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