News You Can Use!

Read below to learn about our fantastic week in 1-1.

Literacy

This week, we began our first literacy unit. The children did a wonderful job of working with short /a/ words. Their stories for the week consisted of fantasy pieces. They worked on identifying what makes a story a fantasy. The children enjoyed using sequencing cards to retell one of the fantasy stories. 

We did two close reading lessons this week with the books, Chrysanthemum and Shelia Rae, The Brave. The children worked on describing the characters and setting of each story. On our second reading, we focused on identifying character traits. The children used evidence from the story to support the character traits they identified. 

Grammar Packet:

We started grammar packets this week. The children worked with sentences. They worked on recognizing the difference between a complete and incomplete sentence and learned that all sentences must start with a capital. Their grammar packet came home in their take home folder on Friday. At the top you will see a note that says, Done Together. We will complete this packet every week as a class. The children will continue to focus on sentence structure next week. 

Making Words:

This week, the children were also introduced to our Making Words lessons. They use letter tiles at their desk to create different words that follow our spelling pattern for the week. The children take turns coming up to the board to spell the words on our interactive pocket chart. Their favorite part of the lesson is when the get to try and figure out the “secret word.” This word uses all of the letter tiles for the day. 

Daily 5 & Guided Reading:

The children did a great job this week during Daily 5 and guided reading. They were independent during their Daily 5 activities which allowed for very productive guided reading groups. In guided reading the children worked hard at learning some of our reading strategies and reading their books. On nights when your child brings home their book bag, please have your child read the book to you. If your child brings home a word ring or graphic organizer have them read these to you as well. 

Poetry Folder:

In your child’s backpack you should have noticed a purple folder, this is your child’s poetry folder. Attached was a note explaining what to do with the folder over the weekend. Every week, we will learn a new poem that goes along with our spelling pattern of the week. Please read the poem with your child and send their folder back to school on Monday. 

Spelling:

The children did a great job on their first spelling test this Friday. I am so proud of how hard they practiced all week long. Next week our spelling pattern will continue to focus on the short /a/ sound.  Thank you for helping your child review their words at home!

Writing

This week, the children finished publishing their last two autobiography pieces. They worked hard to rewrite their pieces in their best handwriting and draw illustrations that were careful, colorful, and detailed. The children also illustrated a front cover for their work. We bond their pages together to create their very own autobiography book. To conclude the unit we will have a celebration of their writing. Next week, we will join the other first grade classes and the children will get to read their autobiography to a group of friends. The books will then become part our classroom library. This will allow the children to enjoy reading each others writing. 

Math 

In Math, the children worked with ten frames, labeling numbers with units, finding sums of ten, using calculators, and telling time to the hour. To practice some of their math skills the children played the math game, 10 Frame Top-it. 

Social Studies

This week, we finished our Map unit. The children enjoyed taking an imaginary trip to visit different landforms. After we visited each land form location the children wrote about it in their landforms booklet. 

The children also worked with basic map skills this week. They looked at maps and globes and discussed how they are similar and different. The children learned about the compass rose and cardinal directions. They really enjoyed learning a special way to remember the cardinal directions: Never Eat Soggy Waffles. The children learned about map keys. They took turns coming up to the board and using the cardinal directions and a map key to locate different areas on a map. 

Royal Reader

On Friday, we enjoyed a visit from, Mrs. Trendel! The children were excited to listen to Mrs. Trendel read her book. She read the book, The Sneetches. Thank you Mrs. Trendel for coming and sharing this wonderful book with us!

Notes:

• In backpack mail, your child brought home a paper titled October 2013 R.E.A.D. Have your child set a reading goal for the month. If they meet the goal, sign the paper and return the slip to school. Your child has a chance to earn a ticket to Six Flags if they meet their reading goal every month from October - April. 
• Don’t forget to read and return your purple poetry folder!
• Thursday, October 3rd is Picture day! Don’t forget to say cheese. 
• Friday, October 4th is the Dryden Just Jump Challenge! Don’t forget to send in your Just Jump Challenge envelope, if you haven’t done so already!

Have a great rest of the weekend!