News You Can Use!

Literacy 

Treasures:

This week, the children worked with long a (ai, ay). The children read stories about different types of weather. They worked with comparing and contrasting. The children took two types of weather and discussed how they are alike and how they are different. They recorded their responses on a Venn Diagram. 

Compound Words:

On Thursday, the children worked with compound words. We began the lesson by looking at two picture cards. The children guessed the compound word that the picture cards represented. After, each child took a word card. They walked around and found the partner who was holding a word card that completed their compound word. The children were excited during snack time to see all the compound word snacks. During Daily 5, they completed a Compound Word Sleuth activity. They sorted word cards into two categories, compound words and non-compound words.

Grammar Packets:

This week, the children learned that the verbs go and do have different forms for the present tense and the past tense. For present tense we use go, goes and do, does. For past tense we use went and did. 

Guided Reading Groups:

We will continue our short break from guided reading groups next week. I will meet with the rest of the children one on one to do another round of running records. Reassessing allows me to make sure that each child is receiving reading instruction that best fits their instructional reading level.

Math 

In Math, the children explored pattern blocks, practiced addition facts, and formed triangles during Explorations. Using pattern blocks, they determined how many smaller pattern blocks are needed to cover a larger block. The children formed different triangles on a geoboard.

On Wednesday, the children practiced finding the missing input and output numbers in “What’s My Rule?” problems. They also practiced addition facts by playing, Tric Trac.   

On Thursday, the children learned about quarters. They identified the different characteristics of a quarter and it’s value. Each child held up a quarter and we practiced counting by 25s. We found out the total for our class is, 475 cents or $4.75. We will complete the lesson next Monday. The children will work with counting combinations of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. Over the weekend you may wish to have your child practice. Hand them some coins and have them count to find the total.  

Social Studies

This week, we wrapped up our social studies unit on Patriotism. After, we finished researching Abraham Lincoln, the children chose their favorite president (George Washington or Abraham Lincoln). Using their graphic organizer, they wrote a paragraph about their president. They completed their paper by turning it into a replica of George or Abe. The children’s president projects will be on display in the hallway during conferences. 

Today, the children discussed all the facts they learned during the Patriotism unit. They also completed a Venn Diagram of George and Abe. It went along well with our Treasures theme of the week, comparing and contrasting.

Science

Today, we started our new science unit. The children were very excited to listen to a clue about the unit before we began. They listened to a sound from a cd and drew a picture of what they thought we were going to study. The children came up with lots of ideas: fire engine, bee, siren, dog, duck, walrus, etc. They were surprised when they learned that the sound they heard was actually a penguin. 

The children completed an I wonder penguin paper. They wrote down a question that they have about penguins. We will hang their I wonder penguin on our penguin bulletin board. 

As a class, we started a Penguin KWL. WE listed all the facts we know about penguins and what we want to learn. As we research penguins, we will add what we have learned.

Star Student

Christopher was our star student this week. Thanks Christopher for sharing all about you!

Royal Reader

A special thank you to Christopher’s dad, he joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children enjoyed listening to the two stories that Mr. Davis read, the show-and-tell lion and The Kiss That Missed.

Notes:

• The children have been hard at work practicing for their First Grade Musical. They can’t wait to perform for you next week. The show is February 27th at 7pm. I hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend!