This week our class had to say goodbye to Mrs. Goldstein's long term sub Mrs. Wagenblast but they were very excited to welcome Mrs. Goldstein back to our room! Mrs. Wagenblast will be back in our building as a sub so we will still be able to see her occasionally in the building. We have enjoyed seeing some adorable pictures of Mrs. Goldstein's baby girl and showing her how much progress our first grade class has made. Many of you were great about emailing both Mrs. Goldstein and myself at the beginning of the year to communicate going home plans for your child. This is extremely helpful at the end of the school day when things can get a bit chaotic or for times that I am not at school. Mrs. Goldstein's email is: [email protected].
Additionally, we were excited to welcome Mrs. Singer to our classroom as our mystery reader this week! We loved guessing who she was and reading the story she brought!
Additionally, we were excited to welcome Mrs. Singer to our classroom as our mystery reader this week! We loved guessing who she was and reading the story she brought!
This week we focused on a new supporting text to connect to our anchor text from last week called "How a Seed Grows". Students compared and contrasted the two texts by answering close reading questions this week with their partners and noticed additional similarities and differences using a venn diagram.
Additionally we were able to connect a poem to the texts called Zucchini. As a class we have been using poetry to answer close reading questions using text evidence but also to support our fluency goal. Poetry is an amazing resource to use to support fluency since it is short and can be reread. Repeated readings of text is a research based way to support the improvement of fluency. Students use whisper phones to whisper the poem several times, practiced partner reading, choral reading, and utilized Seesaw to record their reading so they could hear how fluent they were becoming by the end of their readings. Here are some things you can do to support reading fluency with your child at home:
1. Have your child choose a different paragraph from the story they are reading each day. Have them reread that paragraph until they can read it smoothly, with expression, and read all the words correctly. This practice doesn’t take long, only five to eight minutes each day.
2. Remind your child that he/she must be reading from a good-fit book. If the book is too difficult, your child’s energy will be spent on decoding words and not on fluent reading.
3. Model what fluent reading sounds like by reading aloud to your child. Then, have your child reread a paragraph they have heard you read.
1. Have your child choose a different paragraph from the story they are reading each day. Have them reread that paragraph until they can read it smoothly, with expression, and read all the words correctly. This practice doesn’t take long, only five to eight minutes each day.
2. Remind your child that he/she must be reading from a good-fit book. If the book is too difficult, your child’s energy will be spent on decoding words and not on fluent reading.
3. Model what fluent reading sounds like by reading aloud to your child. Then, have your child reread a paragraph they have heard you read.
Writing
This week students continued their work on writing "How to..." papers. Students first wrote about how to build a snowman using their snowman they created at home. Now, students are working on writing about how to make their favorite ice cream sundae (or cookie sandwich, smoothie, milkshake, and so on.) Students have learned the importance of beginning with an opening that tells the reader what their "How to.." piece is about and then writing step by step how to do something in sequence. Using transition words has been a goal for many (such as first, next, then, finally and so on) to help their writing flow smoothly and sound less like a list. Try supporting this at home by having your child tell you how to do something orally, in sequence while using transition words.
This week students continued their work on writing "How to..." papers. Students first wrote about how to build a snowman using their snowman they created at home. Now, students are working on writing about how to make their favorite ice cream sundae (or cookie sandwich, smoothie, milkshake, and so on.) Students have learned the importance of beginning with an opening that tells the reader what their "How to.." piece is about and then writing step by step how to do something in sequence. Using transition words has been a goal for many (such as first, next, then, finally and so on) to help their writing flow smoothly and sound less like a list. Try supporting this at home by having your child tell you how to do something orally, in sequence while using transition words.
Math
This week we began our new Bridges Math unit that focuses on geometry and fractions! In this unit our class will work on the following:
This week we began our new Bridges Math unit that focuses on geometry and fractions! In this unit our class will work on the following:
- Identify, name, describe, and compare 2- and 3-D shapes based on their defining features
- Draw 2-D shapes and build 3-D shapes
- Use two or more geometric shapes to create a new composite shape or figure
- Split whole shapes into 2, 3, or 4 equal parts called halves, thirds, or fourths/quarters
Social Studies
This week we continued our study on famous Americans and learned about Rosa Parks. We will be adding a new page to our famous faces book next week.
Additionally students discussed the outcome of the Groundhog Day legend and his prediction. According to the Groundhog himself we should get ready to put our winter gear away, spring should be coming soon! (One can only hope, right?)
This week we continued our study on famous Americans and learned about Rosa Parks. We will be adding a new page to our famous faces book next week.
Additionally students discussed the outcome of the Groundhog Day legend and his prediction. According to the Groundhog himself we should get ready to put our winter gear away, spring should be coming soon! (One can only hope, right?)
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 11th: 100's Day Homework Due
Thursday, February 14th: Valentine's Due for our class party
Thursday, February 14th: Early release, students dismissed at 1:00pm.
Friday, February 15th: No school
Monday, February 18th: No school
Tuesday, February 19th: No school for students, teacher institute day
Monday, February 11th: 100's Day Homework Due
Thursday, February 14th: Valentine's Due for our class party
Thursday, February 14th: Early release, students dismissed at 1:00pm.
Friday, February 15th: No school
Monday, February 18th: No school
Tuesday, February 19th: No school for students, teacher institute day