News You Can Use!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We hope that you enjoy reading about our activities from last week!

Reader’s Workshop

Last week, we continued to build our classroom reading community. The children were introduced to the best place to read. They practiced picking the best place to read in the classroom. The children were encouraged to think about these questions:

-Is it a comfortable spot?

-Is the atmosphere good?

-Is it a quiet area?

-Is it an area where I won’t be interrupted frequently?

-Is there proper lighting?

After, the children chose the best place to read, they practiced building their stamina. The class is very excited that they made it to 8 minutes by the end of last week. We will continue working on building our reading stamina. The goal is for the children to be able to read independently for 20 minutes.

The children also worked on sharing strategies. We discussed what it looks and sounds like when you share with the class versus when you participate in partner turn-and-talk discussions.

On Thursday, the children worked on identifying the fiction features in a story (characters, setting, problem, and solution). They practice identifying these story elements during their independent reading time as well. 

To end the week, the children practiced making connections to what they read. They thought about how they could relate to something from the book or how the book reminded them of something they had done before.

Encourage your child to apply all of these skills and strategies to their reading at home!

Guided Reading

Last week, the children began learning about their independent activities for guided reading time. These activities allow every child to be independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks during our guided reading time. These research-based tasks are ones that will have the biggest effect on each child's reading and writing achievement, as well as help encourage children who love to read and write. The children receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write independently while I provide focused, intense instruction to individuals and small groups of children.

The children are engaged in the following independent activities:

-Read to Self

-Work on Writing

-Read to Someone

-Listen to Reading

-Word Work

I have now had time to meet individually with all of my first grade readers and assess them using Fountas and Pinnell running records. The running records along with their AIMSweb scores help me to understand where each child is as a reader and to create meaningful guided reading groups. We will begin guided reading groups very soon.

Writing

Last week, we continued working on our first writing unit, Autobiographies. The children wrote about their favorite toy or game, their favorite thing to do, and their favorite place to go. They are working very hard at using the writing process: Think, Draw, Label, and Write. I am proud of our authors for using their “brave spelling” to stretch out sounds in tricky words. 

The children also began practicing Work on Writing and Word Work this week. These are two parts of their independent guided reading time activities. Last week, they learned about journal writing, the children received a journal prompt and then decided how they wanted to respond. The children wrote about something special about themselves. They will keep their journal writings in their writing binder. In word work, the children learned about rainbow words, spelling code, and write 3x. These are some of the ways the children will practice their spelling words in class.

Math

In Math, the children continued working on number sense. They used the calendar to answer questions about days, weeks, months, and dates. The children were also introduced to math explorations. They learned about base-10 blocks, pattern blocks, and geoboards. 

The children also played Top-It in groups of 3 or 4.

We will wrap up our first math unit this week. The children will review all of the math concepts we learned in this unit. They will enjoy using Mimio Vote as our review tool. Our classroom will turn into the set of a game show during our math block time as the children apply their math knowledge and answer questions using their very own clickers. On Tuesday, we will have our first math test. The children will have all problems read out loud to them. This will ensure that I am testing their math skills and not their reading skills. The tests will come home via backpack mail a few days later. 

Social Studies

Last week, we began our Map unit in Social Studies. The children learned about the seven continents and oceans. The children enjoyed two projects this week, Me On The Map and creating a map of the world using a paper plate and cut out continents. 

Happy Birthday
Last week, we celebrated Gavin's birthday. Happy Birthday Gavin!

Notes:

-Please be sure to check your child’s red take home folder nightly.  Encourage your child to show you the work they are bringing home. 

-Scholastic book orders need to be placed by this Friday, September 25th. Feel free to order online or fill out the form I sent home and return it along with your payment, I will submit these orders. Scholastic book orders are a great way to build your child’s reading library at home. Plus, every order you place helps us earn books for our classroom library! Happy shopping and reading!

-On Friday, September 25th, all of our students in grades 1-5 will be jumping rope outside during their lunch recess time for the PTA fundraiser, Just Jump! Please read over the red flyer I sent home for more information! Let me know if you need a new flyer. This is a wonderful fundraiser for our PTA. It helps to provide valuable experiences for our students: clubs, assemblies, birthday books, and so much more!

News You Can Use!

Enjoy reading about all our learning adventures from last week!

Reading

Last week, the children were introduced to Reader’s Workshop. The children were excited to learn that together we are going to become a reading community.

We discussed What Good Readers Do. As we read the book, Library Mouse: A world to Explore, we create an anchor chart to help us remember the important things that good readers do. 

What Good Readers Do
-Listen carefully

-Learn new words and information

-Link what we read to our own lives

-Share ideas and feelings

The children also learned about the important parts of a book. They learned that all books are organized in a special way so that readers are familiar with their structure and know where to look for certain information. The children worked together to identify and locate the different parts of a book.

At the end of last week, the children were introduced to their responsibilities and expectations to follow during reading workshop. We will continue to work on these responsibilities and expectations during our launch unit. 

I am continuing to assess the children using Fountas and Pinnell running records. I will continue working on these assessments until I have had time to read with each child.

Writing

Last week, we started our first writing unit, Autobiographies. The children learned that an autobiography is a writing about the author. They each have started their own mini autobiography. The children chose to write about either their favorite pet or animal. 

The children practiced using the writing process that authors go through. We will practice and use this process throughout the whole year. The children will: Think, Draw, Label, and Write. 

Math

In Math, the children continued working with number sense. They compared numbers, practiced writing numbers correctly, and practiced representing numbers using tally marks. The children were excited to create a Tally Chart to organize data. They created a class pet tally chart on the mimio. 

On Thursday, the children used the laptops to log into everydaymathonline.com. The children practiced logging in using their user name and password. Once online, they were able to practice navigating the site to play some math games. The children may play these same games at home to practice their math skills. I sent home directions and your child’s log in card in your child’s curriculum night folder.

The children also played two math games this week: Top-It and Bunny Hop.

Social Studies

We finished our first social studies unit last Friday on communities. The children learned about how firefighters and letter carriers help our community. They listened to a book about each community helper and then brainstormed ideas about how they help our community. The children completed their community helpers packet and brought it home to share with you.

This week, we began our next unit on Maps. If you have any relatives or friends that live in other states or countries please encourage them to visit our blog. The children will learn about ClustrMaps and Live Traffic Feed on our blog. They will be excited to check in during our Map unit and see all the places that people are visiting us from.  

Patriot Day

On September 11th, we celebrated Patriot day in our classroom. We read the story, America Is... After, we had a discussion on what America means to each of us. The children, created heart shaped flags and on the back they finished the sentence starter, America is... Some of the finished sentences were: America is a safe place to live. America is freedom. America is beautiful. America is my home. America is my family. America is a wonderful place to live. 

Fire Safety Presentation

On Tuesday, Fireman Andrew from the Arlington Heights Fire Department visited our classroom. He shared a short fire safety video with the children. Then, he talked to the children about important fire safety rules to follow at home and at school. 

The children were excited to learn about his fire safety gear. He told the child that he has to be able to get into his gear in 1 minute when called for an emergency. After, he showed the children what he looked liked when fully dressed in his fire safety gear. They also had a wonderful question and answer session before he left. A special thank you to Fireman Andrew for teaching us about fire safety!

Notes:

-We started spelling today. Your child brought home their spelling list in their red folder tonight. Help them practice the words throughout the week. They will take their posttest on Friday. It will come home corrected on the following Monday. I have posted both List A and List B to the blog by chance your child’s list was misplaced.

-Please be sure to check your child’s red take home folder nightly. Encourage your child to show you the work they are bringing home. 

Our First Full Week

We had a great week in 1-1! The children enjoyed continuing to get to know one another through the sharing of their "All About Me" bags. They were surprised to learn that so many classmates had similar interests and hobbies.

Routines

The children did a wonderful job going through our classroom routines and procedures this week. They have now learned how to solve some simple problems on their own (what to do if their pencil breaks, what to do if they have a question, where to put work when they are finished, what to so if they need a restroom break, etc.) They are now experts at going through: arrival, lunchtime, and stack and pack routines. 

Reading

This week, the children listened to the story, A Bad Case of The Stripes. After, they created a picture of themselves with a bad case of something they love. Their projects are hanging up in our classroom along the window.

This week, I began assessing the children using Fountas and Pinnell running records. This will help me get to know the children as readers. I will continue working on these assessments until I have had time to read with each child.

Writing

This week, the children were introduced to Writer’s Workshop. After, listening to the book, Library Mouse, they discovered that they are all authors! We talked about how good writer’s: Think, Draw, Label, Write. They practiced these steps by writing about something that is important to them (their family, favorite hobby, favorite memory, etc).

On Tuesday, the children worked together to brainstorm a long list of things that they need to be successful as first graders. After, the children each created a paper backpack. In it they placed their own personal list of what they need to be successful. You can see their backpack display hanging up in the hallway outside our classroom.

Math

We began our first Everyday Math unit this week. To start the unit the children brainstormed a list of what they think they will do as Mathematicians this year. Then, they created a mathematician project.

Our first lessons focused on learning about our math routines. The children were also introduced to our calendar procedures. They enjoyed using the number line to play the game, Monster Squeeze. The children also enjoyed playing the Penny Dice Game with a partner.

Social Studies

We started our first social studies unit this week on Communities. The children learned about how teachers, police officers, and doctors help our community. They listened to a book about each of the community helpers and then brainstormed ideas about how they help our community. The children then completed one page for each community helper we learned about in their Community Helpers book.

Curriculum Night

It was nice to see all of you this week at Curriculum Night. Thank you for coming out. I hope you enjoyed hearing about all the wonderful adventures that we are going to have this year! The children were very excited to read the notes you had left on their desks. If you missed the presentation I will be posting a link on the right side of our web site titled, Curriculum Night Presentation soon.

Notes:

~There is no school on Monday, September 7th due to Labor Day. Classes will resume Tuesday, September 8th.

Have a great rest of the long weekend!