Scientists at Work!

Zachary ~ "Homemade Paste"



Dylan ~ "Erupting Volcano"



Bella ~ "Blobs in a Bottle" Lava Lamp

December 19-21

This week we will be reviewing for the end of second quarter.

Here are some fun activities we are going to do this week.
Monday, December 19th
• “Read and Relax”
-Students need to bring 4-5 books from home.

Tuesday, December 20th
• “Holiday Dance Party”
-We’ll save some time to “dance and celebrate” to our favorite holiday songs.

Wednesday, December 21st
• PJ Day!!! –Feel free to allow your child to wear pajamas to school. No slippers allowed, regular shoes required.
• Polar Express Morning!
• Our PTO Winter Party @ 2:15

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. Enjoy your time with your family and make some wonderful memories.

Just a few Reminders
-Please make sure your child’s winter gear is labeled and weather appropriate.
- Feel free to bring in a pair of extra clothes and socks to store in lockers.
-Please continue to check take home folder and return daily.
-Please continue to bring in “one” snack daily.

December 12-16

For the week of 12/12/16
What We’re Learning This Week:

Reading: We will be reading the story, “Ruby in Her Own Time.” Students will be asking and answering questions about key details in this text and describing the characters, setting, and major events. We’ll be continuing guided reading and Daily 5/Centers. As always, we’ll be reading poetry weekly for fluency and expression practice.

*Please continue to read your child’s book-in-a-bag nightly with them.

Writing: The first graders will finish their opinion unit this week and complete an ON DEMAND writing assessment prompt. Our next unit is informational writing.

Word Study/Spelling:
Fry Words: Fry Read and Write Words: will, each, about
Short vowel word families will be our focus for this quarter. Word families share the same vowels/patterns and rhyme.
Feature/Pattern of the week: Beginning Sounds - k, wh, qu, tw
Ex: where, whisper, kind, quest, twice, twelve

Grammar:
Continue using verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future; fix-up sentences together

Math: Our math lessons each day will include computational fluency, fact fluency, and core math instruction focused on the first grade common core math standards. Computational fluency will help the students to use the most effective and efficient strategies. Fact Fluency is working with both addition and subtraction facts within 10. Our end-of-the-year goal is to have students complete 22 addition facts in one minute and 22 subtraction facts in one minute (the second quarter goal is 15 addition problems in one minute and 15 subtraction problems in one minute). Our core lessons will include hands-on math activities and games that support the common core.
*The students will be complete a summative assessment on surveys this week.

1st grading period Science and Social Studies:
Science: The needs of animals
Social Studies: Economics and dividing time into categories

Extras:

* We shop at the Holiday Shop on Monday, December 12
• No School for Students (Winter Break): December 22nd - January 3rd

December 5-9

For the week of December 5
What We’re Learning This Week:

Reading: “An Egg is an Egg” Students will be retelling stories including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message. As always, we will be reading poetry for fluency and expression practice.

Writing: We are continuing with our Opinion/Persuasive writing. The students are learning to write about things they like and how to CONVINCE their readers on why they like it. We will be focusing on writing book reviews, giving sneak peak summaries and using conjunctions. We also continue to focus on capital letters, ending marks and neat handwriting.

Word Study/Spelling:
Fry Words: See back of Spelling list for words to practice.
Feature/Pattern of the week: pr, tr, dr, br Ex: pretzel, triangle, drum bread

Grammar: Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present and future

Math: Our math lessons each day will include computational fluency, fact fluency, and core math instruction focused on the first grade common core math standards. Computational fluency will help the students to use the most effective and efficient strategies. Fact Fluency is working with both addition and subtraction facts within 10. At our goal is to have students complete 22 addition facts in one minute and 22 subtraction facts in one minute. Our core lessons will include hands-on math activities and games that support the common core.

2nd grading period Science and Social Studies:

Science: Basic needs of animals
Social Studies: Economics and dividing time into categories

Extras:
Winter Break: December 22nd-January 3rd---Back to school on January 4th, 2017