The school year is nearly halfway over! The students have already learned so much this year , but there’s still more knowledge and many more experiences to come. Below you will find what we have been and will be doing in the classroom. You will also find school-wide announcements and upcoming events. Happy reading!
CLASSROOM UPDATES
Language Arts
- We have been continuing to learn and analyze new spelling words each day as a part of the Riggs sequence. When we have learned to spell about 50 words, we will begin writing sentences with those words as a part of Riggs homework.
- During I.E.W. the students have been focusing on summarizing and retelling stories and informational texts in Key Word Outline (K.W.O.) format using the Story Sequence Model: (1)Who are the characters, what is the setting, what are the characters doing/feeling, (2)What/where is the problem/conflict, (3)What/where is the climax and resolution. We will soon begin writing these texts, in our own words, using our K.W.O.s as a whole group.
- During read aloud we have been focusing on the problem and resolution in stories, as well as making predictions. Shortly we will begin looking at who is telling the story at different points.
Support Idea(s):
- When reading with your student, ask them to stop at certain points in the story and predict what will happen next. Have your student also identify where the problem and resolution are in the story.
- Challenge your student to write complete sentences (capital at the beginning, punctuation mark at the end, spaces in between words, correct spelling and markings throughout) using only the words in their spelling notebook.
- Don’t forget about www.Raz-kids.com! Reminder: my teacher username is “varis”, your student’s password is the initials of their first and last name and student number (i.e. jf11).
Math
The current math concepts we have been and will be focusing on include:
- *Coins are used to count amounts of money.
- The associative property of addition allows the grouping of addends together in any way we would like when we add.
- A polygon can be identified by its number of side and angles.
Support Idea(s):
Have your student answer these questions when working through their homework:
- *How can I find out how much a collection of coins is worth?
- What strategy can I use to add a list of numbers?
- How do I describe plane figures such as rectangles, pentagons, and hexagons?
Science
We zoomed through our two micro units on modern Mexico and three world religions, and now we’re onto the human body! Here are the main concepts that we will be learning about throughout this month-long unit:
*A. BODY SYSTEMS
- Skeletal system: skeleton, bones, skull
- Muscular system: muscles
- Digestive system: mouth, stomach
- Circulatory system: heart and blood
- Nervous system: brain, nerves
- Taking care of your body: exercise, cleanliness, healthy foods, rest
- Vaccinations
- Edward Jenner
- Louis Pasteur
Support Idea(s):
- 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.
Assessment Check-in
I sent home an assessment check-in in your student’s red homework folder. Please review the assessments with your student and discuss any circled (incorrect) answers. Then, please help your student to work on and fix any errors and return the corrected assessment to school A.S.A.P. (NOTE: Some answers may have already been corrected by an adult. Please still discuss the circled areas with your student.)
February Field Trip to Retirement Centers in Milwaukie
Today’s “Healthy Me” field trip to downtown Milwaukie was a great success! Thank you to the chaperons who so graciously led the first graders around town. Our next field trip is also going to be in Milwaukie. Please see the who, what, when, where, why, and how of it below. You can volunteer as a chaperon by clicking following this link and signing up: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080B4FAEAA2FA02-first/5921117
Who: CHPCS 1st grade
What: Service Learning Field Trip -- Retirement Center Presentations
When: Friday, February 8th, 2013
Where: Vineyard Retirement Center, Willamette View Retirement Center, and Rosevilla Retirement Center (lunch at Spring Park)
Why: As a part of our science unit on the solar system, the students will learn and perform a reader’s theater and some songs for the residents of each retirement center. This will: (1)give the students a captive audience, (2)provide the students experience with serving others, (3)build community with people and businesses around us, (4)hopefully bring joy and delight to the hearts of the elderly.
How: Bus (if all goes as planned!)
SCHOOL-WIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Spelling Bee
The school-wide spelling bee is scheduled to be held on Monday, February 4th. A list of first grade spelling words was sent home for your student to practice if they are interested in competing. The students should practice spelling the words out loud, using letter names. If your student completes spelling all of the words on the front page, there are many more words on the back for continued practice. The preliminary spelling bee for deciding which two first graders will be competing is going to be held in the classroom in a few weeks. If you have any further questions, please contact Mr. Currey, h.currey@chpcs.org.
Student-led Conferences
Students-led conferences are taking place on Friday, February 1st from 12:00-3:00PM. This is an open-house setting for you to come and see what your student has been learning. Progress reports and Winter MAP scores will be available at this time. If you would like to schedule a conference to further discuss your student’s progress, please contact me and we can set up a time to meet.
Cold and Flu Season
We are in the midst cold and flu season. The Norovirus is going around as well as influenza. Please remind your student about eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest, and proper hand washing before eating, after sneezing, etc. The Norovirus in particular isn’t killed by hand sanitizer alone. If your student is ill with fever, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea please keep them home for at least 24 hours at the first sign of symptoms, and until the symptoms are gone.
Science Fair
The CHPCS Science Fair judging is scheduled to be on Tuesday, February 19th from 4:30-5:30PM. Although first grade will not be judged on our whole-class Science Fair project, you will be able to view our finished presentation poster on that evening. This year, first grade will go through the scientific method to answer the question, “Which activity makes my heart beat the fastest?”.
Calendar At a Glance
| Thursday, January 17th | School-wide Health and Safety Day (you’re welcome to come!) |
| Friday, January 18th | No School |
| Monday, January 21st | No School - President’s Day |
| Monday, January 28th | 2nd Semester Begins |
| Friday, February 1st | Student-led Conferences, 12:00-3:00PM |
| Monday, February 4th | School-wide Spelling Bee |
| Friday, February 8th | Field Trip Friday - Retirement Center Service Learning |
| Monday, February 11th | Chinese New Year Celebration, 10:30-11:30AM |
| Friday, February 15th | No School |
| Monday, February 18th | No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Tuesday, February 19th | Science Fair Judging, 4:30 - 5:30PM |
After thoroughly reading this newsletter, please write “February Fun” in your student’s planner so that I can see it. I will reward them for your efforts with two tickets!
Thank you for your continual support,
Mrs. Varis
