March 4th-March 8th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

March 2nd-6th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 1

Main selection:  Mama's Birthday Present

Weekly Question:  How can a surprise be a treasure?
Amazing Words: 
High-Frequency Words: about, enjoy, give, surprise, worry, would
Phonics Target: Vowel digraphs ai. ay; Single and plural possessives

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions
Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "When" (The sun shines in the afternoon.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see yellow sheet sent home Monday) for Unit 4, Week 1 (first column). 

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: some, come, would, should, could
• 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, put, two, too, very, also

**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

**Chapter 11 Test on Thursday, March 5th**

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 be learning about how sound travels. Students will be using string, a plastic cup, and a spoon this week to experiment with how sound travels and will record their findings into their science journals.      

Social Studies

   Dr. Seuss- This week we will continue to learn 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- Last week students completed another safety lesson with Mrs. LaBella. Along with our safety lesson, students also learned about the first two STEPs in solving a problem (S: Say the problem. T: Think of solutions). This week students will continue to learn how to problem solve by reviewing the first two STEPs and learning about the last two STEPs (E: Explore consequences; P: Pick the best solution). 

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: Early Release

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music; Library; Ice Cream Party

Writing Workshop
Six Traits of Writing: Organization
     This week students will listen to a story all about emotions and how those emotions are described with specific words, phrases and illustrated with specific colors. After reading the story, I will have students choose an emotion we discuss and brainstorm. I will give students 3 minutes to finger paint a picture that they felt showed the emotion they chose. This week, students will be continuing to think of specific words to go with different emotions. 

Genre Writing: When I Grow Up
     This week students will begin to brainstorm what they want to be when they grow up. Each student will choose a career that they want to be and brainstorm reasons why they want that career. 

This week's mini-lesson will include...
- What is voice? 
- How does word choice help with voice? 

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. Our library time is Fridays at 12:15 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by Friday or anytime throughout the week.
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. Early Release on Tuesday, March 3rd at noontime.(If your child's pick up changes from the normal transportation, please send in a note.)
5. Math Facts- As I check in with your child, I will send a note home about which rules they still need to work on. If they have the majority of the math facts mastered, I will send home the subtraction fact cards. Keep up the good work! 
6. Trick Words- I will be sending home a list of sight words your child should know by the end of first grade.
7. On Dr. Seuss' birthday, we had some special readers... Mr. Grant read to our class today! Students were able to ask him questions and tell them about their favorite part of the book he read. 
8.**Dr. Seuss Comprehension Homework**- Before assigning this homework activity, I wanted the children to be exposed to The Cat in the Hat story multiple times before completing the assignment.
9. March Scholastic Orders: March Scholastic catalog orders are due this Friday, March 6th. Please order online or send in your order with a check by Friday any time before noon. 

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation

Math Number Sense Games
Coin Games
Addition Math Facts to 10 (ALL)

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

 Go Fish! (Pairs of 10)  (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Dr. Seuss Comprehension (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]**