Re-Capping 2/23-2/27

Our first week back was busy and successful!  We changed seats (always exciting) and dove right back into our learning.  Here's a re-cap:

MATH:  We continued our work around Place Value by learning how to write numbers in different ways, including expanded form (i.e. 45 = 40 + 5).  We also learned how to compare 2-digit numbers, to order numbers from least to greatest & greatest to least, to count by tens from any number using our 120 number grid (i.e. 2, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62. etc.), and to find 10 more and 10 less of a number.

 Writing Numbers in Different Ways

We also introduced a new routine into our daily math workshop: Fact Practice!  Our mathematicians choose a group of cards that work on a specific addition or subtraction strategy (i.e. doubles, tens partners, doubles plus 1, etc.).  Then they work with a partner or by themselves to review the facts quickly:

Take a listen:

WRITING:  We have been working on procedural non-fiction writing in our How-To unit.  We read how-to books to notice what elements our writing should have and generated ideas as to what we were experts in for our writing topics.  Then we learned to picture the steps and plan out the steps by staying them out-loud and touching and telling our paper.  We learned to sketch pictures to show each step and to use clear words while writing each step.

WORD STUDY:  This week we did some word study within our own classroom by learning about compound words.  Compound words are two words (that have their own meaning) being put together to form a new word (with new meaning).  These words go great along with our chunky monkey reading strategy!  We found compound words within our reading and practiced making and sorting compound words.  Want to continue the learning at home?  Click here to play some online compound word games!

READING WORKSHOP:  This week we focused on solving tricky words within our non-fiction reading.  We discussed 3 questions that can help us decide upon and check tricky words while we read:  What makes sense?  What looks right? and What sounds right?  We are becoming such skilled readers! :) As your child reads at home, make sure you incorporate these important questions into your word-solving.

SCIENCE:  This week our butterflies hatched out of the chrysalis!  We spent some time observing their adult form and writing about it.  We also observed the adult darkling beetle.  It has been really neat to see our insects grow and change.

NEW ADDITIONS TO OUR CLASSROOM:

* This week, I introduced some new positive behavior reinforcement in our classroom: Beverly Bobcat notes!  You may have seen these coming home:

Throughout the day I take the time to recognize students who are working hard to follow the rules of our classroom and to be a leader for others.  It's just a small way to recognize students and for you to know at home when your child is working so hard :)  These may be fridg-worthy!

* CLOSING MEETING:  We have changed our end of the day routine to incorporate a little more structure and a closing meeting.  This is a positive and fun way to bring an end to our day.  We may celebrate our accomplishments that day, play a fun game or activity, share about a component of our day, etc.  It's a great way to build community in our classroom and hopefully the kiddos have enjoyed it thus far! :)

*Each week, each Tuesday you can plan to see an update such as this that will give you a run-down of our week.  I hope this helps to keep you informed!

THING WE NEED THIS UPCOMING WEEK:

* We are beginning our Social Studies unit around Mapping.  We will begin by exploring examples of maps.  Please send some examples of maps from your home that we might take a look at by TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD.  Make sure to attach your child's name to the map, so that it may be returned.  Thank you!

* We are in need of some extra snacks for our classroom.  If you can donate and send in individually-wrapped packages of snack (i.e. pretzels, raisins, goldfish, crackers, etc.), that would be wonderful!  Thank you!

* Remember, this Friday, March 6th, is a half-day for students!

Fun with Place Value

We have been working hard in place value during Math Workshop.  We have been learning to count, represent, and talk about numbers in terms of tens and ones.

Our mathematical practices are really coming along:

(Note Puzzled Penguin's talking bubbles: "I did not know that," and "Ohh!"  Too cute!)

Working as a group to count a number in terms of tens and ones.

Here, they are labeling the parts of the number.

Build to 101

Our First Graders roll a die and take the number of ones or tens to represent that number.  They add it to their place value mat, count the number, and write it.  Then each student reports his/her number to the group by using a math talk card and the language tens and ones.  The first to reach 101 wins!

Listen to our math talk during Place Value Cover Up:

Want to practice place value at home?  Check our our math learning links and play the games under Number and Operations in Base Ten.

Items of Note for Next Week:

* Addition and Subtraction Strategies quizzes will go home on Monday.  Take a look and talk them over with your child.  

* We are in need of Dolch Volunteers for next week.  Please sign up here if you can help: Dolch Volunteer Sign Up

The following times will work: Wednesday at 2:00 pm, Thursday morning or 2:00 pm, and Friday morning or 2:00 pm.  Thank you!

Enjoy Mid-Winter Break!

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable mid-winter break!  Thank you to all of the families who planned, supported, and attended our Valentines Day celebration.  Here are some pictures from our celebrations last week:

101 Day of School!

Valentines Crafting

Looking for ideas to keep your child busy over the break?  Here's a few:

* Compass Learning

* Raz-Kids

* Daily reading

* Our Math Learning Links

* Arts & crafts

Here are a few parent links for you all:

20 Simple Lego Projects

7 Things You Should Be Doing As You're Reading Aloud To Your Child

100 Books for First Graders to Read

See you in a week!

Snow Day Activities: Compass Learning Assignment

Hello Families,

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm on our snow day.  Maybe even building a few snowmen or snow forts?!

Need some activities to keep your child busy today?  Consider working on your Valentines Mailbox! I have also assigned our Compass Learning Math Models assignments for this week.  Students will be working on adding and subtracting by making a ten first.  This is a tricky strategy, so I recommend that your child start to learn about it today via Compass Learning.
This assignment is listed as  "+-Making a Ten."

A few notes for this week:
* Remember Wednesday is a Delayed Start.  School begins at 10:19 am for students.
* I will be out of the classroom on Thursday and Friday of this week.  Any last minute changes for dismissal on these days should be directed to the Office.  Thank you!
* Monday, Feb. 9th is our music concert rehearsal.  If you have not yet submitted your child's permission slip, please do that as soon as possible.  Thank you!

In math, we have been transitioning into our study of Place Value.  Here are a couple videos for your to enjoy:

Valentine's Day Family Project

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and we will be celebrating on Friday, February 13th!

First, your child has a FUN family project to complete at home... the task is to construct a Valentines mailbox!  There are a plethora of ideas online, but I found some great examples:
14 Creative Valentine Box Ideas
20 Valentine Card Holders
Puppy Dog Mailbox
Valentines Mailbox
Cereal Box Valentine Holder

This project will take some time but it will be worth it! :)  Get creative and have some fun!

A note is also going home explaining the project, with a list of names for our classroom on the back.  Your child may address Valentine's for all the students in our classroom - what a great way to practice writing names with a capital letter at the beginning and lowercase for the rest! :)


Your child needs to bring his or her mailbox & valentines to school on or before Friday, February 13th.  Happy constructing!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a joyful and restful holiday season!  Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our holiday party, and thank you for the wonderful gifts!

Minute to Win It!

Getting Crafty!

COOKIES!

It is a new year and a fresh start for us in First Grade, and it's great to be back.  We have spent some time making new year resolutions.  We learned that a resolution is a promise you make to yourself to make yourself better.  So we thought about what would make us better First Graders in 2015.  Ask your child about his/her resolution! Take a look at some:

We are off to a great start!  Here is what we have been working on:

MATH

Before the break and this we have been working on subtraction strategies:

*Use manipulatives to model subtraction.  With this, we really worked on arranging the number we were taking away from in easy-to-understand representations (for example groups of 2, 5 or 10).

Groups of 5

Groups of 5

Subtraction Grab

Groups of 5 was popular!

*Counting back when subtracting small number (i.e. To do 15 - 3, count back 3 in your head.  So 14, 13, 12 using fingers to track the 3). We played subtraction races to practice this skill:

We checked our work using the number line:

* Doubles Subtraction: We learned that if we know the addition doubles fact, it helps us mental do doubles subtraction. So we practiced building the doubles addition fact using 2 different colored squares.  For example, 7 + 7 = 14, so we showed 7 yellows and 7 blues.  Then we took away one group of 7 so see the other group of 7 remaining. So 14 - 7 = 7.

We practiced this as well with our "Doubles Aren't Trouble" game.  Students rolled a dice and doubled that number by building with squares.  Then they crossed the sum off of their board and practiced the related subtraction fact by writing it on the board:

* Think Addition & Fact Families:  We spent a lot of time this week thinking about how addition and subtraction are related.  We built addition facts and then practiced taking away different parts to see that the other part remains.  We learned that 3 numbers can work together in a family to represent addition and subtraction. We used dominos and number bonds to understand this part-part-whole relationship:

Don't forget our math talk:

Next week, we will work on subtraction problem-solving.  We will practice using these strategies to solve word problems along with our problem-solving steps.

WRITING

In December, we learned how to write letters.  We learned that letters have important parts: greeting, body, closing, and signature.  We will use this as a part of an opinion letter writing unit.  We have been learning to form opinions and to support our opinions with strong reasons.  We will use this skill to write letters in order to persuade others.  This week we formed an opinion: Would you rather go sledding or swimming?  And we brainstormed strong reasons to support either opinion.  We also leaned to close our opinion by stating our opinion again.  Next week, we will write persuasive letters using to express our opinions.

READING

This week, we began a new unit introducing Non-Fiction or Informational reading.  We looked at the difference between fiction and non-fiction books and learned that informational readers learned new things about real information while reading.  We also learned to preview the cover, title, and important text features (table of contexts, headings, labels, captions, etc.) in order to understand how the book is organized and to predict what we will learn about the topic before we read.

While you are reading at home, make sure you are bringing in some nonfiction books!

WORD STUDY

We are continuing to work with our Dolch Words on a daily basis.  Keep practicing at home!  Remember, to visit our Literacy page for new ideas for how to practice at home.  There were no Words Their Way word sorts this week nor will there be next week.

The new Dolch Volunteer Sign-Up is up and running!  Please click here to sign-up.  It can also be found in the sidebar under Parent Links.  It would be wonderful if we could get the calendar signed up in advanced, so it doesn't become something I am worried about filling each week.  I appreciate your support!

SCIENCE

We have been continuing to study the lifecycle of Darking Beetles.  We have observed the body structures and behaviors of the larva stage (mealworm) and the mealworms have started to transition to their pupa stage.  We are anxious to see the change from pupa to adult darkling beetle!

Other News:

* We have a new student who has joined our classroom - Welcome Nnamdi and Family!

* NO SCHOOL Monday, January 19th for MLK Day.

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!!!