Week of September 13th-September 17th

 

First Grade Newsletter

September 13th-17th

Literacy

Literacy Assessments:  Last week the students completed their Fall DIBELs, which will help drive my instruction. This week students will take a baseline reading assessment and STAR Early Literacy Assessment.

I will also be conferencing with ea
ch 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:  Sam & Snap

Weekly Question:  What is around us at home? & Who is in our family?

Amazing Words:  furniture, tidy, unwind, cozy, middle, straw, yawn

Genres:  Realistic Fiction, Folk Tale, Realistic Fiction

Comprehension skills:  character, setting

*We review concepts taught in Kindergarten during our Review Unit.

PHONICS

Lively Letters (Sounds)

• Review stories and sounds for each letter pair: p/b, t/d, k/g, f/v
• This week’s letter pairs: m/n, ng, s/z, a/o,j/ch, r/l, u/I, qu/x/y/c, w/wh/h, e

Handwriting Without Tears

• Review formation of the following letters…c, o, s, v, w, t, a, d, g
• Alphabetical order

Math in Focus

Kindergarten Math Review & Subitizing Activities

          "Subitizing is a term that was coined by the

theorist Piaget and defined the ability to

instantaneously recognize the number of

objects in a small group without the need

to count them.” It is a prerequisite skill

for developing strong number sense."

We will also spend time exploring our math
tools and learning how to take care of them. We will begin our first Math in Focus chapter next week.

Science

Space Unit
Patterns in the Sky
     This week our first science unit begins! Students will take a pre-test about patterns in the sky to gather information about students' knowledge today. The first lesson will be an introduction into patterns in the sky and beginning to observe the sun. Students will discuss knowledge that they already have about the Sun, Moon, and Earth, and their movement. Each student will form a question about what they want to know more about or a question about our discussion.

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. We will also talk about the power of our choices using the book What Should Danny Do?. 

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 around us at home?”  The students will also be learning how to participate in a discussion.

Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: NO SCHOOL!

WEDNESDAY: P.E.

THURSDAY: Art

FRIDAY: Music

Writing Workshop

This week students will begin a morning work assignment that requires students to  about one 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.

Writing Inventory
     Last week students will created a 'heart inventory', where students drew and labeled people, places, and things that are close to their heart. This week students will complete an 'All About Me' page to get to know each student better. 

Hopes & Dreams

    Last week the class brainstormed goals that students could accomplish in our first grade classroom. This week students will finalize their goals through writing and illustrations. Students will revisit their goals halfway through first grade to revise or change their goals, and then at the end of the year.

                  
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 class.

2.    Please be sure your child returns their green school-to-home folder and their homework folder to school everyday.  Also, please check your child's school-to-home folder each day for important handouts. 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 9:50 a.m. Please make sure that it is nut-free and has no glass products.

4.    Scholastic book order: I will be sending home the September catalog Wednesday, September 12th.  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 24th.

5. There is no school on Tuesday, September 14th.

 

I look forward to an exciting year in 1^st grade!

Mrs. Ash

Homework

Your child brought home a red homework folder today. Inside the folder is a reading log and math activity with materials. I will also include individual login information for all of our online platforms. This week students should be reading for 10 minutes and playing the "Flash the Dots" math game. The homework folder should always be brought to school in your child's backpack, but only returned on Fridays.