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...