Week of September 19th-September 23rd

 

First Grade Newsletter

September 19th-September 23rd

Literacy

KNOWLEDGE

Reading Street: Unit 1 Week 3

Main selection: The Big Blue Ox

Weekly Question:  How do animals help people?

Amazing Words:  past, present, produce, transportation, danger, serve, enormous, powerful

Genres:  Animal Fantasy

Comprehension skills:  Character, Setting, Plot/Making predictions

PHONICS

Fundations: Unit 1 (Week 3 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

Patterns in the Sky
     Last week students observed the sun. We measured the sun's distance from the horizon using hand spans, measured the shadow of an object outside (lamp post), and drew a sketch of where the sun was in the sky. Students recorded their measurements and drew their sketches on a their sun observation recording sheet.

This week students will look back at the information students gathered on Friday. We will analyze the data students collected through guiding questions to help students answer the question, "How can patterns we observe in the sky help us make predictions?"

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?".

Last week students learned about respect and responsibility. Students learned ways to show respect and responsibility. Then students showed 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. Students also learned about the power to choose and the consequences of choices that are made. After listening to the "Choices We Make" story, students completed a sorting activity where they had to decide if the choice in the box was a good or bad choice.

This week students will learn about friendships through a read aloud, role-playing activity, and Friendship book. 

 

Social Skills Read Aloud

• The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania and Kelly DiPucchio

 Specialists

 

MONDAY: Art

TUESDAY: Music

WEDNESDAY: P.E.

THURSDAY: Art

FRIDAY: Music

  

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 10:00 a.m. Please make sure that it is nut-sensitive and has no glass products.

4.    September Scholastic Book Order: 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 recording page. 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. Draw the Dots Math Game: This week students will review the dot cards in the packet of number cards given to them last week. After reviewing the dot cards, put the cards away and see if your child can remember the pattern of each number dot card. If your child needs assistance, please have the dot cards available. If you need another copy of the number cards, please let me know and I will send them home.

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 1 out of the 4 days.

7. Login Sheet- The online websites that are listed on the login sheet are extra from the the homework given to your child unless stated otherwise. Lexia is a great program for students to practice their current phonics skills at home. I Know It Math is great math skill practice when I assign review or current skill practice activities.

I hope to see you all at Meet the Teacher night this 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 Draw the Dots game. The homework folder should always be brought to school in your child's backpack, but only returned on Fridays.