Dear parents,
Spring has begun here in Michigan! With the warm weather and rain we have been seeing lots of mud outside on the playground. Please continue to send your child with the appropriate outdoor clothes as temperatures go up and down this month.
In reading this week we have been continuing to read Realistic Fiction books. We read the book Charlie Anderson. In the story we meet a cat who has two different owners. We discussed how the cat went back and forth between houses. Some students felt the families should keep the cat only for themselves (finders keepers) and some thought the first owners should have the cat solely. This brought up some great ideas about stealing and fairness.
In writing, we have been working on how to begin our stories with Setting the scene or with action!
We have read several books that begin with description and help us visualize the story. We have also read books that have a lot of action. We talked about how writers "hook" the reader with different beginnings. We have begun to revise our stories to make them better. Next week we will pick one story to publish!
In math this week we wrapped up Unit 6. We had two tests, unit test and a cumulative test. We will begin Unit 7 tomorrow. A family letter will come home today.
In Social Studies, we are continuing learning about Earning and Spending. We have discussed Goods and Services. We will learn about Opportunity Costs and Scarcity. We read the book Alexander who Used to Rich Last Sunday. We discussed wants versus needs.
We are getting ready to think about Science again, Our unit on Insects will begin after Spring Break!
There is no school on March 25th, due to Good Friday.
Have a good week everyone!
Mrs. Scheck
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Friday, March 4, 2016
Week of February 29-March 4
Dear parents,
This week we have been working hard in First Grade on reading and writing Realistic Fiction. This week we read the book Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting. In the story a little boy and his dad are homeless and they live in an airport. We discussed how this is realistic fiction because it could happen. We discussed the vocabulary words: airport terminal, fluttered and chute. We read the book and focused on the different view points in the story of the dad, child and a bird. We wrote about the author's message of hope and to never give up!
Our popcorn words this week focused on the spelling pattern -ite and ight. We are learning how silent e makes the vowel "say it's name" or makes a long sound. We will work with this throughout the year.
In writing, we have been continuing on with Realistic Fiction writing. Students learned how to come up with a character and a problem We focused this week to make our character try to solve the problem more than one way. We read the book Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind. We learned that authors make the story more exciting with words and phrases... for example
"suddenly" and "all of the sudden" help create excitement for the reader.
In math this week we have continued to work on facts. We have worked with doubles facts and near doubles. We practice making ten first to help adding numbers bigger than 10. For example, 9+5, could be seen as adding 9 and one more to make 10 then adding the other 4 to equal 14.
We will work next week on number stories for adding and subtracting within 20.
In Social Studies we read the book The Money Tree. We learned the difference between Goods and Services. We discussed how a good can be held in your hand and a service cannot be. We will work next week with goods and services again and with wants and needs.
It is still winter out! Please be sure to send snow clothes. Hopefully next week we will begin to see more spring like weather. Boots are still a good idea as the snow melts and the playground gets muddy!
Have a good weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
This week we have been working hard in First Grade on reading and writing Realistic Fiction. This week we read the book Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting. In the story a little boy and his dad are homeless and they live in an airport. We discussed how this is realistic fiction because it could happen. We discussed the vocabulary words: airport terminal, fluttered and chute. We read the book and focused on the different view points in the story of the dad, child and a bird. We wrote about the author's message of hope and to never give up!
Our popcorn words this week focused on the spelling pattern -ite and ight. We are learning how silent e makes the vowel "say it's name" or makes a long sound. We will work with this throughout the year.
In writing, we have been continuing on with Realistic Fiction writing. Students learned how to come up with a character and a problem We focused this week to make our character try to solve the problem more than one way. We read the book Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind. We learned that authors make the story more exciting with words and phrases... for example
"suddenly" and "all of the sudden" help create excitement for the reader.
In math this week we have continued to work on facts. We have worked with doubles facts and near doubles. We practice making ten first to help adding numbers bigger than 10. For example, 9+5, could be seen as adding 9 and one more to make 10 then adding the other 4 to equal 14.
We will work next week on number stories for adding and subtracting within 20.
In Social Studies we read the book The Money Tree. We learned the difference between Goods and Services. We discussed how a good can be held in your hand and a service cannot be. We will work next week with goods and services again and with wants and needs.
It is still winter out! Please be sure to send snow clothes. Hopefully next week we will begin to see more spring like weather. Boots are still a good idea as the snow melts and the playground gets muddy!
Have a good weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, February 26, 2016
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Week of February 1-5
Dear parents,
This week in first grade we are reading lots of fun non-fiction books. Yesterday and today we read What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? Students had fun looking at different animal's tails, eyes, noses, hands, and mouth and guessing what each animal was. We learned animal facts and found out interesting things!
We also read Go To Sleep Groundhog and talked about Groundhog's day. We will be reading a new book tomorrow called Elmer and the Kangaroo. We will practice working with a partner and writing down what we think and wonder as we read.
In phonics this week we have been working on r controlled vowels. These are the popcorn words his week: girl, dirt, first, shirt, hurt, and hurting.
In math this week vwe have been working more with place value and measurement. We are nearing the end of unit 5. We will also be doing our I Ready math assessment tomorrow.
In writing, we have been working hard on our "how to" writing. We have been noticing how to's in books. We have decided on the components of a how to: a title, clear directions that are numbered, the words first, next, then and last and pictures with captions. We will wrap up how to writing next week.
In Social Studies, we have begun a new unit called Earning and Spending. We learned what trading is and how both parties have to be happy and think that they are getting something better when they trade.
A Valentine's Day party note went home and it explains what we are planning for that day. If you have any questions please email me!
Have a good night,
Mrs. Scheck
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Dear Parents,
We have a had a great week so far in First Grade!
This week we have started some new units to begin our second semester of the year...
In reading, we have started a Non-Fiction reading unit. We started the week with a non-fiction text book called Look Who's Hatching. The book had clues for students to guess who was hatching behind a flap. We learned how to use clues in the books to help find information. Through out the next few weeks we will learn some of the features of non-fiction books such as: table of contents, glossary, index, diagrams, photographs, captions, etc. Mostly we are learning how fiction and non-fiction are different because all things in a non-fiction book are true!
Visualizing is our reading comprehension strategy that we have been practicing during read alouds. We read the book In The Tall, Tall Grass today and we visualized how tall the grass was then wrote and drew about it.
In writing, we have begun a new Non-Fiction unit on "How To" writing. Today we made butter! We learned how to shake heavy cream into butter. The students loved the little "experiment" and were excited to guess what we were making (it was a surprise!)... some guessed ice cream, cake, cream... After making the butter we wrote about it! Everyone got a small taste with a spoon, a few students loved it! Others were not to sure and did not try it, but it was fun anyway!
In math, we started unit 5 today. We are beginning place value. Students worked to build numbers with base 10 blocks. We have a home link tonight that is due tomorrow.
It was awesome to see all the amazing growth in our class in reading since September. I have completed my individual reading assessments and started up our reading groups this week. Look for a reading book this week and remember to return it the next day.
Have a great night!
Mrs. Scheck
We have a had a great week so far in First Grade!
This week we have started some new units to begin our second semester of the year...
In reading, we have started a Non-Fiction reading unit. We started the week with a non-fiction text book called Look Who's Hatching. The book had clues for students to guess who was hatching behind a flap. We learned how to use clues in the books to help find information. Through out the next few weeks we will learn some of the features of non-fiction books such as: table of contents, glossary, index, diagrams, photographs, captions, etc. Mostly we are learning how fiction and non-fiction are different because all things in a non-fiction book are true!
Visualizing is our reading comprehension strategy that we have been practicing during read alouds. We read the book In The Tall, Tall Grass today and we visualized how tall the grass was then wrote and drew about it.
In writing, we have begun a new Non-Fiction unit on "How To" writing. Today we made butter! We learned how to shake heavy cream into butter. The students loved the little "experiment" and were excited to guess what we were making (it was a surprise!)... some guessed ice cream, cake, cream... After making the butter we wrote about it! Everyone got a small taste with a spoon, a few students loved it! Others were not to sure and did not try it, but it was fun anyway!
In math, we started unit 5 today. We are beginning place value. Students worked to build numbers with base 10 blocks. We have a home link tonight that is due tomorrow.
It was awesome to see all the amazing growth in our class in reading since September. I have completed my individual reading assessments and started up our reading groups this week. Look for a reading book this week and remember to return it the next day.
Have a great night!
Mrs. Scheck
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Week of January 11-15
Dear parents,
BRRR! Winter weather has returned to Michigan! This week students have been spending more time inside for recess. Please continue to send the appropriate winter clothing school and mark your child's things with his or her name!
In reading the week we have been practicing a new strategy for reading called Visualizing. Students have learned when they listen to a book or read to themselves they can visual a story when the book doesn't have pictures. We practiced with a poem called "Balloon Man." The students listened to the story two times and shared with a partner "the pictures in their heads." After sharing they drew a picture of what they visualized during Balloon Man. We will continue using this new strategy for the next few weeks.
In writing, we have been working hard on our Writing for Readers unit. I introduced students to personal word walls. The word wall goes into their writing folder, on it are all the popcorn words this year. We also add words to the personal word wall during conferences in writing. Students are now responsible for being able to write the popcorn words correctly during writing time.
In math this week we are wrapping up Unit 4. We have worked hard this week on doubles facts, adding to make ten and adding three numbers in one number sentence. We noticed when adding three numbers to add numbers that made 10 together first then add the third number (3+7+4). We reveiewed strategies: using a number grid, using a number line, using a picture, or a fact to help solve a problem with three numbers. There will be a home link to practice adding three numbers tonight!
We will have a Unit 4 math test on Friday.
In Science we have watched our experiments with liquids and solids evaporate over the last several days. We dissolved rock salt into a solution with water and waited for the water to evaporate and leave behind the salt. This was an exciting experiment to watch. We also discussed how water evaporates outside and how solids can change shape with heat and cold.
We will be talking about and reading about Martin Luther King day this week and making a Martin Luther King project. I was surprised by how much the children remembered about MLK from our lessons in the fall about how laws that are unfair can change!
We are ending the first semester this Friday, January 15th. There is no school on January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King day!
Have a good week!
Mrs. Scheck
BRRR! Winter weather has returned to Michigan! This week students have been spending more time inside for recess. Please continue to send the appropriate winter clothing school and mark your child's things with his or her name!
In reading the week we have been practicing a new strategy for reading called Visualizing. Students have learned when they listen to a book or read to themselves they can visual a story when the book doesn't have pictures. We practiced with a poem called "Balloon Man." The students listened to the story two times and shared with a partner "the pictures in their heads." After sharing they drew a picture of what they visualized during Balloon Man. We will continue using this new strategy for the next few weeks.
In writing, we have been working hard on our Writing for Readers unit. I introduced students to personal word walls. The word wall goes into their writing folder, on it are all the popcorn words this year. We also add words to the personal word wall during conferences in writing. Students are now responsible for being able to write the popcorn words correctly during writing time.
In math this week we are wrapping up Unit 4. We have worked hard this week on doubles facts, adding to make ten and adding three numbers in one number sentence. We noticed when adding three numbers to add numbers that made 10 together first then add the third number (3+7+4). We reveiewed strategies: using a number grid, using a number line, using a picture, or a fact to help solve a problem with three numbers. There will be a home link to practice adding three numbers tonight!
We will have a Unit 4 math test on Friday.
In Science we have watched our experiments with liquids and solids evaporate over the last several days. We dissolved rock salt into a solution with water and waited for the water to evaporate and leave behind the salt. This was an exciting experiment to watch. We also discussed how water evaporates outside and how solids can change shape with heat and cold.
We will be talking about and reading about Martin Luther King day this week and making a Martin Luther King project. I was surprised by how much the children remembered about MLK from our lessons in the fall about how laws that are unfair can change!
We are ending the first semester this Friday, January 15th. There is no school on January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King day!
Have a good week!
Mrs. Scheck
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Week of January 4-8
Hello parents and Happy New Year! We have had a great couple of days back to school. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays with your families and friends!
This week in first grade we have started individual reading assessments. The students will be seen one on one for me to do our January required testing. It has been exciting to watch the students grow as readers! I will not be sending books home during this time. Please continue to read at home and have your child practice reselling the story after reading. Ask them to include the characters, problem and solution!
We have read the book The Biggest Best Snowman by Margery Culer. We read the books and discussed how to retell the story. We also talked about the authors message, in this story the students concluded the message was to believe in yourself!
In writing, we have begun a new unit of writing called Writing for Readers. We are working on making our writing readable by putting spaces between words, using capitals and periods, using neat handwriting and spelling words from the word wall correctly.
In math we have worked on measurement using cubes to measure a pencil. We will work this week on shapes using base ten blocks, geo boards and pattern templates. We will practice making tally marks again.
In science we did an experiment today mixing liquids. We mixed water and cooking oil. We predicted what would happen and we observed the oil separating from the water. We will check it again in the morning to see what happened over night. We will also mix solids with water. We will dissolve salt into water and let the water evaporate over several days. These experiments will wrap up our science unit on solids and liquids!
Thank you and have a great week!
Mrs. Scheck
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