Hello 1-1 Families! I have compiled a list of highlights to share with you from our last few weeks in 1-1. We have been very busy and I cannot believe how quickly the time is flying by! I hope you enjoy catching up on everything we have been working on!
Teacher Appreciation Week
Let me first take a moment to thank each and every one of you for making Teacher Appreciation week a very special one! I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the beautiful flowers, sweets, bunt cakes, chocolates, cards, and gifts! Thank you so much! I feel lucky to work with your children and you every day.
A special thank you as well to the PTA. The lunches and special treats throughout the week were delicious! Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Literacy
In literacy, we have been reading wonderful authentic texts that go along with our China Unit. Our close reading lessons have focused on such texts as, Ruby’s Wish, Tikki Tikki Tembo, Yeh-Shen A Cinderella Story from China, Lion Dancer, and Cat and Rat.
The children have used these texts to focus on:
-Using the words and illustrations from the text to better understand characters.
-Retelling the story and using the illustrations and words to better understand the setting of the story.
-Using the text and photos, they generated and answered questions.
-Comparing two characters by listing their similarities and differences on a top hat organizer.
Here are some examples of work the children have completed during their close reading lessons.
Writing
The children published their Expository Writing piece by turning it into a nonfiction book on the animal they researched. They worked really hard on their nonfiction books and are excited to share them with the class on the big screen at the end of the year. For now, they are on display in the hallway.
Over the last two weeks, the children have been working on our last writing unit on Persuasive Writing. The children worked with stating their opinion on some given topics. After, they stated their opinion they gave reasons to support their opinion. The children wrote a short persuasive piece on whether or not first graders should go to bed at 6pm. They shared their writing with a partner.
On Tuesday, we talked about the different reasons we write persuasively. To improve our lives or the lives of others or to promote something. The children then brainstormed a list of problems that need solving or things that can be improved around the school. Together as a class, we wrote a persuasive letter on why the outside basketball hoops should be lowered. The children came up with an opinion and three reasons to support their opinion. This week, the children will choose a topic and begin to write their own persuasive piece.
Social Studies
The children were introduced to our final social studies unit on China. Over the next few weeks, the children will learn how their lives in America are similar and different to children's lives in China.
The children began the unit by generating a list of questions that they would like to research as we are learning about China. We have focused on China’s geography. They researched some of China’s landforms and compared them to landforms we have in the United States. The children have listened to excerpts from books and video clips to learn about education in China.
Last week, they also learned all about the Great Wall of China. We began the lesson by doing a Picture Aloud. The children look at two photographs of the Great Wall and recorded their thinking. They listed what they noticed as well as questions that they had. The children shared their thinking with one another. The children also completed a close reading lesson with an excerpt about the Great Wall of China. They went back into the text and highlighted answers to a list of questions about the wall.
The children also listened to the Chinese folktale, Ping-Li’s Kite. Then, they created symmetrical kites to hang from our ceiling.
Math
In Math, the children wrapped up Unit 9. They took their Unit 9 test on Thursday. The children did a nice job, I am proud of how hard they worked. Their tests will come home on Monday.
This week, the children will take their End of the Year Math Test. I will send this test home at the end of the school year.
Later in the week, the children will begin our last math unit, Unit 10. We will review the concepts we have learned throughout the year.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Natalie and Oskar. We recently celebrated both of their birthdays. We hope that you both had very special days on your birthdays!
Notes:
-This Wednesday, May 2o is a Friday schedule. We will have Library and all Library books are due. The children will no longer be checking out books for the year. Please be sure to find any books that have been misplaced and send them in. Thank you for your help!
-There is no school on Friday, May 22 or Monday, May 25. School resumes on Tuesday, May 26.
