Week in Review, August 21-25, 2023

  

For more weekly pictures, click here. 

Have you ever written about a small moment in your life? This week, in Writing, students learned about the writing cycle. First, we planned our beginning, middle and end by sketching across our pages. Then, we talked about what makes a good lead or introduction. For a quick review video, click here. One strategy is to start with a question. Another is having a great hook. We are really pushing ourselves to write a hook that will make the reader keep reading. Students also learned one of Ms. Parra's favorite words: onomatopoeia. Everyone enjoyed writing the "Flying Markers" story together. Make sure to ask about that. We also finished our No Excuse Word assessment and took our Primary Spelling Inventory Assessment (PSI).

Writing Pre-Assessments were sent home this last week. Pre-Assessments are sent home as a tool and as a way you can support your child's writing at home. The highlighted column is the end of unit benchmark. Most have not reached this benchmark as we haven't taught the unit. Post-Assessments will be shared during our October Conference. If you noticed our child scored low in one of the rows, we encourage you to read the weekly writing section, in this Blog, and have a conversation about what they are doing in writing. You can always practice at home too!

In Reading, we read The Best Place to Read and worked to build our "Reading Stamina." Ask your child what reading stamina is and how many minutes the class was able to get. Also, ask your child about their Reading Contract. What are they supposed to do during independent reading time? Home practice information will be coming home September 4th.

Phonics lessons began this week and the students did fabulous. Our systematic curriculum helps students decode words more effectively, improving their reading and spelling skills. Every other day students use their iPad for a "blending board" to spell. They liked this activity. 

In Math, we continued with Unit 1. The students sorted tools into categories in a way that made sense to them. We learned the words "sort" and "category." Then we polled the class and used the data. First, we organized the categorical data and then learned how we can represent the data so that others understand. The students really enjoyed these math activities and some even created their own surveys to collect data. Watch this sorting video as a review and grab some collections from around the house to sort. You can also watch this representing data video as a review and ask your child to create a survey for the family (come up with a question, conduct the survey, and represent the answers in a graph).

In Social Studies, We read Your Name is a Song and Chrysanthemum. The students are very curious about each other's name meaning. We will continue to read more name inquiry papers through next week. We went to the STEAM lab together and built a spy robot as a community. The students built the robot, connected it to an iPad via Bluetooth and programmed the motion sensor to detect motion and run the code. On Friday, we had our first counseling lesson with Ms. Selvie. Students learned about being inclusive. Our teacher led Second Step lesson, this week, focused on distraction. We learned some strategies we can tap into when we are feeling distracted. Ask your child about something they might try.

Upcoming Events:

*Join the Class WhatsApp Group.

*We need one more room parent. Please think about volunteering. 

*No more milk jugs needed. Thank you!

• August 28-
• Happy Birthday Liam! Liam will be sharing a donut. No PM snack needed. 
• AIMS Web testing (math) at 10:10. Go to bed early (the night before), eat a good breakfast, and send in a healthy AM snack.
• August 29-Swim for PE. Bring your blue swim bag.
• August 30-AIMS Web testing (reading) at 2:10. Go to bed early (the night before), eat a good breakfast, and send in a healthy AM snack.
• September 1-No School! Singapore Polling Day!
• September 4
• EAA starts today!
• Reading homework starts. Please watch for the homework binder coming home in your child's backpack.
• September 6-Last Swim for PE.
• September 11-No School! Faculty Inservice Day!

Week in Review, August 14-18, 2023

 

For more weekly pictures, click here. 

To watch a video from music class, click on the video folder. 

In Writing, we took our Pre-Assessment for our Small Moment Writing Unit (Personal Narrative). Watch for it coming home this next week in your child's zippy. We also started Unit 1, Small Moments. A small moment is something your child has done (a personal story with lots of details). We brainstormed small moments and will start the writing process next week. Ask your child which small moment they plan to start with next week. Have them retell you the moment and ask them about the details. This will help them with the writing process next week. Ask them the following questions:

1. When did this happen (day of the week, month of year, time of day, age, etc.)?
2. What was the weather like?
3. Where were they (county, city, place, etc.)?
4. Who were they with (family, friends, etc.)?
5. What were the sequence of events?
6. How did they feel about this event?

In Reading, we enjoyed a Reader's Theatre put on by our Learning Support teachers, Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Karumbaya. We also had our first library visit and first monthly assembly. We are working hard to build a love of reading! We signed our Technology agreement and learned how to take care of our iPads. We also read and shared our "Forever Books." Next week we will start Unit 1, Readers Build Good Habits. 

In Math, we started Unit 1-Adding, Subtracting, and Working with Data. We learned how to write an expression and played interactive games to build fluency. Print one of the following games and ask your child how to play it. A favorite was Number Race.

• Number Race (cards or dice)
• Check it Off (cards or dice)
• Counting Collections (make your own collection from objects at home-under 20-and practice drawing ten frames).
• Five in a Row (cards, dice, & use coins/Legos as counters)

You can learn more about our math program by reading the IM Introductory Letter. 

In Social Studies, we continued to get to know the members in our community by sharing "Me Bags." We reviewed our school-wide rules and brainstormed some classroom rules we might adopt. We also started our one time a week Second Step Morning Meeting. During our Tuesday Morning Meeting we will be working to build community through a mini counseling lesson taught by the classroom teacher. For units of study, please check out the SEL tab at the top of the Blog. Next week, to get to know eachother better, we will start studying our names. Please look for the "Name Inquiry" paper that came home in your child's zippy Friday. Talk to your child about their name and how they came by it. Please send the project back to school next week. You can read the parent letter for our Community Unit here.

Upcoming Events:

*We have our Explorer Room Parents. A BIG THANK YOU to Matty's mom Nathalie and Duru's mom Pinar. They will be creating a Explorer WhatsApp group after Back to School Night. 

*Please send a 1/2 gallon milk/juice jug to school ASAP. If you have extra, please send them in as some families may drink from cardboard cartons. Thanks!

• August 21-
• Class & individual photos at 8:55. Today is also a free dress day for photos! 
• Swim for PE. Bring your blue swim bag if you ended up taking it home last week.
• Terry will be sharing a cupcake today for PM snack. No need to send a PM snack.
• Virtual Back to School Night from 7:00-7:45 PM. We are the only 1st grade class going Monday night due to a conflict (Mrs. Wood is traveling back to the USA to settle her son into university). Thanks for your understanding!  
• August 24-Swim for PE. Bring your blue swim bag.
• August 25-Happy Birthday Terry! 
• August 26-1st Grade Back to School Social, 10:00-11:30. Come play with your friends at school and meet other families. No need to sign up! 
• August 28-
• Happy Birthday Liam!
• AIMS Web testing (math) at 10:10. Go to bed early (the night before), eat a good breakfast, and send in a healthy AM snack.
• August 29-Swim for PE. Bring your blue swim bag.
• August 30-AIMS Web testing (reading) at 2:10. Go to bed early (the night before), eat a good breakfast, and send in a healthy AM snack.
• September 4-EAA starts today!

Week in Review, August 10-11, 2023

For more weekly pictures, click here.

We had a wonderful start! We earned lots of party animals, had our first lucky draw (ask your child about this), played some fun games, danced and moved to a few brain breaks, and enjoyed two Choice Times! The students are having a fun time getting to know each other and their teachers. Your children are very curious, asking great questions, and responding very well to our classroom structure and routines. Your children are precious! Thank you for sharing them with us. We count it a great honor that you have entrusted us with your child. Our goal is to instill a deep love of learning and a desire to treat other people the way they want to be treated (the Golden Rule). We are going to have a fantastic year! 

During our first two days together we read A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School, David Goes to School, First Grade Stinks, and The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. In A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School, students learned what we hope for their first grade year. In David Goes to School, we learned that sometimes we make mistakes. It's part of learning and growing. The important thing is that we learn from it, make it right, and do our best to not repeat it. In First Grade Stinks!, Haley is not so sure about first grade. She is missing the familiarity of Kindergarten! She soon realizes that first grade is exciting and challenging. First grade doesn’t stink….It ROCKS! In The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, the Gingerbread Man is running around the school trying to find the class that made him. He meets the PE teacher, the librarian, the nurse, the counselor, the science teacher, and the principal. He learns school rules and how the adults in his community can support him. He is finally reunited with his class and treated to a gingerbread house and a gingerbread desk of his own. Upon conclusion of The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, we found a note in the back of the book from the Gingerbread Man. He wanted us to come find him. We followed the clues around the school. Along the way we visited the library, the counseling office, the nurse station, and the principal's office. We met our counselor, Ms. Selvie, and our principals, Mr. Hoss and Dr. Wan. The clues led us back to our room where we found a delicious gingerbread man cookie waiting for us. Thank you Gingerbread Man for helping us explore our school and meet our important community members.  

We also worked on an explorer craft, played a math game, and explored our math toolkits. Teachers shared favorite books and Me Bags with the class. Ask your child what their favorite part of first grade is, so far. 

Friday, “Me Bags” were sent home in your child's zippy. Please send them back to school by the end of the week so we can get to know each other better. 

Upcoming Events:

*Please explore the links on the right side of the screen.

*Room Parents Needed-Calling all Explorer parents! We need 2 parent volunteers to help with our budget, volunteers, and celebrations. If you are willing, please sign up here. The PTA will contact you with next steps.

*Join the SAS Community Chat groups here. Please note a WhatsApp chat group will be created for our classroom community (P212 Explorers) after we have received our Room Parents.

*Read the SAS eNews here.

• August 14-Bring your "Forever Book" (favorite book) to school. This book will stay at school until August 30th.
• August 15-
• Library (bring red bag)
• Registration for Season 1 EAA opens at 6 PM.
• All photos due for Writing Folder project!
  
• August 16-First Swim for PE. Bring your blue swim bag with swim gear inside. Please read the Swim Letter here for more information.
• August 18-Red Out Day!
• August 21-
• Class & individual photos at 8:55. Today is also a free dress day for photos!
• Swim for PE. Bring your blue swim bag with swim gear inside. 
• Virtual Back to School Night from 7:00-7:45 PM. We are the only 1st grade class going Monday night due to a conflict (Mrs. Wood is traveling back to the USA to settle her son into university). Thanks for your understanding!