First Grade Falcon Families,
First grade is continuing along smoothly, and we're moving into a time where Mrs. Norton will be the lead teacher in class for two weeks (as a part of her teacher education). I will still be in the classroom and will assist her as needed while she is the lead teacher. She has been doing a great job of teaching several lessons during the day already, and I have every confidence she will continue to do well. If you would like to communicate with Mrs. Norton during the next few weeks, please email me and I will forward the information to her.
Please read below to find upcoming event notifications, reminders, and classroom updates including things we have, are, and will be learning.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Riggs: We have concluded learning the first 55 phonograms, and now we are moving onto spelling words! If your student has not mastered the first 55 phonogram sounds, please continue to review them with your student nightly. We will first review the words that the students learned to spell in kindergarten (as a part of spelling list 1), and then continue on at a pace of learning three new words per day. Riggs homework is also transitioning to spelling words. When a student incorrectly spells or marks a word on a test, they also will need to practice missed (checked) words for homework. Information on how to do Riggs spelling homework was sent home, and is also available on the right side bar if this blog.
I.E.W.: Using poetry, the students are continuing to examine parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives. They are also learning how to sequence, summarize, and retell these writing pieces using a Key Word Outline (K.W.O.). Soon, we will begin to write, and then re-write the story sequence of poems using a K.W.O.
Reading:
*Whole-group – Focus concepts: characters, setting, sequence, comparing/contrasting stories, author's purpose
*Small-group – Continuing reading and analyzing on-level texts
*Individual – Reading through on-level text and practice using “reading tools”: point to words, identify multi-letter phonograms, work through the phonogram sounds until you find the right one, identify a “silent e” and ask yourself, “What job is it doing?”
Speaking: Practice memorizing and reciting “Rope Rhyme” by Eloise Greenfield
Support Idea(s):
*READ, READ, READ! 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).
*WRITE, WRITE, WRITE! Encourage your student to write true and made-up stories. Help your student begin a journal or a story book! Writing and reading are connected, and vise-versa.
MATH
Below are the concepts we have been and will be learning in math:
Addition facts:
*sums of 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 (7+3=10, 7+4=11, 7+5=12, 7+6=13, 7+7=14)
*adding ten to a two-digit number (10+23=_)
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Fractions:
*dividing a whole into parts (½, ¼, ⅛), making a whole using parts, writing fractions
*reading and using a recipe
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Using and reading tally marks to count by 5s
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Measurement: using tools to measure length (yard stick, ruler), measuring to the nearest inch
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Identifying horizontal, vertical, and oblique lines
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Graphs:
*graph information and analyze data on a graph (compare data: which is more, how many more)
*create and read a Venn Diagram
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Money:
*counting dimes, nickels, and pennies
*trading pennies for dimes
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Identifying pairs
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Compare and order two-digit numbers (i.e. which number is greater? which number is less?)
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Identify tens and ones in a two-digit number
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Support Idea(s):
*Measure! Measuring things around the house can be a ton of fun.
*Do the laundry! Ask your student to put clean socks into matching pairs.
*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.
-Math Connection: Ask your student to tally the number of cents to keep track of the amount. Then, have them practice counting by fives by reading the tallied amount out loud.
SCIENCE/HISTORY
We finished our unit on two ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Then, we quickly started and completed a speedy micro-unit on the nomads crossing the land bridge from Asia to North America, and three early American civilizations - The Maya, Inca, and Aztecs. We had a lot of fun singing songs, painting scenes, and making costumes while we learned about the Maya, Inca, and Aztecs. Now, Mrs. Norton will teach the students about the early exploration of the Americas [started by Columbus and followed by the Spanish Conquistadors]. Below are the “students need to know” concepts we will learn during these units:
EARLY AMERICAN EXPLORATION: Columbus and the Conquistadors
Students Need to Know-
*WHO were the early explorers? (Columbus, Spanish Conquistadors: Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro)
*WHERE did they come from and WHERE did they conquer? (They all came from Spain - Columbus sailed to the Bahama Islands, Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs in Mexico, and Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incas in Peru, South America.
*WHEN did they live? (about 500 years ago)
*WHAT were they looking for? (spices, silver, gold)
*WHY did they win in their conquests against the Native Americans? (better weapons - guns, disease - Smallpox)
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.
NOVEMBER FIELD TRIP FRIDAY and BONUS FEBRUARY FIELD TRIP
Who: CHPCS First Grade
Where: A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village, 116 Marion St NE Salem, OR 97301
When: Friday, November 22nd, 2013
Why: As a part of the Core Knowledge Sequence, students will learn about the early explorers of the Americas. The A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village has many natural, cultural, and scientific things to explore, including a massive play structure!
What to Wear and Bring: WARM CLOTHING TO PLAY OUTSIDE IN - Field trip t-shirt, jeans, waterproof jacket, scarf, gloves, hat, 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.
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!
POTLATCH CELEBRATION
Tuesday, November 26th @ 12:00PM
Please see Mr. Currey’s blog for an excellent explanation of what a Potlatch is, and some finer details of the actual event at CHPCS: http://chpcs2nd.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-is-potlatch.html
Here are the first grade important Potlatch details:
*WHY CELEBRATE?: First grade students have been working in the classroom to prepare a short, but adorable and informative presentation (including painted scenes, costumes, and a song) about the Maya, Inca, and Aztecs for the Potlatch. [As you know, our unit on these three early American civilizations was speedy and of mostly an introductive nature.]
*WHEN IS IT?: Please come to watch the first graders perform (as well as the 2nd and 3rd graders!) on Tuesday, November 26th at 12:00PM in the CHPCS gym
*WHAT TO BRING: Following the Potlatch presentations will be a Native American foods potluck. Bring a potluck dish to share inspired by the early Native Americans [the Maya, Inca, and Aztecs]. Some traditional foods include: corn, beans, rice, tortillas, potatoes, quinoa, tomatoes, and chocolate.
*HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you would like to offer your help in preparation for the Potlatch, please let me know and I will find something for you to do! (See the “Volunteer Needs” section of Mr. Currey’s blog)
QUICK REMINDER(S):
*For this month’s field trip Friday, send your student to school in WARM, WATERPROOF clothing to be prepared for the cold, wet weather. We will be playing outside!!
*Put the Potlatch on your calendar! Quick details: Tuesday, November 26th, 12:00PM, bring a potluck dish to share inspired by the early Native Americans (Maya, Inca, Aztec), contact me to offer prep help.
*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
Thursday, November 14th and Thursday, November 21st
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MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Assessments
*First grade will be taking MAP assessments in both reading and math.
*How to help your student prepare: 1. get plenty of rest, 2. eat healthy foods, 3. talk through testing process, ease anxieties (and just do your best!), 4. practice computer testing skills using the MAP test warm-up found here: http://www.nwea.org/sites/www.nwea.org/files/tutorials/primary-warmup/index.html
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Thursday, November 22nd
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All School Assembly
*6th grade hosting, 8:00AM, CHPCS gym
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Friday, November 22nd
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FIELD TRIP FRIDAY!
*Normal school day: 8:00AM-3:30PM
*Bring/Wear: WARM CLOTHING, field trip t-shirt, jeans, water proof jacket, and rain boots are appropriate attire for this field trip. **Pack: Snack, lunch, filled water bottle
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Tuesday, November 26th
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Potlatch!
*12:00PM, CHPCS gym
*Watch Native American performances from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade
*Potluck following - Bring a traditional Native American dish to share (Maya, Inca, or Aztec)
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Wednesday and Friday, November 27th - 29th
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Thanksgiving Break
*No School
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Saturday, December 7th
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PTA Holiday Craft Fair
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Wednesday, December 18th
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Winter Core Knowledge Showcase
*K-8 core knowledge performances
*6:30PM, CHPCS gym
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Monday, December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd
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Winter Vacation
*No School
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After you have faithfully read this lengthy yet important update please write “Thankful!” 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
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