Sept. 8-11
Our students had some really awesome learning happen last week! I'm excited to see what this week will hold! They will have some awesome things to show off at Open House on September 14th.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Sept 14th: Parent Information Night is on Monday, September 14th at 6:30 (location: our classroom, 306) followed by PTA meeting at 7:00. Please refer to the Kathy Caraway website for more details.
Please return signed Tuesday folders every Wednesday morning.
Please make sure you check your child’s Daily Folder each night and initial it.
Sept 23: Early Release
Sept 22-25: Mrs. Caballero will be out and Mr. Sparks will be my sub.
READING
We have started to learn about the procedures of reading workshop. Reading brings joy to our lives and in order to become strong readers we need to practice every day. Whether we are using the classroom library or the school library, we have discussed how to choose a "good-fit" or "just right book". These are the books that have only a few unknown words in each page and we can read with fluency and ease. As we teach comprehension and thinking skills, it is also important that we can understand the book we are reading.
This week we will continue to read independently for a little longer each day. We will also learn how to protect our classroom library by using the books carefully and responsibly. We will talk about the importance of respecting everyone's reading time and using kind reminders when we are being disturbed. On Friday please have your child bring a stuffed animal to school! The student's job will be to teach their stuffed animal all about Reading workshop and our first grade procedures!
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S READING AT HOME?
Please make sure your child has access to a variety of "just right books" at all times. Public libraries offer a great selection of leveled readers as well as easy-to-read chapter books.
Make the reading time a special time where you and your child can sit together comfortably. Pick a time in the day that you know your child is not too tired to read. Maybe your child likes to read after school, or before bedtime. You know when it is the best time. Sit beside your child, turn off the TV and have your child read to you. If your child is stuck on a word, read the word to your child quickly so she/he won't lose the flow. It is also important that you read to your child every night. Children need to hear the fluent reading with expression from a parent. Do a picture walk together before reading. As you read, stop periodically and see if your child has understood the story so far. Read together, laugh together and make this special time, as joyful as possible!
This week we will continue to read independently for a little longer each day. We will also learn how to protect our classroom library by using the books carefully and responsibly. We will talk about the importance of respecting everyone's reading time and using kind reminders when we are being disturbed. On Friday please have your child bring a stuffed animal to school! The student's job will be to teach their stuffed animal all about Reading workshop and our first grade procedures!
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S READING AT HOME?
Please make sure your child has access to a variety of "just right books" at all times. Public libraries offer a great selection of leveled readers as well as easy-to-read chapter books.
Make the reading time a special time where you and your child can sit together comfortably. Pick a time in the day that you know your child is not too tired to read. Maybe your child likes to read after school, or before bedtime. You know when it is the best time. Sit beside your child, turn off the TV and have your child read to you. If your child is stuck on a word, read the word to your child quickly so she/he won't lose the flow. It is also important that you read to your child every night. Children need to hear the fluent reading with expression from a parent. Do a picture walk together before reading. As you read, stop periodically and see if your child has understood the story so far. Read together, laugh together and make this special time, as joyful as possible!
WRITING
In writing, we will learn about two skills: One is the importance of illustrations in our stories and how to make our illustrations match our words. We will look at many different picture books and discuss how illustrations can enhance a story. The other skill is to say the words slowly (stretch the words), listening for the sounds, and writing down all the corresponding letters. Your child will have independent writing time where he/she will be conferencing with me and working on what has been taught so far.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING AT HOME?
Provide a writing journal at home. Your child can decorate the front cover however she or he likes to. Have your child think of a memory, a place that they have been before, a time they could remember, an activity that they did. Something true that they have experienced. It could be just a short ride in the car to HEB, when you both saw a deer on the street!
Have your child draw a picture of that memory first, and then add words to write about it. When writing, remind your child to start the sentences with capital letters, put one finger space between the words, and end their sentences with a period or exclamation mark. Show excitement, encourage and celebrate every attempt! Share their writing with family members and friends! Let them see that they are real writers!
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING AT HOME?
Provide a writing journal at home. Your child can decorate the front cover however she or he likes to. Have your child think of a memory, a place that they have been before, a time they could remember, an activity that they did. Something true that they have experienced. It could be just a short ride in the car to HEB, when you both saw a deer on the street!
Have your child draw a picture of that memory first, and then add words to write about it. When writing, remind your child to start the sentences with capital letters, put one finger space between the words, and end their sentences with a period or exclamation mark. Show excitement, encourage and celebrate every attempt! Share their writing with family members and friends! Let them see that they are real writers!
MATH
We will work on grouping items such as cubes and beans in groups of 10. With any given number, we will discuss how many groups of 10 we can make and how many items are leftover (meaning they are less than ten and can't be grouped as 10). While working with groups of tens and ones (the leftovers), we will discuss the placement of digits in numbers and how each digit has a different value based on its place in a number. We will compare the teen numbers and apply our knowledge in problem solving activities.
We will work on grouping items such as cubes and beans in groups of 10. With any given number, we will discuss how many groups of 10 we can make and how many items are leftover (meaning they are less than ten and can't be grouped as 10). While working with groups of tens and ones (the leftovers), we will discuss the placement of digits in numbers and how each digit has a different value based on its place in a number. We will compare the teen numbers and apply our knowledge in problem solving activities.
Homework for this week: Use sidewalk chalk and make a hopscotch using numbers from 1-10. Together practice tossing an object on to a number, hopping to that number, pick up the object and hop back! Don't forget to count while you hop. Take turns doing this activity. Take a picture of yourself and your family playing hopscotch and post it in the comments section of the blog.
Our "homework" this year is going to be more "out of the box". Homework will focus on an academic skill while incorporating collaboration with family members and physical activity! I read an article this morning about young children and a decline in "play". While our little people are no longer pre-schoolers they are still young and need many different experiences to become well rounded adults!
SCIENCE
This week in Science we explored and discussed what scientists do. The students were introduced to science journals and we discussed the importance of recording scientific observations. We learned about science safety, how to ask questions about science, make predictions, record observations and data about investigations, and explain our thinking about what we have learned.
Next week, we will learn how we use our five senses to explore the world around us. We will also learn about some tools in science that could help us to extend and protect our senses such as hand lenses, goggles, stethoscope, ear plugs, mask, and gloves.
Next week, we will learn how we use our five senses to explore the world around us. We will also learn about some tools in science that could help us to extend and protect our senses such as hand lenses, goggles, stethoscope, ear plugs, mask, and gloves.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In social studies we will learn about the leaders and authority figures in our community of school, city, state and country. We will learn about the important jobs of our principal, mayor, governor and president.
In social studies we will learn about the leaders and authority figures in our community of school, city, state and country. We will learn about the important jobs of our principal, mayor, governor and president.
Have a great week!
Hannelore
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