Even though the cold weather hit us early this year, so far our class has remained quite healthy. We have been using the Wet Ones Hand Wipes that you provided in the beginning of the year school supplies order daily. We are down to our last couple of containers and I was hoping that families would be able to donate a few to our class. Hand wipes help maximize learning because we do not have to have the entire class wash hands at the sink at the same time which is time consuming. Please send your child to school with hand wipe donations at anytime. Thank you for your help with this!
Also, thank you to Mrs. Wasserman for being our Mystery Reader this week! it was so much fun to guess who you were and to listen to your story.
Also, thank you to Mrs. Wasserman for being our Mystery Reader this week! it was so much fun to guess who you were and to listen to your story.
Literacy
This week our class continued to focus on our anchor text, "The Winners' Choice" and supporting text "Hunter's Money Jar" by comparing and contrasting the two stories. We discussed the similar theme of both the stories which the class identified was money and deciding how to spend it. At school we were able to create a venn diagram to help with comparing the similarities and differences of the two stories. To reinforce this skill or comparing and contrasting have your child use a venn diagram at home to find similarities and differences between texts you are reading at home. (Laying two hula hoops on the ground and using some sticky notes to place inside can be an engaging way to make an enormous venn diagram.) Below is an example of what we worked on at school this week:
This week our class continued to focus on our anchor text, "The Winners' Choice" and supporting text "Hunter's Money Jar" by comparing and contrasting the two stories. We discussed the similar theme of both the stories which the class identified was money and deciding how to spend it. At school we were able to create a venn diagram to help with comparing the similarities and differences of the two stories. To reinforce this skill or comparing and contrasting have your child use a venn diagram at home to find similarities and differences between texts you are reading at home. (Laying two hula hoops on the ground and using some sticky notes to place inside can be an engaging way to make an enormous venn diagram.) Below is an example of what we worked on at school this week:
Writing
This week first graders were excited to "fancy up" their writing to prepare for a writing celebration next week! We will be sharing our personal narratives that we have been working on with the class and then placing them in our classroom library. Students are feeling so proud of their hard work in writing and are feeling more and more like authors! To fancy up this week students learned about some different ways to make their words easier to read:
This week first graders were excited to "fancy up" their writing to prepare for a writing celebration next week! We will be sharing our personal narratives that we have been working on with the class and then placing them in our classroom library. Students are feeling so proud of their hard work in writing and are feeling more and more like authors! To fancy up this week students learned about some different ways to make their words easier to read:
Math
This week students continued working on addition strategies to improve their fact fluency. We worked on the “Adding 10” strategy and learned that the ones place is the same number as the number that was added to 10. Additionally, some small groups began to learn the “Nifty Nines” strategy by playing a card game during their guided math lesson. They learned that when you add 9 to a number the ones place is just one less than the number you added 9 to. Some strategy groups worked on these strategies by applying this knowledge to math story problems.
Additionally, our class began working on the following the following math common core standard:
1.OA.D.8 Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = _ – 3, 6 + 6 = _.
Student Friendly Objective: I can find the missing number in an addition or subtraction equation no matter where the missing number is.
In small groups, students practiced finding the missing number in an equation at their instructional level. Students practiced different strategies such as subtracting, counting on, and adding the parts to find the whole to identify the missing number.
This week students continued working on addition strategies to improve their fact fluency. We worked on the “Adding 10” strategy and learned that the ones place is the same number as the number that was added to 10. Additionally, some small groups began to learn the “Nifty Nines” strategy by playing a card game during their guided math lesson. They learned that when you add 9 to a number the ones place is just one less than the number you added 9 to. Some strategy groups worked on these strategies by applying this knowledge to math story problems.
Additionally, our class began working on the following the following math common core standard:
1.OA.D.8 Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = _ – 3, 6 + 6 = _.
Student Friendly Objective: I can find the missing number in an addition or subtraction equation no matter where the missing number is.
In small groups, students practiced finding the missing number in an equation at their instructional level. Students practiced different strategies such as subtracting, counting on, and adding the parts to find the whole to identify the missing number.
Science
Students continued to learn about air this week by beginning to explore how they could make a balloon rocket using air to give it energy. Key vocabulary words are compressed air and air pressure.
Students also were able to learn about life science with a trip to the greenhouse this week. Students used some STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) practices to design a trellis for a bean plant to grow up using bamboo and twine. First students drew out a plan, then students built the trellis, and finally students transplanted and watered the bean plants to the planters.
Students continued to learn about air this week by beginning to explore how they could make a balloon rocket using air to give it energy. Key vocabulary words are compressed air and air pressure.
Students also were able to learn about life science with a trip to the greenhouse this week. Students used some STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) practices to design a trellis for a bean plant to grow up using bamboo and twine. First students drew out a plan, then students built the trellis, and finally students transplanted and watered the bean plants to the planters.
Upcoming Events
Friday, December 21st- Monday, January 7th: Winter Break, No school
Friday, December 21st- Monday, January 7th: Winter Break, No school