Weekly summary
May 13-17
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Adding two digit numbers to one digit i.e. 74+5 // 83+ 4 // 6+53
Adding two digit number to a multiple of ten. i.e 40+47 // 10+83 // 28 + 30
Adding two-digit numbers together i.e. 32+22 // 44+12 // 74+22
Subtracting one digit number from a two-digit number. i.e. 69-3 // 57-6 //
Subtracting a multiple of ten from a two-digit number. i.e 78-20 // 96-30
Subtracting a two digit number from another two-digit number.i.e 47-13 // 68-31 (This will be explored further in 2nd grade)
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes by Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter - Assessment 3
Review of spelling rules / affixes / phonograms from the beginning of the year until now
one-on-one end of year assessments with the teacher for phonograms & learned words.
Whole class end of year handwriting assessment
Science
Animal presentations by students
Examining how animal parents help their offspring survive
History & Geography
Pilgrim Stories - finishing up the book
May 6-10
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Count on or back by tens and ones within 100
Counting and comparing numbers within 100
Write missing numbers in a number pattern - up until 100. Example: 52, 42, ___, ___, 12, ___
Write the missing number in a number bond.
Complete sentences : 20 more than 57 is... // 3 less than 76 is..., etc.
Fill in missing numbers in an equation. Examples: 66 - 20=___ // ___=100 - 7 // 35+___= 65 // 98 - ___ = 78
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse by Beatrix Potter
phonogram: eigh
contractions with not - haven't, hasn't, isn't aren't, wasn't & weren't
Poetry showcase (Tues-Thurs)
Science
Vocabulary preview for presentation: animal traits, habitat, diet, sources, fun facts, prey, predator, carnivore, omnivore, & herbivore
Students were assigned an animal
Students got set up with a partner
We went over student presentation sheet and animal fact sheet.
History & Geography
Squanto's Journey- understanding who Squanto was and the difficulties he went through after encountering Europeans
Pilgrim stories - differences in the cultures of the Pilgrims and Natives.
Apr. 29-May 3
April 22-26
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Sharing- i.e. Divide 12 stickers equally among 4 children. How many stickers does each child get? // Divide 20 into 4 equal groups.
Grouping - i.e. Divide 15 stickers into groups of three. How many groups of 3 stickers are there?
Which picture shows halves - looking at shapes with a line and determining whether the line is dividing the shape into 2 equal parts.
Which picture shows fourths? - looking at shapes and determining whether the dotted lines are actually dividing into fourths (4 equal parts) - circles, triangles, rectangles, etc.
Shading in one half or one fourth of shapes.
NOTE: THE MATH TEST FROM THIS WEEK WAS SENT HOME ON FRIDAY. PLEASE GO OVER IT WITH YOUR CHILD AND HAVE HIM OR HER CORRECT ANY INCORRECT ANSWERS.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
new phonogram: "oe" as in toe
new prefix: pre- as in beside & before
new: basic contractions with the "be" verb: I'm, he's, she's, it's, who's, they're, you're & we're,
words ending in consonant _+le with the first syllable closed - i.e candle, simple, rattle, etc.
Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Tom Kitten & The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Poetry recitation practice for our showcase
Science
animal senses and survival
biomimicry
students think of inventions that mimic animal senses
History & Geography
Pilgrim Stories - Pilgrims looking for a place to settle in America
The children aboard the Mayflower and what life was like for them once they landed
Looking at a map of the pilgrims movement in the Americas and writing sentences about what they were looking for to build a settlement.
History Quiz on Friday
April 15-17, 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Adding equal groups - i.e. Making these connections: There are 5 children in each group. There are 4 groups. That is 5+5+5+5 = 20 total
Sharing - i.e.- There are 12 apples. 3 children divide them equally. How many apples will each child get? // Divide 14 into 7 equal groups. How many will you have in each group? Students use chips / diagrams as needed.
Note: It is very important that students are automatic at this point on adding and subtracting numbers to 20. (For subtraction, the first number is up to 20. For addition, the sum equals up to 20.) Practice at home on this is highly recommended. You can verbally ask your child questions like 20-9, 7+13, 15-7, 16-9, 12+6. etc. and keep track of those he or she doesn't know to ask again later.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
New phonograms: aw and au (as in crawl and cause)
prefix de- (as in decrease and defend)
2 syllable words ending in consonant + l+e (maple, cradle, rifle etc.) - with the first syllable being an open syllable (the vowel says its name)
Writng complete sentences using learned spelling rules.
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter - Students listened to the story and completed a short answer quiz. We are moving toward independence in reading questions (given that the words are those for which we have studied the rules) and in providing written answers.
Poetry recitation practice (for the poetry showcase)
Science
Human and animal senses
Animals with senses that wow us - examples - eagle eyesight, hound dog's sense of smell, bats' ability to use echolocation
History & Geography
Pilgrim Stories - review and test for understanding of Pilgrims in Holland
Writing sentences about events from the story.
April 8-12, 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Adding 3 one-digit numbers
Adding and subtracting numbers within 40
Solving word problems (with addition / subtraction)
Singapore Math Chapter 13 Test (to assess skills mentioned above)
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram wr (as in wrong, write, etc)
suffix -able
dividing and reading words with open first syllables (first syllable with long vowel) - i.e humid, moment, pupil, bonus, fury, etc. (We call these words "tulip words")
Beatrix Potter: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle & The Tale of Two Bad Mice
Poetry recitation practice for our May showcase
Science
stating what we know about certain animals
looking at how the external structure of animals help them in tasks for survival
reading from Science book - Plant and Animal Survival - Core Knowledge Science
History & Geography
Pilgrim Stories - The Pilgrims prepare to sail across the Atlantic
The Speedwell and Mayflower ships and how only one was able to make the journey
challenges faced by the pilgrims on the journey and when they arrived in America
April 1-5 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
subtracting a one-digit number from a two-digit number by subtracting from the tens / using math facts (i.e if you know 13-8=5, we can also know 23-8=15 and 33-8= 25)
addition to 40
word problems incorporating above math concepts
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram ow saying the long o sound (as in snow, grow, blow, etc.)
prefix pre-
open syllables (as in the word "tulip" where the first syllable is not closed off by a consonant and therefore makes its long sound.
Reading - The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter
A look at a biography paragraph about Beatrix Potter and how her background influenced her writing and illustrations
Science
identifying healthy plants & the terms underwatered & overwatered
conducting an experiment and making predictions - plant put in a box with a small hole cut in the side. The leaves will lean toward the light.
The life cycle of a plant
History & Geography
Pilgrim Stories - Pilgrims move from Amsterdam to Leiden, Holland
Pilgrims becoming used to life in Holland and parents concerned that the children will forget their English roots
Plans to move to America
March 25-28
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
adding one-digit numbers to two-digit numbers by adding ones to ones (i.e. 24+3 =, 6+22=, 7+21=, 33+ ___=38, ____=5+24)
subtracting one digit numbers to two-digit numbers by subtracting ones (i.e. 29-3=, 37-5=, ___=38-7, 35=____-33)
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram ea (short e sound as in bread)
suffix -ly
onomatopoeias (i.e. swish, pop, boom, sizzle, chirp, etc.)
writing sentences for similarities (Both X and Y.....)
writing sentences for differences using but (compound sentences)
reading - The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
Science
review of vocabulary - seed, stem, root, leaf, geotropism, seed, & sprout
making observations about sprouting seeds in our seed bags
experiment with food coloring in water and white carnation (to see water transporting function of stems)
History & Geography
Reading Pilgrim Stories - Pilgrims' new lives in Holland
March 18-22 - Please check your child's folder as information about Archer Fest raffle baskets and the grammar school art exhibition was sent home on Friday.
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
completion of Chapter 12 in Singapore Math 1B
chapter 12 practice test
chapter 12 assessment (Numbers to 40)
independence in test-taking and reading math problems / directions
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
New phonogram: kn says /n/
New suffix: -ness
Review of spelling rules
Writing sentences with correct punctuation and spelling.
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin - reading and activity pages
Poetry recitation practice
Science
Students set up a sprouting bag to watch seeds sprout and then made observations using a magnifying glass.
Experiment with celery and food coloring
Students set up sprouting sponges
History & Geography
Read from Pilgrim Stories - Pilgrims arrive in Amsterdam, Holland from Scrooby, England
Quiz taken on Fri to check understanding of events in the story
March 4-8
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Students represented numbers to 40 according to their place value
Students completed missing numbers in number patterns.
Students completed sentences / equations such as
2 less than _________ is 27.
16+20 = _________
_______ less than 38 is 28.
20 more than ________ is 40.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram /igh/
suffix -y to make adjectives like sunny, cloudy, rainy
writing sentences using transition words: First,...// Next,... // Then, ... // After that,... // Finally, ...
Read from The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh. We will start Beatrix Potter next week.
Science
planted a classroom garden
examining the inside of a seed
students monitor their individual seeds and watch them sprout
History & Geography
Read from Pilgrim Stories - set in England during the tine of King James and Queen Anne
Feb 26 - March 1st
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
interpreting picture graphs
reading directions for taking the math test
Test 11A - comparing quantities & reading and interpreting picture graphs
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram ow says /ow/
continue with when to change y to i before adding a suffix
prefix sub- (as in subway, submerge & submarine)
writing complete sentences containing multiple spelling rules
Winnie-the-Pooh - writing sentences about what happened in the story & answering written questions about characters / events
poetry recitation practice
Science - Weather
identifying seeds
planting seeds - after each student looked at the information for his or her seed
seed presentation - Students worked in pairs to give information to the class for the seed they were assigned. These included - Describe the seed. Is it a seed people eat? Look at the map on the envelope. When is the best month to plant the seeds in Colorado? Share one more thing you learned from the information on the envelope.
History & Geography
We finished Jamestown by James E. Knight.
review for history assessment
assessment - Fri
Feb 21-23 2024 (short week)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
reading and interpreting picture graphs
answering questions about information on picture graphs:
How many more X than Y? // How many fewer Y than X? - showing with a subtraction equation
Making our own class graph - favorite house pets
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram ou (as in ouch)
prefix in-
adding suffixes to base words
writing complete sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation
review for literature assessment - The Complete tales of Winnie-the-Pooh Ch. 1-7
literature assessment on 2/23:
comprehension of characters in the story and what they did (matching character names to sentences)
vocabulary in context fill-in sentences
identifying personification
identifying rhyming words in a poem from the text
reading buddies (Friday afternoon)
Science - Weather
weather and seasons review
weather and seasons assessment:
identifying types of clouds: cirrus, stratus and cumulus
following verbal directions to choose the correct picture for each season
History & Geography
reading from Jamestown by James E. Knight
looking at the skills of the natives and how they helped the settlers learn how to survive
Thursday - Students connected pipe cleaners and beads to make corn resembling this important crop used by the native American people
Feb.12-16 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Comparing lengths and heights
Measuring length of an object and comparing it to the length of other objects
Identifying shortest, longest, tallest, and using comparative adjectives to complete sentences such as " Building _______ is taller than building C and shorter than building ________."
Putting items in order from shortest to longest // longest to shortest
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram ea (long e sound)
changing y to i before adding ed in certain words ending in y
writing a friendly letter to a reading buddy - students wrote a 1st draft and then looked at teacher's comments to edit and write a final letter which we will give to the reading buddies next week.
suffix -est (superlative)
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh - Ch. 7 - comprehension questions, vocabulary in context, identifying rhyming words in poems within the story, and writing sentences about events in the story,
Science - Weather
Seasons - occurrences we notice in each season, northern vs. southern hemisphere
making a bar graph form information gathered from the class (favorite season of each person in the class)
History & Geography
We are reading Jamestown by James E. Knight.
learning about the events in Jamestown in the 1600s from the perspective of colonist Israel Worth
examining the challenges the colonists faced & how they tried to overcome them
looking at Jamestown on the USA map & the Chesapeake Bay
Feb. 5-9, 2024
We celebrated our 100 Days of School on Friday!
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
comparing the length of 2 or more objects by direct & indirect comparison
comparing heights and lengths of different items
following instructions to draw lines using the correct units (i.e Draw an arrow that is 4 units shorter than Arrow A (given that Arrow A is 9 units in the diagram)
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
phonogram oo (as in book)
writing a thank you letter to the upper school science teacher to show our appreciation for the science equipment (with heading, greeting, body, closing & signature)
changing y to i before adding -es in words ending in a y preceded by a consonant
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh Ch. 5&6
looking at personification as a literary tool (i.e "The sun was still in bed...")
answering multiple choice and short answer questions about the story to show comprehension
Reading Buddies - We do this every other week on a Friday
Science - Weather
vocabulary review: precipitation, sleet, hail, snow, rain, evaporation, clouds: cirrus, status, & cumulus, rain gauge,
recording rainfall measurements on a diagram of a rain gauge
History & Geography
Pocahontas - finished the book by by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
comparing Jamestown to England
Jan.29 - Feb 2, 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
ordinal numbers
placement of items in a row, second from left, fifth from right, etc.
making pictures to represent word problems (i.e Mary is fifth from the front and third from the back of a line. How many people are in line?)
review content from 1A textbook (We start 1B on Monday)
1A continual assessment
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
reading and identifying parts of a friendly letter
phonogram - oo as in book, foot. etc
drop the y and add ies to make certain words plural (if there is a consonant before the y - i.e bunnies
writing complete sentences starting with a capital letter and ending with proper punctuation.
continuing the Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh
Science - Weather
looking at clouds and 3 main types - cumulus (puffy), cirrus (feathery), and stratus (flat) and kinds of weather in which we see them
precipitation & snow, hail, sleet and rain
liquid vs. solid
History & Geography
Pocahontas by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
looking at differences between the Powhatan people and the English settlers
examining how the Powhatan people helped the settlers survive the winters
written narrations of events in the story (4 or more sentences)
January 22-26, 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
composing shapes from other shapes
identifying repeating patterns
applying ordinal numbers to describe the position of an object
solving words problems involving ordinal numbers
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
y at the end of a 2 or more syllable word - as in baby
adjectives and -er / -est
breaking up 2-syllable words to facilitate reading
composing complete sentences starting with capital letters and ending with the correct punctuation
Reading from the complete tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
Science - Weather
understanding directions N,S,E,W,NE,SE,SW & NW
recording wind direction and speed using a wind gauge
discussing various degrees of wind strength
following written & verbal directions to make a wind vane
History & Geography
studying Jamestown as the first permanent English colony
locating and marking Jamestown, VA on a map
reading about the Powhatan natives in Virginia and the first colonists (Pocahontas by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire)
January 15-19 (Monday - holiday_)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Subtraction within 20 - chapter test
Looking at flat and solid shapes - square, rectangle, circle , triangle, cuboid, cube, cylinder, cone & pyramid
grouping shapes in different ways & determining how shapes are grouped
Determining what comes next in a repeating pattern
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
y at the end of a short word - as in cry
identifying verbs, nouns, adjectives
proper vs. common nouns
-er / -est suffixes (i.e shorter & shortest)
Reading from the Complete Tales of Winnie -the-Pooh
Science - Weather
transferring information to a table and evaluating the information
comparing and recording hot, cool and ice water temperatures
making comparisons using -er and -est regarding water temperature and writing complete sentences.
History & Geography
Magellan and tracing his exploration around the world (Text: Discovery of The Americas)
Review of 5 continents
Tracing the route of Magellan's men around South America and back to Spain
The Panama Canal - built much later than Magellan's exploration - provides a short cut to avoid going around South America.
January 9-12 2024
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Addition and subtraction facts to 20 - focus on increased automaticity
Solving word problems
Making a word problem for peers to solve
Note: Math facts to 10 (i.e 5+4, 6+2, 6+4, 3+7 etc.) are expected to be completely automatic at this point. Please practice at home if your child is unable to give you the answers to these problems quickly without having to count on fingers.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
nouns, verbs, and adjectives - identifying / labeling.
regular & irregular past tense verbs
phonogram "oa"
review of prefixes and suffixes
sentence dictation and correcting mistakes
Swiss Family Robinson - almost finished this book.
Science - Weather
recording our observations about the weather over 5 days
making comparisons about weather conditions
showing the correct temperature measurements by making a line on a paper thermometer at the appropriate degrees Fahrenheit
History & Geography
We are now reading Encounter about the arrival of Columbus on San Salavador Island as told from the point of view of a young Taino boy
December 18-22 (Last week before break)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Differentiate between problems such as 15-6 = _____ vs. 15-6 =_____ + 5
Addition and subtraction word problems - determining which operation to use and which equation.
Subtracting a one digit number from a two-digit number (subtracting from the tens first vs. subtracting from the ones first)
Making connections - If we know 9+8=17, then we also know 8+9=17, 17-8=9 and 17-9=8. Making this more automatic at the first grade level is important to reduce struggling as we move on in math and as students later enter 2nd grade.
Note: Students should be practicing the addition flash cards. In addition, extra math practice was sent home last week. This is optional but highly recommended, especially for students struggling with math skills (addition and subtraction).
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
Swiss Family Robinson - Students complete exercises to demonstrate comprehension of the chapters.
Writing complete sentences with correct punctuation and capitalization.
new phonogram: or
review prefixes and suffixes
breaking apart 2-syllable words for reading / spelling
Note: It is highly recommended that students reread literacy passages that were sent home and finish any incomplete work.
Science
How the Moon moves in relation to the Sun and how it affects the Moon's appearance
Lunar eclipse and how it occurs
Moon journals due this week
History & Geography
We finished reading Columbus - by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
We practiced taking notes (pictoral / words) and using our notes to make sentences
Students used their notes to make verbal sentences describing events from the story of Columbus (one-on-one with the teacher)
December 11-15
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Subtraction of numbers within 20
Word problems - determining if addition or subtraction is required for solving
Note: Students should be practicing the addition flash cards that were sent home last week in order to help with automaticity with these math facts. Please let Ms. Priest know if you did not get the cards.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
new phonogram: ar
review drop the "e" suffix rule - i.e. hide + ing = hiding
more practice doubling the consonant before adding -er, ed, & -ing for words with 1 syllable, 1 vowel, and ending in one consonant.
irregular past tense words (those that do not end with -ed to make the simple past)
writing sentences with correct punctuation and capitalization.
Literacy - Swiss Family Robinson
Science: Observations about the Sun and Moon
environment on the Moon vs. on Earth - contrasting
Looking at the Earth from space - What the colors of the Earth represent - green, blue & white
sand & marble experiment - craters on the Moon
History & Geography
We continued reading Columbus - by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
December 4-8
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Adding 2 one-digit numbers with sums within 20 by making a 10 with either addend
Learning addition facts to 20
completing number patterns
Note: Addition flashcards were sent home Friday 12/8 for parents to help make these more automatic. Please practice these regularly with your child.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy
review prefixes un-, re-, mis-
review suffixes -ing, -ful, -ed, -es/s, & -less
new suffix - er
review when to double the consonant before adding -er, ed, & -ing
irregular past tense words (those that do not end with -ed to make the simple past)
writing sentences with correct punctuation and capitalization.
Literacy - We started reading Swiss Family Robinson Ch. 1-4.
Science: Observations about the Sun and Moon
Recording observations about the Moon using written sentences.
Discussing changes in the shape of the Moon.
Vocabulary: rise, set, phases, crescent, planet, cycle
History & Geography
Columbus - by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
We read about:
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain provided Columbus with ships and supplies
The Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria ships
The very difficult journey across the Atlantic.
Columbus thought he would reach China, but he didn't realize that the continents of North and South America were across the Atlantic.
Map work : Tracking the route of Columbus from Spain to the Americas.
November 27-December 1
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Adding by making 10
using ten frame cards and number bonds to make ten with the first addend (i.e. to show that 9 + 4 = 10 + 3)
completing number patterns - i.e. 17, _______, 15, _______, ________, 12
reading numbers in written form from one to twenty.
Becoming familiar with math related vocabulary words, so students can read math problem directions such as the following:
Write the numbers in order from least to greatest (or greatest to least).
Circle the numbers that are greater than 15 (or any other number).
Complete the number pattern.
Write the missing numbers.
Literature and Literacy - following the Orton -Gillingham Yoshimoto method (for literacy)
review of all phonograms ( we will focus on strengthening those learned before introducing more in quarter 3) - all vowel and consonant sounds plus sh, ch, wh, -ng, -nk, ck, dge, tch, -ed, vowel-consonant-e (also called magic e), -all, oi, oy, ee, er, ir, ur,ai &ay
review prefixes and suffixes: un-, re-, -ing, -ful, -es/-s, -ed, -less
new prefix: mis-
review spelling rules:
FLOSS rule - when a one syllable word with a short vowel ends in f, l, s, or z -- double that last letter. Examples: dress, drill, stuff, buzz, etc.
drop e suffix rule: drop final e when adding suffixes that begin with a vowel to words that end in "e" -- hike = hiking & hiked, bake = baking& baked, etc.
hard & soft c rule - when followed by e, i or y, the letter c will make the /s/ sound. Examples: race, cent, city, cycle, city, etc.
hard and soft g rule - g will say /j/ when followed by an e at the end of a word . Examples: cage, pledge, wage, etc. It will sometimes say /j/ when followed by e, i or y at the beginning or middle of a word. Examples: gem, gym, gist (this part we will get into more next week).
dividing 2 syllable "rabbit" and "reptile" words - if you have 2 consonants between 2 vowels, divide between the consonants. Rabbit words have 2 closed syllables. Reptile words have a closed first syllable and the second syllable has a silent "e" which makes the vowel say its name.
examples of rabbit words - napkin, mitten, compel, admit, rabbit, etc.
examples of reptile words -pancake, inside, confuse, invite, consume, insane, reptile, etc.
new spelling rule: 1-1-1 words: A one syllable word with a short vowel and ending in one consonant ---- needs that consonant doubled before adding a suffix that ends with a vowel like -ing or -ed
Examples : tap -- tapped -- tapping // clip - clipped -- clipping // jog --jogged --jogging
Literacy - We finished Pinocchio & students made Pinocchio books to depict their most memorable events of the story.
Science: Observations about the Sun and Moon
The spinning of the Earth causes the sun to appear to move across the sky.
The Sun can only be seen during the day
The Moon can sometimes be seen during the day.
The Moon also moves across the sky.
The Moon can be seen as various shapes in the sky.
Students practiced making drawings and sentences about what they know about the Sun, Moon and Earth.
Students started their Moon journals to make observations about the shape of the Moon at night. These were sent home on Wednesday. Please help your child make at least 5 observations of the shape of the Moon per week and record it in their Moon journals (as per the email I sent out to all parents on Wednesday, Nov. 29th).
History & Geography
Christopher Columbus as a boy and young man.
We read about:
his childhood days in a coastal town in Italy (the seaport of Genoa)
his teenage years taking goods up and down the Italian coast
his early days as a captain taking cargo between Italy and England
Columbus ending up in Portugal after he was attacked by pirates.
Columbus trying to find a patron to fund his trip across the Atlantic.
the changing belief from the Earth being flat to it being round.
Map work :
review of the 7 continents
a look at North America and where we are relative to Europe
a look at Europe and the countries of Italy, Spain & Portugal
November 13-17
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
addition and subtraction within 20
comparing and ordering numbers up to 20 and completing number patterns
identifying the greatest / least number
identifying numbers in word form- i.e. 2 more than 13, 1 less than 18, 1 ten and 4 ones, and eleven
solving equations in nonstandard format i.e. 13 + ____ = 18 , _____ = 19-4 , _____- 3 = 12
identifying true & false statements i.e. 18-5 is more than 6+5 (true)
solving word problems - i.e. There are 19 alligators altogether. 5 alligators are on land. How many alligators are in the water?
Literature and Literacy
phonograms: ai & ay
spelling rule: In one syllable words, i&o sometimes make the long sound before -ld, -st, and -nd
soft c and g followed by e
suffix : -less
reading Pinocchio and talking about events in the story
Practice reciting "Twas the Night Before Christmas": - short version - for the holiday performance ( see bottom of my main page for the words)
Science
comparing the night sky to the day sky
What do stars look like?
looking at models of the Moon and Earth
perspective of close and far away things
History / Geography
reading - The Legend of Indian Paintbrush (Native Americans)
explorers and traders in Europe sailing to the Far East (around Africa)
Christopher Columbus - He thought he could sail across the Atlantic to India. He rediscovered America (500+ years after Leif the Lucky)
November 6-10
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
understand the structure of a two digit number to 20 as ten and some more (ones)
write equations that recognize two-digit numbers as the the sum of tens and ones.
order numbers from least to greatest and greatest to least
more than, less than, greatest & least
Literature and Literacy
phonograms: ir, er, ur
prefixes: un- & re-
soft c (makes the /s/ sound when e, i or y come after it)
capital letter and correct punctuation - when writing a sentence
Pinocchio
Practice reciting "Twas the Night Before Christmas": - short version - for the holiday performance ( see bottom of my main page for the words)
Science
standard vs non-standard units
use rulers to measure lengths of items in inches & centimeters
discuss various measuring tools students have seen and what they measure (scale, thermometer, tape measure, measuring cups, etc.
History / Geography
Learning about native Americans
Ancestral Pueblo and Mound Builders (Core Knowledge Curriculum Series)
Hopi, Zuni & Navajo
Apache & Comanche
Read the Legend of Bluebonnet by Tomie DePaola
October 31 - November 3
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
review addition and subtraction with number bonds
write equations for word problems - identify if we need to add or subtract and what we are solving for
Literature and Literacy
phonograms oi and oy
suffix - ful
review suffixes -s, -ing, -es,
writing complete sentences with proper punctuation.
reading OG passages to reinforce sounds / spellig rules learned
Reading time: Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi & talking about characters and story
Memorizing our part of The Night Before Christmas (refer to first page of my website for this)
Science
comparing and measuring height
making a ruler with crayons as our unit
representing our height with a strip of paper
making a wall height chart
History / Geography
introduction to the Mayans
looking at a map of the USA and Mexico
identifying that Mexico is south of the US
Completing a travel bug presentation (Note: Students did so well with this!)
October 21-27
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
subtraction with number bonds
working with more challenging equations: 7 -___= 3 // 8 - 2 = 9 -____ // _____- 4 = 5
Literature and Literacy
breaking up two-syllable words for reading
suffix - ed for past tense words
reviewed silent e words
reviewed ee words - i.e. feet, meet, keep, etc.
reading Orton Gillingham passages to review literacy skills
Reading time: Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi & talking about characters and story
Science
measuring with nonstandard units and discovering challeges that arise
labeling parts of a microscope
understanding what a microscope can do
Looking under a microscope at a prepared slide
identifying tools for certain jobs
History / Geography
The Discovery of the Americas - land bridge, nomads, migration, ice age, etc.
Review of the continents & Atlantic & Pacific Ocean and identifying them on a world map
Week 8 (Oct 16-18)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Continued with subtraction & number bonds
Literature & Literacy
suffix - ing ( words ending in e, drop the e before adding -ing)
base words
Handwriting practice (using headline, waistline and toe line)
New phonogram -all (as in call, stall , hall, etc.)
Reading passages - to review recent literacy skills
Writing sentences with correct spelling and punctuation.
Practicing poems for Wonder Days
Science
Comparing objects by size, shape and color
Identifying tools and how they help us do jobs
History / Geography
Colorado map, facts and bordering states
Compass Rose and cardinal directions
Week 7 (Oct 9-13)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Started Chapter 4 - Subtraction as taking away / taking apart, subtraction by counting back & subtraction with zero
Literature and Literacy
new phonograms -ee as in meet, seek, and feed and u consonant e as in mule and rule
adding -s vs. -es to nouns to make them plural - Add s unless the word ends in ch, sh, x, z, or s - then add -es
Using capital letters at the beginning of a sentence and correct punctuation at the end.
Handwriting practice
How to solve a crossword puzzle - across vs. down
Practiced the Secret Poem and The History of the Vikings poem ( sent home Thursday with the students) for Wonder Days next week
Identifying rhyming words
Started reading Saint George and the Dragon to the class
Science
The Five Senses - using our senses to find out about texture, shape, and color, sound, etc. and the body parts associated with our senses.
History / Geography
Students worked on their Viking Books
Students practiced reading / telling information about their illustrations and events from the Leif the Lucky and other Viking information we have learned.
Forming sentences to convey an idea or thought.
Students presented their Viking Books in class on Friday
Week 6 (Oct 2-6)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Completed Chapter 3 - addition by counting on and addition facts
Matching equations with number bonds
Identifying true and false equations
Completing longer equations ( i.e. 6+2=___+7)
Literature and Literacy
-dge - at the end of a short word after a short vowel as in bridge, ledge, etc.
vowel consonant e at the end of a short word ( silent e as in bone, cane, and fine)
handwriting practice (thinking about how our letters touch the headline, waistline, and toe line)
spelling practice and Friday quiz
read passages containing new phonemes ( aloud and answer oral questions for comprehension)
identify rhyming words
Science
Activities with light and sound
Reviewed vocabulary - high & low pitch, sound waves, dim, bright, shadow, reflect, dark, light, speakers, audience, concert, laser, etc.
History / Geography
Review of Leif the Lucky and Vikings
Reviewed vocabulary - raid, blacksmith, ransom, oarsmen, feast, cargo, voyage, prow, banish, myth, widow
Students began making "My Viking Book"
Week 5 (Sept 25-29)
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Understand addition as putting together & adding to
Add zero to a number or a number to zero
Use the part- whole number bond relationship to add two numbers within 10
Add by counting on
Tell addition stories given an addition situation
Literature and Literacy
Reviewed vowels and consonants
Reviewed short-short words ( 1 syllable words with a short vowel sound and one consonant sound at the end)
Reviewed -ck at the end of a 1-syllable word (after a short vowel
learned -tch at the end of a 1-syllable word
learned the FLOSS rule - If a short-short word ends in f, l, s or z, double it. (Examples: pass, still, stiff, bell, & buzz)
Worked on handwriting and remembering capital letters at the beginning of a sentence and punctuation at the end.
Phonemic awareness drills
Science
Further exploration into light and sound light and sound
Jobs that require light to help people: dentist, firefighter, doctor, etc.
Communication with lights and what the lights tell us - traffic lights, lighthouse, police car, school bus, runway lights, etc.
high pitch vs. low pitch sounds & sound waves
History / Geography
The Vikings - Core Knowledge Vikings Reader (another perspective on the Vikings)
Explored the Viking way of life.
Vikings as raiders
Viking Runes
Vocabulary: blacksmith, ransom, prow, oarsmen, cargo, raid shield, sword, feast, fjord, etc.
Week 4 (Sept 18-22 )
Math (following the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Find number pairs to make 10 and represent with number bonds
Mental math - basic addition
Automaticity knowing the missing number in a number bond ( to ten)
Number Bond Quiz - Friday - graded papers will be sent home next week
Literature and Literacy
Reviewed vowels and consonants
Reviewed short words ( 1 syllable)
Reviewed short vowel sounds
-ck at the end of a short word (following a short vowel)
Read Orton Gillingham passages - sent home this week ( students can read these to you for extra practice)
Students started learning how to complete book reports with pictures / words / sentences. (Title , Author, Characters, and what happened at the beginning, middle and end of the story)
Practiced memorizing the poem "The Secret"
Handwriting - forming letters correctly between the head line (top line), waistline (dotted line in the middle) and toe line (bottom line)
Phonemic awareness drills - substitution of phonemes " Say brave. Now say /k/ instead of /b/
Friday spelling test - papers to be graded and sent home next week
Science
Learned about Samuel Morse and the telegraph and Morse Code (dots and dashes to send messages before the invention of the telephone)
Students practiced using Morse code to decipher a message.
Read about using light and sound in the theatre - tools that let the audience see and hear - spotlights, microphones, etc.
History / Geography
Finished reading Leif the Lucky - Norsemen left North America and returned to Greenland and Iceland
We discussed bartering after reading about the native Americans and Norsemen trading goods
Students did a bartering activity with peers
Week 3 (Sept 11-14)
We spent quite a bit of time learning how to follow directions for when it comes time to taking assessments. This included listening to directions and staying with the teacher as I explained what to do in various sections of classwork. Students got practice with circling correct answers, putting pictures in order of events, and completing number bonds. They also practiced writing the correct number for greater than, less than in addition to ordering numbers from least to greatest.
Math ( follows the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Number Bonds to 9
Find number pairs to make 7, 8, & 9
Mental Math - basic addition
Literature and Literacy
Reviewed phonograms from Kindergarten
Reviewed vowels vs. consonants - (There is no obstruction of sound when making a vowel sound ( a, e, i, o & u)
Handwriting - forming letters correctly between the head line (top line), waistline (dotted line in the middle) and toe line (bottom line)
Reviewed welded sounds (ang, ing, ong, ung ank, ink, onk, & unk) - As in sang, ring, stink, blank, etc.
Introduced short-short words ( 1 syllable word with a short vowel followed by one consonant sound) . This is to set us up to learn upcoming spelling rules.
Handwriting - forming letters correctly between the head line (top line), waistline (dotted line in the middle) and toe line (bottom line)
Increasing difficulty level of phonemic awareness drills (deletion of initial sound in a blend (i.e. "Say flax. Now say flax, but don't say /f/ - Students say "lax"
Reading short passages connected to sounds & concepts learned in OG literacy program
Aesop's Fables & Poems
Science
Exploring light and sound - focus this week : Shadows
We need 3 things to make a shadow - light source, objects and surface (to see shadow)
Shadow walk - inside and outside to discover objects that are making shadows and the light sources these objects are blocking
Students discovered that some materials block light , others let some light through, yet others let most light through. This affects the darkness of the shadows these materials make. We looked at cardboard, wax paper, and clear plastic wrap (opaque, translucent & transparent)
History / Geography
Leif Erikson lands in North America (Leif the Lucky by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire)
Directions on a map - N, S, E & W and tracing the Vikings voyages from Norway to Iceland to Greenland to Newfoundland (originally called Vinland)
Understanding order of events in the story.
Exploring student questions: taking a look inside a Viking longhouse& looking at some Viking weapons and discovering how they were made.
Week 2 (Sept. 5-8)
Continue to review classroom rules and procedures.
Math ( follows the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook)
Put numbers in order from greatest to least & least to greatest (1-10)
Identify missing numbers in a series.
There are more ________than ____________.
There are fewer __________ than _____________.
Literature and Literacy
Review phonograms - letter and sounds - consonants, vowels, and digraphs (sh, th, wh, & ch)
Distinguish between consonants and vowels
New- welded sounds - ang, ing, ung, ong as in sang, bring, hung, and long
Handwriting - forming letters correctly between the head line (top line), waistline (dotted line in the middle) and toe line (bottom line)
Phonemic / phonological awareness drills (i.e. Say flip but don't say /f/)
Spelling practice test - getting students used taking tests - The same words will be tested next week (Thurs) for a score - hole, whole, pull, full, shall, help, thank, ship, & land
Science
What gives off light?
Dim versus bright light
Animals that produce their own light source (bioluminescence)
History / Geography
Continue reading about Leif Erikson
Viking navigation using sun, stars, birds, etc.
Week 1 (Aug 28-Sept. 1)
Introduce and review classroom rules and procedures ( See page for this on this website)
Math (follows the Singapore Math Dimensions Textbook and Workbook
Numbers to 10
The number zero
Order numbers - least to greatest and greatest to least // Identify missing numbers in a series
Compare numbers - more, fewer, greater, less
Forming digits correctly (especially 3, 7 and 9)
Literature & Literacy
Review phonograms from K (consonants, vowels and digraphs- ch, sh, wh, & th)
Focus on short vowel sounds and distinguishing between i & e // o and u
Included readings - The Lion and the Mouse, The tortoise and the Hare, The Frog Prince, My Shadow, The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Sequencing events of a story - Frog Prince
Speaking with complete sentences.
Science
Loud and soft sounds
How sound travels from an instrument to our ears
History
Read from Leif the Lucky about the Viking Leif Erikson and his exploration and discovery of North America.