Dear families,
This week in first grade we went on a field trip to the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum. The students were able to interact with all the displays. There were several activities that involved liquids that the students told me were their favorites. In the water room, students were able to build with plastic pipes and divert water in different directions. On the second floor, students could put a bubble around themselves. They learned through trial and error to pull the rope up slowly and to be still inside the bubble so it would not pop! If you are interested in visiting the museum with your child it is a fun experience. There is so much to see and do!
We have begun our Science Unit called "Solids and Liquids." We began today discovering the different properties of solids. We learned two new vocabulary terms: rigid and flexible. We have noticed solids are made from these materials: plastic, wood, metal and rubber. We will work on identifying and grouping solids based on their different properties next week.
In writing, we have been working on Writing for Readers. Students are very aware now of what readable writing looks like. We focused yesterday on zooming in on one small moment and staying on topic.
In math we are toward the end of unit 3. Today I introduced "Frames and Arrows." Students learned how to look for a pattern and follow a rule for a frame and arrow. A home link is going home today for extra practice.
In Social studies, our family trees are due on Monday, November 28th. Please let me know if you need more time or further assistance in making a tree. Also note a family tree is more than a picture of your family. It needs labels for each person and/or a picture of each individual member and a shape to put the tree on, it could be an apple tree or holiday tree, etc.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Scheck
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Week of November 14-18
Hello Families!
First grade is getting ready to start a lot of new things in the coming weeks!
In reading, we have moved on to a new unit called Digging Deeper: Reading for Meaning. We have been working on being problem solvers when we read. Students have been practicing strategies in their reading groups and during Daily 5. One strategy we have focused on this week is taking words apart and using a part we know to solve a new word. This is a strategy that will last a long time. Students working on longer words should be taking words apart at the biggest part they know. We read the book Elmer and the Kangaroo this week. We used the book to practice view points. We did a Step Inside and looked at the story from the Kangaroo's perspective and Elmer's perspective. We learned two new character traits: optimistic and pessimistic.
In writing, we have cleaned out our writing folders. Our new writing unit is called Writing for Readers. We have been working on making our writing readable. We have looked closely at our own writing and came up with a list of things that are needed to make it readable.
First grade is getting ready to start a lot of new things in the coming weeks!
In reading, we have moved on to a new unit called Digging Deeper: Reading for Meaning. We have been working on being problem solvers when we read. Students have been practicing strategies in their reading groups and during Daily 5. One strategy we have focused on this week is taking words apart and using a part we know to solve a new word. This is a strategy that will last a long time. Students working on longer words should be taking words apart at the biggest part they know. We read the book Elmer and the Kangaroo this week. We used the book to practice view points. We did a Step Inside and looked at the story from the Kangaroo's perspective and Elmer's perspective. We learned two new character traits: optimistic and pessimistic.
In writing, we have cleaned out our writing folders. Our new writing unit is called Writing for Readers. We have been working on making our writing readable. We have looked closely at our own writing and came up with a list of things that are needed to make it readable.
- spaces between words
- neat handwriting, using lowercase letters when they are appropriate
- capitals to start a sentence and for names only
- periods, exclamation points and question marks
- popcorn words spelled correctly
We will keep with this unit for about 4 weeks!
In math, we have begun Unit 3. We are practicing hopping on the number line and skip counting. Please practice skip counting by 2, 5, and 10 to help your child at home.
Today and tomorrow we will be using the number line to add and subtract. Tonight we will have a home link to review these concepts.
In Social Studies, we made our time lines and read the book Birthday Presents. We will read more about family trees this week. The family tree project is due on Monday, November 28th. Please let me know if you child needs more time.
Science will start this week! Our first unit is called Solids and Liquids. This is a fun hands on unit. Our first task is sorting objects by their properties and using solids to make a tower.
Monday is our field trip! Chaperones are asked to be at school by 9:15 a.m. Students need to eat a good breakfast, wear walking shoes, and be ready to have fun at the Ann Arbor Hands-On museum!
Thank you and have a great week!
Mrs. Scheck
Mrs. Scheck
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Week of November 7-11
Hello wonderful families!
Thank you to all the parents who came on Tuesday to Parent Teacher Conferences. It was great to meet with you and share all of the things we are learning and doing in First grade!
We read the book A Frog Thing this week. We focused on how to retell a story and include the beginning, middle and ending. We practiced writing a retelling with pictures and words. Students also learned two new vocabulary words from the book: modest and determined. We discussed how Frankie the frog was persistent in his goal of learning to fly!
In writing, we have been working on adding details in our stories to help readers visualize what happened in our small moments. We read the book A House For Hermit Crab by Eric Carle. We talked about the details Hermit Crab had on his shell. We have been using a writing check list to be sure to put capitals and periods in the right places and to check for ourselves if we spelled the popcorn words correctly.
In math this week we are working on Unit 3. We have been writing and solving number stories for subtraction. We will develop strategies to help solve stories such as drawing a picture and using a number model to solve.
In social studies, we have begun a new unit on Families. We will read the story The Family Book by Todd Parr. we will see some examples of how to do our family tree project. We will also make our personal time lines this week. If you child has not sent in three pictures for their time line, please send them in by tomorrow.
Our field trip to the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum is coming up soon. Permission slips and money are due by Monday, November 14th.
Next week is diversity week! We will go to an assembly on Monday. Please contact me if you would like to share some of your family's culture with the class. You may come in and read a book or share an artifact the students would love it!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns please email or call me!
Mrs. Scheck
Thank you to all the parents who came on Tuesday to Parent Teacher Conferences. It was great to meet with you and share all of the things we are learning and doing in First grade!
We read the book A Frog Thing this week. We focused on how to retell a story and include the beginning, middle and ending. We practiced writing a retelling with pictures and words. Students also learned two new vocabulary words from the book: modest and determined. We discussed how Frankie the frog was persistent in his goal of learning to fly!
In writing, we have been working on adding details in our stories to help readers visualize what happened in our small moments. We read the book A House For Hermit Crab by Eric Carle. We talked about the details Hermit Crab had on his shell. We have been using a writing check list to be sure to put capitals and periods in the right places and to check for ourselves if we spelled the popcorn words correctly.
In math this week we are working on Unit 3. We have been writing and solving number stories for subtraction. We will develop strategies to help solve stories such as drawing a picture and using a number model to solve.
In social studies, we have begun a new unit on Families. We will read the story The Family Book by Todd Parr. we will see some examples of how to do our family tree project. We will also make our personal time lines this week. If you child has not sent in three pictures for their time line, please send them in by tomorrow.
Our field trip to the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum is coming up soon. Permission slips and money are due by Monday, November 14th.
Next week is diversity week! We will go to an assembly on Monday. Please contact me if you would like to share some of your family's culture with the class. You may come in and read a book or share an artifact the students would love it!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns please email or call me!
Mrs. Scheck
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
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