This week in First grade...

February 26- March 2

We had a super fun time at STEAM Day! We learned all about the jobs that engineers do! We also learned that engineers solve problems just like we do.  There are pictures of our class creating a play house/ napping house for our kitty, Shadow, on the Bloomz page!

Reminders:
Monday (2/26):
Tuesday (2/27): Tuesday folders will come home.  Please return on Wednesday.
Wednesday (2/28): Library Check-out.  Please help your child remember to return their books.
Thursday (3/1):
Friday (3/2): Read Across America/Dr. Seuss' Birthday

**Caraway City Limits Saturday, March 3rd**
Thank you to the Berkovitz Family for sponsoring my ticket to the event! I look forward to seeing everyone! I also know that life is busy! Please consider donating if you can not attend the event!

On Friday, March 2, we will be celebrating Read Across America Day.  Please allow your child to bring 5-7 books from home.  We will be learning all about Dr. Seuss's life and books that he wrote.  We will spend time reading as we celebrate this fun day!

In Reading Workshop...
This week we will think about all of the strategies good readers use as we begin an Author Study of Dr. Seuss!  We will learn all about his life and how he made reading fun for so many children and adults! We will read books that he has written and research about his life!

Reading Homework:
Continue to read books on RAZ Kids and take the quizzes.  iXL is available for math practice as well.  I will email the optional TIC TAC Toe homework!

In Writer's Workshop...
This week we will revisit Small Moments stories.  We will take an event from our life experiences and explode it.  We will explore how authors write their stories and add details to help us really imagine what it was like to be there in that moment.

In Math...
We are finishing up our unit on Addition Strategies.  We've learned how to count on using a number track or number line.  We've practiced making ten and counting the leftovers.  We've used visual models to represent joining two amounts.  Now we will apply these strategies and solve problems!

In Social Studies...
We will be exploring the concept of Spending and Saving.  We will talk about how you must save money for things you want and "just in case".  We will explore what it looks like to budget your money for the things you need like shelter, electricity and water and the things you want!

In Science..
We will being exploring Mammals.  We will learn about the characteristics of a mammal and their life cycle.  We will explore how mammals move, eat and where they live.

This weeks life skill is Creativity: to generate ideas; to create something original or redesign through imaginative skill.

Coming soon...

March 3rd - Caraway City Limits @ Balcones Country Club

Mar. 7: Kinder Round-Up

Mar. 12-16: Spring Break

Mar. 22: Field Trip to ZACH Scott Theater

Mar. 28: Spirit Night

Apr. 27: Skate Night

May 8: Spirit Night

May 28: Memorial Day Holiday

May 29: Last Day of School (Bad Weather Make-up Day)

This week in First grade...

February 21-23

We hope you had a lovely 4 day weekend! Our teachers spent two glorious days working and learning in order to enrich your child's education experience at Caraway.  

We are continuing our conversation about the responsibilities of being a 2nd grader.  We discussed how responsible students can pack their own snack at home.  Many of our friends have been forgetting to bring a snack.  We have extra snacks for students who occasionally forget.  Please help your child remember to bring a snack each day. 

Reminders:

Monday (2/19): No School.  Professional Development for teachers

Tuesday (2/20): No School.  Professional Development for teachers

Wednesday (2/21): Library Lesson only.  No check out. 
                               Tuesday folders go home.  Please unload and return on Thursday.
Thursday (2/22):

Friday (2/23): Caraway STEAM Day

Life Skill of the Week: Cooperation: To work together toward a common goal or purpose

This week in Reading and Writing Workshop...
We will spend time this week review expectations of Reading and Writing Workshop.  We will also review reading strategies we've learn and discuss the strategies we use on a daily basis.  We will complete a whole class research project then take time reviewing writing strategies we've learned before we move on to our next unit in writing. 

{Reading Homework}: I would like for the students to use Reading A-Z (the app is Kids A-Z) to read each night.  My own first graders loves to choose her book, listen to it, then read it to me.  She completes the quiz on her own because the questions can be read to her.  It takes us about 8-10 minutes.  This is the perfect amount of time to spend on reading each afternoon or evening! In my experience it is much more effective to allow children to choose what they read at home.

This week in Math...
We will continue learning addition strategies to help us solve problems.  We have learned the make ten strategy.  We have practiced this skill by playing a domino game.  Just like any strategy we have talked about how this may work for some friends but maybe not for all of us. We will continue to use our other math strategies to solve problems.

This week in Science...
We will continue our study of Interdependence of Organisms. We learned about the body parts of a fish and it's habitat last week.  This week we will learn more about adaptations, movement, food and life cycle.

This week in Social Studies...
We will continue our conversation on Good and Services.  We will discuss how people in our community provide the goods and services we need to live everyday.  We will also observe President's Day.  We will learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  We will discuss their accomplishments as Presidents and learn why they are celebrated each year. 

Coming Soon...

Feb. 19-20: Student Holiday
Feb. 23: Caraway STEAM Day
Saturday, March 3rd - Caraway City Limits @ Balcones Country Club

Mar. 7: Kinder Round-Up

Mar. 12-16: Spring Break

Mar. 22: Field Trip to ZACH Scott Theater

Mar. 28: Spirit Night

Apr. 27: Skate Night

May 8: Spirit Night

May 28: Memorial Day Holiday

May 29: Last Day of School (Bad Weather Make-up Day)

This week in First grade...

February 12-16

I want to say a HUGE thank you for all of the warm return wishes!  It was wonderful to see how happy the students were on Thursday.  Mrs. Jackson worked so hard with this group of children.  She has visited us a couple of times because she already misses the students.  Our 101st day of school was special because we were able to spend it together.  Now we are off to a great start as our year together gets shorter.

We are talking about the responsibilities of being a 2nd grader.  Over the next four months the expectations in first grade will increase.  My goal for the students is to be independent thinkers who can solve problems, both academic and everyday, as well as engage in collaborative experiences with their peers.  My role will be the facilitator.  I will ask questions more often instead of giving all of the answers.  I hope you, as parents, will take on the role as facilitators as well.  When your child asks, "What do I do on this problem?" (in a homework situation) you may want to ask, "Well, what is a good strategy to start with?" The students have the answers and skills they just need a little support to fly solo!

Reminders:

Monday (2/12): Homework will be sent home.  Tic Tac Toe (optional homework)- will be emailed to
                           you. folder. Reading expectation will be stated below. Your children may start 
                           bringing their Valentine Cards in.
Tuesday (2/13): Tuesday folders go home.  Please unload and return on Wednesday.
Wednesday (2/14): Library Check out. Please have your child return their books.
                               Valentine Party 12:30-1:30.  If you would like to take your child home after the
                                                                              party please sign them out at the office.
Thursday (2/15):
Friday (2/16): Class pictures.  The students will also be taking individual Spring Portraits.  The
                       company will send proofs home in a few weeks if you would like to purchase.
**Remember- students do not have school on Monday (2/19) and Tuesday (2/20). **

Life Skill of the Week: Friendship: To make and keep a friend through mutual trust and caring

This week in Reading and Writing Workshop...
Our unit, Readers and Writers Research Together, the students have been researching objects in the sky.  The students have almost finished their books.  We will have time this week to put the finishing touches on our research and have some free writing time.

{Reading Homework}: I would like for the students to use Reading A-Z (the app is Kids A-Z) to read each night.  My own first graders loves to choose her book, listen to it, then read it to me.  She completes the quiz on her own because the questions can be read to her.  It takes us about 8-10 minutes.  This is the perfect amount of time to spend on reading each afternoon or evening! In my experience it is much more effective to allow children to choose what they read at home.

This week in Math...
We will be learning addition strategies to help us solve problems.  Last week we explored how to make different combinations of 10.

This week in Science...
We will begin our study of Interdependence of Organisms.  We will explore animals first.  Our unit on Fish will explore body parts, adaptations, habitat and life cycle.

This week in Social Studies...
We will finish our conversation on Needs versus Wants as we move in to our discussion on Good and Services.  We will discuss how people in our community provide the goods and services we need to live everyday.

Coming Soon...

Feb. 19-20: Student Holiday
Feb. 23: Caraway STEAM Day
Saturday, March 3rd - Caraway City Limits @ Balcones Country Club

Mar. 7: Kinder Round-Up

Mar. 12-16: Spring Break

Mar. 22: Field Trip to ZACH Scott Theater

Mar. 28: Spirit Night

Apr. 27: Skate Night

May 8: Spirit Night

May 28: Memorial Day Holiday

May 29: Last Day of School (Bad Weather Make-up Day)