Welcome Back!

Welcome back, and I hope everyone had a restful and happy break.

We are jumping back into the swing of things in First Grade!

Math:  This week we will continue to work on addition strategies.  We have been working on learning the "doubles facts" (i.e. 4 + 4 = 8) and learning to use doubles facts when we see a "doubles plus one" fact.  For example, if we see 4 + 5, we can think of 4 + 4 = 8 to help us and then just add one to find the total (8 + 1 = 9).  We also begin to study word problem solving steps: 1) visualize the problem, 2) retell the problem, 3) underline key words & circle key numbers, 4) solve the problem using a strategy, 5) write the equation, 6) label your answer, and 7) check your work.  Please use these steps when completing the homework for Thursday (and please do not complete before that point).

Reading:  This week we will continue to explore how schema (things we know and have experienced) supports our reading and we will begin to explore making connections while reading.

Word Study:  New Words Their Way groups start tomorrow!  Remember this work focuses on internalizing the sounds and patterns in words.  Your child will receive his/her sort for home tomorrow (note it is NOT attached to the log this week).  Please keep a look out for the sort and support your child in completing word sort activities at home this week.
Loose your pink sheet and need a reminder as to how to practice the sort at home?  Click the Literacy tab above and scroll down for the activities and descriptions.

Science:  This week we begin our study of insects!  Today we brainstormed our schema about insects and drew/wrote about one insect we know in our science journals.  Visiting the library with your child soon?  Search for books on insects to support your child's learning at home! :)

Compass Learning:  I have slightly changed the homework log to reflect a section for Compass Learning.  This week, it does not matter which day your child completes the Compass Learning activity and quiz (1 Digit Addition).


A couple of tid-bits for this week:
* I will be out of the classroom this Friday, December 5th.  Any changes in dismissal plans on that day will need to be communicated through the Office.  Thank you!
* CALLING ALL DOLCH WORD VOLUNTEERS: I am in need of Dolch Volunteers this week and for the remainder of December.  Please sign up here if you can help: Dolch Volunteer Sign-Up.
Remember, you may come in alternative days/times (Wednesday through Friday).  If you can help, please sign-up and then email me to arrange the time.  Thank you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a joyful and safe holiday with your family and friends!

On Tuesday, we had an author's sharing celebration with our fix and fancied Small Moment pieces.  Each student shared his/her piece with a small group and the group members gave noticing about the writing. Take a look:

First Grade Thanksgiving Feas

What a ball we had today at the First Grade Thanksgiving Feast!  Take a look:

Tomorrow is Pajama Day for First Grade.  Students can wear pjs and bring slippers to school :) 

P.S. I adjusted some levels on Raz Kids to reflect current reading levels.  Remember, Raz Kids can count as your child's 20 minutes of reading each night and is a great tool for supporting reading growth.  Keep your child reading this week! :)

Choosing Just-Right Books with Your Child

Resources for reading at home and choosing just-right books were one of the important topics discussed at conferences.  So I thought I would do a little follow-up to provide more information and resources to support your child with reading at home.

First of all, your child has different types of reading levels:

INDEPENDENT:  Level of reading which your child can do on his/her own.  This level of text is great for building reading fluency.  This is the level of text in which your child can:
* read all or most of the words with ease
* understand and re-tell the book with ease
* read at a fluent pace

INSTRUCTIONAL:  Level of reading in which your child needs some support.  This is the level of text that I instruct your child at in Guided Reading in order to push him/her forward.  If you are reading with your child at home and providing prompts for support, you may work at this level.  At this level of text, your child:
* knows many of the words but may need to word-solve 2-4 words per page with support
* understands much of the book but may need to re-visit parts of text to think deeper
* reads at a thoughtful pace

HARD: Level of text that is beyond your child's reach.  This is a level of text that frustrates your child in either reading accuracy or comprehension.  This are books that you can read TO your child.  At this level of text, your child:
* cannot read many of the words (5 per page or more)
* reads at a labored and slow pace
* has trouble understanding the text

The Five Finger Rule can help you and your child choose just-right books at home:

At home, I would recommended doing reading at both independent and instructional levels.  If your child is reading by him/herself, stick to INDEPENDENT level.  That would correlate with fingers 0-2 above.  If your child is reading with your support, that would correlate with fingers 3-4 above.


So HOW should you support your child at home in those instructional levels?

READING ACCURACY:
There are two different types of prompting your should do to help your child read accurately.  The first is when your child gets stuck on a word.  For this, prompt your child to use the word-solving animal strategies on the bookmark given at conferences:
Eagle Eye - look at the picture
Lips the Fish - get your lips ready to say the first few sounds in the word
Stretchy the Snake - stretch out the sounds through the entire word
Chunky Monkey - look for chunks in the word you already know
Skippy Frog - Skip the word and read the rest of the sentence. Then hop back to solve the word.
Flip the Dolphin - Stretch the word with two different vowel sounds
Trying Lion - Go back to the beginning of the sentence and try again.
Helpful Kangaroo - Last but not least, ask for help.
At this point, your child may need you to model the use of these strategies when asking for help.

The second kind of prompting can be used when your child makes a mistake while reading.  We want our kiddos to learn to self-monitor while reading, and one aspect of that is realizing when you have made a reading accuracy mistake.  So when your child has done that, you may use the following prompts depending on the error:
Does that MAKE SENSE?
Use this when the word does not make any sense within the sentence or context of the book.  For example, your child reads:  "Dad used the broom to swing the floor," when it says sweep the floor.

Does that LOOK RIGHT?
Use this when the word may make sense in the sentence or context but does not look right.  For example, your child reads: "This cat is fat," when it says, That cat is fat. This error makes sense but the word doesn't look right throughout the entire word.

Does that SOUND RIGHT?
Use this when the word does not sound structurally correct in the sentence, as we would speak it.  For example, your child reads, "Mom is run across the park," when it reads Mom is running across the park.



READING COMPREHENSION:
Strong readers are thoughtful and reflective readers.  Support your child in thinking and expressing that thinking about reading WHILE he/she reads.  For this, use our talking/thinking stems on the bookmark given at conferences.  Have this out WHILE your child reads to encourage reflective reading.  You may even stop every 1-2 pages and prompt your child use the the talking stems.  You may also model your own thinking, agreeing/disagreeing with your child's thinking, and adding onto each other's thinking.

At the end of reading, support your child in retelling the books from beginning to end.  I like to say, "Pretend I had never read this book before.  What would you tell me about the book?  Start at the beginning." Your child may even use the book to do so.

Want some more information and resources on supporting reading comprehension at home?  Click below to read more:
Before, During, After Approach
103 Things to Do Before/During/After Reading
Supporting Common Core Reading Standards



At conference, I did share your child's independent/instructional levels; however with questions/concerns/reminders, please do not hesitate to email me.  Want more information on text levels?  Click on Text Level Guide in Parent Links --->

Need help finding just-right books at your child's independent and/or instructional level?  Click on Scholastic Book Wizard in Parent Links ---> to search for books by Guided Reading Level.

1. Click on Search by Reading Level tab

2. Select Guided Reading

3. Input range of reading levels to search for.  For example, if your child's independent level is E but instructional is F, put in that range to find books for both types of reading at home.

4. Click Find

Then use these titles to find books at your public library, local book store, or our Scholastic Book Orders each month!  Happy reading!

Curriculum Updates

What have we been up to?  Quite a bit!  Have you signed up for conferences yet?  Click here to do so.

Math:  This week, we continued to work with even and odd numbers.  We learned that even numbers are made up of partners of 2s and end in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8.  With odd numbers, one number is always left out without a partner, and odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.  We took a quick quiz on this concept, which will come home on Monday.  We also began our study of addition strategies.  We learned that mathematics draw pictures to help them add and we have practiced using a special kind of picture called  circle drawings.  We will continue our study of addition strategies next week by exploring adding zero, counting on/up, turn around facts, and partners of 10.

Writing:  In writing, we have been exploring a new type of writing: small moments.  Small moments are narrative pieces that zoom in to tell details about a small moment in time.  So, instead of writing about all the things you did at your birthday party, you choose one important moment and stretch that out over several pages.  Take a look at one from our First Grader writers:

We got out of the the car.  We went to see The Book of Life.  My mom was holding the umbrella.  I was excited.

When me and mommy went outside it was raining and snowing and windy.  Our umbrella went up like a triangle and we started to scream.  I was surprised.

So we ran to the door and we were safe and my dad and sister were safe too just in time.

So instead of writing about the whole movie theatre experience, Jenesis chose this small moment in time and told the details over several pages.  And a wonderful job she did!

We are working on adding different kinds of details to our pieces:

* Feelings

* Details about the characters and setting

* Dialogue: speech bubbles and adding to the words I said...

* Thinking bubbles & adding to the words I thought...

* Action words (interesting verbs)

Science:  We have wrapped up our unit on Pebbles, Sand, and Silt.  Your child brought home his/her science journal yesterday.  Take a look and talk about your child's observations, drawings, and writing.

Reading Workshop:  We have been working a lot on the thinking part of reading.  We learned that readers have metacognition:

Metacognition is when readers read the text and put it together with their own thinking to really experiences the book.  It is kind of like a pizza:  the text is the plain old crust and the pizza really becomes a pizza when you add sauce and toppings (the thinking!).  Ask your child to share the metacognition song with you :)

So we have been working on talking about our metacognition and we came up with different talking stems we could use.  We put it on a bookmark so we could use them while buddy reading and even to push our thinking while reading to self:

We also began exploring our schema, or what we already know and have experienced that influences us while we read.

Every reader's schema is unique to them, so we made our own schema chart in our literacy journal:

 

And we shared those with our friends:

Next week, we will explore how schema grows and changes as we read.


COLD WEATHER
Unfortunately the cold weather is upon us, quicker than most of us would have hoped.  Please make sure your child has warm weather gear for recess: warm jackets, hats, gloves, and warm shoes.  During lunch recess, students are outside for a good 20 minutes.  Talk with your child about the importance of wearing the gear.  Thank you!

Math Talk Videos

Although these are from our beginning of the year work, they are still great to see!  Here are some videos of students using math talk during Math Workshop games:

Math Quizzes

Today, some of your child's first math assessments came home with a note explaining the assessment and grading process.  These coordinate with the Report Card, which are aligned with Common Core Standards for First Grade.  Want to understand more about the Common Core Standards for Math?

Click here for an introduction.

This semester we have been focusing on some Content Standards within Operations and Algebraic Thinking and Numbers and Operations in Base Ten.  As we learn content, we also work on developing Mathematical Practices, as described in the introduction above.

As you look over the quizzes, keep in mind that these Standards are for mastery by the END of First Grade.  Each Standard also incorporates many skills.  The grading on the quiz represents your child's standing in what material and skills have been covered so far.  However, this will be an ongoing process and elements build upon each other.  If you have questions or concerns, please bring your child's quizzes to the Fall Conference.  Thank you!

So what have we been up to in Math?!  I have had many pictures and videos saved up to share with you from Math Workshop!  You may be able to see a little about our work from papers your child brings home; however we do SO much more!  Our Math Workshop includes A LOT of math journaling, math games, and math talk.

Reading numbers 0-120 and playing Roll to 120 to develop a sense of the numbers.

Playing Domino Parking lot to developing our understanding of dot representations of numbers and how numbers can be shown in different ways.

Here students are subtilizing, or instantly recognizing the number of dots in a small set or arrangement without counting.  Students look for representations of numbers that they recognize instantly.  This may involve seeing two parts that come together to form a whole number.  Partners then record the parts and whole in a number bond.

Locating more and less by comparing two dominos.

Here, these mathematics flipped a counter which lands on the game board.  They use subitzing skills to determine the number and then think what 1 more would be.  We played this game use 1 more, 1 less, 2 more, and 2 less.

Spinner +1 and +2

Spin a number.  Then add 1 in your head.  We also play this game with a +2 spinner.

PARTNERS OF NUMBERS

These mathematicians use snap cubes to make numbers in different ways.  We did this with numbers 1-10.  This helped us determine and understand the "partners" of numbers and record them in number sentences.

For example...

6 = 0 + 6

6 = 1 + 5

6 = 2 + 4

6 = 3 + 3

6 = 4 + 2

6 = 5 + 1

6 = 6 = 0

Spill and Add Ten helped us work on determining and internalizing the partners of 10.

Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

Each student pulls a card that shows a number using base ten block pictures.  Students have to count the tens and ones to determine the number and write it on the board.  Then, they decide what symbol <, >, or = will compare the two numbers.

As students play all these math games, they are using "math talk" along the way.  For example, in the game above, they may read the equation together saying, "48 is greater than 27."  While subtilizing, they may say, "6 and 1 make 7."  This math talk is a critical piece to building and mastering understanding and mathematical vocabulary.

So when you are working at home, encourage your child to use some math talk to talk about their homework practice page or while playing a game.  For example, this week when playing Even Steven Odd Todd, encourage your child to say, "5 is odd."  Then take it one step further, ask your child, "How do you know 5 is odd?" 

HOMEWORK REMINDER:  Please do not go ahead days for math homework practice.  I assign things based on what we will cover in school that day, so jumping ahead may confuse your child because we may not have covered the material yet.  Thank you!

However, this week, the Compass Learning assignment may be done at any time.

Other Announcements:

* There will be no new Word Study sorts until after Thanksgiving.  Click here to play Starfall word games.  Review the patterns your child has been working on so far.

* We are still in need of one Dolch Word Volunteer this week!  If you can come in Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday this week, Click here to sign up!

Science: 5 Senses & Pebbles, Sand, and Silt

We have been busy little scientists!  We have spent the beginning of the school year learning to use our five senses to explore the world around us.  We have continued that exploration through our first science kit, Pebbles, Sand, and Silt.
We have learned to:
* Describe the properties of rock and sort rocks
* What happens when we rub rocks together... some make dust and color marks on others!
* What happens when we wash rocks... some changed color, bubbled, and floated at first.
* How to separate earth materials by size using screening... we discovered pebbles, gravel, and sand!
* How to separate sand materials by using water... we discovered silt!
* What soil is made of: pebbles, gravel, sand, silt, and humus (decayed plant & animal material).  When we added water to soil, it formed layers!
* And MANY new scientific words!

Take a look:

Using 5 sense to explore POPCORN!

Exploring the properties of rocks before rubbing and washing them.

Exploring the properties of rocks in our rock collections!

Screening earth materials

Exploring soil

Recording the layers in soil after adding water

Upcoming Important Events:

* November 19:  School in AM Only, Fall Conferences 1-4 & 5-8 PM

* November 20:  School in AM Only, Fall Conferences 1-4 & 5-8 PM

SIGN UP for Conference time slots should be coming out shortly.

*First Grade Thanksgiving Feast on Monday, November 24th.  In case you missed the email, here is the sign-up for supplies: Feast Sign Up

* November 26-28, No School for Thanksgiving Break

Housekeeping

A few housekeeping items of note...

Compass Learning
Each week, your child will have at least one Compass Learning assignments to complete for homework.  This week, it is an Odds and Evens lesson and quiz listed on the homework log.  Remember, I will also place Second Grade activities of similar topic; but those are not required.  If you don't get to an assignment one week or aren't able to complete it, please return to the assignment at a later date.  If you have any problems or concerns with accessing at home, please send me an email.

Scholastic Book Orders
Our next Scholastic Book Order was listed as being due tomorrow.  Since I am only reminding you of this now, I will extend the ordering through the weekend.  Please have orders placed by Monday, November 10th.  Place orders here: https://clubs2.scholastic.com and use one-time classroom activation code HHRCH. This is a great way to get well-priced books to build your child's home reading library.  You can also access the link under "Parent Links" in our sidebar ---->

Dolch Words
We are in need of continued support of our Dolch Word system.  Please sign-up to volunteer if you can.  I am already noticing a great difference in each child's reading and writing of these words - so it's working! :)  However, without the support of family volunteers, I will not be able to continue the system.  THANK YOU to the families who have already volunteered.
Remember, the link to our sign-up is in "Parent Links" in the sidebar --->

I choose Thursday for various reasons.  It is best to have it on the same day each week so that students have equal days to practice words.  However, if this day is inconvenient for volunteering, we can be flexible.  I am thinking Wednesdays, Thursday afternoons, and Fridays can also work.  If students are practicing Dolch Words daily at home, a day or so different shouldn't matter too much.
So, that being said, sign up using the Sign-Up Genius for each week, and if you need to adjust the time/day just send me an email.  Thank you!!

Classroom Donations
We are in need of a few items.  If you are willing and able, we could use:
3 x 5 white index cards
Hand-sanitizer (bottles with a pump top)
Extra snacks (individually wrapped)


Responsibility
As a classroom, we have been talking a lot lately about taking on our own responsiblity.  Our classroom rules are as follows:
1.  Listen to the speaker with our whole body.
2.  Follow directions the first time.
3. Take care of materials.
4.  Do your best!
5.  Be nice and help each other.
6.  Make safe choices.

We have been talking about how we all have to commit to these rules each and every day so that everyone can learn and so that we can keep our classroom a productive place.  It is each person's responsibility to take care of this themselves.  So we talked about how we can do that.  We came up with some ideas:
*Stay focused
*Just do the right thing
*Be a leader
*Set a good example
*Make smart choices for myself
*Make it your job
*Listen to reminders from others
*Don't be silly or mess around
*Take responsibility for our own learning

With these conversations, I have really been hoping to shift the focus to students taking on more independence and responsibility.  At this point in the school year, I expect students to need less reminders from me and less teacher-management of behavior.  I look forward to seeing our First Graders blossom!  Please continue these conversations at home with your child as well.



Now for FUN!  Here are some pictures from our Halloween Party.  Thank you to everyone to planned and attended!