The End of September

The first month of First Grade is done.  Can you believe it?

 

Here is what we have been doing:

 

In reading we are finishing up our unit on "Readers build good reading habits". 

 

We learned how to

• take a sneak peek at the beginning
• check our sneak peek
• do SOMEHTING at the end (tell your favorite part, what you found funny, sad, etc., retell)
• read MORE and MORE and keep track
• set goals
• reread to smooth out the voice
• scoop up the phrases

 

We also learned how good partners work together:

• We work as a team
• We build good habits
• We read together (choral read, alternate readers per side of the book, echo read (I read, you repeat)
• We give reminders

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

 

 

In writing we are finishing up our unit on narrative writing.  We have been writing about stories about ourselves.  Today we met with a writing partner to see if we could edit each other's work.  We were looking to make sure we used capitals in the beginning of sentences.

 

 

 In Science we worked in the STEM Lab this week with Mrs. DeSantis' class on a Johnny Appleseed project.  The students were charged with problem solving how to build SOMETHING to get Johnny from one side of the river to the other.  A bridge could not be the solution.  Check out how we did.

This is just a few things that have been happening while your child was at school.  As you can see it has been a very busy month and more fun to come in the upcoming months.

Week 2

Here is what is happening in Room 10 this past week:


In Math the students are really beginning to understand the number bonds and written expresion with limited help.  I know this is a tough concept to grasp, but they are taking this new learning to heart.

Here is a link to a great parent newsletter that can help you with any questions you might have about our new focus area in  Math (counting on from Embedded Numbers.

http://www.lpssonline.com/uploads/g1m1Bv1newsletterfinal.pdf

In Reading we are working on reading with fluency our just right books.  Starting on Monday night, each child will bring home on book each night to practice there reading.

In writing we are working on writing personal narratives.  These are our small moments in our own personal life.  I am focusing on having the childreb write with correct sentence structure in the early phase of this unit.  At this moment in the school year, I am always stressing to write as much as you can and then wishing to see sentences start with a capital and end with punctuation.  It is a tall order but one with LOTS of practice the students will work on throughout the year.

In science we began our first module. It is called Sound and Light.  Our first focus question was :

What causes sound?  The students investigated with tongue depressors and rubber bands to feel the vibrations.  Then we moved on to making a table fiddle where more investigating took place.  Lastly, each child made their own book fiddle to finalize the question: What causes sound.  Here are a few photos from the investigation.  Enjoy.

investigating with a plastic cup and rubber band

We plucked it to feel the vibration and hear the sound

trying out the table fiddle

We make our own book fiddles

Back to School Night notes

Thank you to all the parents who came to Back to School Night.  It was great meeting you.
At the meeting I spoke about Letter formation and number formation.  Below are the words I will say to your child about how to forma a letter during my classroom instruction

Letter Name	Uppercase Stroke Description	Lowercase Stroke Description
L	Pull down straight.  Slide right.	Pull down straight
I	Pull down straight. Life. Slide right. Lift. Slide right.	Pull down straight. Lift. Dot.
T	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right.	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right.
E	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right. Lift. Slide right. Lift. Slide right.	Slide right. Circle back (left).
F	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right. Lift. Slide right.	Curve back (left). Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right.
H	Pull down straight. Lift. Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right.	Pull down straight. Push up. Curve forward (right). Pull down straight.
O	Circle back (left) all the way around.	Circle back (left) all the way around.
Q	Circle back (left) all the way around. Lift. Slant right.	Circle back (left) all the way around. Push up straight. Pull down straight. Curve forward (right).
C	Circle back (left).	Circle back (left).
G	Circle back (left). Slide left.	Circle back (left) all the way around. Push up straight. Pull down straight. Curve back (left).
P	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right. Curve forward (right). Slide left.	Pull down straight. Push up. Circle forward (right) all the way around.
R	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right. Curve forward (right). Slide left. Slant right.	Pull down straight. Push up. Curve forward (right).
B	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right. Curve forward (right). Slide left. Slide right. Curve forward (right). Slide left.	Pull down straight. Push up. Circle forward (right) all the way around.
D	Pull down straight. Lift. Slide right. Curve forward (right). Slide left.	Circle back (left) all the way around. Push up straight. Pull down straight.
U	Pull down straight. Curve forward (right). Push up.	Pull down straight. Curve forward (right). Push up. Pull down straight.
S	Curve back (left). Curve forward (right).	Curve back (left). Curve forward (right).
J	Pull down straight. Curve back (left). Lift. Slide right.	Pull down straight. Curve back (left). Lift. Dot.
A	Slant left. Lift. Slant right. Lift. Slide right.	Circle back (left) all the way around. Push up straight. Pull down straight.
N	Pull down straight. Lift. Slant right. Push up straight.	Pull down straight. Push up. Curve forward (right). Pull down straight.
M	Pull down straight. Lift. Slant right. Slant up (right). Pull down straight.	Pull down straight, Push up. Curve forward. Pull down straight. Push up. Curve forward. Pull down straight.
V	Slant right. Slant up.	Slant right. Slant up.
W	Slant right. Slant up (right). Slant right. Slant up (right).	Slant right. Slant up (right). Slant right. Slant up (right)
Y	Slant right. Lift. Slant left. Lift. Pull down straight.	Slant right. Lift. Slant left.
K	Pull down straight. Lift. Slant left. Slant right.	Pull down straight. Lift. Slant left. Slant right.
X	Slant right. Lift. Slant left.	Slant right. Lift. Slant left.
Z	Slide right. Slant left. Slide right.	Slide right. Slant left. Slide right.
NUMBERS
0	Curve down. Curve up.
1	Pull down straight.
2	Curve forward (right). Slant left. Slide right.
3	Curve forward (right). Back it back out. Curve forwards (right).
4	Pull down straight. Slide right. Pull down straight.
5	Pull down straight. Circle forward (right). Lift. Slide right.
6	Curve down. Curve up and around to close the circle.
7	Slide right. Slant left.
8	Curve back (left). Curve forward (right). Slant up (right).
9	Circle back (left) all the way around.  Pull down straight.
10	Pull down straight. Left. Curve down. Curve up.

In math we began our unit on composing and decomposing numbers up to 10.  We even had our first homework assignment.  If you are having problems figuring out what the lesson is about check out this link:

http://www.lpssonline.com/site5579.php   click on helpful videos and then the lesson we are on.  The lesson number is always in the top right corner of the paper.

DON"T FORGET..........

Send in a pair of earbuds for your child to use during computer time.  They can be purchased at the Dollar Tree store if needed.

Here are a few action shots from this week. Enjoy.