Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Students work with a different partner each week for our daily morning meeting. We get to know each other during the "secret student" activity each Wednesday. Students also reflect on their learning on Fridays and take home a "Home Sharing Activity" to discuss with you, so keep an eye out for that. During upcoming Weeks 6–8 of Caring School Community, students practice being kind, responsible, and respectful members of our classroom community. They learn how to work together, listen to others, solve problems peacefully, and include everyone. Students also practice recognizing their feelings and using positive strategies to handle challenges and make thoughtful choices.
English Language Arts (ELA): Module 1 continues with the overarching question: How do books change lives around the world? We've met Ana in Columbia, Tomas in Iowa, and this week we've been reading a book called My Librarian is a Camel to learn about how children get books all over the world, and especially in remote locations. Students are learning about writing complete sentences, with a noun, verb, ending punctuation, and capitalized proper nouns. Now would be a great time to visit your local library or go on a walk to search for little free libraries in your neighborhood. How do you get books?
Phonics: In FUNdations (the silly name of our foundational skills phonics program) Units 3–4, students strengthen their phonics skills by practicing short-vowel sounds, consonant sounds, and common digraphs such as sh, ch, th, and wh. Students tap, blend, segment, read, and spell words with these sounds while also practicing trick words and writing simple sentences. Students are ROCKING it!
"Fluency Friends"/Geodes: This short chunk of our day is dedicated to improving reading fluency. We have just started our first Geodes book! (Ask your first grader to explain how a geode is like a good book.) Geodes are short, engaging books that help students practice their phonics and reading skills while learning about interesting topics. Each book combines carefully chosen text with colorful illustrations and age-appropriate content. As students read Geodes, they practice applying the sounds, spelling patterns, and high-frequency words they are learning in FUNdations to real books. This helps build accuracy, fluency, vocabulary, and reading confidence! Each student gets their own copy to mark up and take home to practice with you.
Math: This week is all about using a number line to solve addition and subtraction problems within 10. We're in the flow of our math rounds where I meet with groups to work through the day's worksheet/activity together. Students are also working through MyPath, the digital tool that comes with our iReady Math curriculum which gives students work at their level according to the results of their Fall Inform Assessment. In upcoming week long Lessons 4–6, students practice adding and subtracting within 20 using strategies such as counting on, making a ten, using number bonds, and breaking apart numbers to make problems easier. Students use drawings, ten-frames, and equations to show their thinking and explain how they found their answers.
Science: In our Grade 1 Animal and Plant Defenses unit, students explore how animals and plants have special features and behaviors that help protect them and keep them safe. Through hands-on activities and observations, students discover how living things use their defenses to survive in their environments. We are scientists taking on the task of explaining to worried aquarium guests how Spruce the Sea Turtle will survive once released back into the wild.
In phonics, students will show their ability to hear, blend, segment, read, and spell words using the sounds and spelling patterns we have learned on the end of unit assessment - a dictation exercise. In ELA, students will demonstrate reading comprehension, retelling and answering questions about texts, and writing sentences in our "Focusing Question Task 3". In math, students will show their understanding of addition and subtraction strategies, number relationships, and using drawings or equations to solve problems on the weekly comprehension checks. These assessments help us celebrate growth and identify the skills each child should continue practicing.
Math home support letters are sent home at the beginning of each week. There are suggested activities to do at home that will reinforce and extend the concept we are currently learning. Try them out! No need to return them to school.
Read 20 minutes each night. This can be your first grader reading to themselves, or you reading to them, or even them listening to an audio book. This should be a positive time - not a battle.
See the Helpful Resources page for phonics practice resources.
10/5-Volunteer Training, 8:15-9:15 AM
10/7-Walk & Roll to School
10/8-Principal's Coffee, 8:30-9:30 AM
10/9-No School: Statewide Inservice Day
10/13-10/16-Scholastic Book Fair
10/14-PTA Meeting
10/16-VIP Day - more details coming soon!
10/21-School-wide assembly, 1st/4th Buddy Time, & Early Release (11:50 AM)
10/23- Family Reading Morning in Room 105, 8:00 - 8:25 & The Big Boo (evening Halloween carnival event here at school)
10/27-Picture Re-Take Day
10/29-No School: Grading Day
10/30-No School: Teacher Planning Day
Each month I'll ask for feedback about a certain classroom topic. This month is a general check in about how the year is going so far, and ways I can make it better. Thanks in advance for your feedback!