February 22nd - February 26th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Finding evidence in the text we read to answer questions

Going back in the text to prove our answers

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: teacher, quit, rain, favorite, & out

Word Chunk: “oe”

Word Family: “_ell”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Using a writer’s checklist to edit our writing

Using lots of details to convince our readers

Math:

2D shape review (square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon, & trapezoid)

Identifying shape attributes (sides and corners)

Theme:

American Symbols

Researching the American Flag, the Liberty Bell, and the Bald Eagle

Spring Conferences

This year’s Spring Conferences will be March 22nd and 24th. These conferences will be different from fall conferences in that they are not student-led but more conversation focused and a chance to look at data about your child’s growth this year. I am asking that your child doesn’t attend. Notes went home on Friday. Please let me know if you have any questions! 

Read Across America

Next week is Read Across America.  This is when we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birth and emphasize the importance of reading.  Here are some events that are happening next week:

Monday: Nothing

Tuesday: Bring a quarter and wear your favorite hat

Wednesday: Nothing

Thursday: Wear Stripes

Friday: PJ Day

Dates to Remember

March 3rd: First Grade Musical

March 4th:  End of 3rd Quarter and Dismiss at 12:30

March 7th- March 11th: Spring Break

March 22nd & March 24th: Spring Conferences

March 28th: Make Up Snow Day

February 15th - February 19th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying the characters, setting, problems, and solutions in the stories we read

Exploring how characters can change throughout a story

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: brother, jump, kick, sister, & talk

Word Chunk: “ay”

Word Family: “_ick”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Using a writer’s checklist to edit our writing

Using lots of details to convince our readers

Math:

Solving word problems with the words “how many more” (Example: Mrs. Happel has 12 pieces of candy. Mrs. Phinney has 9 pieces of candy. How many more pieces of candy does Mrs. Happel have?

Writing word problems with the words “how many more”

Theme:

President’s Day

Researching George Washington

Snow Make Up Days

We will make up those two snow days on March 28th and May 20th. Mark your calendars! 

Spring Conferences

This year Spring Conferences will be March 22nd and 24th. These conferences will be different from fall conferences in that they are not student-led but more conversation focused and a chance to look at data about your child’s growth this year. I am asking that your child doesn’t attend. Notes went home on Friday. Please read yours carefully for the directions on how to sign up and when to send them back. I am excited for the chance to meet with you and chat about how your kiddo has grown this quarter! Please let me know if you have any questions! 

Dates to Remember

February 24th: Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

March 3rd: First Grade Musical

March 4th:  End of 3rd Quarter and Dismiss at 12:30

March 7th- March 11th: Spring Break

March 22nd & March 24th: Spring Conferences

February 8th - February 12th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Reading stories fluently and with expression

Using character’s voices to make the story come to life

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: school, children, boy, animal, & night

Word Chunk: “ow” (examples: bow & snow) & “ow” (examples: cow & plow)

Word Family: “_ate”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Using a writer’s checklist to edit our writing

Math:

Solving word problems with missing numbers (11-_=9)

Writing word problems with missing numbers

Theme:

Valentine’s Day

My Heart is Full of…

Heart craft

Snow Make Up Days

We will make up those two snow days on March 28th and May 20th. Mark your calendars! 

Mrs. Happel’s BIG News

Your kiddo might have already informed you that my husband Justin and I are expecting our second child.  We are pretty excited!  Don’t worry! The baby is not expected to arrive until July.  This means that I will not have to miss any schools days this year. 

Spring Conferences

This year Spring Conferences will be the week of March 22nd.  Specific days have not been decided yet.  I will be sending more information about this as time get closer.

Dates to Remember

February 15th- No School

February 24th- Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

March 3rd- First Grade Musical

March 22nd- Week of Spring Conferences

February 1st - February 5th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Retelling stories using only important events and characters’ names

Retelling stories using details from the beginning, middle, and end of a story

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: gave, us, saw, house, & want

Word Chunk: “ou” & “ow”

Word Family: “_ash”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Brainstormed topics we can write opinions about

Adding more details to our opinion writing

Math:

Solving word problems with missing numbers (3+_=11)

Writing word problems with missing numbers

Theme:

Types of matter

How can matter change?

Conducted a matter experiment

Valentine’s Day Party

Our Valentine’s Day party will be on Friday, February 12th.  For this day, your child is invited to bring valentines to pass out, as well as a box or bag to keep their valentines safe.

Your child can make a Valentine Box (or bag) at home.  They can be as simple as a decorated brown paper bag or as complicated as papier-mâché. It’s up to you!  Just make sure          there is an opening for first graders to easily place their valentines into.

Your child needs to bring a valentine for each child in our class. These can be store bought or homemade! (If your family does not have the resources to provide valentines for your child, please let me know and your child can make some at school.)

 Please be sure to send your child’s valentines and valentine boxes ON February 12th.  Our room can get really crowded, so please do not send them ahead of time.

Dates to Remember

February 12th- Dismiss at 12:30 & Valentine’s Day Party

February 15th- No School

February 24th- Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

March 3rd- First Grade Musical

January 25th - January 29th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Expanding vocabulary: tuning into interesting words when we read books

Collecting words from the books we read to use them in our writing

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: off, went, old, tell, & big

Word Chunk: “ie” & “igh”

Word Family: “_ash”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Using “sparkly” words in our writing

Math:

Determining if a number is greater than, less than, or equal to another number (>,<,=)

True/False equations

Missing numbers in equations

Theme:

Goods and services

Working with a partner to create a Goods and Services poster

Valentine’s Day Party

On Friday, February 12th, we will be having our Valentine’s Day celebration! Your student is invited to create a Valentine’s boxes at home and then bring it to school on that day. I will be sending more information home about the party as time gets closer.

Coin Drive

Starting Monday, WOHE will be doing our annual coin drive to benefit Care to Learn. Our challenge next week will be to use our little bit of loose change to make a BIG difference! Here is how the competition will work:

1. Each teacher will have their own jar to collect coins.

2. Only pennies should be placed in our classroom jar.

3. All silver coins and dollars should be placed in other teachers’ jars. Silver coins decrease the total for our classroom.

4. The class with the highest overall total wins a PIZZA PARTY!

So empty out those piggy banks and check those couch cushions!

Dates to Remember

February 4th- Spring Pictures

February 12th- Dismiss at 12:30 & Valentine’s Day Party

February 15th- No School

March 3rd- First Grade Musical

January 19th - January 22nd

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Writing animal observations using an animal camera from the Santiago Zoo

Using chunks in words we know to decode the rest of the word

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: best, friend, can’t, won’t, & pretty

Word Chunk: “ea” & “ee”

Word Family: “_ame”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Writing a topic sentence stating our opinion

Adding details to convince our reader

Writing an ending sentence to our opinion stories

Math:

Determining if a number is greater than, less than, or equal to another number (>,<,=)

Theme:

Researching Martin Luther King Jr.

Creating an “I Have a Dream” craft

Report Cards

Report cards for second quarter went home Monday. Along with your child’s report card, I attached several assessments.  Remember, many of these skills do not have to be mastered until the end of first grade. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have!

Box Tops

Don’t forget we are collecting Box Tops for Education.  For every Box Top you collect and turn into WOHE, we receive ten cents.  The class who brings in the most Box Tops each month gets to celebrate with a party! So cut those tops and return them to school.

Dates to Remember

January 18th- No School

January 27th- Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

February 4th- Spring Pictures

February 12th- Dismiss at 12:30 & Valentine’s Day Party

February 15th- No School

March 3rd- First Grade Musical

January 4th- January 8th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Reviewed Daily 5 routine and expectations

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: come, because, here, look, & why

Word Chunk: “ai”

Word Family: “_ain”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Writing a topic sentence stating our opinion

Including three details in the middle

Writing an ending sentence to our opinion stories

Math:

Telling time to the nearest hour and half hour

Theme:

Writing New Year’s Resolutions

Creating goals to challenge ourselves

Report Cards

Report cards for second quarter will be coming home very soon. Along with your child’s report card, I will be attaching several assessments.  Remember, many of these skills do not have to be mastered until the end of first grade. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have!

Dates to Remember

January 18th- No School

February 4th- Spring Pictures

February 12th- Dismiss at 12:30

February 15th- No School

March 3rd- First Grade Musical