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Newsletters
May 3, 2024
Upcoming Dates
May 8th: 1st Grade Class PJ & Stuff Animal Day
May 9th: WCS Board Meeting (6:30 PM)
May 15th: K-8 Open House (5:30-7:00)
May 17th: Coffee Talk (8:30 AM)
May 24th: Book Character Spirit Day
May 27th: Memorial Day (No School)
May 30th: Rumpus In The Rainforest-1st Grade Play (5:00 PM)
June 3rd: Class Slime Party (9:00-11:30 a.m.)
June 4th: Field Day
June 5th: 1st Grade Engineering Project
June 6th: Last Day of School (Dismissal at 12:00 p.m.)
Classroom Content
This week we completed Unit 6 in math (measurement). We learned about contractions, identified the author's purpose for writing the texts we read, and began learning about maps. We planted flower seeds and learned how different plants adapt to survive. Our class just earned a PJ and stuffed animal day by completing our Positive Passport poster for walking in line correctly. Please help your child select one stuffed animal that is no bigger than their backpack to share with our class on May 8th.
Bike Month:
From April 29th to May 10th, Westlake is participating in Bike Month. Students can participate by riding their bikes, scooters, roller skates, or anything with wheels. I hope your student will join the challenge! All participating students will earn a Bike Month keychain. The grade level with the highest participation will win Kona Ice.
Rumpus In The Rainforest:
Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. While we are hard at work preparing in class, we could use some help from you at home! We are looking for volunteers to help with setup and cleanup the day of the event. If you can volunteer, please sign up using the following link. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher.
Click HERE to open our first-grade play script and songs to practice at home as needed. Click on "Character" on the site to access your child's character's script and song.
Current Trick Words:
(click here for word lists and sight word games to support your learner at home)
Unit 2: a, the, and, is, his, of
Unit 3: as, has, to, into, we, he, she, me, be, or, for
Unit 4: you, your, I, they, was, one, said
Unit 5: from, have, do, does
Unit 6: were, are, who, what, when, where, there, here
Unit 7: why, by, my, try, put, two, too, very, also, some, come
Unit 8: would, could, should, her, over, number
Unit 9: say, says, see, between, each
Unit 10: any, many, how, now, down, out, about, our
Unit 11: friend, other, another, none, nothing
Unit 12: people, month, been, little, own, want, Mr., Mrs
Unit 13: word, work, write, being, their, first
Nightly Reading: Be sure to have your child to read for at least 15-20 minutes nightly. Your child can read independently, to someone, or someone can read to your child. RAZKids and the local library are great resources for your child to utilize. Trick word practice counts, too! Remember, The more children practice their reading, the more proficient readers they become!
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering in class please use the links below.
Coming Up Next Week
Math: Unit 7 (Geometry and Time)
Phonics: Unit 13, Week 3
Comprehension: Drawing Conclusions
Grammar: Contractions
Writing: Expository
Thematic Study: Maps
Assessment Information
History/ Social Studies 1.2 (Maps)- Week of May 6th
Trimester 3 Report Card Assessments will begin the Week of May 13th.
Homework/Schoolwork Resources
Week 32 April 24-28
Math
We have been focusing on analyzing story problems with unknowns in each position in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin) and the Measurement and Data domain (click on the frog). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 6 of math.
Writing
This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader. Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.
Phonics
This week in phonics we focused on adding suffixes to multisyllabic words (-ed, -s, -ing), Word of the Day (includes) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (work, word, write), writing sentences and scooping them (You can write on the napkins., Stop disrupting our class!, I insulted my friend by mistake., Ben dislikes my cat.), and dictating words (bedbugs, exhales, flagpoles, publishing, indented, unzips, athletes). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 13 of phonics.
Comprehension
We have been focusing on Author’s Reasoning to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this video to help your reader at home.
Grammar
We have been focusing on have and had to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource, video and game to help your child at home.
Social Emotional Learning
This week we completed a lesson on showing empathy to others.
Westlake Weekly Information
This K-8 Field Day:
Mark your calendars for our K-8 Field Day on Tuesday, June 4th. Help us end an amazing year by signing up to volunteer or make a donation for Field Day. CLICK HERE to volunteer or make donations to Field Day.
Families, we need your help! This year, June 4th.will be a free dress day and each grade level will represent their grade level by wearing a different colored t-shirt. Please see below for what color shirt to have your child wear that day!