Monthly Newsletter

August/September

Theme: Being a Good Community Member

We began Unit 1 in Benchmark, our ELA curriculum. In this unit, students read and compare selections about people who help and support their community. We will explore what it means to be good citizens who help in their community. Our essential question is: Why do people get involved in their community? We will read both fiction and nonfiction stories that help us understand this question and be able to answer it by the end of the unit. This unit also goes along well with our Social Studies Unit on Rules and Routines.

Language Arts:

Big Books:

Hello, Community Garden!

Safe to Go!

Being a Responsible Citizen

People Who Made Contributions

Morning Stretch Worksheet focus: sight word review, editing sentences with a capital letter at the beginning and punctuation mark at the end, drawing and solving math problems

Writing: Opinion At the beginning of the year the expectations are that students will be able to express their opinion about a topic and give one reason why.

Guided Reading Groups have begun. We will go over reading strategies, literature concepts, phonics, phonemic awareness, and comprehension questions during groups. Our rotation includes: ST Math, Game with parents,Word Work, Work on Writing, Listen to Reading, and Teacher Guided Reading Group.

MATH:

Number Corner Focus: Number Models (tally marks, ten frames and popsicle sticks)

Bridges Math Lessons: We began Unit 1 in Bridges, our Math curriculum. As an entry point to the study of mathematics in first grade, Unit 1 works to establish classroom standards around exploring and communicating about numbers. Its mathematical focus is the development of number sense and number combinations (with emphasis on combinations to 10). The unit introduces important mathematical models, including the number rack and five and ten frames. By the end of the year, students are expected to become proficient using strategies that emerge from these models.

PBIS:

The Rules Railroad review of the Cubs Code in August was a huge success. Kudos are being earned for being Safe, Respectful and Responsible. Students can redeem kudos for fun things like bringing in a stuffed animal from home to extra art time to sitting at the VIP table at lunch.

Social Studies: See Schedule

Library: Our library day is Wednesday.

Science Lab: We will tour the Science Lab the week of the 25th.

SEL Focus for September is Respect. Our curriculum is Purposeful People. Monthly family letter sent home in Thursday folder.

Digital Citizenship lessons taught and reviewed monthly.

Upcoming Events:

Picture Day is Tuesday, September 12th (Forms sent home in Thursday folders)

Monday, September 18th is Staff Development Day (No School for students).

PTC September Events:

Snowie King on Wednesdays

PTC Meeting: Sept. 19th 6-7:30 pm

Spirit Night: Chick Fil-A Sept. 26th

Reminders: Invest In Your Child Campaign (See flyer sent home in Thursday folders) and Time Capsule Bricks on sale now. The last day for the $30 brick price is Sept. 15th.

Wish Lists:

Amazon link coming soon!