• Oct142009
    September News

    POSTED AT 12:58 AM

    First Grade News

    September 2009

     

    Reading and Writing:

    Your children continue to read in large and small groups with and without teacher guidance.  Independent reading is essential to fostering the love of books.  In small groups first graders are learning:

    ·      Sequence of books: Beginning, middle, end

    ·      Strategies to decode unknown words

    ·      Short vowel sounds in single syllable and multi-syllable words

    ·      Beginning blends cr, tr, and gr

    ·      End blends –st, -nk, -nd, -nt

     

    In writing the focus is on sentence structure:

    ·      A sentence can be a statement, a question or an exclamation.

    ·      A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea

    ·      A sentence begins with a capital and ends with an end mark ( . ?  !)

    In addition to improving conventions we are also working on word order in sentences: recognizing out of order sentences and creating well-ordered sentences.  Next, we will be working on improving our ideas in sentences.

     

    Handwriting:

    We have completed our review of capital letters and will introducing the correct formation for lower case letters. 

     

    Frog Jump letters: B, D, E, F, M, N, P, R,

    Corner Capitals: H, K, L, U, V, W, X Y, Z

    Center Starters: A, C, G, I, J, O, Q, S, T,

    Remember to keep the formation sheet handy so your child can use it as a reference!

     

    We continue to work on NUMBER formation as well

    ¨    Hint- all the numbers start at the smiley face (upper left hand corner) except for 8(center starter) and 9 has its own corner (starting in the right hand corner)

     

     

    Math:

    First graders continue to work on:

    ·      Tally marks

    ·      Counting by 2s and 5s,

    ·      Number identification and number order

    ·      Comparison of numbers to 20

    ·      Time to the hour

    ·      Identification of pennies and nickels, adding values of these coins and comparing values.

    ·      Daily routines such as calendar, days of school and weather report.

    o   The weather report now includes daily reading of the thermometer, writing the temperature with units (degrees/Fahrenheit) and comparing types of weather on our graph (using language- how many more, what is the difference..)

     

    Please continue to reinforce these concepts at home!

    Science and Social Studies:

    ¨    We all had great field trips to Stagecoach (or at school pretending to be in the wetland!)  We dissected fish, learned about water bugs with a representative from Yampatika, created wetland watercolors and read about the various plants and animals that live in a wetland.

    ¨    We are all looking forward to the Dry Lake field trip as we continue to learn more about animals and habitats!

     

     

    Be the first to rate this post
    • Currently 0/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    0 Comments Add a comment

    Sep142009
    Welcome to first grade!

    POSTED AT 10:57 PM

    Welcome to First Grade!
     
    We look forward to speaking with you all during Back to School Night on September 15, 2009.  Please check back for more news and information in the near future.   Our contact information is listed under the link '1st Grade Team' on the main page. 
     
    We hope this website provides another avenue of communication for you so we can work together to provide the best learning support for your children.
     


    Be the first to rate this post
    • Currently 0/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    0 Comments Add a comment

    May082009
    May Newsletter

    POSTED AT 12:52 AM

    First Grade News

    May 2009

     

    We hope you all had a wonderful spring break and are ready for an exciting end of the year in first grade.  As you know from our field trip schedule we will very busy up to the very last day.  Please be sure to mark your calendars with all these exciting events!

     

    Our mini society is well on its way!  The classes have studied various USA symbols, learned about the colors and symbols on different flags around the world and are now ready to create a flag for their own country (classroom).  They will be creating currency, vote on a currency for the country, and begin to earn money for ‘jobs’ in the classroom.  With this money they will then be able to buy materials to start producing products for our mini society sale on June 4th !  

     

    Along with our mini society unit, first graders are also learning about Fairy Tales. 

     

    What is it that makes a story a fairy tale?

     

    As with folktales, fairy tales have an oral tradition, and they usually take place “long ago.”  There are several elements present in most of these stories, however, that identify them as part of the genre of fairy tales.  As you discuss this genre with your child talk about  which elements are present in the current fairy tale he or she is reading!

    v     Special beginning and/or ending words: Once upon a time….and they lived happily ever after.

    v     Told and retold

    v     Good characters

    v     Evil/bad characters

    v     Royalty and/or a castle usually present

    v     Setting

    v     Character or events come in 3s or 7s

    v     Problem and a Solution

    v     Plot

    v     Magic/luck

    v     Can often teach a lesson

     

     

    Important Dates:

    May 6th- Spear’s class to Walmart

    May 7th – Recycle Homework Due!

    May 7th- Waldschmidt’s class to Walmart

    May 13th - Hogue’s class to Walmart

    May 14th  -Alexander’s class to Walmart

    May 14th – Hogue’s class to Strings Music Pavilion 10-12

    May 15th – Spear, Waldschmidt, Alexander to Strings

                       Music Pavilion 9:30-11:30

    May 19th – Auditions for Talent Show

    May 25th  - NO SCHOOL

    May 20th  - Spear and Waldschmidt to Fish Hatchery 8:45-1:15

    May 21st - Alexander and Hogue to Fish Hatchery 8:45- 1:15

    May 27th – Spear and Waldschmidt to Botanic Gardens 9:30-11:30

    May 29th – Alexander and Hogue to Botanic Gardens 9:30-11:30

    June 1st – Sing Along all first grades- 2:30

    June 2nd – Field Day

    *June 3rd – Elkhead field trip

    *June 4th – MINI SOCIETY SALE starting at 9:15

    June 5th – Last Day of School!

     

    * Please note change in dates!!!
    Currently rated 4.5 by 2 people
    • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    1 Comments Add a comment

    Apr122009
    March and April Newsletters

    POSTED AT 02:20 PM

    FIRST GRADE NEWS

    April 2009

    What we have learned:

    The leprechauns came and took our traps! It was a green St. Patrick’s day as the first graders found a poem and golden footprints left in place of their creative traps. 

    First graders enjoyed our Penguin Theme as they became immersed in the lives of penguins. They learned where penguins live, how they live, unique characteristics of these flightless birds, and how penguins adapted to the various environments of the Southern Hemisphere. The importance of taking care of our environment was apparent as they learned how vital the ocean is to penguin survival. This was a great lead into our recycling unit in our reading groups.

    What we are learning and will be learning:

    After learning about the life a penguin, first graders realized how important it is to protect our environment not only for penguins but for all species. 

    We will now look at our own community as we begin our Mini Society Unit for the month of April. This is our unit on economics. The children will be immersed in lessons and activities that will teach them to make good choices as consumers.

    • Scarcity
    • Needs and wants
    • Opportunity Cost
    • Money
    • Producers and Consumers
    • Goods and services
    • Barter

    We will create and name a country, design a flag, and design and name currency for our country. Each child will have the opportunity to earn money for various jobs. The children will use this money to buy goods and services to assist them in producing a product to sell. 

    Math:

    We will continue our measurement unit as we practice telling time to the hour and half hour.  First graders are also learning how to name numbers with various examples. Our focus will be on tens as we strengthen our understanding of place value. For example, different ways to name five are: 1 nickel, set of tally marks, 5 dots on dice, 5+1, 6-1, one row in a ten frame etc…

    We will focus on units of measurement and tools used to measure. Do we measure the circumference of our head with a ruler or a tape measure? What about capacity? What about length, height and width? We will bring all these tools of measurement together at our Measurement Fair.  

    Writing:

    First graders continue to develop writing skills. Below are some tips brainstormed by the students and reviewed during writing to help remember how to become better writers.

    Good Writers:

    Take their time

    Add details with describing words- word choice

     

    Use the picture as a tool

    Use neat writing with capitals & punctuation.   !   ? - conventions

    Have interesting ideas and exhibit personality and voice   

     

    Sound out words and use the word wall

     

     

    Important Dates:

    Measurement Fair            March 31, 2009 (Spear and Waldschmidt)

    End of Quarter

    Measurement Fair            April 14, 2009       (Alexander and Hogue)

    Spring Break                   April 20, 2009

     
     
     
     
    March 2009
    What we have learned:
    The King of the Arctic, Bear of the Sea, Ice Bear, Spirit Bear… whatever you choose to call this beautiful creature, the POLAR BEAR is really something special. We learned about the polar bear in class and with our guest speaker from Yampatika.  We had so much fun learning so many interesting facts about the polar bear and their life in the Arctic.  

    We all had a great time on our field trip to Carpenter Ranch with our fifth grade buddies.  A representative from D.O.W. shared with us various animal furs that helped us learn about the various animals that live in our region.

    First graders also enjoyed special library times in February to learn how to find fiction and nonfiction books by author name.  They also enjoyed an Eric Carle author study and learned about how he created his wonderful artwork.

    What we are learning NOW
    From the great Arctic to the far south, we are now studying the PENGUINS in Antarctica. “Ten little penguins all in a line, One jumps in, and now there are nine. Nine little penguins, how they hesitate, One tumbles in, and now there are eight….” What do Emperor, Little Blue, Rockhopper, King, Chinstrap, Adelie, and Macaroni have in common? They all are kinds of penguins! Our first graders are learning where penguins live. We will be amazed to see which penguin is 15 inches (yes, inches) tall. What do porpoising, rookery, brood pouch, krill, crèche mean? Go ahead and do some research on your own. This is a fantastic, fun-filled unit of study, and you can add to it at home!

    Math:
    We are currently studying time and measurement.  We are first learning how to read and estimate time to the hour and to the half hour.  Most importantly, first graders are learning the language of time.  They are learning to read time using the phrases before or just before _______o'clock, after or just after _______o'clock, between the hours of ____and____, and half past _____o'clock.  Practice this skill with your children at home, asking him or her to first only look at the hour hand.
     A little tip: the word hour is shorter than the word minute, thus the hour hand is the shorter one!
    We continue to practice our math facts and number sense.  Continue to practice rote counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, look for patterns, and problem solve everyday!

    Upcoming Events:
    We are also starting our measurement unit in math.  Two classes (Spear and Waldschmidt) will have a measurement fair on March 31  and two classes will have the fair on April 14 (Alexander and Hogue).   
    If you are interested in volunteering please email your child's teacher!
    Currently rated 4.0 by 3 people
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    0 Comments Add a comment

Include comments...

Last Modified: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
 
 © 2009 TeacherWeb, Inc.

Content on this site is the responsibility of the Subscriber. Additional information is available in the TeacherWeb Terms & Conditions.