I would like to extend a special thank you to all of the parents and families who attended our Thanksgiving performance as well as those who contributed paper products, baked goods and beverages for our reception.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated!  I think we can also all agree that the first graders put on a fabulous performance last week.  I am so proud of each and every student.  Well done!

      As we are now well within the holiday season, we will be spending some time over the next few weeks talking about some of the holidays that we celebrate here in the United States as well as various holidays that are celebrated around the world.  If any families have special traditions that you would like to come in and share with our class, please let me know.  We would love to have you come in to the classroom to share with us!

      This week we will begin our new science unit on matter.  The children will be learning that matter is anything that takes up space.  We’ll be conducting a variety of experiments as we learn about the 3 different forms of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. 

      Hagan Elementary will be hosting a Hats On Day event this Friday, December 4th.  The children will donate $1.00 for the privilege of wearing a hat of their choice to school.  Why hats? Many times, students battling pediatric cancer must wear hats to school following their treatments that cause hair loss.   The monies raised from Hats On Day will be dedicated to supporting the mission of the Foundation for Children with Cancer, which is to financially assist the families of children with cancer.  We hope to have many children participate in this charitable event!

       Have a fantastic week of learning with your first graders!

Look what we’re learning this week…

English Language Arts: 
      *This week’s story: The Big Circle by Eric Kimmel
       *Comprehension Skills: Identifying sequence of events;  Making text to text
             connections

       *Writing days, months, and holidays with capital letters

       *Contractions with n’t, ‘m, and ‘ll

      *Review digraphs th, ch, wh, and tch

*Writing–  - Using days, months and holidays correctly in writing

               -Using time order words in writing to sequence events

*Spelling:  -in and –it word families; core words: be, this

Mathematics: 
      *Subtract from 10 or less using a number line

      *Identify related addition and subtraction facts

      *Using different strategies to solve word problems

      *Chapter 7 math test on Thursday

Social Studies/Science: 
      *Matter is anything that takes up space

         *3 types of matter

         *Properties of solids