First Grade News
January 6, 2017
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Language Arts:
Math:
To support our ELA persuasive writing
focus, we are pretending that all Fine Arts
classes (Music, PE, Art, STEM, and Library)
are being eliminated, except for one. To
prepare for this, we wrote facts and opinions
about each of them to support our reasons why
we should keep our favorite one.
A big component of learning how to
read is discussing what you are reading. Please
be sure to take time to discuss the books your
child is reading at home. This can take place
before you read the book. For example, read
the title and ask your child to predict what the
story is about. During reading, stop your child
and ask them about part of the book to check
for understanding. After reading can include
retelling the story, important facts they
learned, connections to characters, and much
more!
Students are exploring addition strategies
that use:
doubles (2+2)
doubles plus one (2+3) or (2+2+1)
doubles minus 1 (3+2) or (3+3-1)
doubles plus 2 (2+4) or (2+2+2)
doubles minus 2 (4+2) or (4+4-2)
Spelling
At this time if first grade, students should
begin to recognize short vowels, digraphs
(sh, th, ch), blends (st, tr, dr, etc.), and
ending sounds in their daily reading and
writing activities.
We are also building their place value
knowledge using two digit numbers.
Science:
We started our next science unit, Solids and
Liquids. This week, we learned about the
properties of solids: rigid, flexible, hard, soft,
smooth, rough, has color, pointed, and flat.
Used Book Sale!
CLFOGE (Crystal Lake Friends of Gifted
Education) is having its annual Used Book
Sale at Algonquin Township on Friday,
Jan. 27 from 9am-7pm and Saturday, Jan.
28 from 9am-4pm. Kid’s books are 50¢
and adult books are 50¢-$1.00.
We are collecting books to be sold
at the sale from January 4-12.
EXTRA, EXTRA
Please remember warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots. Students will be going
outside everyday unless the wind-chill is below 0ºF.
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If your child wears his/her boots to school, please remember to send an extra pair of
shoes to change into.
Teacher Institute Day – January 13th – NO SCHOOL
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 16th – NO SCHOOL
Early Release – Wednesday, January 25th – 2pm dismissal
Have a Great Weekend!