Week of September 12th-September 16th

First Grade Newsletter

September 12th-September 16th

Literacy

KNOWLEDGE

     

SKILLS

Literacy Assessments:   This week I will be conferencing with each student individually to assess their reading level to begin personalizing their literacy groups and work. I will also be completing a spelling inventory to use in the future for spelling instruction.

Reading Street: Unit 1 Week 2

Main selection:  Pig in a Wig

Weekly Question:  Who helps animals?

Amazing Words:  career, service, tool, sloppy, scrub, exercise, comfort, search

Genres:  Fantasy

Comprehension skills:  plot

PHONICS

Fundations: Unit 1 (Week 2 of 3)

• Review formation of the following letters…t, b, f, n, m, c, a, i, r, o, g, d, s, e, u, l, h, k
• Alphabetical order*Please note that Unit 1 of Fundations and Lively Letters are very fast paced reviews of the alphabet letter sounds and formations taught extensively in Kindergarten.

Math in Focus

Chapter 1

Pre-requisite skills and number sense

Objectives

-  Count from 0 to 10 objects 

-  Read and write 0 to 10 in numbers and words

     -  Compare two sets of objects by using one-to-one correspondence 

-  Identify the set that has more, fewer, or the same number of objects

- Identify the number that is greater than or less than another number                            

- Make number patterns

*Please note:  Math instruction in this unit is reviewing groundwork established in Kindergarten.  We will be building upon these skills as we progress through the future math units.

Science

Last week students discussed and listened to the different things that make up scientists. At the end of the lesson, the students learned that scientists can be kids! 

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

Responsible Citizen

Last week, students began our first Social Studies unit about citizenship. The big question students will be answering throughout the next couple weeks is "How can I be a responsible citizen?".

The first lesson went over rules. Students learned that rules are made within our school and homes, the reason rules are made, and the meaning of consequences when rules are broken or followed. After learning about rules, the class brainstormed and formed our own classroom rules. We recite our class rules every morning after the Pledge of Allegiance and Peace Pledge.

The second lesson went over laws. Students learned the similarities and differences between laws and rules, who enforces laws, and who creates laws. 

This week students will learn about respect and responsibility. Students will learn ways to show respect and responsibility. Then students will show what they have learned through a game that will give students made up realistic situations where they will have to make a respectful or responsible decision.

 

Social Skills Read Aloud

• Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

 Specialists

 

MONDAY: Music

TUESDAY: P.E.

WEDNESDAY: Art

THURSDAY: Music

FRIDAY: P.E.

  

Writing Workshop

This week students will begin writing about their hopes and dreams for first grade. Each student will write about their hopes and dreams and draw a picture to go with their writing.

                 

                   Parent Reminders

1.  Library- Our class' library day and time will be every Thursday from 2:00PM-2:30PM. If you would like to volunteer in the library, please contact Mrs. Adrienne Ricci-Munn. 

2.    Please be sure your child returns their school folder to school everyday.  Also, please check it each day for important handouts and homework assignments. 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 9:40 a.m. Please make sure that it is nut-free and has no glass products.

4.    Scholastic Book Club & September Book Order: I will send home the September catalog this week.  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 23rd.

5. Meet the Teacher Night is coming up. Thursday, September 22nd. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you!  Please note—This is an adult-only evening. 

6. Homework Update: This week your child will begin homework. In your child's red homework folder, you will see 2 sheet protectors and a packet of cards in the sleeve with a Ziploc bag. Please keep the pages in the sheet protectors unless you are filling out the reading log. Once you have filled out the Reading Log, please make sure the paper gets back into the sheet protector. I will collect the red folders on Friday and take out all of the completed work.

a. Match the Numbers Math Game: This week your child will cut out the packet of cards in the sleeve of the homework folder. Once s/he is finished cutting out the cards, the student will match all of the represented numbers together in a row (1 finger, 1 dot, number 1 symbol, etc.). Once all of the numbers are identified, your child should put the numbers in order from 1 to 10. (On the back of the reading log, there are math game questions to help guide conversations. These questions may not all align with the activity we are doing this week, but could help give ideas as to the types of questions you could use in math game conversations.)

b. Reading (Activity) Log: The first page in the sheet protector will be your child's reading or activity log. This log will be collected every week on Friday when your child brings their red homework folder back. Please check off the boxes of what activities you have complete on specific days. For the Discussion Question box, please fill in the questions that you discussed with your child while reading throughout the week.

I hope you all have a great week!

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 Match the Numbers math game. The homework folder should always be brought to school in your child's backpack, but only returned on Fridays.