Week 6

Student-led Conferences

Please look over our meeting schedules and select a time that works for you and your Firstie to meet. We will discuss our school day and your child’s progress through their eyes. 

Mrs. Fiesbeck (October 10, 11, 15, plus November 7 and 8)

Ms. Gould

What’s Up?

• In math students will tell and solve math stories 

• Our skills block will focus on reading and spelling one-syllable words, including words with /n/ spelled k-n and the beginning blends sk, sm, sn, sp, st, sw, str, spr, scr, and spl. 

• We will plan for, create, and reflect on our magnificent things. 

Ask Your Firstie

• What are some examples of things you do during math centers? How about literacy centers?

• Who do you enjoy playing with at recess? 

• What is something that is fun at school?

• What is something  you’d like to learn more about?

• What does your Art teacher say when she comes to get you? How about your Library teacher?

Week 5

 

Student-led Conferences

Please look over our meeting schedules and select a time that works for you and your Firstie to meet. We will discuss our school day and your child’s progress through their eyes. 

Mrs. Fiesbeck

Ms. Gould

Friday Folders

You may have noticed that a variety of work items came home in student Friday Folders this week. It’s likely you saw that many papers were only partially completed. At this point in the year, that is to be expected. However, a conversation with your child about why they did not complete their assignments is appreciated. As their work stamina improves, the number of completed tasks should also increase. If you’re not seeing improvement over the next few weeks, please revisit this topic with your child. We may, on occasion, send home work that needs to be finished. However, it is expected that our Firsties learn to get their work done during class time. 

What’s Up?

• In math we will begin our second unit. Students will solve new types of story problems within 10 using the relationship between addition and subtraction. They will develop an understanding of the meaning of the equal sign and connect story problems to equations.

• We will learn about Johnny Appleseed and will practice creating a magnificent thing–an apple picker! 

• Our focus will continue to be on teamwork and communication as we read and process literature leading us toward our class project of creating a magnificent tool for the classroom.

• We will begin our study of light and sound in Science.

• We will study beginning consonant blends such as: sl, bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr

Ask Your Firstie

• What do these words mean: category, data, difference, sum, survey

• What tools do we have at home and how are they used?

• What tools do I need for work? (Please share with them any tools you use such as specific computer programs or handheld tools. We are learning that every task requires the right tool).

• Read these words: tack, snack, trick, sock, block, backpack, friend, half, first, why, when, where, what.

Donations needed

We could use your help with a couple of things! Please check out this sign up sheet. Thanks!

Interested in Volunteering at school? 

Please complete this form. It must be filled out annually.

Field Trips

To help offset the cost of our field trips, we ask families to donate $5/student (max of $10/family). You can submit the money using this link. Thank you!

Week 4

What’s Up?

• In math we are learning to survey others and sort objects into categories in order to collect and organize data. We will continue to hone our addition and subtraction skills within 10.

• Our Language Arts skills block will focus on the digraphs ck and wh as well as the high frequency words first, friend, and half.

• In reading we will continue to unearth our mission to create something magnificent for our classroom through various challenges including tower building, jumping rope, juggling, and reflecting on habits of character. Literature to support our work includes: My Math Toolbox, by Nancy Kelley Allen; I Use Science Tools by Kellie Hicks; Tools by Ann Morris; The Little Red Pen by Janet and Susan Stevens; A Chef’s Tools by Holden Strauss; Building our House by Jonathan Bean; Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty; Brick by Brick by Charles R. Smith; and Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Ask Your Firstie

• What sound does the letter y make in these words: sky, try, fly, spy?

• How many syllables are in each of these words: mable, fake, disappointed, hexagon?

• What is a “Write the Room”?

• What is something you want me to know about or notice in your classroom during Back to School Night?

Interested in Volunteering at school? 

Please complete this form. It must be filled out annually.

Field Trips

To help offset the cost of our field trips, we ask families to donate $5/student (max of $10/family). You can submit the money using this link. Thank you!

Week 3

What’s Up?

• We are working on distinguishing between a statement and a question, or asking sentences and telling sentences. As we read and discuss texts this is especially important.

• We will sort tools and we work toward our Module 1 project in Language Arts

• Reading and spelling one syllable words with the letter y being used for the long /i/ sound will be our skill focus.

• In Math we will also be working on sorting, as well as graphing. We are working on strategy games as we add and subtract 1 and 2.

• Wants and Needs are our focus in Social Studies this week.

Ask Your Firstie

• What is are some important ingredients in friendship?

• What should you do if somebody near you is making it hard to be a listening in class?

• What does these symbols mean? + - =

• What is something that you SHOULD do on the playground? What is something you should NOT do on the playground?

Reminders

• It may be a good idea to keep a jacket or hoodie in your Firstie’s backpack this time of year.

• Please label any layers or gear. 

Week 2

The school year is off to a great start! 

What’s Up?

• Students will take the NWEA math and reading tests this week.

• Students will demonstrate their foundational reading skills throughout the week.

• We will begin our first math unit which focuses on adding and subtracting within 5.

• We will review the strategies of counting on or counting back to solve and relate addition to subtraction.

• We will work to build stamina for listening and working.

• This week will be the launch of our brand new Language Arts curriculum materials. This week we will introduce the book, The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires.

• In Social Studies we are considering the question, “How is our Classroom Like a Family”?

Ask Your Firstie

• What have you learned about emergency procedures?

• Who do you sit beside at lunch? In the classroom?

• How does your teacher get the attention of the class?

• What is your new music teacher’s name? 

• Do you have Mrs. Hassenger or Mrs. Bacolor for Media Center?

• Did you like Jitter Juice on the first day of school?

• Do you have to walk in a line in the hallway?

Reminders

• Firsties have snack daily and are expected to bring their own. 

• Water bottles are very helpful!

• Library books are due back each week. (Thursday for Ms. Gould’s class, Wednesday for Mrs. Fiesbeck’s class).

• Students who are having breakfast at school should go directly to the gym upon arrival rather than waiting for classes to be brought inside. 

Requests

Attached here is the First Grade Amazon Wishlist. We will include it in the blog often. Usually the requests relate to a specific unit or module we’re teaching or general classroom supply needs. The items included this week are to streamline our literacy skills games as well as some fun items for our Star Table Tub which rotates daily. If you’re able to help us out we are very grateful, but fully understand that purchasing extra supplies is not something everyone is willing or able to do. Thanks for considering!