Week 16 - December 22, 2017

Thank you for all of the very generous gifts and the kind notes.  I really appreciate it and hope you all have a wonderful break and holiday with your families!

Curriculum

Reading

The students practiced retelling and answering questions about their reading this week.  We also began exploring syllables and identifying how many syllables are in a word.  After the break, we will continue these skills.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
We finished our How to book about Seesaw.  The students all worked together to create a book to share with Kindergarten to help them begin using Seesaw!  After the break, students will have an opportunity to make a how to book on a topic of their choice.

Math
Due to so many students being absent this week, I will wait to have the students take the Unit 4 Assessment until after the break.  After the break, we will begin Unit 5.  You can see the skills for this unit below.

Unit 5 Skills
o I can use a number grid to find 10 more and 10 less than a number.
o I can identify true and false addition and subtraction number sentences within 10.
o I can identify 2-digit numbers represented by base-10 blocks.
o I can use <, >, and = to compare numbers.
o I can answer questions about data in a tally chart or bar graph.
o I can measure a path using base-10 cubes.

Unit 5 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 5 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
As a whole first grade the students have been meeting and discussing how Deerfield is a family and how we can make Deerfield a better place.  January is our 1st grade team's month to be in charge of a community service project for the school.  The students have decided that we want to help the school be a kind, caring place.  When we return from the break, the students will be sharing their ideas with their cabins.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• December Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

December 25 - Winter Break Begins
December 25-January 7 - No School - Winter Break
January 8 - School Resumes

Week 15 - December 15, 2017

Activities for Next Week 

• Monday (12-18): Holiday traditions/Read In
• We will learn about holiday traditions celebrated around the world.
• Read in Day! Bring in blankets, small pillows, and even your favorite stuffed animal for a day filled with reading.
• Tuesday (12-19): Gingerbread Day.
• We will be making gingerbread play dough
• Paper bag Gingerbread house
• We need ingredients and volunteers to make play dough! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0945a5a62da1f58-first
• Wednesday (12-20): Grinch Day
• Wear Grinch shirts or green
• Grinch activities throughout the day
• Thursday (12-21): Holiday party @ 9:30-10:15 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 (12-22): Pajama Day!
• Movie Day
• Whole school sing along at 9:30am

Curriculum

Reading

The students have been working on retelling stories with the characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, problem and solution.  Next week, we will continue to practice retelling what we're reading.  In addition, students will be learning to find syllables in words.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
The students are creating a how to book about Seesaw for the Kindergarten classes.  Students are working in groups to teach about different parts of Seesaw such as how to log in, how to take a picture, how to make a drawing, how to make a video, and how to record.  They are also making some tips and warnings about handling the iPads.  Ask your child about his/her part!  Next, week we hope to finish our how to book on Seesaw and move on to writing a new how to book.

Math
Students have enjoyed learning to collect data, make tally charts and bar graphs.  Next week, we will learn to add and subtract 10 from any number and then take our test.

Unit 4 Skills
o I can add three numbers using different strategies (make 10 or doubles).
o I can use strategies to solve facts within 10.
o I can put objects in order by length.
o I can measure the length of an object using nonstandard units.
o I can answer questions about data in a tally chart or bar graph.
o I can represent number stories using a number model.
o I can add and subtract 10 from any number.

Unit 4 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 4 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
Students have learned about families, what makes a family, traditions families have and that families have roles and responsibilities.  Next week, we will begin exploring how we might share what we've learned with others.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• December Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Cabins
As a school, we are focusing on respect this month.  Students are learning to show respect to themselves, others, and their environment.  Today we focused on showing respect during our dismissal time.  Please talk with your child about what they learned today!

Important Dates

December 21 - Holiday Party (9:30-10:15)
December 25 - Winter Break Begins
December 25-January 7 - No School - Winter Break
January 8 - School Resumes

Week 14 - December 8, 2017

Curriculum

Reading

The students have learned how to be fluent readers.  Now, they need to continue to practice this skill every time they read.  Next week, we will practice retelling what we're reading.  In addition, students will be learning to read and write words with blends at the end (i.e. must, wing, etc.).

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
The students did a wonderful job noticing different features in how to books.  We have now begun a class project.  The students are creating a how to book about Seesaw for the Kindergarten classes.  Students are working in groups to teach about different parts of Seesaw such as how to log in, how to take a picture, how to make a drawing, how to make a video, and how to record.  They are also making some tips and warnings about handling the iPads.  Ask your child about his/her part!

Math
In math this week, students learned to add with three addends.  Students learned to look for "friendly numbers".  For example, they learned to look for doubles or numbers that make 10 to make the adding easier.  Next week we will learn about data.  Students will take surveys, create tally charts, make bar graphs and answer questions about the data.

Unit 4 Skills
o I can add three numbers using different strategies (make 10 or doubles).
o I can use strategies to solve facts within 10.
o I can put objects in order by length.
o I can measure the length of an object using nonstandard units.
o I can answer questions about data in a tally chart or bar graph.
o I can represent number stories using a number model.
o I can add and subtract 10 from any number.

Unit 4 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 4 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
Students learned that we all have different families.  They learned that it doesn't matter how many people you have in your family or if they're boys or girls.  What does matter is that you take care of each other, keep each other safe, protect each other and love each other.  Next week, we hope to explore traditions and activities that families do together.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• December Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Cabins
As a school, we are focusing on respect this month.  Students are learning to show respect to themselves, others, and their environment.  Today we focused on showing respect during our dismissal time.  Please talk with your child about what they learned today!

Important Dates

December 21 - Holiday Party (9:30-10:15) - More information to come
December 25 - Winter Break Begins
December 25-January 7 - No School - Winter Break
January 8 - School Resumes

Week 13 - December 1, 2017

Curriculum

Reading

This week and next week, our reading focus is on reading fluently.  This week we discussed how fluent readers read accurately and at a good pace (not too fast or too slow).  In addition, students learned to read/write words with the h brother digraphs (sh, ch, ph, wh, gh, th).

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
Next week in writing, we will begin our How To writing unit.  Students will explore mentor texts to decide what they will need to include in their own how to book.  Then we will generate some ideas on how to topics.

Math
We began unit 4 this week.  Students learned about measurement.  Students have been practicing measuring with non-standard units.  For example, they measured items around the room using pencils and paper clips.  How many pencils long is...? Next week we will learn to add three numbers together.  Students will focus on using making 10 and doubles to help them add three numbers.

Unit 4 Skills
o I can add three numbers using different strategies (make 10 or doubles).
o I can use strategies to solve facts within 10.
o I can put objects in order by length.
o I can measure the length of an object using nonstandard units.
o I can answer questions about data in a tally chart or bar graph.
o I can represent number stories using a number model.
o I can add and subtract 10 from any number.

Unit 4 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 4 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
Students began exploring what a family is this week.  We will continue to discuss what makes a family over the next few weeks.  We will learn about the traditions of families, roles/responsibilities of different family members and who the members of a family are.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• November Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

December 21 - Holiday Party (9:30-10:15) - More information to come
December 25 - Winter Break Begins
December 25-January 7 - No School - Winter Break
January 8 - School Resumes

Week 11 - November 17, 2017

Multicultural Feast

Our annual Multicultural Feast is next Monday, November 20, 2017 during lunches. We will need parent volunteers to set up, serve food, and clean up to help make this event a success. Please see feast times and sign up genius links below.

Lach/Passeggiato/1st Grade: 11:10-11:50

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084eaca72ca0f58-20172

Stewart/Scott/2nd Grade: 11:50-12:30

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084eaca72ca0f58-20173

Seaver/Anderson/Henry/Jeung: 12:20-1:00

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084eaca72ca0f58-2017

Champe/Stevenson/Sauchak/McCurdy/Thompson: 12:40-1:20

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084eaca72ca0f58-20171

Curriculum

Reading

Students have now learned all of the decoding strategies.  When they are reading, they should try any and all of them before asking for help when they come to a word they do not know.  In addition to decoding strategies, students will continue to explore words with blends.  We will learn to read and write words with the s blend (ie. snack, slack, stack, etc.).

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
Students have been working very hard to improve their writing this week.  We've learned to include feelings, transition words, thoughts and dialogue.  Next week, I hope to have students edit/revise and then write final copies.

Math
Students have been learning to skip count using frames and arrows and number lines.  Next week, we will review and take our Unit 3 test.

Unit 3 Skills
o I can compare two numbers within 20 using >, <, =.
o I can solve parts-and-total number stories within 10 (word problems).
o I can solve frames and arrows problems with addition (skip counting).
o I can solve number stories using a number line.
o I can find the unknown number of hops between two numbers.
o I can use a number line to skip count.

Unit 3 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 3 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Science
This week, we explored magnets a bit.  We will continue to explore them next week.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• November Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

November 22 - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal - no lunch) - Thanksgiving break begins
November 23-24 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
November 27 - School Resumes

Week 10 - November 10, 2017

Report Cards

In the past, we marked every learning strand that we taught. For example, in math we would have marked every learning goal for both units that we have taught and we would not mark those again after the first marking period. A parent survey found that these cards had too much information that was not meaningful to parents.

Our new report cards are based on the end of the year goals for first grade. That means you will not be seeing straight 3's even if your child is progressing as expected at this time. Instead, it is likely that your child will be receiving a majority of 1's and 2's since they have not yet met (and we haven't taught/assessed) the end of the year goals. Using the example of math again, this marking period only assesses two learning standards, adding within 20 and subtracting within 20. We started teaching both of those standards this marking period but since our curriculum spirals, we will continue teaching those concepts throughout the year. Therefore, you will not see a 3 until we have finished teaching everything within that standard. The same goes for writing. We have started teaching writing informational writing and conventions, but we have not finished teaching them or assessing them, so even if your child is progressing as expected you will likely see 2s because we are not done teaching these skills.

Behavior, reading, social studies, and specials will be marked as they currently apply to your child so 3's are possible and are the goal for this time of year. It is common for behavior to fluctuate throughout the year and it's important for you to get an accurate portrayal of how their current behavior is.

Curriculum

Reading

This week we learned to decode unknown words using Stretchy Snake and Chunky Monkey. Next week, we will learn to use Skippy Frog and how to monitor and clarify the meaning of text.  Skippy Frog says to skip the unknown word and then come back to it to see if the sentence can help you figure it out.  In addition to decoding strategies, students will continue to explore words with blends.  We will learn to read and write words with the r blend (ie. crayon, crush, brush, brake, friend, frog, etc.)

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
We started planning our second personal narrative this week.  Students also added transition words.  Next week we will look at adding feelings and dialogue to our writing.

Math
This week, we continued to practice solving addition word problems as well as find the missing addend in addition problems.  Next week, we will learn more about skip counting using frames and arrows or number lines.

Unit 3 Skills
o I can compare two numbers within 20 using >, <, =.
o I can solve parts-and-total number stories within 10 (word problems).
o I can solve frames and arrows problems with addition (skip counting).
o I can solve number stories using a number line.
o I can find the unknown number of hops between two numbers.
o I can use a number line to skip count.

Unit 3 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 3 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Science
We wrapped up our learning on sorting objects and began to explore magnets.  We read about them, watched a BrainpopJr video and played with them to explore and learn about them.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• November Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

November 14 - Conferences (to remind you of what time you signed up, you may go to the following link:http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44a4a92ea5fe3-2017)
November 14 - 1/2 Day for conferences (12:30 dismissal - no lunch)
November 22 - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal - no lunch) - Thanksgiving break begins
November 23-24 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
November 27 - School Resumes

Week 9 - November 3, 2017

Curriculum

Reading

This week we learned to decode unknown words using the Eagle Eye and Lips the Fish strategies. Next week, we will learn to use Stretchy Snake and Chunky Monkey.  Stretchy Snake says to stretch out each sound and then blend them together to figure out unknown words.  Chunky Monkey says to look for chunks in the word that you know to help you decode the word.  In addition to decoding strategies, students will begin to explore words with blends.  We will learn to read and write words with the l blend (ie. blend, blue, black, clue, clam, flight, fly, flag, etc.)

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday.  If anyone is available to help with exchanging book baggies on Fridays at about 3:15, I'd love some help!

Writing
Next week, students will begin a new personal narrative.  We will start with the planning phase of the writing process.

Math
This week we worked on solving number stories using different strategies.  Students also explored how to compare numbers.  Next week, we will continue to solve number stories and also work more on missing addends but using a number line to solve them.

Unit 3 Skills
o I can compare two numbers within 20 using >, <, =.
o I can solve parts-and-total number stories within 10 (word problems).
o I can solve frames and arrows problems with addition (skip counting).
o I can solve number stories using a number line.
o I can find the unknown number of hops between two numbers.
o I can use a number line to skip count.

Unit 3 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 3 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Science
Students learned to sort objects by different characteristics (color, shape, size, texture, etc).  We also explored sinking and floating with objects and learned why some objects float and some sink.  Next week, we continue to work on sorting objects by their properties and, if time allows, begin exploring magnets.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• November Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

November 7 - No School
November 14 - Conferences (Please sign up if you haven't already:http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44a4a92ea5fe3-2017)
November 22 - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal - no lunch) - Thanksgiving break begins
November 23-24 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
November 27 - School Resumes

Week 8 - October 27, 2017

Curriculum

Halloween/Color Fun Run

9:25 Halloween Parade
Students can come to school in their Halloween costume.  It must be worn OVER their regular clothes.  Immediately following the parade, students will take off their costumes and put them in their back packs to take home.  Please remember, masks and weapons are not permitted.  If you would like to attend the parade, you will line up outside around the bus circle.  Students will parade around the circle a couple times for you to see them.

2:00 Color Fun Run

Students will put on their oversized white shirt that you sent in.  They will run and be provided a snack after. 

Reading
Next week we will begin to learn to decode unknown words.  Students will be learning different decoding strategies that will help them as readers.  The first decoding strategy is called "Eagle Eye".  Eagle Eye reminds students to look at the picture to see if it can help them to figure out unknown words.  We will also wrap up our learning on short vowels next week.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday.  If anyone is available to help with exchanging book baggies on Fridays at about 3:15, I'd love some help!

Writing
Next week, students will finish their personal narratives.  We will then learn about dialogue and how to use it in our writing so that they can try it in their next personal narrative.

Math
We wrapped up Unit 2 this week.  Next week, students will begin Unit 3.  The our focus next week will be on comparing numbers using symbols (>,<,=).

Unit 3 Skills
o I can compare two numbers within 20 using >, <, =.
o I can solve parts-and-total number stories within 10 (word problems).
o I can solve frames and arrows problems with addition (skip counting).
o I can solve number stories using a number line.
o I can find the unknown number of hops between two numbers.
o I can use a number line to skip count.

Unit 3 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 3 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Science
Next week, we will begin learning about different attributes of objects.  We will then explore sinking and floating.
On Wednesday, November 1st, 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!

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• October Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

October 31 - 9:25AM Halloween Parade; 2:00PM Color Fun Run
November 7 - No School
November 14 - Conferences (I will be sending out a sign up genius for scheduling soon.)
November 22 - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal - no lunch) - Thanksgiving break begins
November 23-24 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
November 27 - School Resumes

Week 7 - October 20, 2017

Curriculum

Reading
Our learning words sound will be the short u next week as in umbrella.  We will also continue to read stories and discuss them as a whole group and in smaller groups.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday.  If anyone is available to help with exchanging book baggies on Fridays at about 3:15, I'd love some help!

Writing
This week, we learned how to add feelings to our writing.  Rather than saying she's excited.  You might say, her heart was pounding, she couldn't stop smiling and she jumped up and down with joy!  We also talked about adding transition words to our writing (i.e. then, next, last, finally, first, also, in addition, etc.).  Next week, we will focus on our endings.  

Math
This week our focus has been on using the change to more and change to less diagrams.  Students are learning how these can be helpful when solving addition or subtraction word problems.  Next week, we will learn how to solve missing addend problems and how to count on.  We will then, hopefully, review for our test and take our Unit 2 test next week.

Unit 2 Skills
o I can use the turn around rule (add numbers in any order to get the same answer).
o I can use the change-to-more or change-to-less diagrams to solve number stories.
o I can add and subtract within 10 using combinations of 10.
o I can answer simple questions about a tally chart.
o I can count and represent a number of objects within 20 using a written numeral.

Unit 2 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 2 Assessment.

Unit 2 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
We finished our book!  If you haven't seen it, please check out Seesaw.  It is uploaded there.  The last several days, we've been discussing the idea of a star citizen.  Ask your child about it! :)

LEAD
Today during LEAD, we got together as a whole first grade.  We read the book The Invisible Boy.  The story is about a boy, Brian, who feels invisible in his classroom because the other kids do not ask him to play, they don't eat with him, or invite him to birthday parties.  This all changes when a new student arrives and begins including Brian in different activities.  After reading, we did a thinking routine called Step Inside.  The goal is to get our students to put themselves in Brian's shoes.  Then to show their thinking on what Brian notices/sees/observes, what he knows/believes/understands, what he cares deeply about and what he wonders/questions.  

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• October Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

October 23-October 27 - Don't forget to send in your suggested $55 dollar donation before the 27th for the Color Fun Run! :)
October 27 - Favorite Team Day (Bring in a dollar or more to donate to the DF Fall Fun Color Run and wear your favorite team gear)
November 7 - No School
November 22 - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal - no lunch) - Thanksgiving break begins
November 23-24 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
November 27 - School Resumes

Week 6 - October 13, 2017

Curriculum

Reading
Students continue to practice the Daily 5 routine and learned about the short i sound.  Next week, we will continue to practice these routines and the skills at each station.  At listen to reading, the students are hearing reading read fluently so that they learn to read fluently as well.  At read to self, they are practicing decoding unknown words and they are reading different texts to learn or for enjoyment.  At learning words, students work with different word patterns and practice finding and writing words with that pattern (i.e. short o).  At practice writing, they are able to practice writing letters, stories, book or movie reviews, and more.  Students can also continue working on the current writing unit we are working on (personal narratives).  Finally, at teacher time, we are working on skills that the different students need.  We may be practicing more with the current learning words skill, reading sight words, learning new vocabulary words, reading together and answering questions about our reading.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday.  If anyone is available to help with exchanging book baggies on Fridays at about 3:15, I'd love some help!

Writing
In writing, we have been planning personal narrative stories.  In the coming weeks, students will be learning to edit and revise their writing for certain things.  They will learn to revise the lead, use transition words, add details about their feelings/thoughts/dialogue, and how to write good endings.

Math
We worked really hard this week on learning how to make 10 and how to use the turn around rule.  We are learning how both of these skills can help us with other math problems.  Next week, I hope to teach the students about using the change to more and change to less diagrams to help us solve number stories.

Unit 2 Skills
o I can use the turn around rule (add numbers in any order to get the same answer).
o I can use the change-to-more or change-to-less diagrams to solve number stories.
o I can add and subtract within 10 using combinations of 10.
o I can answer simple questions about a tally chart.
o I can count and represent a number of objects within 20 using a written numeral.

Unit 2 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 2 Assessment.

Unit 2 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
Well our Citizenship project has taken us longer than expected.  We now have all of the final pages ready for us to put in a book to share.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• October Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

October 16-October 27 - Don't forget to send in your suggested $55 dollar donation before the 27th for the Color Fun Run! :)
October 16 - October Scholastic Book Order Due
October 20 - Hat Day (Bring in a dollar or more to donate to the DF Fall Fun Color Run and wear your hat). 
October 27 - Favorite Team Day (Bring in a dollar or more to donate to the DF Fall Fun Color Run and wear your favorite team gear)