Week 23 - February 23, 2018

Curriculum

Reading

This week we read and learned about Gandhi.  The students came up with character traits to describe the Indian leader.  Next week, we will continue to explore character traits, but our focus will be looking to see how characters can change throughout the story.

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 finished up their first personal narrative this week.  Next week we will begin a new one that focuses on character traits.  Students will think about their own character traits.  They will think about things they have done that show a certain character trait and write a personal narrative about it.

Math
We've been learning to add two digit numbers this week.  Next week, we will work on multi-step number stories and hopefully take our Unit 6 test.

Unit 6 Skills
o I can tell time to the hour and half hour.
o I can find equivalent names for numbers.
o I can tell the value of each digit in a two digit number.
o I can use strategies to solve subtraction problems within 20.
o I can use strategies such as near doubles, helpers, and making 10 to solve addition facts within 20.
o I can add two digit numbers.

Unit 6 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 6 Assessment.

Unit 6 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies/Science
Students explored the temperature in their season this week.  We also learn about precipitation.  Next week, we will learn about precipitation in the different seasons.

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.) 
• January Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Henry Ford Museum

Over the next month we will be learning about the past, maps and character traits.  As a first grade, we think it would be fun to continue our learning about these things at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.  We were thinking we could meet on Saturday, March 3rd at 9:30 AM by the Oscar Meyer hot dog mobile.  This is through the lobby just inside the entrance.  The museum has many exhibits that would compliment our learning on the past, maps and character traits.  This is not a mandatory trip; it is completely optional, we just thought it could be a fun family learning opportunity.  Siblings and families are welcome!  We will be bringing our families as well.  You will be walking around on your own, so you can spend as little or as much time as you like at the museum, whatever fits your schedule for the day.

You can check out the website for directions, cost, parking and more information.

https://www.thehenryford.org/

Important Dates

March 3 - Henry Ford Museum (meet us there if you would like)
March 30 - Good Friday - No School
April 2-6 - Spring Break - No School
May 18 - PBL Presentation (AM) - more information to come, Celebration of Learning (PM)
May 28 - Memorial Day - No School
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal)

Week 22 - February 16, 2018

Curriculum

Reading

We've continued to explore character traits over the last week.  This week, our focus was on Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  Next week, we will learn about Ghandi and try to come up with character traits to describe him.  In learning words, the students will be learning how to make words plural.

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
This week, we began working on our personal narratives.  The students learned about imagery and how to use imagery in their writing.  Next week, we will continue to write our stories adding more and more author's craft such as onomatopoeia.

Math
This week, the students learned to tell time to the hour and half hour.  Next week, we will learn to use strategies to add two digit numbers.

Unit 6 Skills
o I can tell time to the hour and half hour.
o I can find equivalent names for numbers.
o I can tell the value of each digit in a two digit number.
o I can use strategies to solve subtraction problems within 20.
o I can use strategies such as near doubles, helpers, and making 10 to solve addition facts within 20.
o I can add two digit numbers.

Unit 6 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 6 Assessment.

Unit 6 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies/Science
This week, the students decided to work in small groups to explore the different seasons and the weather in those seasons.  We began by exploring temperature - what it is and how to measure it.  Next week, students will begin researching the average temperature of their season with their groups.

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.) 
• January Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Henry Ford Museum

Over the next month we will be learning about the past, maps and character traits.  As a first grade, we think it would be fun to continue our learning about these things at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.  We were thinking we could meet on Saturday, March 3rd at 9:30 AM by the Oscar Meyer hot dog mobile.  This is through the lobby just inside the entrance.  The museum has many exhibits that would compliment our learning on the past, maps and character traits.  This is not a mandatory trip; it is completely optional, we just thought it could be a fun family learning opportunity.  Siblings and families are welcome!  We will be bringing our families as well.  You will be walking around on your own, so you can spend as little or as much time as you like at the museum, whatever fits your schedule for the day.

You can check out the website for directions, cost, parking and more information.

https://www.thehenryford.org/

Important Dates

February 19-20 - Midwinter break - No School
March 3 - Henry Ford Museum (meet us there if you would like)
March 30 - Good Friday - No School
April 2-6 - Spring Break - No School
May 18 - PBL Presentation (AM) - more information to come, Celebration of Learning (PM)
May 28 - Memorial Day - No School
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal)

Week 20 - February 2, 2018

Curriculum

Reading

This week, we learned to describe people using character traits.  The students read books and watched a short Brainpop video on Jackie Robinson.  They then did a thinking routine, a step inside.  This routine has students pretend they are the character and name what they noticed, believed, wondered and cared about.  The students did a nice job of explaining what Jackie Robinson was like and what he thought.  Next, the students had to choose character traits to describe Jackie and explain what Jackie said or did to make him that character trait.  In addition, we explored the long i sound.  Next week, we will continue to learn about character traits and describe other people using character traits.  We will also explore the long o sound and how to spell words with the long o sound.

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 finished their how to books this week!  Next week, we will begin another personal narrative writing unit. 

Math
Students learned what comparison number stories were and how to solve them.  We also learned how to add and subtract 10.  Next week, students will learn to add 2 digit and 1 digit numbers and measure with base 10 blocks.  We will then take our Unit 5 test.

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 5 Assessment.

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

Social Studies/Science
This week, the students began exploring weather.  We made a list of all of the things we wonder about Michigan's weather and seasons.  Next week, we will begin to explore and research some of our 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.) 
• January Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, the students will have an opportunity to pass out Valentine's Day cards to their classmates.  If you would like your child to participate, please have your child make a card for everyone in the classroom.  Also, you will need to make a box to put the Valentine's in.  Many students use old shoe boxes or boxes that are around the same size.  Your child can decorate the box however, he/she wishes.  Please send in the box whenever it is ready, we can keep them here until Valentine's Day.  Below is a list of both our's and Ms. Schumaker's classes.  You do not have to do both classes, it is optional, however, if you do one student please do them all to be respectful.
Also, if you would like to volunteer to help with setting up, serving and cleaning up after our ice cream sundae celebration, here is the link.  If you do not want your child to have the sundae's please let me know before Valentine's Day.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0e4aafae22a0f58-first

Henry Ford Museum

Over the next month we will be learning about the past, maps and character traits.  As a first grade, we think it would be fun to continue our learning about these things at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.  We were thinking we could meet on Saturday, March 3rd at 9:30 AM by the Oscar Meyer hot dog mobile.  This is through the lobby just inside the entrance.  The museum has many exhibits that would compliment our learning on the past, maps and character traits.  This is not a mandatory trip; it is completely optional, we just thought it could be a fun family learning opportunity.  Siblings and families are welcome!  We will be bringing our families as well.  You will be walking around on your own, so you can spend as little or as much time as you like at the museum, whatever fits your schedule for the day.

You can check out the website for directions, cost, parking and more information.

https://www.thehenryford.org/

Important Dates

February 14 - Valentine's Day Celebration 
February 19-20 - Midwinter break - No School
March 3 - Henry Ford Museum (meet us there if you would like)
March 30 - Good Friday - No School
April 2-6 - Spring Break - No School
May 18 - PBL Presentation (AM) - more information to come, Celebration of Learning (PM)
May 28 - Memorial Day - No School
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal)