Week 32 - May 4, 2018

Curriculum

Reading/Writing/Science

This week the students have learned all about the parts of an egg, both outside and inside the egg. They are reading about the parts and taking notes on it. Plus, they are learning about what happens inside the egg each day of the development. They are then learning to write non-fiction by writing about what they learned. 

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. 


Math
We have been reviewing some skills this week.  Students have reviewed how to tell time, how to add and subtract 10 and how to solve number grid puzzles.  We will take our test on this next week and then begin Unit 9.  Unit 9 reviews many of the skills we've been learning this year, but has a large focus on solving number stories using different strategies.

Unit 8 Skills
o I can tell time to the half hour.
o I can use place value knowledge to solve number grid puzzles.
o I can mentally add 10 more and 10 less.
o I can represent and answer questions about data in bar graphs.
o I can name defining attributes of 2D and 3D shapes.
o I can partition shapes into two and four equal shares and name the shares.

Unit 8 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 8 Assessment.

Unit 8 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Purposeful Play

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.) 

Important Dates

May 7 - NWEA testing - Continue to have your child reading every night to help prepare for this.  He/She could also go on IXL to practice some of the math skills and just to practice using a computer/iPad to answer questions.
May 8 - Field Trip to Tollgate Farms
May 9 - Bike to School Day
May 9 - NWEA testing - We will take the reading test one morning and the math another morning.  Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest and has a good breakfast in the morning.
May 18 - PBL Presentation - more information to come, Celebration of Learning (PM)
May 28 - Memorial Day - No School
May 29 - All School Field Trip to Henry Ford (9:30-1:30)- This is paid for by the DCC, but please make sure to return your permission slip.  Also, we will take any and all volunteers in first grade.
June 13 - Field Day (K-2: 9:00-11:05 am)
June 14 - Rain Date for Field Day
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal)

Week 30 - April 20, 2018

Curriculum

Family Fun Night Classroom Raffle Basket

At Family Fun Night, one of the activities is a raffle for different baskets.  Each classroom puts together their own basket to be bid on that night.  Our classroom basket theme is Road Trip.  I am asking for your help in putting together our basket.  I created a sign up genius just to help make sure we get a variety of items.  Anything is appreciated!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44a4a92ea5fe3-family1

All donations are due by Tuesday, April 24th so that we will have time to put the basket together.

Reading

As readers, the students have been learning about nonfiction and how to read nonfiction.  They have also been learning about r-controlled vowels.  Next week, we will continue to work on reading nonfiction using text features by reading about chicks, eggs, hatching, the tools we use for hatching, 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
This week, the students have been learning more about nonfiction text features to help them prepare to write a nonfiction writing.  Next week, they will begin writing nonfiction texts by writing about what they learn about chicks, eggs, the tools we use for hatching, hatching, etc.

Math
This week, the students have been learning about fractions. They've learned what a fraction is, how to read it, how to name them, and a bit about comparing them.  Next week, we will be exploring 3D shapes and reviewing some other skills.  

Unit 8 Skills
o I can tell time to the half hour.
o I can use place value knowledge to solve number grid puzzles.
o I can mentally add 10 more and 10 less.
o I can represent and answer questions about data in bar graphs.
o I can name defining attributes of 2D and 3D shapes.
o I can partition shapes into two and four equal shares and name the shares.

Unit 8 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 8 Assessment.

Unit 8 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies/Science
This week Ms. Ellen from Tollgate Farms came and challenged us to be mother hens and help her hatch some eggs.  The students have been asking questions, sorting their questions and beginning to research an incubator in order to prepare for when the eggs arrive next week.

Chick Need to Knows - Generated by all first grade scientists

Ms. Ellen visits to challenge the first grade scientists

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.) 

Important Dates

April 20 - Report Cards go Live
April 24 - Family Fun Night Basket Donations Due
April 27 - Family Fun Night (6-9 at Paradise Park) - Orders for tickets are due Monday, April 16th.
May 8 - Field Trip to Tollgate Farms
May 18 - PBL Presentation - more information to come, Celebration of Learning (PM)
May 28 - Memorial Day - No School
June 13 - Field Day (K-2: 9:00-11:05 am)
June 14 - Rain Date for Field Day
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal)

Week 29 - April 13, 2018

Curriculum

Family Fun Night Classroom Raffle Basket

At Family Fun Night, one of the activities is a raffle for different baskets.  Each classroom puts together their own basket to be bid on that night.  Our classroom basket theme is Road Trip.  I am asking for your help in putting together our basket.  I created a sign up genius just to help make sure we get a variety of items.  Anything is appreciated!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44a4a92ea5fe3-family1

All donations are due by Tuesday, April 24th so that we will have time to put the basket together.

Reading

We've been learning about non-fiction text features this week.  Students have explored non-fiction texts to find the different text features and now we are learning why author's include these features.  Students should be able to explain how they can be helpful to readers.

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 worked so hard on their Ordinary People writings.  They planned,  researched and drafted an opinion piece about their person.  This week, they were able to edit and revise, publish, and share their work.  Next week, we will take our knowledge of text features and use it to help us begin writing non-fiction type writings.

Math
Students have been exploring 2D shapes this week.  They've learned about non-defining and defining attributes, the names of the shapes and how to identify the shapes.  Next week, we will learn more about fractions.  

Unit 8 Skills
o I can tell time to the half hour.
o I can use place value knowledge to solve number grid puzzles.
o I can mentally add 10 more and 10 less.
o I can represent and answer questions about data in bar graphs.
o I can name defining attributes of 2D and 3D shapes.
o I can partition shapes into two and four equal shares and name the shares.

Unit 8 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 8 Assessment.

Unit 8 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies/Science
This week, we've done a bit more with maps and exploring directions.  Next week, we will begin our life cycle unit.

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.) 

Important Dates

April 13 - End of the 3rd Marking Period
April 17 - Muffins with Moms (8:00am-8:45am)
April 20 - Report Cards go Live
April 27 - Family Fun Night (6-9 at Paradise Park) - Orders for tickets are due Monday, April 16th.
May 18 - PBL Presentation - more information to come, Celebration of Learning (PM)
May 28 - Memorial Day - No School
June 13 - Field Day (K-2: 9:00-11:05 am)
June 14 - Rain Date for Field Day
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day (12:30 dismissal)