Week of February 28th-March 3rd

 

First Grade Newsletter

February 28th-March 3rd

Literacy

KNOWLEDGE

Reading Street: Unit 4 Week 1

Main selection:  Mama's Birthday Present

Weekly Question:  How can a surprise be a treasure?

Comprehension skills: Draw Conclusions

Comprehension strategy: Monitor and Clarify

Genres:  Realistic Fiction

SKILLS 

• Skill(s):  ee-/ee/ & a_e-/ae/
• Language: Noun Identification & Proper Nouns 
• Tricky Words: he, she, be, me, we
• Stories & Readers: Gran's Trips / The Pet / Where Is Wong?

Math in Focus

Chapter 6

Numbers to 40 

**Test on Friday, March 3rd**

-Review all skills students learned in chapter

Chapter 7

Calendar & Money

Objectives

     -Read a calendar

     -Know the days of the week

     -Know the months of the year

     -Know the season of the year

     -Use the term "o'clock" to tell the time to the hour

     -Read and tel time to the hour on an analog clock.

     -Read and tell time to the hour on a digital clock.

     -Use the term "half past" to tell the time to the half hour.

     -Read and tell time to the half hour on an analog clock.

     -Read and tell time to the half hour on a digital clock.

Science

This week students will wrap up our light and sound unit. Students will also begin the new life science unit by discussing information they already know about birds and how animals survive.

 

 

Social Studies

Reading Street

Our social studies learning this week is embedded in our reading program. We will be focusing on communities and change through our readings.  This week the children will work to answer the question "How can a surprise be a treasure?".

Second Steps

In Second Steps, students will continue to practice calming strategies, such as belly breathing, and learn a new way of calming strong emotions.

Economics

This week students will learn about what natural resources are, examples of natural resources, and the role of producers & consumers in our economy.

Specialists

MONDAY: Art 

TUESDAY: Music

WEDNESDAY: P.E.

THURSDAY: Art

FRIDAY: Music

Writing Workshop

This week students continue the morning work assignment that requires students to about two activities that they did over the weekend, including who was there, where the event took place, and how did the child feel about this event (favorite/worst part, sad, excited, etc.). Since students need to write about two events, we will be discussing transitional words to help students move from one event to another within their writing. The purpose of this exercise is for students to practice putting their ideas on paper through words and illustrations in narrative form.

When I Grow Up Writing Project

     This week students will begin our published writing project. Students will brainstorm different jobs and careers people can have when they grow up. After brainstorming, each student will choose a job that s/he wants to have when s/he is grown up AND has knowledge about. Once each student has chosen a job, they need to come up with 3 reasons why they want to have that job.

                  
Parent Reminders

1.  Library on Monday- Please make sure your child has their library book in their backpack to return it and check out a new story!

 2.    Before school help is this Tuesday morning at 8AM.

 3. 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. Students should also have their red homework folders in their backpacks every day.

4.    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.

5.  Homework Update- There are some changes to our homework schedule. 

     a.) Discussion Questions-Students will only need to record Discussion Questions for 1 out of the 4 homework nights. Even though you are only recording 1 night of discussion questions, your child still needs to continue to discuss the stories they are reading and listening to all 4 days of homework using the questions given.

     b.) Phonics: Spelling- Your child will bring home a list of spelling words. Please choose 2 nights to practice spelling the words given.

     c.) Automaticity: Words/Phrase/Passage- Automaticity means when something can be performed involuntarily and is an automatic response pattern or habit. Your child may have a word chart, phrase chart, or reading passage. Please the chart or passage twice per day. (This exercise counts towards your child's 10 minutes of reading per day.)

I cannot believe March begins on Tuesday! Have a great week!

Mrs. Ash

Homework

Your child will bring home their red homework folder on Monday. Inside the folder is a reading log, math activity (with materials), and individual login information for all of our online platforms. This week students should be reading for 10 minutes, write a letter in their journal, practice addition math facts to 10, practice spelling word list, and read word chart, phrase chart, or reading passage twice.

Your child also will bring home their Dialogue Journal (penpal journal). Please read my letter and have your child respond to it in 1 penpal letter. If I did not write your child a letter, your child can write to me about anything s/he wants. Once your child has finished his/her letter, return it to school. If I did not receive your child's journal last week, please have your child write a letter to me this week and I will check both letters once the journal is turned in. 

Week of February 14th-February 18th

 First Grade Newsletter

February 14th-February 18th

Literacy

**Unit 3 Reading Street Test on Monday**

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

PHONICS

Spelling 

• Skill(s):  
• Review: Suffix -s (rocks, bags, mats); Glued sounds (-an, -am); Bonus letters at the end of a word: ff, ll, ss (and sometimes zz); Use digraphs (sh, wh, th, ch, and -ck)
• Sentence: 
• Trick Words: 
• Review trick words and practice using in writing: the, of, and, a, is, his, as, has, in, into, we, he, she, be, me, or, for, you, your, I, they, was, one, said, from, have, do, does, were, are, who, what, when

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

Math in Focus

Calendar & Money

        This week students will work on building their knowledge about the calendar and money through direction instruction, partner activities and independent practice.

Science

This week students will be focused on Economics this week. Our science units will continue after February break. If there is time for science this week, students will watch and interact with Mystery Science videos about how rainbows are made.

 

Social Studies

Reading Street

Our social studies learning this week is embedded in our reading program. We will be focusing on communities and change through our readings.  This week the children will work to answer the question "How can a surprise be a treasure?".

Second Steps

In Second Steps, students will continue to practice identifying their own emotions and ways to help calm their strong emotions.

Economics

This week students will expand on their knowledge about Economics. They will discuss people who work in our communities and their importance.

Specialists

MONDAY: Music 

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Art

THURSDAY: Music

FRIDAY: P.E.

Writing Workshop

This week students continue the morning work assignment that requires students to about two activities that they did over the weekend, including who was there, where the event took place, and how did the child feel about this event (favorite/worst part, sad, excited, etc.). Since students need to write about two events, we will be discussing transitional words to help students move from one event to another within their writing. The purpose of this exercise is for students to practice putting their ideas on paper through words and illustrations in narrative form.

                  
Parent Reminders

1.  Library on Monday- Please make sure your child has their library book in their backpack to return it and check out a new story!

 2.    Before school help is this Tuesday morning at 8AM.

 3. 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. Students should also have their red homework folders in their backpacks every day.

4.    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.

5.  Math Homework: This week students should continue to practice their addition math facts to 10, practice identifying the 4 different coin values and names, and play the coin math game. After playing the math coin game, please fill out the recording sheet.

6. Valentine's Day- Students will be passing out valentines in the morning on Valentine's Day. Please do not send any candy or sweet treats in due to the severe allergies in our classroom.

7. 5th Grade Play: Shrek- We will be going to see the 5th grade play on Tuesday morning.

8. Valentine's Economics Extravaganza- On Thursday, the first grade will be having a celebration. There will be 9 different centers for students to complete with activities that touch on a range of academic subjects and 3 different "stores" for students to shop in. We need 3 parent volunteers to help with the 3 centers we will have in our room. Please let me know if you would like to volunteer through email or a Bloomz message. **Volunteers need to have proof of vaccination and CORI form completed.**

9. Fun Friday Movie- On Friday 2/18, the students will watch a movie in the afternoon to end our week. We will be watching the movie, Encanto. I have attached the Common Sense Media review if you would like a more in depth scope of the movie. Please let me know if you are not comfortable with your child watching the movie.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/encanto

  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mrs. Ash

Homework

Your child will bring home their red homework folder on Monday. Inside the folder is a reading log, math activity with materials, and individual login information for all of our online platforms. This week students should be reading for 10 minutes, write a letter in their journal, practice addition math facts to 10, rewatch the money video and play the math coin game. Please fill out the recording sheet for the coin game.

Your child also will bring home their Dialogue Journal (penpal journal). Please read my letter and have your child respond to it in 1 penpal letter. If I did not write your child a letter, your child can write to me about anything s/he wants. Once your child has finished his/her letter, return it to school. If I did not receive your child's journal last week, please have your child write a letter to me this week and I will check both letters once the journal is turned in. 

Week of February 7th-February 11th

 

First Grade Newsletter

February 7th-February 11th

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

Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 3 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home January 3rd)
• Practice reading words (see red or green sheet sent home Monday) for Unit 3, Week 5 (fifth column). Review any of the marked works in Column 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5. Please return sheet by Friday, February 4th for students to be tested on Week 4 words. 

PHONICS

Spelling 

• Skill(s):  Suffix -s (rocks, bags, mats)
• Review: Glued sounds (-an, -am), Bonus letters at the end of a word: ff, ll, ss (and sometimes zz); Use digraphs (sh, wh, th, ch, and -ck)
• Sentence: 
• Trick Words:
• Review trick words and practice using in writing: the, of, and, a, is, his, as, has, in, into, we, he, she, be, me, or, for, you, your, I, they, was, one, said, from, have, do, does, were, are, who, what, when

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

Lively Letters (Sounds)

• Review stories and sounds for each letter pair: No new pairs
• Last week’s letter pairs: p/b, t/d, k/g, f/v, qu, m/n, s/z, j/ch, r/l, x/y/c, w/h,  a/o, u/i, e, ng, wh


Handwriting Without Tears
• Review all letter formations and writing letters NEATLY
• Alphabetical order 

Math in Focus

Chapter 6

Numbers to 40

Objectives

- Add by counting on

- Add by making a 10

- Add by using doubles and doubles plus one facts

- Understand that addition can be done in any order

     -  Subtract by counting back

      - Subtract by grouping into a 10 and ones

     - Recognize related addition and subtraction sentences

     - Make fact families from number sentences

-    - Subtract using addition facts

     - Determine if number sentences involving addition and subtraction are true or false

     - Solve real world problems involving addition and subtraction

Science

Sound & Light Unit

This week students will expand on their knowledge on sound and the movement of sound waves.

 

Social Studies

Our social studies learning this week is embedded in our reading program. We will be focusing on communities and change through our readings.  This week the children will work to answer the question "What changes can be seen in nature?".

In Second Steps, students will continue to practice identifying their own emotions and ways to help calm their strong emotions.

Specialists

MONDAY: P.E. 

TUESDAY: Art

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art

Writing Workshop

This week students continue the morning work assignment that requires students to about two activities that they did over the weekend, including who was there, where the event took place, and how did the child feel about this event (favorite/worst part, sad, excited, etc.). Since students need to write about two events, we will be discussing transitional words to help students move from one event to another within their writing. The purpose of this exercise is for students to practice putting their ideas on paper through words and illustrations in narrative form.

Genre Writing-Opinion

     This week students will continue to write their drafts of their class pet writing piece.

                  
Parent Reminders

1.  Library on Monday- Please make sure your child has their library book in their backpack to return it and check out a new story!

 2.    Before school help is this Tuesday morning at 8AM.

 3. 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. Students should also have their red homework folders in their backpacks every day.

4.    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.

5.  Math Homework: This week students will practice all of their addition math facts. Please also practice all of the cards that are "friends" of 10 (all of the addition sentences that equal 10). There is a game sheet in your child's red homework folder that will help your child practice their "friends" of 10. Thank you!

  

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Ash

Homework

Your child will bring home their red homework folder on Monday. Inside the folder is a reading log, math activity with materials, and individual login information for all of our online platforms. This week students should be reading for 10 minutes, write a letter in their journal, watch the money video and play the math coin game.

Your child also will bring home their Dialogue Journal (penpal journal). Please read my letter and have your child respond to it in 1 penpal letter. If I did not write your child a letter, your child can write to me about anything s/he wants. Once your child has finished his/her letter, return it to school. If I did not receive your child's journal last week, please have your child write a letter to me this week and I will check both letters once the journal is turned in. 

Behind the reading log, there is our word lists for the next 6 weeks on red or green paper. Please practice the words in Column 3.5 & 3.6 on the sheet every day this week. I will check in with each child at the end of the week. Please also read and practice the fluency passage due on Thursdays. The homework folder should always be brought to school in your child's backpack, but only returned on Fridays. (Keep completed work in the homework folder.)