Week of September 26th

Dear First Grade Families,

We are wrapping up our FIFTH week of school! Students have been in first grade for 21 days.  During those 21 days, students have learned a lot about or classroom routines, made new friends, and have been building stamina for academic tasks.  As students become more comfortable in the classroom, I am noticing a lot of silly behaviors that we are working on improving.  We are working on following our "rug rules" during learning times on the rug and focusing on our job when we're at our seats.  We have lots of time for talking and silliness throughout the day, but we are learning when it is/is not appropriate.  We discussed our "Classroom Promise" (rules) and signed that we agree to follow them.  Our classroom promise is:  We promise to be kind.  We promise to listen and follow directions.  We promise to be safe.  We promise to do our best."  We talk about how it is important to follow our classroom promise so that all students can learn and grow.

This week during Reading...

-We continued with Unit 1 of Fundations.  We have been reviewing letter names and sounds.  We've learned a key word to go with each picture.  We are also learning how to form letters using "sky line," "plane line," "grass line," and "worm line."  Next week, we will finish up our review of letter names and sounds and get into "tapping words" and writing words.

-We have been practicing different reading centers so that we can start doing reading groups in the near future.  Each week, students will meet with the teacher at least 2 times, have a chance to listen to reading on the iPad, book shop for "just right" books for their book bin, and write the room.  We are learning how to do each center so that we can be independent and not interrupt during center time! I am looking forward to getting centers up and running and working with students in small groups!

This week during Writing...

-We wrote about our weekend news.

-We wrote a story and then practiced going back and re-reading our writing and adding more details to the pictures and words.  I shared a story about my cat, Milo, needing to wear a cone and how much he did not like it.

This week during Math..

-We practiced identifying numbers that come before/after.

-We practiced counting on the 120s chart.

Next week, we will take our Unit 1 math assessment and move onto Unit 2, which will focus on addition and subtraction strategies.

This week during Theme Work..

-We learned about apple trees during different seasons.

-We learned about the different parts of an apple tree.

-We learned about the different parts of apples.

Next week, we will learn about Johnny Appleseed and talk about Fall.

In October, we will focus on fire safety, the life cycle of a pumpkin, and nocturnal animals.

Important Reminders..

-Tuesday, October 4th is school picture day!

-There is no school on Friday, October 7th or Monday, October 10th.

-I will be sending home October's Scholastic Book order next week!

I'm sorry for the lack of pictures this week -- we were busy, busy, busy and I forgot to pick up the camera!

Week of September 19th

Dear First Grade Families,

I am so happy to be back in the classroom this week! The students did a great job having guest teachers all week, but I had a lot of things I wanted to get started! This week, we picked back up with our Everyday Math curriculum, started writing workshop, and we also launched Fundations (our phonics program).  It was a busy, busy, busy week! Next week, we will add more reading time to our day.  I am hoping to start reading centers (students working in small groups on different activities) and meeting with children targeting specific skills.  All of that was kind of put on hold because I was home in bed for the week!

This week in math...

• We practiced forward and backward on the number line.  We learned a new game called "Bunny Hop" to practice this skill.
• We used tally marks to represent numbers.  We practiced making bundles of 5.  We made a tally chart.  We played "Rock, Paper, Scissors" and made a tally chart with our results.
• We had our beginning of the year math assessment.  

This week in writing...

• We read a story called The Best Story and learned that the best stories come from the heart!
• We read a story called Bunny Cakes and learned that we need to do our best and keep trying to spell tricky words!
• We got our writing folders and started our first stories.  We learned that writers think, plan (draw), and then write the words.
• We had our beginning of the year writing assessment.
• Next week we will continue writing stories and practicing stretching words on our own.  

This week in reading...

• We started Unit 1 in Fundations.  This unit focuses on teaching students letter names, key words, and letter sounds.  We are also working hard on letter formation.  When students are fluent with writing their letters, it is easier to write stories because they don't have to think about the formation! We are learning about writing letters using the sky line, plane line, grass line, and worm line.
• We did some independent reading from our book bins.
• We got "reading mats" to help us organize ourselves at reading time.
• We practiced two poems:  My Tooth Fell Out and The Alphabet Rap.

This week in Social Studies..

• We talked about our hopes and dreams (goals) for first grade.
• We talked about rules for our classroom to help everyone reach their hopes and dreams.
• We read the story "No, David" and did a guided drawing (they came out so cute!)
• We read a Scholastic News about School rules.
• Next week, we will sign our "Classroom Promise" with the rules we have agreed upon.

We also learned a new routine for making a lunch choice.  Students are doing a great job remembering to make their lunch choice in the morning!

We are continuing to work on building up our stamina and listening during learning times.  We got assigned "rug spots" this week to help us concentrate during whole group lessons.  Students are working on sitting up during lessons, raising their hand when they have something to say, and keeping their eyes on the speaker.  We have lots of wiggle breaks throughout the day in the form of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Go Noodle, and Cosmic Kids Yoga.  Students are building stamina every day and building independence.  They are doing a great job, especially since they had a week of guest teachers so early in the school year!

Reminders..

-School picture form went home this week.  You can either send the form back with a check or order pictures online.

-SOME of the Scholastic Book orders came this week.  I am still waiting on two orders, they should be in next week!

-As it gets chillier, please remember to dress your child in layers.  LABEL those layers as they often get left behind on the playground, in the cafeteria, etc!

-The specials schedule is listed on the bottom of your child's red folder.

Here are some photos from our week, in no particular order... 

Our Second Week of School! September 6th-9th

Dear First Grade Families,

We have finished up our second week of school! We are still settling into our classroom routines and getting to know each other.  Students have learned to unpack their things in the morning and get started on their breakfast and/or morning work.  We have also been working on walking in a quiet line, sitting on the carpet during whole group lessons, and taking turns talking.  In addition to all of our routines and getting to know you activities, we have officially started phonemic awareness lessons, math lessons, and our new Fundations (phonics) curriculum.  

The first unit of math is review.  So far we have been practicing counting by 1's, 5's, and 10's.  We learned a new game called "Penny Dice."  Next week, we will review counting strategies, comparing numbers, and using the number line to add and subtract.  

This week in Social Studies, we continued our "All About Me" activities.  Next week, we will discuss our "Hopes and Dreams" for First Grade and create our classroom rules.

Next week we will be rolling out reading workshop in the classroom and laying the groundwork for writing workshop.  Students are building their stamina and adjusting to the workload and pace of first grade! They are doing quite well, but still need a lot of breaks throughout the day.  We have been doing breaks in the form of "Go Noodle," "Cosmic Kids Yoga," and Play Doh.  

Reminders-

*Please remember to send your child to school with 1-2 snacks per day.  We have been having a morning and afternoon snack due to our schedule.  

*Please remember to send your child to school with a spill-proof water bottle each day.  The water fountains are still not open!

*Wednesday, September 14th is our first early release day.

*Thursday, September 15th is Open House at Mitchell School from 5-6:30.  Hope to see you there!

Here are some pictures from our week.  They might be out of order based on how they upload!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Here we are exploring with pattern block templates! 

Here we are playing Penny-Dice!

Here we are practicing our reading centers during Power Block.