December 4th - December 8th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Flippy Dolphin accuracy strategy (instead short “a”, flip the sound and try long “a”)

Using vowels to chunk words into syllables and parts

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: little, very, after, get, where, could

Word Work: _ar

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Adding detail our audience wants to learn

Math:

Topic Topic 6: Graphing

collecting and organizing data into three groups

Comparing data (greatest, fewest, how many more, how many fewer, etc.)

Ordering data (least to greatest or vice versa)

Theme:

Graphing December weather

Sand temperature experiment

Sun as energy source

“Lost in the Artic” experiment

Ronald McDonald House

Mrs. McKinney’s class is collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House, and I want our class to help! Here is a list of items that you can donate to help this great program:

Magic Erasers         

Lysol

Small Trash Bags        

Bathroom Cleaner

Comet     

Windex

Clorox Wipes      

White Bath Towels

Disinfecting/bleach spray cleaner

Holiday Party

Our Holiday Party will be December 21st from 9:00-10:00. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

December 14th: All Pro Dads Breakfast

December 21st: Holiday Party & dismiss at 12:30

December 22nd-January 3rd:  Winter Break (no school)

November 27th - December 1st

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Accuracy strategy: Descriptive words: words that describe us

Character traits: outside vs. inside traits

Noticing characters’ feelings and actions to infer inside traits

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: my, made, did, down, over

Word Work: Short and Long u

Word Family: _ay

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Adding more details by organizing under headings

Writing and using a table of contents

Math:

Topic 5: Addition and Subtraction

Finding missing numbers in equations

True or false equations

Adding 3 numbers

Word problems with 3 numbers

Theme:

Parts of a map

Cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west

Making a compass

Me on the Map project

Book-It

I am so proud of all my friends who read 20 books last month and earned their FREE PIZZA from Pizza Hut!  I sent home a new recording sheet for December.  It is SO important that your kiddo reads at home with you.  Remember, you can read the paper books I sent home.  These books are on your child’s reading level. When they finish the books, send them back and I will send home more.   Also, they can access eBooks from the Raz Kids website.

Website: www.kidsa-z.com

User Name: Orchard1b

Happy Reading!

Holiday Party

Our Holiday Party will be December 21st from 9:00-10:00. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

November 22nd - 24th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

December 21st: Holiday Party & dismiss at 12:30

December 22nd-January 3rd:  Winter Break (no school)

November 13th - November 17th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Accuracy strategy: Descriptive words: words that describe us

Character traits: outside vs. inside traits

Noticing characters’ feelings and actions to infer inside traits

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: see, no, make, who, people

Word Work: Short and Long i

Word Family: _ed

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Using illustrations to teach (zooming in)

Considering our audience and what questions they might have about our topic

Math:

Topic 5: Addition and Subtraction Equations

Finding missing numbers in equations

True or false equations

Adding 3 numbers

Word problems with 3 numbers

Theme:

The First Thanksgiving

Cornucopia writing project

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so grateful for each one of you and for the opportunity to get to work with your amazing kiddo! Have a great holiday and a great break! 

Fall Weather

I know it is hard to believe, but fall weather is coming!  Please make sure your child is properly dressed for outside recess. We will go out every day as long as the weather is 32 degrees or above and the wind-chill is 25 degrees or above. There is a strong wind that blows across the playground.  Your child needs to have a jacket, so they can enjoy recess comfortably!

Pictures

I uploaded several pictures onto our classroom website. Click on the Classroom Pictures tab and check them out!

Dates to Remember

November 22nd - 24th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

December 21st: Holiday Party & dismiss at 12:30

December 22nd-January 3rd:  Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

October 30th - November 3

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Accuracy strategies

Cross-checking: Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense?

Scentsy Skunk: Checking to make sure what you read makes sense.

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: will, how, up, them, she

Word Work: Beginning Blends-fl, gl, pl,&sl

Word Family: _ag

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Choosing a strong topic for individual books

Parts of a non-fiction book (beginning/ introduction, middle/facts, ending/ conclusion)

Math:

Subtracting on a number line

Subtracting on 10s frames

Finding the missing number in an equation (9-?=6)

Theme:

Researching and writing nonfiction facts about bats

Created a bat craft to accompany our writing

Conferences

Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come and discuss your child’s progress with me.  I really enjoyed visiting with everyone.  If you were unable to make it this week, I would love to reschedule for another day. 

Book-It

I am so proud of all my friends who read 20 books last month and earned their FREE PIZZA from Pizza Hut!  I sent home a new recording sheet for November.  It is SO important that your kiddo reads at home with you.  Remember, you can read the paper books I sent home.  These books are on your child’s reading level. When they finish the books, send them back and I will send home more.   Also, they can access eBooks from the Raz Kids website.

Website: www.kidsa-z.com

User Name: Orchard1b

Happy Reading!

Dates to Remember

November 3rd - 7th: NO SCHOOL

November 22nd - 24th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

October 23rd - October 27th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying characters and settings in the stories we read

5 Finger Retelling

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: there, can, your, said, do

Word Work: Beginning Blends

Word Family: _an

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Including headings in our stories like real nonfiction books

Math:

Subtracting on a number line

Using known addition facts to figure out subtraction equations

Making 10 to subtract

Theme:

Researching and writing nonfiction facts about bats

Created a bat craft to accompany our writing

Conferences

Conference week is NEXT week. I am super excited to meet with you and discuss your kiddo’s progress in first grade so far. During the student-led conference, your child will lead you through various activities in the hallway. There will be “parent prompts” on the wall or in a basket for you to read and remind your child what to do. After 15 minutes, you will meet with me.

 I sent home reminders in your child's take home folder Thursday to confirm the time and date you chose.  I have conferences schedule in most time slots.  I will try my hardest to stay on schedule, but please forgive me if we start your conference a little late.  If I am running behind, just have your kiddo continue working through the centers in the hallway.

Let me know if you have any questions! See you all soon!

Dates to Remember

October 20th: Dismiss at 12:30

October 30th & November 2nd: Conferences

November 2nd: Picture Retakes

November 3rd - 7th: NO SCHOOL

November 22nd - 24th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

October 16th - October 20th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying characters and settings in the stories we read

5 Finger Retelling

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: nice, ride, play, zoo,& thing

Word Work: Beginning Blends

Word Family: _ay

Writing:

Using all the writing strategies we know to  write one more small moment/true story

First quarter district narrative writing prompt (this piece will be scored using a rubric and will be reflected on your child’s grade card)

Math:

Topic 3: Adding facts to 20

Topic 3 Assessment

Theme:

Prior knowledge about pumpkins

Researching questions about pumpkins

Parts of a pumpkin craft

Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be October 30th and November 2nd.  I sent an email out on Thursday with a link to help you electronically sign up. The times are on a first come, first serve basis, so please sign up quickly so you can get your preferred time.

Sign up at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0D4EABA82BA1F94-fall

Data Sheets

I started updating the data sheet in your child’s take home folder this week.  Checkout the paper to see how your child is doing on sight words. I also wrote their current reading level in it as well.

Dates to Remember

October 20th: Dismiss at 12:30

October 30th & November 2nd: Conferences

November 2nd: Picture Retakes

November 3rd - 7th: NO SCHOOL

November 22nd - 24th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

October 2nd - October 6th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Making connections in books we read (text-to-self, text-to-text, & text-to-world)

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: had, I, have, not, from

Digraph: “ph”

Word Family: _all

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Bringing characters to life by using dialogue and making our characters move

Math:

Topic 3: Adding facts to 20

“Counting On” to add

“Counting On” using an open number line

Using doubles facts

Theme:

What do we see, hear, feel, smell, and taste during fall?

Acorn craft

Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be October 30th and November 2nd.  I sent an email out on Thursday with a link to help you electronically sign up. The times are on a first come, first serve basis, so please sign up quickly so you can get your preferred time.

Sign up at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0D4EABA82BA1F94-fall

Book-It

This week I sent home a note describing a wonderful program called Book-It. If your child reads 20 books then they get a FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.  To help your child read good fit books, I sent home several paper books on your child’s reading level. Please read these books with your child and have them fill out the Reading Log.  Also, your child can visit the Raz-Kids website to access free books on their level as well.

Website: www.kidsa-z.com

User Name: Orchard1b

Dates to Remember

October 6th: WOHE Fall Carnival

October 12th: All Pro Dad’s Breakfast

October 20th: Dismiss at 12:30

October 30th & November 2nd: Conferences

November 3rd- 7th: NO SCHOOL