February 24th-February 28th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

February 24th- February 28th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 3 Week 6

Main selection:  Where Are My Animal Friends?

Weekly Question:  What do animals do when the seasons change?

Amazing Words: hibernate, migrate, autumn, weary, freeze, bitterly, temperature

High-Frequency Words: before, does, good-bye, oh, right, won't

Phonics Target: Comparative Endings -er, -est; Consonant Pattern -dge

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions

Comprehension strategy: Background Knowledge

Genres:  Drama

Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The goose honked nervously this morning.)

Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 10th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 3, Weeks 1-6 (all columns). 

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 blends (st, mp, br, sl), -nk/-ng glued sounds (bank, rink, sung, long), and added endings (-s, -ing, -ed)
• Trick Words: put, two, too, very, also
• 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, who, what, when, where, here, there, why, by, my, try

**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 11
Picture Graphs and Bar Graphs

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
- Classifying 

Problem Solving Strategies  
- Make a systematic list

           Objectives
- Collect and organize data
- Show and understand data shown in a picture graph (also using symbols).
- Draw a picture graph.
- Make a tally chart.
- Show and understand data shown in a bar graph.

*                                      

Science

Physical Science
Sound 
     This week students will brainstorming everything they know about sound. The class will conduct an experiment about how sound travels using a drum, pencil, and rice.  

Social Studies

   
Leap Year- This week students will be learning about a leap year. Students will be listening to a read aloud, completing hands-on activities, and sharing their own knowledge throughout the week. 
Dr. Seuss- This week we will be learning about Dr. Seuss. Along with the history of his life, we will be going through many of his most famous books and discussing important literary elements that he uses throughout them.
Second Steps- This week Mrs. LaBella will be continuing her safety unit with the students. 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music; Library

Writing Workshop
**We will be finishing all of our other writing projects that we have been working on to make room for our big writing project that begins in March.**

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our library time is Fridays at 12:15 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by Friday morning.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. Please make sure to record the comprehension questions you discuss with your child on the reading log each night. Thank you!
4. Math Homework-This week's math homework is practicing addition math facts to 10 and the President's Day math activity page.
5. Scholastic Book Club: March catalogs will be going home with students this week.  
6. Shoe tying- When your child wears snow boots to school, they have up to 6 opportunities to tie their shoes. Please help your child learn this important life skill.
7. Our Valentine Celebration was HUGE success! The kids had lots of fun using money to shop for goodies. Thank you again for all of your donations and support!
8. Spring Conferences- I will be sending home conference sign-up messages to a few select students. If you receive one, please send a message back with your availability ASAP. I hope to be sending confirmation notes with your conference time next week. Thanks!
9. On Monday, March 2nd, we will have a special, surprise guest reader! 
10. Math Facts- I will be checking in on your child's progress with all of the addition math facts. If they have the majority of the math facts mastered, I will send home the subtraction fact cards. Keep up the good work! 
11. Read Across America Day/Character Day (3/2)- On Monday March 2nd, students will be reading many different types of books to celebrate Read Across America Day as well as Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2nd). If your child would like to bring in the book that they would like to read to a friend, please have them bring in a copy on Monday. 

Welcome back! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Math Number Sense Games
Addition Math Facts to 10
Coin Games

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

President's Day Math Activity Page  (Due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]
 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]