- Opinion
      Last week students played a game where they had to practice using their opinions and preferences about certain topics. Once students exercised using their opinion, they began to give reasons why they liked or preferred a specific option. Students learned about what an opinion is and descriptive reasons why people have specific opinions. Each student drew something that they liked and gave 3-4 reasons why they liked the object, color, activity, person, etc. 
     This week students will learn sentence starters for different parts of an opinion piece of writing. We will explore our opinions on different topics and look at key components of an opinion writing prompt.
     This week we will also learn and discuss 'how-to' writing. 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. We will be going to the library on Friday at 12:15. Please make sure your child brings their library book back to school in order to check another book out. Thank you!
2. We are beginning our Economics Unit this week by developing an understanding of our 4 basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, love) and the difference between needs and wants.
3.Wish list- Clorox wipes, tissues, and paper towels. 
    4. Math Facts—Thank you for the exploration feedback from home. Even if you feel your child has mastered their facts, please continue to practice these facts at home to build their automaticity. This week the focus will be on practicing the +0, +1, & +2 rule. I will be checking in with student's progress with +0 and +1 rules next week. 
5. Scholastic Book Club: January Scholastic book orders and money need to be in by Thursday, January 16th!
6. Reading Passage—This Monday (January 13th), I will send home a reading passage for your child to practice reading. Since each student is in a different place with their reading ability, they will be practicing different skills. Please read through the directions on the back, which will tell you what to do. Thank you for supporting your child with their reading.

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Number Sense Math Games
Addition to 10 Math Facts (+0, +1, +2)

This week's homework:

Monday:  Reading Log (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday]
The Big Splash Reading Passage (due on Thursday) [Sent home on Monday]

Tuesday: Math Fact Practice-Focus: +0, +1, +2  (Daily)

Wednesday: Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]