Welcome 2019-2020 First Grade Families!

Welcome to First Grade!

My name is Abigail Biggar and I am your child’s first grade teacher. Although I am very excited that we have begun the year, I had a very enjoyable summer. A couple of my adventures during the summer included visiting seven states. I celebrated birthdays, ate delicious food, rode ATVs, and enjoyed friends and family's company. I even caught my first bass! I also was able to enjoy the city of Gloucester! Whether I was walking my dog, Theo, around town, soaking up the sun at one of the local beaches or enjoying a fresh off-the-boat lobster roll, there was never a dull moment. Even though summer was full of fun adventures, I am looking forward to this wonderful year ahead of us!

As I stated on the handout I sent home, the purpose of this blog is to be an information center for families to easily access. There will be a weekly newsletter posted every Monday about what the class is up to including where we are in curriculum, reminders of important events happening during the week, and other relevant information. Curriculum support, support information, notices, permission slips, important forms, useful links and other information will also be accessible through the blog.

This first post is to inform you about the class’ specials schedule, to begin collecting information from parents/guardians who are interested in volunteering, and to explain the first piece of homework your child will bring home on Monday.

1. Weekly Specials Schedule

MONDAY: Music
TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art and Music; Library

On the days the class has P.E., students need to bring or wear sneakers to school. The other specials do not have any other particular requirements for clothing or supplies.

2. Volunteers Information

Volunteer requests and opportunities will also be posted on the blog. If you would like to volunteer in the classroom, please email me times you are consistently available Monday through Friday and the types of events you would like to volunteer for. Here are the types of events we have in first grade:  

a. Class Celebrations/Events   

b. Field Trips      

If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to fill out a CORI form. These forms can be filled out and submitted at the school district's main office at 2 Blackburn Drive.

3. Homework: Reading Log

On Monday afternoon your child will have a reading log in their homework folder. Reading logs will be passed out on Monday and due on Friday. The title of the book, number of minutes read, and reader should be recorded for each day. Use this activity to encourage your child to explore new books while practicing their reading skills. In first grade, we believe that nightly reading is as important as a child brushing his/her teeth every night.

This blog will be my main form of communication to all families. For personal matters and quick reminders, our class has a Bloomz account. I will be sending home information about our Bloomz account for anyone who has not signed up yet. If you need to contact me with questions, concerns or an important message, my email is abiggar@gloucesterschools.com and school phone number is (978) 281-9835 ext. 28116.

Have a great afternoon!

Miss Biggar

June 17th & June 18th Newsletter

Dear First Grade Families, 

    I give you back your child, the same child that you entrusted in my care last fall. I give you back your child a little bit older a wee bit taller and a whole lot smarter! It has been my pleasure and privilege to watch their character, personality, and intellect develop day by day as we learned new things together. 

   This year we have lived, studied, learned, laughed, sang, and grown up together. We have become a close-knit classroom family and will always be a part of each other. Remember that I will always be interested in your child and their destiny, wherever they may go, whatever they may do, and whoever they may become. I look forward to the day when I hear that familiar name linked with great accomplishments!

                         Thank you for sharing your child with me!

                                                                                           Miss Biggar


June 17th & 18th Important Parent Announcements

1. On Monday June 17th, your child will bring home completed work. Everything your child brings home will stay at home.
2. On Tuesday, June 18th, our grade is holding a final celebration, our end of the year luau. Please make sure your child is dress in their best luau gear for the day.
3. June 18th is an early release. Students will be dismissed at 12 noon. 

June 10th-June 14th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

June 10th-June 14th

Literacy

Reading Street: End of the Year Test
The students worked very hard and did their best on their End of the Year Reading Street test. They should be very proud of their effort!

Math in Focus

Chapter 19: Money
**Chapter 19 test will be this week**
Prerequisite Skills: Know penny, nickel, dime and quarter, Use pennies to buy things

Thinking Skills
- Comparing
- Analyzing parts and whole

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Make a systematic list
                                            - Make suppositions

           Objectives
- Recognize and name penny, nickel, dime and quarter.
- Understand the symbol for cents.
- Skip-count to find the value for a set of coins of equal value.
- Choose the correct value of coins when buying items.
- Count money up to $1 using the counting on strategy. 

*                                      

Science

Life Science
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
This week students will learn about the different external parts of a bird and discuss the different types of beaks.
     

Social Studies

Flag Day
We'll be reviewing what we learned about the American Flag to help celebrate the flag's birthday!

Quality & Traits Unit
This week the students will begin sharing their famous American reports with the rest of the class.
    

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Field Day!

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: American Symbols Play; Disney Nature Movie

Writing Workshop

     The students are working on drafting and publishing their informative letter to their new second grade teacher introducing themselves. They will include some of their traits, strengths, weaknesses and a question.
     In our final writing project for the school year, they will reflect upon various aspects of the year in a homemade First Grade Memory Book.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. All library books are due this week. You'll be contacted if your child has any outstanding books.
2. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you  discuss. Thanks!
3. End of the Year Luau- To celebrate all that we have accomplished this year, the students and teachers are going to have a First Grade Luau on the last day of school, Tuesday June 18th. This celebration is only for students and teachers. I have sent a Bloomz message asking for volunteers to donate supplies. Please reply in the comment section of the post with the item you would like to donate. All supplies need to brought to school by Monday, June 17th (except for the watermelon slices which can be brought the morning of Tuesday June 18th). 
5. Our American Symbols Play is this Friday, June 14th. The performance will begin at 10:00 AM in the Gym. 
6. **Homework Changes**- We will continue to eliminate homework assignments as the school year winds down. Last week was our last week for our dialogue journals and math. This week will be our last week for reading logs. 

Have a fantastic week! Stay cool!

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Addition Math Facts to 10 (ALL)

Coin Games

American Symbols Songs 
American Symbols Lines (if given)

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)

June 3rd-June 7th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

June 3rd-June 7th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 6

Main selection: The Stone Garden

Weekly Question:  What can happen when someone has a new idea?
Amazing Words: accomplish, doubt, original, glider, (un)manned, soar, exclaim
High-Frequency Words: answered, carried, different, poor
Phonics Target: Prefixes: un-, re-  (undo, remove); long o & i (gold; wild)

Comprehension skills: Theme
Comprehension strategy: Inferring

Genres: Realistic Fiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "What/Whom" (She brushes my hair.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 5, Week 6 (sixth column). 

Fundations: Unit 13, Week 2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Adding -es ending to words with digraphs and blends (i.e. lunches, brushes)
• Trick Words: look, good, new

Math in Focus

Chapter 17: Addition and Subtraction within 100
Prerequisite Skills: Making tens and ones, adding tens and ones with regrouping, subtracting tens and ones

Thinking Skills
- Deduction
- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  
                                            - Simplify the problem
                                            - Guess and check

           Objectives
- Add a 2-digit number and a 1-digit number without regrouping.
- Add two 2-digit numbers without regrouping.
- Subtract a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number without regrouping.
- Subtract two 2-digit numbers without regrouping.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Moon & Stars
     Last week students will learn about the facts and figures of the moon and learned about the stars. 
Life Science
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Students week students brainstormed ideas about the essential questions for this unit, "What do we know about birds?", "What birds to do we know?", and "What details do we know about them?". This week students will learn about the different external parts of a bird and discuss the different types of beaks.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week the students will begin sharing their famous American reports with the rest of the class.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Backyard Growers

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

     Our next writing piece will be an informative piece. The students will be writing a letter to their future 2nd grade teacher. This week we will be brainstorming and beginning to write our final letters.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. This week is the last week that our class will go to the library and check out books. All library books need to be returned by Friday, June 14th. 
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you  discuss. Thanks!
4. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
5. American Symbols Play- If you child received play lines, please practice these lines everyday. Role playing by being the other characters in your child's scene will help students practice their lines. By the time the play comes, we would like these lines to be memorized. Your child's lines are highlighted in yellow and your child's part in the play is in the top right corner.
6. Scholastic Book Club June catalogs went home last week on Wednesday, May 29th. Orders are due this Wednesday, June 5th, so books come in before summer break. 
7. End of the Year Assessments- Our End of the Year Reading Street test will be given this week on Friday, June 7th. It assesses all reading skills taught this school year. 
8. End of Year Homework- I will be eliminating homework as we continue to move towards the end of the year. This week will be the last week for our reading passages and dialogue journal. please respond to my final letter and send your child's journal back in. This week play the Race to 25 game to practice working with coins. Next week I will send the recording sheet home to be completed. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)
Reading Street Reading Word List

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Addition Math Facts to 10 (ALL)

Math Number Sense Games
Coin Games
Sight Word Reading & Spelling

American Symbols Songs 
American Symbols Lines (if given)

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Money Game (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

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

May 27th-May 31st Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 27th-31st

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 5

Main selection: Alexander Graham Bell: A Great Inventor

Weekly Question:  How can a great idea change the way we live?
Amazing Words: determined, inventor, stable, technology, stalled, biplane, sketch, speech
High-Frequency Words: built, early, learn, science, through
Phonics Target: Vowel pairs: aw, au  (draw, launch); syllable pattern- diphthongs/digraphs (toybox)

Comprehension skills: Sequence
Comprehension strategy: Text Structure

Genres: Biography
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 5, Week 5 (fifth column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 1,2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs., been, little, own, want 

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120
**Chapter 16 Test on Wednesday, May 30th**

Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills

- Comparing

- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  

                                            - Look for patterns

           Objectives

- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.

- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.

- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.

- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.

- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Moon & Stars
     This week students will learn about the facts and figures of the moon. Students will also learn about the stars throughout this week. 
Life Science
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
This week students will be brainstorming ideas about the essential questions for this unit, "What do we know about birds?", "What birds to do we know?", and "What details do we know about them?". Students will also learn about the different external parts of a bird and discuss the different types of beaks.
     

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
This week the students will be learning about the last famous American, Annie Oakley, and discussing her qualities and traits.

 Specialists

MONDAY: No School!

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Art; Music

Writing Workshop

This week students will be completing the planning stages of a letter to a Kindergartener and finishing up any unfinished writing.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1. No library this week. We will be going to the Scholastic Book Fair during our library time to preview the books. 
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you  discuss. Thanks!
5. Scholastic Catalog- I will be sending home the June Scholastic catalog this week. All orders are due on Wednesday, June 5th. 
6. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
7. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
8. 
9. Celebration of Learning- Thank you to everyone who made it last Thursday to Celebration of Learning! 
10. Stone Zoo- The children had so much fun at the zoo last Friday! They did a great job being the experts of their animal they researched and sharing information with the rest of their group.
11. Biography Project- Each child was assigned a famous American last week to research. The biography project is due on Friday, May 31st.
13. American Symbols Play is Friday, June 14th from 9:30 to 10:30 in our school gymnasium. The kids have been busy practicing. We hope you can make it!

Have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)
Reading Street Reading Word List

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Addition Math Facts to 10 (ALL)

Math Number Sense Games
Coin Games
Sight Word Reading & Spelling

Biography Project

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]
Math Fact Check-In (due on Friday) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Biography Project (due on Friday) [Sent home on Monday, May 21st]

May 20th-May 24th Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

May 20th-24th

Literacy

Reading Street: Unit 5 Week 4

Main selection: Simple Machines

Weekly Question:  How do great ideas make our lives easier?
Amazing Words: convenient, equipment, gadget, engine, furnace, pilot, steer, cellar
High-Frequency Words: against, goes, heavy, kinds, today
Phonics Target: Diphthongs: oi, oy  (oil, boy); Suffixes -er, -or (painter, sailor)

Comprehension skills: Main Idea and Details
Comprehension strategy: Summarize

Genres: Expository Text, Literary Nonfiction
Written Expression: Predicate Expander "Why" (Kids work so they can learn.)
Reading Street Parent Connection:

• Unit 5 Family talk letter for concept conversation starters and 6-week overview of the unit. (Sent home March 6th)
• Practice reading words (see white sheet sent home Friday) for Unit 5, Week 4 (fourth column). 

Fundations: Unit 12, Week 1,2 & 3

Students will learn about...

• Two syllable words ending with -ic (i.e. picnic, panic)
• Add suffix -s to words (i.e. cupcakes)
• Trick Words: Mr., Mrs., been, little, own, want 

Math in Focus

Chapter 16: Numbers to 120

Prerequisite Skills: Use ordinal numbers and positions

Thinking Skills

- Comparing

- Identifying patterns and relationships

Problem Solving Strategies  

- Look for patterns

           Objectives

- Use a place value chart to show numbers to 100.

- Show objects up to 100 as tens and ones.

- Compare and order numbers to 100 using a strategy.

- Find the missing numbers in a number pattern.

- Compare numbers to 100 using the symbols <, > and =.

*                                      

Science

Patterns in the Sky
The Moon
     This week students will learn about the phases of the moon.
Animal Projects
This week students will individually share the animal that they researched with the rest of the class. Students will answer questions from their classmates and show off their illustration through a 'gallery walk'.

Social Studies

Quality & Traits Unit
Last week students reviewed what a quality and trait is, a list of different qualities and traits that specific people have, and what qualities & traits each student holds. They also completed their two traits and examples about John Henry. This week we will learn about the Wright Brothers and brainstorm trait examples.

 Specialists

MONDAY: Music; Book Fair (Preview)

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Music; Book Fair (Purchase)

THURSDAY: P.E.

FRIDAY: Stone Zoo Field Trip

Writing Workshop
Spring Barebone Book
     This week students will be writing a spring-themed sentence using the different parts of a sentence our class has learned this year. Students will write a final draft of the sentence and our class will publish our class' sentences in a spring barebone sentence book.

Genre Writing- Expository/Informative Writing
     This week students will begin to organize the facts they have gathered about the Sun into the format of an expository piece of writing. The class will learn sentence starters for the three sections of an expository text (introduction, facts, and conclusion) and will complete a final draft of these facts on special Sun paper.

     

                   Parent Reminders

1.  Our library time is Mondays at 1 p.m. Please have books brought back to school by the Friday before or Monday morning.
2. Reading passages are due on Thursday. Reading Street Word Lists are due on Friday. 
3. "Reading is thinking!" The most important part of your child's reading blog is the discussion they have with you about the books. Please mark down which questions you  discuss. Thanks!
4. Scholastic Catalogs- May catalog orders came in last week. Happy reading! 
5. Each student needs to bring in a snack everyday to school. If this is not possible for you, please let me know and we can work something out. Thank you!
6. Wish List: paper towels and Clorox wipes. If you have sent supplies in with your child, thank you for donating!
7. Biography Project- I sent home the paper for the biography project with your child's name and person they are to research on Monday, May 20th. The project will be due this Friday, May 30th. Each child will have a chance to share their biography project to their classmates the following week. 
8. End of the Year Assessments continue. This week we will be administering DIBELS.
9. Celebration of Learning is this Thursday, May 23rd at 5:30. The students are very excited for you to come and see all that they have learned! I hope to see you all there!
10. Stone Zoo- Everyone has their permission slip in to go to the zoo! The students are all very excited for Friday!
11. American Symbols Play- Please continue to practice lines and songs at home. Stay tuned for more information. We hope you can make it!
12. Book Fair- The Book Fair is open! Our class had their preview day of the fair today (Monday, 5/20). Their wish lists were sent home in their green homework folders. Our class purchase day is Wednesday, May 22nd at 9:05 a.m. If you choose to purchase books through the book fair, please send in the money for the books and the wish list specifying which books your child is able to buy (a circle, star, etc.). This will help make the purchase time slot move smoother. The book fair will be open on the night of Celebration of Learning (Thursday, May 23rd) as well if you would like to go and choose a book with your child. 

I hope you have a fantastic week! 

Miss Biggar

Homework for the Week

 Daily

Reading Words (Phonics/Sight)
Reading Street Reading Word List

Reading Log (with discussion questions)
Number/Letter Formation
Addition Math Facts to 10 (ALL)

Math Number Sense Games
Coin Games
Sight Word Reading & Spelling

Biography Project

This week's homework:

 Reading Log (due on Friday)
Money Review (Daily) [Sent home on Tuesday]

 Dialogue Journal (due on Friday) [Sent home on Wednesday]
Biography Project (due on Friday, May 30th) [Sent home on Monday, May 20th]