Blog Update 10/21/13

Hello First Grade Falcon Families,

The weather is beautiful outside and first grade is fantastic inside!  What a bunch of enthusiastic learners I have in the classroom.  My favorite moment of this past week was when one student blurted out, “I love school.”  And then another, and another…  And then I said, “Yeah, I LOVE SCHOOL!”  and the whole room erupted with raptures and praise about school.  It’s true, first grade is fun :-).

Below you will find updates on all of the fun things we have been, are currently, and will be learning about.  Please read thoroughly so that we can be on the same page!

Thanks in advance.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Riggs: Phonograms, phonograms phonograms.  We will continue our review and study of phonograms 1-55.  We will also review the formation of the numbers 0-9.  Typically, three days a week we will learn new phonograms, and one day a week we will work on wall charts where we review and learn the rules of spelling.  One of the first rules we learn is: “When a c or g is followed by an e, i, or y, they say their second sound.”  (i.e. in the word “cage” the /g/ is followed by an /e/ and is saying its second sound--pronounced “j”) After we have reviewed phonograms 1-55, THEN we begin spelling!  

I.E.W.:   Using poems as good examples of writing, we’ve been learning about word meaning, nouns, verbs, and synonyms.  Next, we will learn about adjectives, sequencing of events, and summarizing using a K.W.O. (Key Word Outline).

Reading:

Whole Group - During read aloud we have continued to focus on Aesop’s fables.  We presented our play to those of you who could make it and it was delightful!  Mrs. Norton recorded it and I have been trying to find a way to email or send the video out so that you can enjoy it.   I’ll keep trying!  This week we are going to review and focus on characters, setting, and sequencing events.  I am also going to introduce comparing and contrasting stories using a Venn Diagram.  Our nonfiction reading last week was about the Mesopotamians, and we will be reading about the Ancient Egyptians this week.

Small Group - Guided reading groups continue!

Independent - Reading Workshop continues as the students work through their text.  This past week the main focus was on locating multi-letter phonograms before you read a word, underlining them, and then saying their 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd sound and so on until the word makes sense.  The next logical tool will be to re-read the word that you sounded out to be sure it makes sense in the context of the sentence it’s in.

Public Speaking: The students have been working on reciting the poem, “Table Manners” by Gelett Burgess.  The first few students who recited it did very well!  If your student has not recited their poem in front of the class yet, please help them practice and prepare for reciting this week.

Support Idea(s):

*As you read aloud to and with your student, ask them about the characters, setting, and sequence of events.  

*Use Raz-Kids to help your student with reading at www.raz-kids.com

*While your student is reading independently, remind them of the reading tools they’ve been taught.  Ask your student to share these tools with you and practice using them while reading.

*Review the phonogram cards nightly--and use the Phonogram ABC song (http://www.chpcsfirstgrade.blogspot.com/p/phonogram-abcs-song.html) in conjunction with the phonogram chart to get the sounds stuck in their brain!

*Ask your student to recite “Table Manners” to you.  If they cannot, request that they bring their sayings, phrases, and poems book home to practice.

MATH

Below are the concepts we have been and will be learning in math:

Adding +9 facts and the “doubles plus one” facts (i.e. +9: 7+9=16, double: 8+8=16, double plus one: 8+9=17)	Estimating temperature, reading a thermometer to the nearest 10 degrees
Sorting shapes by attribute (color, shape, size)	Telling and showing time to the half hour
Identify the days of the week (Sunday-Saturday), weekdays (Monday-Friday), and weekends (Saturday, Sunday)	Graph and analyze data on a graph (compare data: which is more, how many more)
Counting dimes and pennies	Writing addition and subtraction fact families (three numbers that make two addition and two subtraction problems, i.e. with the #’s 3,4,7: 3+4=7, 4+3=7, 7-3=4, 7-4=3)
Drawing a picture or looking for a pattern to solve a problem.	Identify ordinal position to twelfth
Compare numbers to 50 (i.e. which number is greater? which number is less?)	Draw pictures and write number sentences for “some, some more” and “some, some went away” stories

Support Idea(s):

*Explore this website for math support: http://www.abcya.com/first_grade_computers.htm

*Count coins!  Purses, change jars, and piggie banks are great resources for counting coins.  

*Be mindful of the time, and ask your student to periodically practice telling the time (with your help as needed).

SCIENCE/HISTORY

We are continuing the unit on two ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.  We are also beginning our science fair project a bit early!  We planted radishes and garlic as we pretended we were the world’s first farmers (the Mesopotamians!) and now we’re asking a scientific question: will the radishes and garlic grow better inside or outside?  We will draw and write about our observations over time.   Below are the “student’s need to know” concepts we will learn during these units:

MESOPOTAMIA: THE “CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION”

• Where did they live? (Asia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers)
• When did they live? (about 5,500 years ago)
• What did they invent? (farming, writing called Cuneiform)
• Who was Hammurabi? (the writer of a list of rules and laws called “Hammurabi’s Code”
• What did their houses/structures look like? (mud bricks stacked - i.e. ziggurats)

ANCIENT EGYPT

• Where did they live? (Africa, near the Nile River)
• When did they live? (about 5,000 years ago)
• What did they do with their dead? (mummified)
• Who was Queen Hatshepsut? (a female pharaoh)
• Who was King Tut? (a very young pharaoh)
• What is hieroglyphics? (Ancient Egyptian writing)
• What did their houses/structures look like? (mud bricks, clay and limestone bricks - i.e. pyramids)

Support Idea(s):

• A GREAT resource for helping your student review and comprehend the concepts we’re learning during history and science is the book, What Your First Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.  A few copies may be available at your local library, and used copies can be purchased (for $0.01 plus $3.99 shipping!) on Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0385319878/ref=sr_1_1_up_1_main_olp?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379274790&sr=1-1&condition=used
• Talk with your student about what they have learned during our science and history lessons at school. Ask questions and see if they are able to answer them. If they are unable to answer your questions, provide extra support for them by reading books (from the library), or finding appropriate websites on the topics we're studying. Ask questions during and after the reading to encourage involvement and comprehension.

FIRST FIELD TRIP FRIDAY and BONUS FEBRUARY FIELD TRIP

First Field Trip Friday:

Who: CHPCS First Grade

Where: Plumper Pumpkin Patch and Tree Farm, 11435 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Portland, OR 97231

When: Friday, October 25th, 2013

What to Wear and Bring: Field trip t-shirts, jeans, jackets, and rain boots are appropriate attire for this field trip.  Students will need to bring snacks for the morning and the afternoon, lunch, and a filled water bottle.

Why:  As a part of the first grade Core Knowledge Sequence, we study about:

• Mesopotamians as the world’s first farmers
• Ancient Egyptian society, including mummification (We will mummify the pumpkins!)
• Living things, including plants and the plant cycle of growth

How: Bus

Bonus February Field Trip: I have already used all of the money in the first grade field trip fund to book wonderful and fun field trips for the year, but I think it would be a memorable academic experience for our class to join Mr. Currey’s second grade class at the play “Charlotte’s Web” this February put on by the Oregon Children’s Theater.  Second graders have the esteemed opportunity to read Charlotte’s Web as a class in second grade, and the plays put on by the Oregon Children’s Theater change from year to year.  That means that Charlotte’s Web will only be available this year.  The cost of the play is $6 per student.  If you are willing and able, please send $6 in an envelope to school with the words “Charlotte’s Web”.  If you are unable or unwilling to pay please let me know via email and I will do my best to find a way to cover the cost.  Thank you!

REMINDER(S):

*Remember to bring the filled out Fall Conference Form with you to your conference time next week!

* www.raz-kids.com is available for you to help your student with reading and comprehension practice.  My Teacher username is: varis.  Your student’s password is the (lowercase) initials of their first and last name followed by their student number (i.e. John Applegate, if he was #1 in class, would have the password of ja1).

*If you haven’t already, please sign up for a fall conference slot here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044FADAE2AA57-fall

* If you are willing and able, please send $6 in an envelope to school with the words “Charlotte’s Web” for our bonus February Field Trip (on Wednesday, February 13th).  If you are unable or unwilling, please let me know via email.

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

Friday, October 25th	Field Trip Friday *Normal school day: 8:00AM-3:30PM *Field trip t-shirts, jeans, jackets, and rain boots are appropriate attire for this field trip. Pack: Snack, lunch, filled water bottle *First grade is going to Plumper Pumpkin Patch and then beginning the mummification process with our pumpkins at CHPCS!
Monday, October 28th - Friday, November 1st	Parent/Teacher Conferences *Your day and time as listed on the signup genius form *Remember to bring the filled out Fall Conference Form with you!
Thursday, October 31st	All School Assembly, 8:00AM, 7th grade hosting
Wednesday, November 6th	Picture retakes by Life Touch Photography
Thursday, November 7th	Sock Hop, right after school, organized by Mr. Weaver
Monday, November 11th	Veteran’s Day, NO SCHOOL

After you have faithfully read this lengthy yet important update please write “Pumpkin Mummy!” in your student’s planner so that I can see it and I will give them two tickets (earned and saved for prizes) for your diligence.

Thank you!!

-Mrs. Varis