Week 24 - March 2, 2018

Curriculum

Reading

This week, students had an opportunity to read stories and discuss how characters change throughout the story.  We read books like Recess Queen, My Rotten Red-Headed Older Brother, and Julius, Baby of the World.  Next week, we will begin our character clubs.  These are book clubs in which the students focus on the characters and understanding what they are like.  They will read series books, so that they can explore the characters across multiple texts.

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 began a new personal narrative this week.  They generated ideas on personal narrative stories based on character traits.  They really came up with some great story ideas!  We then picked one story to write.  Students planned their stories and have drafted their beginning and middle.  Next week, we will work on the ending and revising and editing our stories.

Math
Students learned about solving multistep number stories this week.  We focused on reading carefully and making sure we're answering what the question is asking.  Students also learned about how to solve doubles facts and how to use them as helper facts when solving other problems.  We will take our assessment on Unit 6 next week.

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 began learning about severe weather this week.  We will continue to explore this next week and then students will work in their groups to begin putting together weather reports for their season.

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)