Dear families, After many weeks of practice with Mr. Murdock, our very own Eleanor Labrode sang at All School Meeting. We were all impressed by the courage she demonstrated in her spectacular performance. This week's meeting also included culminating performances, by the fourth and fifth grades, to celebrate Black History Month. The fourth grade presented historical events with a visual time line. The audience was asked to assist in placing the events in chronological order. The fifth grade sang a moving song performance called "Fight for Freedom". Today, Ms Griffin dedicated the library to Dr Seuss in celebration of his birthday. First grade enjoyed browsing through the large selection of his books. We were accompanied by our literacy helpers with whom we were able to read and share our favorite Dr.Seuss selections. Have a great weekend. Seema Curriculum HighlightsMathematics
-Chapter 10 Weight -comparing the weight of the objects -terminology- heavier, lighter, as heavy as, heaviest, lightest -Making predictions of what items are heavier/lighter -Using a scale to compare items Reading -Practicing to read words with 2 syllables -The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novac (Read to us by Jack Fearons) -Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee -Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. This book was used to exemplify descriptive writing. Spelling -Learning the doubling rule when adding suffix endings -Reviewing open syllables -Practicing to spell two syllable words with open syllables -Playing the game "Oh No!" to review of sight words Writing First grade students have been creating their own fairy tale. Last week, they created a story map. This week, they outlined and started to develop the events of the story. Each student will include a problem/solution or a lesson in his/her fairy tale. - Social Studies -Learning basic mapping skills -Determining the uses of the map, how to describe what was on the street and it's relative location -Using the community map and a map key to locate specific features, streets and buildings on the map.
0 Comments
Dear families, Congratulations to your first grader. They are 100 days smarter! We had a very eventful week to celebrate our 100th day of school. The day included several enjoyable activities. They counted 100 legos and constructed their own unique creation. The students assembled a 100th day puzzle. We played a counting game called POP to practice counting by 5's and 10's to 100. In addition, the class contributed their favorite exercises for our 100th day workout. Have a great weekend! Seema Curriculum HighlightsMathematics
-completed Chapter 9 Length -Chapter 9 assessment -100th day number grid- to fill in the missing numbers -100th day chart puzzle -Count 100 Legos by using groups of 10 Reading -We are continuing our study of fairy tales. The students are identifying the characters, setting the main idea and lesson of each story -The Fisherman and his Wife -The Frog Prince -The Ugly Duckling -Reviewing open and closed syllables -Time for Kids - with our Literacy Helpers Writing -The students used the story starter-If I had 100_____________I would.... -Spelling- Sight words- my, any, now -Mixed up sentences- To write the sentences in the correct order using the proper writing conventions. -Learning about the doubling rule (1-1-1 -learning when to double the consonant when adding a suffix ending. Social Studies -Ms. Caynon has been very generous sharing with her time and knowledge about the Winter Olympics. -We continue to study and compare the different characteristics of different communities. -We are using the terminology of urban, suburban and rural. -First grade is beginning to learn about maps. We looked at a map of our classroom. Dear Families, First grade students had a great week of sharing with their classmates. We celebrated Valentine's day through several activities. The students wrote their own "Love is .." sentiment and designed their own unique painting of a heart. They were very excited to make and exchange special cards with their classmates. It was great to meet with you this week for conferences. I feel very fortunate to be working with such as wonderful group of students. Have a nice weekend Seema Curriculum HighlightsMathematics
-Chapter 9-Measuring Lengths -using cubes to measure the lengths -comparing lengths of objects -using different objects to measure the same item (ie, paper clips, popsicle sticks) Reading First grade has been learning about Fairy Tales this week. We have been sharing some classic and modern versions of fairy tales. -The Three Little Pigs and The True Story of the Three Little Pig by Jon Scieszka -Little Red Riding Hood- A New fangled Prairie Tale by Lisa Campbell Ernst- This version has a clever spin on the classic story. The big bad wolf is planning to outsmart Little Red Riding Hood for her Grandma's secret muffin recipe. However, when the wolf finally encounters the grandma, his life is transformed by her kindness. Writing -Weekend News- the students are to write at least 3 sentences. We are introducing the 5 w's (who, when, why, where, what) to stretch the details of our weekend stories. -Sentence stretchers- practicing to use describing words within a sentence. Spelling -sight word practice- about, blue, into, -Practicing words with nk endings (ank, ink, onk, unk) -review of words with ng endings (ang, ing, ong, ung) Social Studies -We continue to learn about different kinds of communities. We have discussed the differences of the suburban and urban communities. Vocabulary- urban, suburban -In honor of President's day, the class created a booklet and art project of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Many thanks to our literacy helpers. Dear families, This past week has been very exciting. The first grade students have been sharing their expertise through our writing center. We have been learning to write "How to" books, such as how to make a sandwich, how to make a bracelet, how to make slime. The students did a great job describing and writing the steps involved in their activity. If you have any projects that you would like to share or demonstrate, feel free to join us. For current news, we have been discussing the Olympics. With the assistance of the literacy helpers, the students have been learning interesting facts about the Olympics such as the location, the participating countries, the traditions and the winter sports involved. The class was very interested in hearing and learning about the events and new sports they have never before seen. I look forward to seeing you this week at conferences. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Seema Curriculum HighlightsMathematics
-Chapter 7 Review and assessment for addition and subtraction for numbers 0-20 -Chapter 8- Length- comparing two lengths -Comparing more than two items -Vocabulary- tall, taller, tallest, short, shorter, shortest, long, longer, longest -Differentiating the terminology between how tall an object is, or how long an object is. Reading -Together we shared the book Iris and Walter by Elissa Haden Guest. -Listened to a chapter of Elmer and the Dragon -Accomplished- 25 min of reading stamina for the second time Writing -Learning to write the steps involved for our "How to" writing piece. The students chose a topic that they want to teach their peers. They decided on the important steps involved for their project and wrote them in sequential order. -Group activity-Our first activity was "How to blow a bubble". This activity practiced stretching out our sentences to include more detail. Also, it introduced the use of transitions words such as first, next, then and last. Spelling -Learning to spell words with nasal sounds ng. We practiced spelling words with the letter combinations of ang, ong, ing, ung -Sight words- about, want, into Social Studies We are learning about our communities. This week we compared the similarities and differences between communities in the country and in the city. We read the book Country Mouse and City Mouse about two friendly mice that visit each other to compare their two different lifestyles. Iris and Walter by Elissa Haden Guest was also a book that discussed a little girls transition in moving from the city to the country. Initially, she misses all the noises, smells and conveniences of the city but then learns to love the tranquility and beauty of the country. Dear families, First grade had an enjoyable week in the snow. It was impressive to see the students' cooperation and consideration when taking turns with the sleds they shared at recess. During our writing project, the students were practicing their newly learned letter writing skills. They described special acts that our community members do for us to ensure our safety, teach us important skills, guide us and make us feel better throughout the day. Each student chose a member of our FA community and wrote a letter of appreciation. They did a terrific job expressing their gratitude. Have a great weekend. Seema Curriculum Highlights Mathematics -doubling facts -Practicing numbers with ten base blocks -Review of numbers 0-20 -addition and subtraction of numbers 0-20 -Students practiced math skills on the Matholia website. Reading
-Introduced word contractions (I'll- I will) -Word work- writing sentences using learned sight words -Four in a Row game- to practice reading Magic e words -We enjoyed reading from our Chapter book Elmer and the Dragon Spelling -Writing contractions -Sight words- could, would, should -Review spelling work to practice spelling rules Writing Heart Maps- We discussed what things are special to each of us. This heart map is used as a starting point for our future writing projects. -Letter writing- Each student chose a member of the FA community to write a friendly letter to and express their gratitude. -Weekly news Social Studies We are starting our study of Communities and neighborhoods. Together, we discussed the term "neighborhood", The students were asked to draw their homes and discuss the surrounding area. With assistance from our literacy helpers, first grade drew pictures of the street and home. The students practiced their street names and the town in which they live. Dear families, This week in first grade we learned about writing friendly letters. We had a preview of letter writing in our reading selections, such as the book Dear Mrs. La Rue. This book is about a dog that is sent to obedience school. He writes home pleading with his owner to let him return home. First grade did a great job writing their first letter. Who better to write to than Mrs. Nelson. The students were happy to express their excitement and ask many questions about Baby Cassia. This week in All School Meeting, Mrs. Pellisier told her story of being the “new kid” many times in her lifetime. Her story illustrated her feelings of uneasiness and anxiety with each of these experiences and transitions she faced. She discussed the importance of the kind people she encountered and how they impacted her life. Mrs P. appreciated the small acts such as a smile and a helping hand. The message that resonates is that one should be kind and respectful, and appreciate everyone for their unique qualities. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Seema Curricular Highlights Math -math activities using number values chart -Chapter 8- Addition to 20 -number bonds- counting by making groups of 10 -doubles facts (5+5, 6+6) -vocabulary- doubles, place value chart Reading
-A preview to letter writing we read Dear Mrs. La Rue by Mark Teague. -We achieved our third round of reading stamina for 20 minutes. The class is excited to move ahead to 25 min -played a new game called “Oh no”. This game is an enjoyable way to practice reading and decoding words. Spelling -Practicing dividing two syllable words -review of magic e words -sight words- some, come, two Social Studies & Science -Blubber experiment was to explain how fat insulates some animals to keep warm. First, the students felt the cold ice water with their bare hands. Then, they wore blubber glove to compare the effects and the warmth of the fat. -In Science, the first grade is studying balance and motion. While visiting Ms. Tammaro’s class, I had a chance to watch the students experiment with their marble tracks. They tried different lengths, heights and configurations to test their creations. Winter Animals Winter is cold. There is snow in the sky. The squirrel gathers nuts And the wild geese fly. The fluffy red fox Has his fur to keep warm. The bear’s in her cave, Sleeping all through the storm. Dear families, First grade took a nice nature walk this week. We observed some of the areas that animals and insects choose to keep warm for the winter season, as studied in Melissa Stewart’s book Under the Snow. Through our readings, we discussed the different ways that animals respond to our changing seasons. Our literacy helpers read to the first grade and assisted the students in a sorting activity to determine which animals hibernate, migrate and adapt to the winter weather. Game night was a very enjoyable evening. It was great to see some of our first grade families and wonderful to meet members our FA community. Thank you to all who were able to join us. Curricular Highlights
Mathematics- Completed Chapter 7 with assessment- learning numbers 0-20 -Finding the number patterns -Learning about the place value chart and finding the place value of a number -Comparing numbers- the difference between two numbers Reading- Review reading words with "Magic e" (silent e) -practicing reading words with the long u sounds -Word work- Correcting the mixed up sentences. -Group activity-We were eager to read the new chapter book Elmer and the Dragon. This is the second book in the series of books by Ruth Stiles Gannett. The students were asked to recall and describe important events from the previous book. Spelling- Review “magic e” and how it produces a long vowel sound. -Practice the two sounds of u-e. -Word work- We practiced writing sentences using a list of sight words. -New sight words- give, so, does Writing -This week our writing activity was entitled “Winter Fun”. Each student wrote the activities they enjoy in the winter season. We created snowglobes illustrating their favorite activity. Social Studies- Hibernation In social studies, we learned how different animals respond to the changing seasons. We introduced hibernation, migration and adaptatation. The book Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart illustrates location that animals and insects hibernate. Also, we have been discussing how some animals adapt to the seasons. Have a great weekend! Seema Happy New YearDear families, Our first week of school in year 2018 has been exciting! The children enjoyed discussing all of their great accomplishments for the year 2017. Each student made a self portrait and set a new personal goal. First graders were eager to share their holiday stories. They have been writing about special activities over the winter break. This week, our workshop includes answering the 5 w’s (who, when, why, where, what). They have been working to add details to expand their stories. At this week’s All School Meeting, we were fortunate to see the middle school presentation of Martin Luther King Jr. All of the students and teachers joined Mr. Murdock in singing “We Shall Overcome”. Curricular HighlightsMathematics
-Chapter 7- learning numbers 0-20 -The addition of numbers to 20 -Finding the place value of a number -Comparing numbers, finding the difference in between the two numbers -Using the vocabulary greater than, less than and equal Reading- Review reading words with the suffix s. -practicing reading words with long vowel sounds -writing words in alphabetical order -Group activity-reading a book about Martin Luther King Jr. Spelling- Review and assessment for suffix s. -Practicing how the suffix ‘s’ can sound like a /s/ or /z/. -Introduce “magic e” and how it produces a long vowel sound. -Sight words- been, by, who Writing -Winter Break stories. The students practiced the process of writing, editing and producing a final copy. Social Studies- Hibernation In social studies, we have been learning about how different animals respond to the changing seasons. We read “Bear Has A Story to Tell” by Philip Stead. This is an endearing book about friendship and how Bear wants to share a story with his friends. However, his friends are all busy preparing for their winter sleep. This week we were happy to welcome our new literacy helpers. Together, we discussed the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and teachings. Have a great weekend! Seema First Grade Week of Giving 2017Dear families, This past week was a joyful one for first grade. Each year, the first graders engage in a Week of Giving prior to winter break to help them reflect on others and understand their own privilege. This year, each day students participated in at least one act of kindness to give back to their local and external communities. It was awesome to see their excitement to learn about the project of the day and to witness them diving into this meaningful work. Here is what we did: Monday: baked cookies and brownies for police and firefighters; made paper snowflakes and snowmen and attached them to homemade cards Tuesday: wrote and painted cards for a 4-year-old girl named Ruby who is at Tuft's Children's Hospital in Boston; they also created jeweled snowflakes for her to hang in her room. Click here to learn more about Ruby. Wednesday: made bird feeders with pinecones, lard, and seeds and strung cereal on twine to hang in the woods for our local birds Thursday: made it through the snowy parking lot to read books with our Farmhouse friends; made cards for active military to be sent with a candy bar care package to thank our service men and women for their dedication and to let them know we are thinking of them during the holidays. We used Operation Shoebox to get the package to the troops. Click here to learn more. Friday: wrote reflections on our week and listed what we were able to accomplish; thought about which activity was most meaningful to us and why; brainstormed ways we can continue giving with our families when we are not in school
My heart is full when I think of the kindness and love the kids showed this week. Thank you all for instilling the importance of giving in your children! A big thanks to all who helped out and donated supplies this week. It made it all go very smoothly and we appreciate it. Pajama Day, Book Exchange, Cocoa & Movie Fun! To cap off our week we had our annual first grade Pajama Day and Book Exchange. The kids were so adorable in their PJs with their special stuffed animals from home. We played a left/right story swapping game and gave kids a chance to practice identifying their left and right side! After the books were swapped over and over, each child had one to unwrap. They each opened the book and read the inscription inside to find out why it was a friend's favorite. Everyone went home with a new book, which we hope they will enjoy for years to come. After our book exchange we settled in to have some hot cocoa and cookies and watch a short holiday movie. We watched Click-Clack-Moo Christmas Farm and kids enjoyed the silly humor. Thanks to Heather for making homemade hot cocoa and to Cindi for providing some vegan treats for those who needed them. Later in the day, kids got to practice for Winterfest on stage in their PJs! What fun :) Curricular NotesMath
- Chapter 6, ordinal numbers from 1st to 10th and vocabulary - Position words (above, below, beneath, next to, beside, etc.) - Using a starting line - Ordering events Writing - Week of Giving cards - Week of Giving reflections Reading - Listened to The Chanukkah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel and debated about whether it was fiction or non-fiction (spoiler alert - this book about a bear dining on latkes in Bubba Brayna's kitchen is fictional!) - Finished My Father's Dragon - Chose and practiced books to read to Farmhouse friends Spelling and Handwriting - Lowercase l in handwriting - Adding an s suffix to closed syllable words to show there is more than one (cat, cats) - Learned the s at the end can sound like /s/ or /z/ Have a fantastic weekend! Katie Dear families, This week students spent time getting to know the new teacher who will be taking the lead in first grade in January. Seema Vallone is a talented, experienced educator who has already made her warm presence felt in our class over the past week. She has taken the lead with morning meeting, designed some phonics word work activities for students, and read stories aloud. As the weeks go on, Seema will take on more and more responsibility; I have no doubt that the students are in capable hands and will learn a lot from this gifted educator. Please join me in welcoming her to our community! If you have not had a chance to come by to say hello and introduce yourself, know you are welcome to do so when you have a free moment. We had our last time with this round of Middle School Literacy Helpers on Friday. They helped first graders understand the difference between nonfiction and fiction and read a Time for Kids magazine with small groups about volcanoes. They then helped them analyze the text and share something they learned. We had a chance to circle up at the end of the period to reflect on our time together. Students shared that they liked having an older student help them read, they enjoyed the activity where they wrote about crystals, that the Literacy Helpers really gave them some good ideas for the pages of their All About Me books, and that they just really loved spending special time with them each week. We hope we get some repeat sign-ups for next semester, as this group of students was particularly great to work with. Next week we will engage in our first grade week of giving. We will do projects to give back to our local and external communities each day and we will have a pajama day and movie to celebrate our success on Friday. Kids are allowed to come to school in their pajamas and may bring one small stuffed animal. They should have real shoes and warm pjs, as we will go outside as usual. On that day we also do a book exchange. I sent home the instructions, but students are to bring a new or gently used book wrapped in plain paper with no tag if they want to participate in the swap. They should write inside why it is a special book to them along with their name. Everyone who chooses to join will go home with someone else's favorite! If your child would like to participate but cannot get a hold of a book, we would be happy to provide them with one so they can play. Let me or Seema know if you need help with this or have any questions. Participation is voluntary. Curricular Highlights Math - Completed chapter 5, Geometry (plane and solid shapes) - Identified characteristics to name plane shapes (sides, corners) - Identified characteristics to name solid shapes (faces, corners) - Shape patterns with solid and plane shapes; locating mistakes in patterns; notion that patterns have to repeat to be a pattern - Creating our own patterns with pattern blocks or cut paper shapes - Sorting shapes by different characteristics - Identifying solid shapes in real life objects Reading - Did our second round of 20 minutes in stamina reading! Kids are loving this dedicated time to read - Continued the chapter book My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett and practiced comprehension skills in detail recall and visualization (only one chapter to go!) - Read Time for Kids and answered comprehension questions - Read Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type with Mrs. Vallone - Practiced fluency (smooth, well-paced reading) with controlled readers to practice the -ck ending - Continued comprehension and fluency work in book clubs as well as responding to reading in writing Spelling & Handwriting - Introduced the concept of a syllable (a word or part of a word with one vowel sound; can be found by clapping out a word like el-e-phant or hot-dog) - Introduced closed syllables (like cat where the vowel is short because the t is closing in the vowel) and open syllables (where the vowel says its name like in the word go because no consonant is closing it in) - Dividing syllables by finding the consonants between two vowels and 'chopping' between them (hap/pen; sun/set; Jus/tin) - Sorting words into their syllable counts - Review week for sight words; wrote super sentences using many commonly misspelled sight words - Practiced writing lowercase i and lowercase e in handwriting Writing - Weekend News to include at least three sentences - Review of conventions (uppercase starter, lowercase letters in the middle, spaces, and a stop sign - period, question mark or exclamation point - at the end) - Family webs Social Studies - Continued our discussion of family and began webs prompted by, "When you think of family, what do you think of?"
- Read A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams and discussed how family, neighbors, and friends come together in times of need to help each other. Students then wrote in their reading response journals about how the community helped the little girl and her mother after they lost everything in a fire. |
AuthorKatie Nelson Archives
January 2018
Categories |