Reading: Our goals the week of December 16th were to read and spell words with triple blends (str, scr, spl, and spr). We used these blends in both short and long vowel words. Check to see if your child can read this list of words that we practiced: scrap, scrape, scrub, sprig, sprint, spring, strap, stripe, stride, struck, splash, and split. Our grammar skill was contractions with not. Our comprehension skill was identifying the characters and setting of stories that we read. Our reading goals for the week of January 6th will be reading and spelling words with the long o sound, understanding that the words was and were mean that something happened in the past, and our comprehension skill will be making inferences. During the 2nd quarter we will also focus on reading with expression and pausing when we come to punctuation. I have told the kids that being fluent is not speed reading. Good readers read like they are talking, and when reading out loud their audience needs to understand what they are reading. Within our guided reading groups, the students are introduced to a new book almost daily. I have been pleased with their responsibility of reading at home each night, and returning it the next day. The reread section of our daily lessons move smoothly when the kids have read their books. If you ever feel that the book sent home is too difficult, please put a note in their ziploc. The books sent home are ones we have practiced and they should be successful reading it.
Accelerated Reader (AR): This is when your child will read a book and take a comprehension quiz on the computer. Some "Tiger Time" groups that focused on comprehension started this program and now it is part of our "Reading Block" time. This is an extra incentive to promote reading. If your child leaves the classroom for another reading program, they will not start this yet for time is a factor and they are receiving additional reading incentives in that program. I do have tubs of books that are labeled AR, but if at any time your child is reading a book at home, or a library book we can check to see if they can take the AR quiz on that book. We are very fortunate to have a large selection of AR books/quizzes. AR reports will come home inside your child's report card envelope each quarter. In 1st grade, we do not focus on points or earning rewards for points. We are just exposing them to this- they will have the opportunity to keep track of points and earn rewards starting in 2nd grade.
Math: We completed chapter 5 prior to the break which focused on Addition and Subtraction Relationships. The test over this chapter was also given and sent home before the holidays. We will start Chapter 6 which is titled "Count and Model Numbers". Within this chapter, we will review/practice counting and writing to 120. We will identify patterns on the hundred chart, as well as counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's. Within this chapter we will also use manipulatives called rods and units, which represent tens and ones to model numbers. We have practiced saying and writing the counting patterns. Check to see if your child can count by 2's to 20, by 5's to 120, and by 10's to 120. These patterns will be practiced and reinforced in our lessons. You will notice on the report card that during the 2nd quarter we assessed writing numbers to 120. We practiced this several times using a number line and hundred chart if needed, and we wrote it out together on the board. The students were then asked to fill in a chart to 120 independently not using any helpers. This will be shared at conferences coming up in February. This task will also be done at the end of the 3rd quarter as well. Equality also continues to be a part of our weekly lessons for it's on the report card as well. We practice this weekly during "Number Work" and we do a weekly check independently. Here is an example of what an equality equation might look like: 4+4+1=4+5 Is this true or false? The hundred chart has also become the focus of looking at counting patterns vertically. The students have been quick to pick up on counting by tens this way as well. For example, we can count by tens like this 6, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96. With our new chapters focusing on concepts/skills other than adding and subtracting, we will begin progressive timed tests over the facts.
Snow: Just a reminder when sending snow pants and boots to school, please label them with your child's name. You may want to label hats and gloves too. We are working on taking responsibility for our belongings and putting them inside/outside our locker, but many items do end up on the floor. Due to locker space and wet clothes, we are also encouraging the kids to hang snow pants on their locker door and to place wet boots in front of their locker, so they can dry. The students are required to take "snow stuff" home each night. You may also want to send "snow stuff" in an extra bag. Trying to stuff wet stuff in the book bags at the end of the day may ruin papers and bookbags tend to get overstuffed.
Star Student: Pacey and Jeisson were most recently featured. Pacey likes to eat pancakes and drink smoothies. He likes to play with legos. His favorite place is San Diego and his favorite song is "I like to Move it, Move it". Jeisson likes to eat pizza and drink juice. His favorite movie is "X-Man" and his favorite day of the week is Sunday. When Jeisson grows up, he wants to be a teacher.
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