Reading Matters

The Ugly Duckling

We saw a Lightwire Performance of The Ugly Duckling at the Florissant Civic Center. The whole theater was in black so we could see the lights outlining the ducklings.  It was very cool.

February Newsletter

Reading Workshop: We launched our new unit, Readers meet Characters and Series books by reading about Iris and Walter from the series and Mr. Putter and Tabby from the series.  We recorded our thoughts, wonderings and favorite parts on post-its and in our readers' notebook. 

We learned that Characters DRIVE the story by: 

showing emotion, 

taking us places, 

getting into trouble or having problem and then...

 fixing the problem or finding a solution.

Also, we are learning about characters from their friends. 

**Character in series books become our friends because we know them so well.***
Click link for series books at first grade's "Just Right Level"   First Grade Book Suggestions


Writer's Workshop, Our Writing Review unit is all about writing an opinion. The children are writing their opinions about the items in the collection they brought from home. But that is not all! Kids have opinions about a lot of things. They are honing their skills by writing about their favorite: food, sport, color,  pet, etc.  Did you know Opinion writing is like the cookie O.R.E.O.? Opinion writing involves much more than just stating an Opinion. Students must give Reasons for their opinion presented in an interesting and convincing manner with Examples.  The last sentence is a restate of their Opinion.  

In Math, we are in Chapter 13, Addition and Subtraction to 40. The students are learning many strategies to solve addition and subtraction to 40. Many regrouped larger numbers with blocks, cubes/tens rods and used the number line to help them find the answer. 
They are able to draw the  problem and answer the problem or use expanded notation to show tens and ones.

Drawing tens as a line and ones as dots and xs.

Breaking down the problem into tens and ones

Being able to understand what the question is asking before starting the solution is key!
 Over  the summer your child may access online resources to help them practice their math:

    www.gregtangmath.com   or    www.mathgames.com

NEXT UP: Social Studies: Long Ago and Today. 

Social Studies- Our new unit is Long Ago and Today.

*****Timeline project****

Please send 6-7 pictures of your child from birth through now. These need to be copies because students will be gluing them on paper for their own timeline. If you want, you can send digital pictures through email and I will print them on the color printer at school. Make sure your child has seen these pictures and can write one sentence telling about the picture. Please send them to school by spring break.

PARENTS:
 If you have any “old” objects around the house that you would be willing to share with the class, we would love it. Some examples of old objects are: typewriters, cameras, tape recorders, record players, toys, etc.


Parent Teacher Conferences are Now! March 4-14   
All parents used www.signupgenius.com to make their date/time selection. 
You will be getting a reminder email a few days before the conference.  

Looking Ahead: 
March 8- Conference Prep- NO SCHOOL 
March 4-14 Conferences
March 15- 24 Spring Break
April 5- Early Release
April 19th- April Break, NO SCHOOL
April 24th- Field Trip to the Museum of Transportation
May 3rd- Early Release
May 10th- Field Trip to the Magic House 
May 24th- Field Day
May 27th- No School Memorial Day

May 30th- Last day, Early Release