Weekly Email 12.4.15
Dear Families,
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! First graders jumped right back into
their learning this week and stayed focused despite the many indoor recess days. 
Here is what we will be learning next week:
Reading:
We will continue reading various gingerbread books to compare the experiences of
characters. Some examples include The Gingerbread Boy, The Gingerbread Girl, The
Gingerbread Baby, The Runaway Tortilla, Matzah Man, etc. We will use illustrations and
details to describe characters, setting, and events in the stories.
Writing:
We will continue our study of opinion writing by talking about whether students should
have indoor or outdoor recess on very cold days. We will also continue to focus on
punctuation, handwriting, and using complete sentences.
Math:
In math we will be focusing on the relationship between addition and subtraction. For
example, 8 + 3 = 11 so 11 – 8 = 3. Additionally, we will be using the strategies of
counting on to add and doubles plus one to solve word problems with unknowns in all
position. As a reminder from last week’s email, when solving for the missing number, we
are telling students to “think addition”.
Ex:
12 - __ = 5 Think: If I start at 5 and count on, what number would I have to add to 5 to
get to 12?
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. I had to count on 7 numbers, so my missing number is 7. This is the
same strategy we are teaching for a missing addend.
____ + 5 = 12.
Doubles and Doubles + 1:
Having automaticity with doubles helps use know other math facts too!
Knowing that 6 + 6 =12 can help me solve 6 + 7 (doubles +1) because I know that 7 is
one more than 6, so the answer must be one more than 12!
Science/Social Studies:
In social studies we will continue to talk about culture and the similarities and
differences of the way people celebrate their cultures in their families and their
community. Please continue having these conversations with your child so they are
able to speak about the culture of their families! In science we will begin our study of
magnets. We will ask questions to guide our study and investigate the effect of
magnets on a variety of objects around the classroom.
How can you help at home?
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Check out a comprehensive list of math card games that you can play at home!
http://www.esc16.net/users/0020/FACES/2013%20FACES/Handouts/Reid%20and
%20Stott%20Problem%20Solving%20Math%20Card%20Games.pdf
Use the information in this email to ask your child questions about the books that
we read and the topics that we study.
Continue asking your children their opinions on everyday topics and then having
them support their opinions.
Read with your child nightly!
Ask your children to compare themselves to characters in the books that they
read.
Practice doubles facts.
Practice writing and spelling Word Wall Words and Words Their Way word
patterns with your child.
Do the homework with your child. The homework is aligned with the Common
Core and helps reinforce skills that will be reviewed and built on throughout the
year.
Important Reminders and Information:
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December 17th- Flu Mist for students- Parents MUST call to make an appointment!
Lost and Found- Stonegate’s Lost and Found is overflowing- please visit the
cafeteria with your child or encourage your child to check the Lost and Found at
lunch to retrieve lost items.
When your child is absent, please call the office after 8:30 a.m. letting the school
know the reason for the absence. You can also send an email to the office staff
at: [email protected]; [email protected]
Please remind your child to have a book in his/her backpack to read in the
morning.
The PTA wants your input on our speakers at our monthly meetings. Please click
here to give us your quick feedback.
Visit Stonegate’s Facebook page and follow the school on Twitter.
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A group of interested parents is forming an Educational Foundation to help the
school & community further its goals through financial assistance. If you are
interested in helping build this from the ground up, contact Jennifer Call at
[email protected].
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Interested in an additional half-day learning experience for your child? George
B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy has started! Here is the link to register:
http://www.saturdayschool.org/programs/enroll.shtm
Have a wonderful weekend!