Happy Holidays!

We made it to Winter Break!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the time with family and friends!  I thank you all for your support this first half of the year!  I know Ms. Surzyn is looking forward to working with all of you and the students after the holiday break!  If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me or Ms. Surzyn.  I will be back some time in March to finish out the year with the students!

Take Care!

Curriculum

Reading:

This week, students continued to work on reading and writing different consonant blends.  In addition, they did some independent reading while I worked one on one with each student.  Please keep reading with your child over the winter break!  Many of them need to practice retelling the details of the stories they are reading and making inferences about the characters.  After the break, the students will continue to practice reading fluently.  They will also begin learning about the long a vowel patterns to help them as readers and writers.

Book Baggies:

Please remind students to return their book baggies on Friday along with bookmarks and tracking sheets.  That way, if needed, I can change their levels and we can keep track of the books they are taking home.

Writing:

This week we spent a lot of time publishing our How To Make Hot Cocoa books!  Many are turning out quite well.  After the break, students will have an opportunity to write a how to book on a topic of their choice.  It would be great if you could help them think of a topic over the break that they might want to write about when they come back.  It should be something that has about 4-6 steps.

Math:

We wrapped up Unit 4 this week by taking our assessment.  After the break, students will begin Unit 5.  This unit focuses on place value and comparing numbers.

Unit 5 Skills

o I can explain how pennies and dimes are like 1s and 10s

o I can exchange 10s for 1s and 1s for 10s

o I can use >, <, and = to compare numbers

o I can tell whether a number sentence is true or false

o I can solve comparison number stories

o I can add 2-digit and 1-digit numbers

o I can measure a path using base-10 blocks

Unit 5 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Unit 5 Study Guide

Science

This week, we learned about the properties of water for our "Sorting It Out" unit. When we return from the break, students will begin to learn about weather.

MakerSpace/Play

We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

January Homework

Here is a link to the January Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

December 24-January 8: Winter Break

January 9: School Resumes

January 10: Jump Rope for Heart Kickoff during school

January 12: LEAD time (wear Deerfield gear or green)

January 16: No School - MLK Jr. Day

January 19: Buddies (wear Deerfield gear or green)

January 26: Cabins  (wear Deerfield gear or green)

January 27: 1/2 Day (12:30 Dismissal) - Sharpen the Saw day (more information to come)

One more week!

Week of December 19-23

In the spirit of community and to have some fun the week before Winter Break, the school will be having some themed days.  Each day will have a different theme and at some point during the day or throughout the day, we will read books and do activities that go with that theme. 

• Monday (12-19): Holiday traditions/Read In
• We will learn about Hanukkah/Kwanzaa
• Read in Day! Bring in blankets, small pillows, and even your favorite stuffed animal for a day filled with reading. 
• Tuesday (12-20): Gingerbread Man Day. 
• We will be making gingerbread play dough 
• Sign Up Here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0945a5a62da1f58-first
• Wednesday (12-21): Grinch Day 
• Wear Grinch shirts or green
• Thursday (12-22): Holiday party @ 10:30-11:15 am 
• Wear festive attire- green, red, gold, silver, etc
• Board game day in the afternoon= bring in your favorite non-electronic game (board games, puzzles, and card game) to play with friends. 
• Holiday Party Sign Up Genius 
• Friday (12-23): Pajama Day!
• Movie Day
• Whole school sing along at 9:30am

Curriculum

Reading:
We are continuing to practice fluency when we read.  This week, students learned to use the punctuation to help guide how the read a book.  Next week, we will discuss reading at the appropriate rate (not too fast or too slow).  The students have also been learning about consonant blends (words that begin with st, sl, tr, dr, bl, br, etc) and how to read them and use them to help with their writing.  We will continue working on consonant blends next week.

Book Baggies:
Please remind students to return their book baggies on Friday along with bookmarks and tracking sheets.  That way, if needed, I can change their levels and we can keep track of the books they are taking home.

Writing:
Thank you for sending in all of the ingredients to help us write our How to Make Hot Cocoa books.  The students learned the importance of being descriptive when they write in order to make their hot cocoa turn out well.  They wrote and revised their plans for their How to book this week.  Next week, we will finish the book by publishing it.

Math:
In math this week, we learned about bar graphs; how to make them and how to read them.  We also learned what doubles facts are and practiced solving doubles facts.  Finally, we reviewed combinations of 10.  Knowing these combinations of 10 will help the students as we move in to solving harder addition and subtraction facts.  I would like to wrap up Unit 4 next week before students go on the winter break.  We will finish by learning how to add 3 numbers and how to add and subtract 10 to any number.  We will take the Unit 4 test on Thursday of next week (December 22).

Unit 4 Skills
o I can measure length using paper clips and pencils
o I can make a bar graph to answer a question
o I can solve addition doubles
o I can add combinations of 10
o I can solve number stories about adding three numbers
o I can find 10 more and 10 less than a number

Unit 4 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 4 Study Guide

Science
This week, we learned about Magnets!  Students learned some new vocabulary words (attract and repel) and that magnets attract to four types of metals (iron, steel, cobalt and nickel).  They also learned that magnets have poles.  Next week, we will learn about water and the three forms water can take on (ice, liquid water, and steam).

MakerSpace/Play
We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

December Homework
Here is a link to the December Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

December 22: LEAD Time and Holiday Celebration - 10:30-11:15 (use this link to sign up to help: Holiday Party Sign Up)
December 23: Last day of school before winter break
December 24-January 8: Winter Break
January 9: School Resumes

Thank You!!

Curriculum

Science/Social Studies:
Needs/Wants:
Thank you so much for all of your support throughout this Empathy Project! What an incredible group of students, families and community we have!  We raised over $2,200 for families in need!  The students did such a wonderful job presenting their project to the school and community.  Below is a link to a video of their presentation!  Thank you again for all of your help!  It wouldn't have been possible without you!  

Empathy Project Presentation

Empathy Project Animoto

Reading:
This week, we continued to learn about fluency in reading.  Students continued to practice reading with expression!  Next week we will practice using the punctuation and reading at the proper rate when we read to help us become better, more fluent readers.

Book Baggies:
Please remind students to return their book baggies on Friday along with bookmarks and tracking sheets.  That way, if needed, I can change their levels and we can keep track of the books they are taking home.

Writing:
As a first grade team, the students created a How To Wrap a Present Book this week!  Next week, we would like to continue to learn about writing How To books by writing a How To Make Hot Cocoa book.  In order to write this, we will begin by modeling how to make hot cocoa and then have students plan out their book.  After making a plan, we want them to test their plan by making hot cocoa themselves to see if their plan has enough detail and description.  In order to do this we are asking for your help!  Please use the sign up to help by sending in items or coming in to help us on Monday, December 12th if you are available!  

Hot Cocoa How To...Sign Up

Math:
This week we practiced measuring items using paper clips and pencils.  The students learned about common mistakes when measuring and how to avoid those mistakes.  Next week, we will learn how to make, interpret, and analyze a bar graph.  We will also learn how to add doubles and continue to practice making combinations of 10.

Unit 4 Skills
o I can measure length using paper clips and pencils
o I can make a bar graph to answer a question
o I can solve addition doubles
o I can add combinations of 10
o I can solve number stories about adding three numbers
o I can find 10 more and 10 less than a number

Unit 4 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 4 Study Guide

MakerSpace/Play
We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

December Homework
Here is a link to the December Play Based Homework! 

Week of December 19-23

In the spirit of community and to have some fun the week before Winter Break, the school will be having some themed days.  Each day will have a different theme and at some point during the day or throughout the day, we will read books and do activities that go with that theme. 

Monday, December 19th - Traditions (We will learn about Hannukah and Kwanzaa)
Tuesday, December 20th - Gingerbread Man Day
Wednesday, December 21st - Grinch Day - Wear green!
Thursday, December 22nd - Holiday Party/Game Day - Wear Holiday clothing
Friday, December 23rd - Sing Along/PJ Day

Important Dates

December 12: Hot Cocoa How To... Modeling and Testing
December 14: Holiday Shop (4:30-8:00)
December 15: Holiday Shop (4:30-8:00)
December 15: Buddies (wear Deerfield shirts or green)
December 22: LEAD Time and Holiday Celebration - 10:30-11:15 (use this link to sign up to help: Holiday Party Sign Up)
December 23: Last day of school before winter break
December 24-January 8: Winter Break
January 9: School Resumes

December is Here!!

Curriculum

Reading:
This week, we began learning how to read fluently.  Students learned that reading accurately is important and how to use expression when reading.  We will continue to practice reading with expression, using the punctuation when we read and reading at a good rate next week.  In addition, this week, students learned how to read and write words with "l" blends (bl-, cl-, fl-, pl-, gl-, etc).  Next week, we will read and write words with "r" blends (br-, cr-, fr-, pr-, gr-, etc).  

Book Baggies:
Please remind students to return their book baggies on Friday along with bookmarks and tracking sheets.  That way, if needed, I can change their levels and we can keep track of the books they are taking home.

Writing:
Students have been working hard to publish their personal narratives this week.  Next week, we will explore How to... books and how to write How to... books.

Math:
We wrapped up Unit 3 this week by taking our Unit Assessment and reflecting on our goals from the beginning of the unit.  We also took a pretest for Unit 4 and made a goal to work toward during this unit!  Ask your child about their math goal and how they want to accomplish it.  Next week, we will begin unit 4 by learning about measuring length.  Students will use non-standard units of measure (paper clips and pencils) to measure different items in the classroom. They will also learn about errors that can occur when measuring and how to avoid making these errors.

Unit 4 Skills
o I can measure length using paper clips and pencils
o I can make a bar graph to answer a question
o I can solve addition doubles
o I can add combinations of 10
o I can solve number stories about adding three numbers
o I can find 10 more and 10 less than a number

Unit 4 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 4 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Needs/Wants:
Thank you so much for all of your support throughout this Empathy Project!  Students have raised over $1,000!  Our Penny Drive ends on Tuesday December 6th.  If you would like to help counting and rolling coins, we will use all the help we can get! Just sign up at this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44a4a92ea5fe3-empathy. 

On Wednesday, December 7th, we will take the money raised from the Penny Drive and go to Target to shop for the items that were requested by the family.  We invite you to join us at 4:30 pm at the Target on Wixom road if you are available.

Finally, on Thursday, December 8th, in Cabins, the first graders and other students will be wrapping the gifts we purchase from Target.  If you have any rolls of wrapping paper that you could donate, we would greatly appreciate it.  It does not have to be a brand new roll!  Please send this in by Tuesday, December 6th.

Following Cabins, the first graders will be presenting at our Community Circle.  They will share with the school how much money was raised and how we helped a family in need.  You are welcome to join us for the presentation!  The Community Circle will begin around 9:50 am in the gym.

MakerSpace/Play
We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

December Homework
Here is a link to the December Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

November 29-December 6: 1st Grade Empathy Project Penny Drive
December 8: (9:45-10:15am) Cabins and Community Circle 
December 9: Scholastic Book Orders Due
December 15: Buddies (wear Deerfield shirts or green)
December 22: LEAD Time (wear Deerfield shirts or green) and Holiday Celebrations (more information to come)
December 23: Last day of school before winter break
December 24-January 8: Winter Break
January 9: School Resumes

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the break! 

Curriculum

Reading:
This week, students continued to practice their decoding strategies and digraphs.  Next week, we will begin learning about fluency.  Students will learn what fluency is and how to read accurately and with expression.    

Book Baggies:
Please remind students to return their book baggies on Friday along with bookmarks and tracking sheets.  That way, if needed, I can change their levels and we can keep track of the books they are taking home.

Writing:
Students continued to draft their writing this week.  They also had an opportunity to revise and edit their own writing.  Next week, we will work on publishing and sharing our personal narratives.

Math:
This week, we learned about frames and arrows.  We learned how they can be used to add, subtract and skip count.  Next week, we will wrap up Unit 3 with our assessment on Wednesday.  We will then reflect on our Unit 3 Math Goal and take a pretest for Unit 4.  Finally, we will make goals for Unit 4.

Unit 3 Skills
o I can use diagrams to solve number stories
o I can solve number stories
o I can skip count
o I can add and subtract on number lines
o I can figure out frames and arrows rules
o I can keep trying when problems are hard

Unit 3 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 3 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Needs/Wants:
The first graders have been working very hard to plan a December Service Project.  We've been calling it our Empathy Project.  Below are some of the details.

1st Grade Community Service Project

While reading books and discussing empathy, the first graders decided they want to help a family in need right here in Novi. 

Who: A family found through Novi Youth Assistance
What: Penny Drive! Each penny you put in your grade level bucket is worth 1 point. Every silver coin that you put in another grades bucket will subtract that many points from them (example: if you put a nickel in another grades bucket they will subtract 5 points).
Where: Buckets labeled by grade will be on tables near the office.
When: Tuesday, November 29 through Tuesday, December 6th. 

Why: To show our empathy for a family that does not have enough money to buy what they need. 

We are hoping to have volunteers come in to count coins and/or take coins to be counted at a bank.  Please sign up to help if you are available! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44a4a92ea5fe3-empathy We will then buy food and clothing for the boy and his mother using the money from the Penny Drive.

Below are some books we read about Empathy and Homelessness to teach students that not everyone has everything they need.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
December by Eve Bunting
The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern

MakerSpace/Play
We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

November Homework
Here is a link to the November Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

November 24 and 25: No School (Enjoy the holiday!)
November 29-December 6: 1st Grade Empathy Project Penny Drive
December 8: (9:45-10:15am) Assembly to share with the rest of the school all of the first graders hard work on their service project. Parents are welcome to come!
December 9: Scholastic Book Orders Due
December 22: Holiday Celebrations (more information to come)

Thank you all for attending Conferences!!

Thank you very much for making the time to meet with Ms. Surzyn and me on Tuesday for conferences!  We really appreciate your time!  

Curriculum

**Friday Sharers**
We will have Friday sharers share on Wednesday due to the short week!

Reading:
This week, students chose one decoding strategy to focus on and continue to practice.  We also practiced sorting and writing words with digraphs (two letters that make one sound; i.e. ph, wh, sh, ch, and th).  Next week, we will continue to review our decoding strategies and digraphs.  

Book Baggies:
We will not be returning our book baggies next week due to the short week!

Writing:
In writing, we worked on drafting our personal narratives.  Next week, I hope to have students revise, edit and begin publishing their personal narratives.

Math:
In math we focused on using number lines as tools to add, subtract and skip count.  Next week, we will learn about Frames and Arrows diagrams (they basically work on skip counting).  We will also learn to figure out frames and arrows rules.

Unit 3 Skills
o I can use diagrams to solve number stories
o I can solve number stories
o I can skip count
o I can add and subtract on number lines
o I can figure out frames and arrows rules
o I can keep trying when problems are hard

Unit 3 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 3 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Needs/Wants:
The first graders have been working very hard to plan a December Service Project.  We've been calling it our Empathy Project.  Below are some of the details.

1st Grade Community Service Project

While reading books and discussing empathy, the first graders decided they want to help a family in need right here in Novi. 

Who: A family found through Novi Youth Assistance
What: Penny Drive! Each penny you put in your grade level bucket is worth 1 point. Every silver coin that you put in another grades bucket will subtract that many points from them (example: if you put a nickel in another grades bucket they will subtract 5 points).
Where: Buckets labeled by grade will be on tables near the office.
When: Tuesday, November 29 through Tuesday, December 6th. 

Why: To show our empathy for a family that does not have enough money to buy what they need. 

We are hoping to have volunteers come in to count coins and/or take coins to be counted at a bank.  Please let us know if you can help us with this or if you know a bank that does coin counting without a charge!! We will then buy food and clothing for the boy and his mother using the money from the Penny Drive.

Below are some books we read about Empathy and Homelessness to teach students that not everyone has everything they need.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
December by Eve Bunting
The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern

MakerSpace/Play
We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

November Homework
Here is a link to the November Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

November 21: Multicultural Feast - Please sign up if you are willing to help or bring in food.  You should have received a note and a card to write your food on if you are choosing to make a dish for the feast.  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084eaca72ca0f58-multicultural
November 23: 1/2 Day of School
November 24 and 25: No School (Enjoy the holiday!)
November 29-December 6: 1st Grade Empathy Project Penny Drive
December 8: Assembly to share with the rest of the school all of the first graders hard work on their service project. Parents will be welcome to come!
December 22: Holiday Celebrations (more information to come)

Happy Veteran's Day!

Curriculum

Reading:
The decoding strategy we learned about this week was Skippy Frog.  Students learned to skip the word they don't know, read the rest of the sentence and return to the word to see what makes sense.  Students also learned words with the short u vowel pattern.  Next week, we will take what we've learned about decoding strategies and make a reading goal to work on.  We will also learn about digraphs (two letters that make one sound; i.e. ph, wh, sh, ch, and th).

Book Baggies:
Please remember, we change out our book baggie books every Friday.  Please help the students keep their books organized by always keeping them in their baggie.  Included in the bag, was a bookmark and a tracking sheet.  Please keep these with the bag.  One side is for us to track how many books each student has and for you to verify that they did bring these books home. The other side is for students to track their reading at home.  For each day they read 15-20 minutes, students should color in a star. 

Writing:
In writing, we learned a little about dialogue and how to show someone is talking in our writing.  We also did some writing to thank our Veteran's and to say what we are thankful for.  Next week, we will return to our personal narrative writing.  We will continue to look at how to use dialogue in our writing and finish drafting our stories.  

Math:
This week, we began Unit 3.  Students learned about a new diagram called Parts-and-Total that can help them organize their thinking when solving number stories.  We also tried to write our own number stories to match a number model.  Next week, we will learn to use number lines to skip count and add and subtract.  

Unit 3 Skills
o I can use diagrams to solve number stories
o I can solve number stories
o I can skip count
o I can add and subtract on number lines
o I can figure out frames and arrows rules
o I can keep trying when problems are hard

Unit 3 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 3 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Needs/Wants:
This week, we read stories that dealt with empathy and needs and wants.  As a first grade team, the students talked a lot about how there are people here in Novi who need help getting the things they need.  We decided that we would like to help those people.  Students chose to hold a Penny Drive in December to raise money to help people in Novi.  We are currently working on deciding what we will spend the money on after we raise it and where we will donate items. If you have any suggestions please talk with your children about it so that they can share it with the rest of the first graders! The students will be talking to the rest of the school about this at Cabins next Thursday in order to introduce our December Service Project.  

MakerSpace/Play
We are learning a lot about how to problem solve and work together during play!

Cardboard Play:
Students really enjoy playing with cardboard and being creative with it!  If you have any old shoe, cereal, tissue, etc. boxes, please send them in any time for us to use!  We could also use egg cartons or paper towel/toilet paper rolls.

November Homework
Here is a link to the November Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

November 15: 1/2 Day for Students (12:30 Dismissal - students will NOT have lunch at school)
November 15: Conferences (1-4pm, 5-7pm)
November 18: Pie Day - Some of our top Fun Run earners will have an opportunity to "pie" a teacher or Mrs. Bedford!
November 21: Multicultural Feast (more information will be coming)
November 23: 1/2 Day of School
November 24 and 25: No School (Enjoy the holiday!)

Report Card and Conference Information

Report Cards

Report Cards will come home tomorrow with students.  Please remember to sign the back of the envelope and return it to school.  You may keep everything inside the envelope.  Below is a note about the new report card and what you expect as far as grading!  

Report Card Explanation

Conferences

Conferences are next Tuesday, November 15.  If you do not remember your time, please refer to the Sign Up Genius.  Also, I sent home a Compass Points page with students (N - What do you Need to know to make this a successful/beneficial conference?, E - What are you excited to hear/discuss?, S - What suggestions do you have for conferences or how the year is going?, W - What do you wonder or have questions about?).  Please fill it out and send it in by Monday, November 14 if you have any specific items you'd like to discuss at our conference.  

It's getting cooler!

Curriculum

Reading:
The decoding strategy we learned about this week was Chunky Monkey.  Students learned to point to the word and look for chunks they know in the unknown word.  Students also learned words with the short o vowel pattern.  Next week, we will learn about Skippy the Frog (skip the word, read the rest of the sentence, and come back to the word), and the short u vowel pattern.

Book Baggies:
Please remember, we change out our book baggie books every Friday.  Please help the students keep their books organized by always keeping them in their baggie.  Included in the bag, was a bookmark and a tracking sheet.  Please keep these with the bag.  One side is for us to track how many books each student has and for you to verify that they did bring these books home. The other side is for students to track their reading at home.  For each day they read 15-20 minutes, students should color in a star. 

Writing:
In writing, we began writing a new personal narrative.  We have been talking about the writing process and learning how important each part is (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing).  Our focus this week was on pre-writing and why we need a plan before we start writing.  Today we also had a chance to begin drafting our lead.  We will continue to draft our stories next week and hopefully get an opportunity to revise and edit them as well.

Math:
This week, we took our Unit 2 Assessment.  We then looked at our assessments and revisited our goals for Unit 2 to see if we had met our goals or if we needed to keep working on them.  Students tracked this information in their Leadership Binders.  Finally, we took our Unit 3 Pretest and we made goals for this Unit.  Check out their goals on Seesaw.  Next week, we will begin Unit 3 with lesson 3.1.  We will get through Lesson 3.4 next week.

Unit 3 Skills
o I can use diagrams to solve number stories
o I can solve number stories
o I can skip count
o I can add and subtract on number lines
o I can figure out frames and arrows rules
o I can keep trying when problems are hard

Unit 3 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 3 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Sinking and Floating Unit:
Thank you so much for sending in all of the candy!  We had a great day Tuesday learning about Sinking and Floating.  Students learned to describe their candy based on attributes (color, shape, size, flexible/rigid, sink/float).  We made predictions on what we thought would happen with the different candy and finally, we tested it!  The students were very surprised when some candy sank and others floated!  We also discussed that the reason some candies sink/float depends on the candy's density.  We really had a great day; ask your child what they learned!

Family Unit:
We will wrap up our family unit next week Monday discussing family roles and responsibilities.  Please make sure your child has his/her homework so that they can discuss these topics with their group. 

Needs/Wants:
Next week, we will be reading stories that deal with needs and wants.  1st grade is in charge of the December Service Project for the school.  We are hoping to tie in our service project with our Needs/Wants social studies unit.  We want the students to help guide the service project by coming up with what people need and how we can help them get what they need.

MakerSpace/Play
Cardboard Play:
Students really enjoy playing with cardboard and being creative with it!  If you have any old shoe, cereal, tissue, etc. boxes, please send them in any time for us to use!  We could also use egg cartons or paper towel/toilet paper rolls.

November Homework
Here is a link to the November Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

November 8: Election Day (No School)
November 10: Buddy Time (Wear Deerfield shirts or green)
November 11: Report Cards go Home
November 15: 1/2 Day for Students (12:30 Dismissal - students will NOT have lunch at school)
November 15: Conferences (1-4pm, 5-7pm)

On to November!

Curriculum

Reading:
The decoding strategy we learned about this week was Stretchy/Slippery Snake.  Students learned to point to the word and say each sound to figure out unknown words.  We talked about how you can use this strategy along with our other decoding strategies to help you read tricky words.  Students also learned words with the short i vowel pattern.  Next week, we will learn about Chunky Monkey (chunk the parts of the word you know), and the short o vowel pattern.

Book Baggies:
Please remember, we change out our book baggie books every Friday.  Please help the students keep their books organized by always keeping them in their baggie.  Included in the bag, was a bookmark and a tracking sheet.  Please keep these with the bag.  One side is for us to track how many books each student has and for you to verify that they did bring these books home. The other side is for students to track their reading at home.  For each day they read 15-20 minutes, students should color in a star. 

Writing:
In writing, students have been learning how to revise and edit their personal narratives about Fun Run.  They are now working on their final copies.  I hope to have them finish their final copies early next week, so that they can begin a new personal narrative on a story of their choice.

Math:
This week, we learned how to use diagrams to help organize our thinking when solving math problems.  We learned to use the Change-to-More and Change-to-Less diagrams.  In addition, we learned how to write number models that go with these diagrams and how to find unknowns.  Next week, we will review for our Unit 2 test and take our assessment on Wednesday.  We will then look back at the goals we made for Unit 2 and reflect on if we met our goals.  Finally, we will take our Unit 3 Pretest and then make a goal for Unit 3.

Unit 2 Skills
o I can find pairs of numbers that add to 10
o I can use strategies to add
o I can label my counts
o I can explain how I solved problems
o I can write number models

Unit 2 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 2 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Family Unit:
This week we discussed what our families do and and how we are similar and different.  Next week we will take a break from this unit in order to learn about properties of objects and sinking and floating.

Sinking and Floating Unit:
Next week, students will have an opportunity to test whether certain candies float or sink.  In order to do this, we are asking that each child bring in 10 snack size pieces of candy (any candy WITHOUT NUTS...it will NOT be eaten).  For example, 10 Starburst, 10 Whoppers (not packages, simply 10 individual whoppers), 10 Skittles, 10 sticks of gum, etc.  You can send this in any time between now and Halloween!  Thank you for your help!

MakerSpace/Play
Cardboard Play:
Students really enjoy playing with cardboard and being creative with it!  If you have any old shoe, cereal, tissue, etc. boxes, please send them in any time for us to use!  We could also use egg cartons or paper towel/toilet paper rolls.

Diwali: 
This week we had the opportunity to learn about a holiday called Diwali.  Thank you Dr. Ely for coming in to teach the students why and how the holiday is celebrated!  Students had a great time learning about it!  Ask your child about what they learned!

November Homework
Here is a link to the November Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

October 31: Halloween Parade (9:20am)
                  1st/2nd grade Halloween Party (10:20-11:20 - See the previous email about volunteering opportunities for this! You must have a Volunteer Background Check form on file if you choose to volunteer!)
                 
                  Background Check Form

November 1: The Sign-Up Genius for Conferences will be sent out
November 2: Unit 2 Math Assessment
November 3: LEAD Time (Wear Deerfield shirts or green)
November 4: End of 1st Marking Period
November 8: Election Day (No School)
November 10: Buddy Time (Wear Deerfield shirts or green)
November 11: Report Cards go Home
November 15: Conferences (1-4pm, 5-7pm)

Updates

Below are updates for some events coming up.

Diwali Volunteers:

So far I have one volunteer to help us discuss Diwali on Friday, October 28th.  If anyone else would like to help, I would love more volunteers!  After discussing the holiday, we will be doing a couple crafts related to the holiday.  I would love for you to stay and help with that as well!  It will probably take about an hour of your time.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping out!

Sinking and Floating:

On Monday, October 31st, students will have an opportunity to learn about sinking and floating by testing whether certain candies float or sink.  In order to do this, we are asking that each child bring in 10 snack size pieces of candy (any candy...it WILL NOT be eaten).  For example, 10 Starburst, 10 Whoppers (not packages, simply 10 small whoppers), 10 Skittles, 10 sticks of gum, etc.  Please do not send in candy with nuts.  You can send this in any time between now and Halloween.   Thank you for your help!

Volunteer Opportunity:

On Friday, November 4th, I need one more volunteer from our classroom to come in to help us put together some picture frames of student work and hang the work in the alcove near our wing.  If you are interested and have time (it may take a couple hours), please let me know!  You will be working with parents from the other 1st grade classrooms as well.  We will be starting this in the morning (probably around 9:15 or 9:30).

Halloween:

As you know our Halloween parade is next Monday, October 31st at 9:20.  We will have the 1st and 2nd grade party from 10:20-11:20.  If you're interested in volunteering you may sign up using the following link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0c4ea5ab2fa4fc1-1st2nd/6469634.  As for costumes, students are asked to wear their costumes to school that day over top of their normal school clothing.  After the parade/party, students will be changing to their normal clothes so that nothing happens to their costumes throughout the day.  Please remember costumes should be school appropriate, no weapons or masks!  Also, it is best not to send in any accessories as they could be lost.  

Week 7

Curriculum

Reading:
We learned all about how to decode unknown words using our Lips the Fish this week.  Students also learning words with the short e vowel pattern.  Next week, we will be learning about how Stretchy Snake can help us decode (stretch out each sound of the unknown word).  In addition, students will learn about words with the short i vowel pattern.

Book Baggies:
Please remember, we change out our book baggie books every Friday.  Please help the students keep their books organized by always keeping them in their baggie.  Included in the bag, was a bookmark and a tracking sheet.  Please keep these with the bag.  One side is for us to track how many books each student has and for you to verify that they did bring these books home. The other side is for students to track their reading at home.  For each day they read 15-20 minutes, students should color in a star. 

Writing:
In writing, students have worked very hard to plan out the beginning, middle and end of their personal narrative about the Fun Run.  They have also drafted each of the parts.  Next week, we will learn to revise and edit our stories to make them better.  We will then begin publishing our stories.

Math:
This week, we learned several addition strategies.  Students also learned about how to make combinations of 10.  Next week, we will continue to learn different addition strategies.  We will also learn about using a Change-to-More and Change-to-Less diagram.  We will be completing lessons 2.7-2.11.  We will take our Unit 2 test the week of Halloween.

Unit 2 Skills
o I can find pairs of numbers that add to 10
o I can use strategies to add
o I can label my counts
o I can explain how I solved problems
o I can write number models

Unit 2 IXL Skills - Students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.
Unit 2 Study Guide

Science/Social Studies:
Family Unit:
The students' timelines turned out wonderful!! We will continue to use them to discuss the members of a family and their responsibilities.  Next week, we will focus on what families do.  Please make sure students have their Family Tradition/Family Vacation homework on Monday, October 24th.  If your family does not take many vacations, that is fine! The students and I talked about simply writing about something you do together with your family in place of writing about a vacation.

Sinking and Floating Unit:
On Halloween, students will have an opportunity to test whether certain candies float or sink.  In order to do this, we are asking that each child bring in 10 snack size pieces of candy (any candy...it will NOT be eaten).  For example, 10 Starburst, 10 Whoppers (not packages, simply 10 individual whoppers), 10 Skittles, 10 sticks of gum, etc.  You can send this in any time between now and Halloween!  Thank you for your help!

MakerSpace/Play
Cardboard Play:
Today during our Play time, students had an opportunity to build with cardboard.  They LOVED it!!  We will continue to work on our creations in a couple weeks.  If you have any old shoe, cereal, tissue, etc. boxes, please send them in any time for us to use!  We could also use egg cartons or paper towel/toilet paper rolls.  The students would LOVE to create with these items!  

Diwali: 
Next week during play, we will learn about Diwali.  I am hoping to have a couple volunteers who are willing to come in and discuss the holiday with the students (what it is, why it is celebrated, how it is celebrated, etc).  After learning about the holiday, we will then do a couple craft projects related to Diwali.

October Homework
Here is a link to the October Play Based Homework! 

Important Dates

October 27: Cabin Time (Wear Deerfield shirts or green)
October 31: Halloween Parade (9:20am)
                  1st/2nd grade Halloween Party (10:20-11:20 - See the previous email about volunteering opportunities for this! You must have a Volunteer Background Check form on file if you choose to volunteer!)
                 
                  Background Check Form

November 2: Possible date of the Unit 2 Math Assessment
November 3: LEAD Time (Wear Deerfield shirts or green)
November 8: Election Day (No School)
November 10: Buddy Time (Wear Deerfield shirts or green)