First Grade Weekly Email 3.4.16
Dear Families,
Oh, the things we have learned this week! We had a blast celebrating Read Across
America week. The Read-a-Thon ends today and we thank you again for supporting
this fundraiser!
Field trip forms came home yesterday and interims are coming home today. Please
check your child’s folder!
Take a look at what we are learning next week:
Reading:
We will continue reading fictional texts. In response to the stories we read, students will
ask and answer questions about key details in a text and identify words and phrases in
stories that suggest feelings. We will also be identifying who is telling a story at different
points in the story as it applies to what we read.
Writing:
We continue our study of opinion writing by reading the book Duck! Rabbit! Students
will decide whether they think the animal in the story is a duck or a rabbit and use facts
about the animals to support their opinions. We will continue practicing stating an
opinion using words such as, “I think,” “I feel,” and “I believe.”
Math:
We will be working on using strategies such as doubles facts, doubles + 1 facts, counting
on, and making a 10 to solve addition problems within 20. We will also continue to
study the meaning of the equal sign. Please review math work that comes home with
your child. Finding the missing addend in an equation is a challenging task but one in
which first graders must become proficient.
Making a 10 Strategy
Science/Social Studies:
In social studies we will continue studying maps and we will create maps with symbols,
keys, and a compass rose. In science we will be describing the materials out of which
objects are made (wood, plastic, glass, clay, etc.) and learning about the properties of
materials (soft/hard, shiny/dull, stiff/bendable, smooth/rough).
How can you help at home?
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Use the information in this email to ask your child questions about the topics that
we study.
Read with your child nightly! Talk to your child about how characters in stories
are feeling and how their feelings change throughout the story.
Practice addition and subtraction equations with missing numbers in all positions
and with the equal sign at the beginning of the equation rather than at the end.
One of the most challenging types of problem is one in which the difference
(answer in a subtraction problem) comes first and students need to find the
whole (Ex.: 7 = ____ - 5).
Practice writing and spelling Word Wall Words and Words Their Way word
patterns with your child.
Encourage your child to make a map of your house and/or neighborhood and
to describe the locations of places on the map using cardinal directions.
Describe objects in your house by their material and the properties of that
material.
Write a letter with your child and talk about the format of a friendly letter. Mail
the letter! Here is a fun song to go along with the parts of a friendly letter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNKy4hV6WnA
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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Please remind your child to have a book in his/her backpack to read in the
morning.
March 8- Science Fair- on display all day in the APR (First Graders will be
displaying a project that they completed together!)
March 11- PTA Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction
March 15- Grade 1 and 2 Music Night- 7:00 PM
March 16- Classroom Pictures
Sign up for Ben’s Run at http://www.bensrun.org/index.html
The Stonegate Splash
The new Stonegate Splash comes out today. If you would like to receive a hard copy,
please complete the notice that was sent home and return it to the front office.
George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy
Below is the link to register.
http://www.saturdayschool.org/programs/enroll.shtm
Have a great weekend!