Kinder/ First Grade

Kinder Literacy

Kinder literacy friends are wrapping up a fun unit reading a writing about obscure animals. Did you know the opposite of nocturnal is diurnal? Be on the look out for their writing about a chosen animal to come home soon.

First Grade Math

Look for your student to bring home their final work with fractions this week. They went above and beyond to start working with equivalent fractions and decomposing wholes to combine fractions with unlike denominators. I am so proud of them!

First Grade Literacy

For this unit, the students and I compared and contrasted the life of Roald Dahl to his writings. We had strong discussions addressing the time period in which he was born, his experiences in school, his relationships with adults and his time with the RAF. Then they shared the connections found in the books they are reading: Matilda, The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Giraffe the Pelly and Me

Keeping up with Kinder

Reading

Students have been reading 1st/2nd grade leveled fiction and non-fiction texts. We are now practicing accuracy with a buddy and Ms. Brittani.

Writing

Students are stretching to write about a given topic using academic vocabulary, correct grammar and grade-appropriate spelling. Sometimes it is a creative writing endeavor and sometimes it is an expansion on a book we are reading together.

Fractions with First Grade

Students in this inquisitive math group are exploring beyond unit fractions to more complex examples found in the real world. These incredible mathematicians can explain how to determine the greater and lesser fraction values, equivalent fractions, and create three different models for any fraction. They are even making their own fraction books!

1st Grade Math: Multi Digit +/- Word Problems

Students have had extensive practice using multiple strategies to solve multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. They put their skills to the test by working with geography-based word problems and then created replications of the scenarios on our augmented reality sand table!

Mystery Stories with 1st Grade

First grade just wrapped up their unit investigating the components of a mystery, enjoying some above grade level mysteries and even writing their own!

Students used their knowledge of protagonists, antagonists, clues, problem and solution. If you listen to their audio books (below) you may even notice a red herring or two.

1st Grade Audio Books

Kinder Flexible Groups

Students have been reading above grade level fiction, engaging in discussion, writing to show comprehension and then writing text to self connections. They have been busy!

First Grade Literacy

Students have been reading mystery chapter books and learning about the elements that make a good mystery: antagonist, protagonist, problem, solution, clues... They are in the process of writing their own- stay tuned.

First Grade Math

Students are using multiple strategies to add and subtract multi-digit numbers. They were recently blown away with a three addend equation, but all students handled it like the masterful mathematicians they are.

Kinder Flexible Groups

Our Kinder Literacy groups have taken off with some amazing reading and writing work. They are sampling both fiction and nonfiction for their fluency and comprehension work while making text to self connections for the writing piece. They are keeping higher leveled texts in the room for continued challenges. I am so proud of their progress!

First Grade 3D Geometry with Academic Vocab

Students studied the attributes of various 3D shapes: cube, cylinder, cone, triangular prism, rectangular prism, hexagonal pyramid, pentagonal pyramid to name a few.

Students had to categorize, compare and contrast and defend their answers through group discourse.

We ended the unit working with shape nets.

and a 3D pen!

Kinder Flexible Groups

Flexible groups for kindergarten have resumed! They will be bringing home samples of their learning about every other session (depending on individual learning time). So be on the lookout for them to share their thinking with you.

Blueprints for my Dream Home

First grade math students just completed their problem-based project, working with adding greater numbers, solving with variables and scaled amounts to design their dream home. I am so proud of their perseverance!

Poetry Pals: 1st grade enrichment literacy

For this unit, students are taking their background knowledge of scientific concepts such as layers of the Earth and minerals and turning them into poems. Enjoy student-chosen favorites below:

Nickel and iron are in the Earth's core
Hot magma around burning more
So many minerals underground
Down there is maybe an earthquaking sound

I would like to visit a star
And although it may be very far
So far that I could not take a car
Power to get there must be nuclear

Nickel and iron are in the Earth's core
With a door with a floor with minerals and more
With more and more science to explore
So many minerals underground
So many minerals to be found

First Grade: Literacy Enrichment

Our amazing first grade literacy group just completed their "Who was...?" reading challenge. Next, they were tasked with writing their own biographies. The results were tremendous! And now Ms. Mather's will be adding them to the Steele library for checkout. Enjoy the drafts below:

First Grade Biographies

Kinder: Flexible Groups

Flexible grouping for Kindergarten will begin the week of November 14th. This is a new and exciting venture for Steele! In working with classroom teachers, I will be collecting formative, qualitative as well as quantitative data in the coming weeks.

This is an ideal way to service students in new ways in the classroom.

Marvelous Math in First Grade

Students are learning how to stretch themselves when answering multi-digit addition and (soon) subtraction equations. This unit came with a colorful twist. Using polygons, students solved for unknown dimensions and added the many units to share the perimeter measurements of their work of art.

Next, we moved into adding 3-4 digit amounts on a number line. Then we added equivalent amounts of liquid to beakers, combined to check our sums and make beautiful concoctions.

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