Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Week of October 24-28
Hello Families!
I can't believe we are in the last week of October! This fall is flying by so fast!
This week in First Grade we have been reading the book Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills.
We have been using this book to discuss the question, "how do you take charge of your own learning?" In the story Rocket does many things to help himself learn to write. He practices, writes down words, asks questions and writes his story over several days. This is the way our students are also learning. We learned two new vocabulary words: timid and inspires. We will write about the book on Friday.
In writing, we have been working on personal narratives and we have been working on going back to fix up our stories. We have been using popcorn words, stretching a story over 3 pages and zooming in on the most important part!
In reading groups I have been sending books with students. Most students have a book every other day. Sometimes a group spends 3-4 days reading a longer book. Please be sure to have your child read the book to you and send it right back to school.
In math, we are reaching the end of Unit 2. Tomorrow we will have a unit test on how find a sum, ways to make 10, and number stories. There will be home link tonight that is a good way to practice number models.
There will also be a cumulative test on Tuesday, November 1st. This is a review of both units 1 and 2.
In Social Studies we will begin a new unit on maps next week!
Our Halloween party is on Monday Oct. 31st. Please send costumes to school. If you are joining us for the party, the parade starts at 10:45 a.m. School will be dismissed at 12:09 p.m.
Lastly, if you have not already done so, please sign up for a parent teacher conference on Nov. 8th between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. I have many slots open for the mid-day but evening slots have mostly been taken... please email me if you can't find a time that works for you. There is no school on Nov. 8 to allow for these conferences.
Have a good week!
Mrs. Scheck
I can't believe we are in the last week of October! This fall is flying by so fast!
This week in First Grade we have been reading the book Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills.
We have been using this book to discuss the question, "how do you take charge of your own learning?" In the story Rocket does many things to help himself learn to write. He practices, writes down words, asks questions and writes his story over several days. This is the way our students are also learning. We learned two new vocabulary words: timid and inspires. We will write about the book on Friday.
In writing, we have been working on personal narratives and we have been working on going back to fix up our stories. We have been using popcorn words, stretching a story over 3 pages and zooming in on the most important part!
In reading groups I have been sending books with students. Most students have a book every other day. Sometimes a group spends 3-4 days reading a longer book. Please be sure to have your child read the book to you and send it right back to school.
In math, we are reaching the end of Unit 2. Tomorrow we will have a unit test on how find a sum, ways to make 10, and number stories. There will be home link tonight that is a good way to practice number models.
There will also be a cumulative test on Tuesday, November 1st. This is a review of both units 1 and 2.
In Social Studies we will begin a new unit on maps next week!
Our Halloween party is on Monday Oct. 31st. Please send costumes to school. If you are joining us for the party, the parade starts at 10:45 a.m. School will be dismissed at 12:09 p.m.
Lastly, if you have not already done so, please sign up for a parent teacher conference on Nov. 8th between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. I have many slots open for the mid-day but evening slots have mostly been taken... please email me if you can't find a time that works for you. There is no school on Nov. 8 to allow for these conferences.
Have a good week!
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, October 14, 2016
Week of October 10-14
Hello Families!
This is what we have been working on all week in our classroom...
In reading, we read the book Boss Baby. We looked carefully at the illustrations in the story. We learned how the author used words to tell her story and a lot of pictures. We practiced using pictures in our stories to help add meaning to the words. We started a new read aloud chapter book, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. We have learned two new vocabulary words this week: Litter and Runt. We have begun tracking our new words together in class.
In shared reading, we have learned how writers use quotation marks to show a character is talking. We learned what an explanation mark is used for and how to end a sentence with a question mark!
Our new popcorn words this week are: best, big, had, has, he, his.
In writing, we have begun a new unit called Small Moments. We have learned a small moment is something that happened (not pretend). We have read the book Salt Hands to give us a clear example of how a small moment works. We have practiced writing small moments and setting the scene in the our story including when it happened and where.
In math, we have begun unit 2. We will be learning all the ways to make 10. This is an important skill to have. We learned two new games to play to practice making ten: penny plate and the two handed penny game.
In Social Studies, we are wrapping up our unit on Rules at Home and in School. We have discussed fair and unfair, how laws can be changed if they are unfair, and the civil rights movement which allowed all children to go to school together.
I have begun to put students in reading groups. We have learned all the components of Daily 5. Next week we will begin using Daily 5. You will begin to see little books come home. Please have your child read the book several times. Always return the book the very next day, even if you do not get a chance to read it.
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
This is what we have been working on all week in our classroom...
In reading, we read the book Boss Baby. We looked carefully at the illustrations in the story. We learned how the author used words to tell her story and a lot of pictures. We practiced using pictures in our stories to help add meaning to the words. We started a new read aloud chapter book, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. We have learned two new vocabulary words this week: Litter and Runt. We have begun tracking our new words together in class.
In shared reading, we have learned how writers use quotation marks to show a character is talking. We learned what an explanation mark is used for and how to end a sentence with a question mark!
Our new popcorn words this week are: best, big, had, has, he, his.
In writing, we have begun a new unit called Small Moments. We have learned a small moment is something that happened (not pretend). We have read the book Salt Hands to give us a clear example of how a small moment works. We have practiced writing small moments and setting the scene in the our story including when it happened and where.
In math, we have begun unit 2. We will be learning all the ways to make 10. This is an important skill to have. We learned two new games to play to practice making ten: penny plate and the two handed penny game.
In Social Studies, we are wrapping up our unit on Rules at Home and in School. We have discussed fair and unfair, how laws can be changed if they are unfair, and the civil rights movement which allowed all children to go to school together.
I have begun to put students in reading groups. We have learned all the components of Daily 5. Next week we will begin using Daily 5. You will begin to see little books come home. Please have your child read the book several times. Always return the book the very next day, even if you do not get a chance to read it.
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, September 30, 2016
Week of September 26-30
Dear parents,
We have had a busy week in room 109!
In reading workshop this week we read the book If you Plant a Seed. We discussed the themes: kindness and selfishness. We worked on the phrase "a heap of trouble" and what it meant. We will use the book today to practice a Visual Thinking routine called Step Inside. In this routine we will practice stepping inside the characters in the story and writing what we see, think, feel and wonder.
Our popcorn words this week are:in, is, it, if, me, mom. We have been looking for these words in our shared reading books. We have also focused on concepts about print, noticing and finding periods when we read.
During Daily 5 we have been reading independently for 17 minutes. I have been testing students using a "DRA" (developmental reading assessment) which helps me find their highest level of instruction in reading. The district has asked me to do further testing with our students this year. I will finish testing late next week and we will begin reading groups as soon as it is complete!
In writing, we have introduced real world reasons to write - letters and lists. We have practiced planning a story with a partner. We are now writing for 20 minutes independently!
In math we have completed Unit one. We took our first math assessment yesterday. This was challenging for some students. Extra practice and re-teaching may be needed on tally marks, number stories and counting. We will continue to review them in class. I will check the assessment and send it home next week so you can review with your child at home.
In Social Studies we have begun working on the concept of Fair and Unfair. We will read the book Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. We will learn the difference between a rule and the law. We will discuss how a law can be changed if it is not right. We will also read and discuss the story of Ruby Bridges in relation to how laws can be changed.
I am so enjoying the time we have had in our classroom!
There is no school on Monday, October 3rd.
Have a good weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
We have had a busy week in room 109!
In reading workshop this week we read the book If you Plant a Seed. We discussed the themes: kindness and selfishness. We worked on the phrase "a heap of trouble" and what it meant. We will use the book today to practice a Visual Thinking routine called Step Inside. In this routine we will practice stepping inside the characters in the story and writing what we see, think, feel and wonder.
Our popcorn words this week are:in, is, it, if, me, mom. We have been looking for these words in our shared reading books. We have also focused on concepts about print, noticing and finding periods when we read.
During Daily 5 we have been reading independently for 17 minutes. I have been testing students using a "DRA" (developmental reading assessment) which helps me find their highest level of instruction in reading. The district has asked me to do further testing with our students this year. I will finish testing late next week and we will begin reading groups as soon as it is complete!
In writing, we have introduced real world reasons to write - letters and lists. We have practiced planning a story with a partner. We are now writing for 20 minutes independently!
In math we have completed Unit one. We took our first math assessment yesterday. This was challenging for some students. Extra practice and re-teaching may be needed on tally marks, number stories and counting. We will continue to review them in class. I will check the assessment and send it home next week so you can review with your child at home.
In Social Studies we have begun working on the concept of Fair and Unfair. We will read the book Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. We will learn the difference between a rule and the law. We will discuss how a law can be changed if it is not right. We will also read and discuss the story of Ruby Bridges in relation to how laws can be changed.
I am so enjoying the time we have had in our classroom!
There is no school on Monday, October 3rd.
Have a good weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Week of September 19-23
Hello wonderful families!
It was so great to meet so many of you on Monday, September 19th for curriculum night.
I have sent home the information that was shared that night with students whose parents were not able to attend. Please check you child's backpack for a green folder containing information to be kept at home. Many students were excited to go on our math website and play "Monster Squeeze". This fun game is great practice to reinforce number sense. If you have not watched your child play, I recommend trying it out.
This week in Reading workshop we are reading the book It's Mine By Leo Lionni. The book is about three quarrelsome frogs that have to learn how to share. We read the book and discussed the vocabulary word "quarrelsome." we will write about the story this week and keep going back to the theme of sharing and being kind.
Our Daily five has been progressing nicely this week. We have been reading to self for 14 minutes and reading to someone for 13. I have been able to assess students and am making progress toward reading groups!
The first set of popcorn words (I, a, am, at, an, as, and) came home on Monday. Students need to practice the words at home every week by cutting them out, writing and reading the words. Please practice at home. Next week a new list will be coming. Keep the words at home in the popcorn back and continue to go back and practice until the words are well known.
In math this week we have been working hard on adding one more or subtracting one less. We will learn the game "Top it" which is a lot like "War." We will work on comparing numbers when we play. Thursday we will begin to explore using data in a Tally Chart.
In writing, we have been working on using writer's tools. I have shown the students how to put a date stamp on their paper and to use the stapler. We have practice saying words slowly and writing the sounds we hear.
We are off to a great start in Room 109! I am so happy to see how much the students are picking up the new routines in First Grade.
Thank you and have a great night!
Mrs. Scheck
It was so great to meet so many of you on Monday, September 19th for curriculum night.
I have sent home the information that was shared that night with students whose parents were not able to attend. Please check you child's backpack for a green folder containing information to be kept at home. Many students were excited to go on our math website and play "Monster Squeeze". This fun game is great practice to reinforce number sense. If you have not watched your child play, I recommend trying it out.
This week in Reading workshop we are reading the book It's Mine By Leo Lionni. The book is about three quarrelsome frogs that have to learn how to share. We read the book and discussed the vocabulary word "quarrelsome." we will write about the story this week and keep going back to the theme of sharing and being kind.
Our Daily five has been progressing nicely this week. We have been reading to self for 14 minutes and reading to someone for 13. I have been able to assess students and am making progress toward reading groups!
The first set of popcorn words (I, a, am, at, an, as, and) came home on Monday. Students need to practice the words at home every week by cutting them out, writing and reading the words. Please practice at home. Next week a new list will be coming. Keep the words at home in the popcorn back and continue to go back and practice until the words are well known.
In math this week we have been working hard on adding one more or subtracting one less. We will learn the game "Top it" which is a lot like "War." We will work on comparing numbers when we play. Thursday we will begin to explore using data in a Tally Chart.
In writing, we have been working on using writer's tools. I have shown the students how to put a date stamp on their paper and to use the stapler. We have practice saying words slowly and writing the sounds we hear.
We are off to a great start in Room 109! I am so happy to see how much the students are picking up the new routines in First Grade.
Thank you and have a great night!
Mrs. Scheck
Monday, September 12, 2016
Hello Families!
We are off to a great start in Room 109! Our class has a busy and fun-filled days as we are learning the our routines and the awesome things that we do in First Grade.
This week we will be reading the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. We learned how to turn and talk about the book with a partner. We will learn two new vocabulary words: dreadful and wilted. We will learn a thinking routine called Circle of Viewpoints where we look at the story from the perspective of each character in the book. We also will read Elmer. It is the story of an elephant that wanted to be like every other elephant. He learns to embrace his unique patchwork colors and to be himself. We will make our own Elmer pictures and write about why each one of us is special.
We have begun Daily five. Daily five is the structure I use to have the class working independently while I am teaching reading groups. The class is working on the first component called "read to self."
In writing we are rolling with our Writing Workshop. We have been working on building stamina as writers. We learned what to do when when we think we are "done" with a piece of writing.
Students have learned to: 1. add more to the words 2. add more to the picture and 3. start a new piece each time they finish a piece of writing. I have begun conferencing with students individually on their writing. So far, I have seen some great writing from our class!
In math, this week I will introduce tool kits and math tools to the class. We will work on counting strategies, counting by ones, twos, fives and tens. We will play fun math games: Penny-Dice game, Bunny Hop and Monster squeeze.
Thank you to everyone who sent in a family photo. It is not too late if you have not sent one in, please email me a picture of your family or send in a printed photo for your child to have on our "Friends and Family" Board.
I am enjoying getting to know each and every student in our class!
Have a great week,
Mrs. Scheck
We are off to a great start in Room 109! Our class has a busy and fun-filled days as we are learning the our routines and the awesome things that we do in First Grade.
This week we will be reading the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. We learned how to turn and talk about the book with a partner. We will learn two new vocabulary words: dreadful and wilted. We will learn a thinking routine called Circle of Viewpoints where we look at the story from the perspective of each character in the book. We also will read Elmer. It is the story of an elephant that wanted to be like every other elephant. He learns to embrace his unique patchwork colors and to be himself. We will make our own Elmer pictures and write about why each one of us is special.
We have begun Daily five. Daily five is the structure I use to have the class working independently while I am teaching reading groups. The class is working on the first component called "read to self."
In writing we are rolling with our Writing Workshop. We have been working on building stamina as writers. We learned what to do when when we think we are "done" with a piece of writing.
Students have learned to: 1. add more to the words 2. add more to the picture and 3. start a new piece each time they finish a piece of writing. I have begun conferencing with students individually on their writing. So far, I have seen some great writing from our class!
In math, this week I will introduce tool kits and math tools to the class. We will work on counting strategies, counting by ones, twos, fives and tens. We will play fun math games: Penny-Dice game, Bunny Hop and Monster squeeze.
Thank you to everyone who sent in a family photo. It is not too late if you have not sent one in, please email me a picture of your family or send in a printed photo for your child to have on our "Friends and Family" Board.
I am enjoying getting to know each and every student in our class!
Have a great week,
Mrs. Scheck
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