Hello families,
This week in first grade I have begun one on one reading assessments. I have been meeting with students for our January reading and writing assessments. This will take a few weeks. As the assessment takes place, I will stop taking reading groups. Please continue to read at home to and with your child daily. Practice retelling the story after reading...include the beginning, middle and end, characters, problem/solution.
We read the book Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes. We discussed the character trait "fearless." We found ways the author showed the characters were fearless in the story. We wrote about the book and showed the different characters perspectives on a "circle of viewpoints" graphic organizer.
In writing we have moved on to a new unit of writing called "Authors as Mentors." We will study authors and look closely at craft moves that authors use to engage their readers. This week we have read two books by Angela Johnson, Joshua's Night Whispers and The Leaving Morning. We noticed that both books were small moments. The author kept the story about one thing. She used ellipses or the "dot, dot, dot" to show the writing was not finished or to make a lists over several pages. We are trying these techniques out in our own writing.
In math, we have continued to work on place value. We have begun scrolling! We are noticing patterns in numbers and learning how to write higher numbers. We played the base-10 exchange game. We will be finishing unit 5 next week and having a unit test soon.
In Science we have completed our Solids and Liquids unit. We made butter last week to show how a liquid becomes a solid. We shook heavy cream in a sealed jar and turn the cream to butter. Then we wrote How to Make Butter! Brave students sampled the butter and said it tasted creamy!
Next week we have a half day on February 1. Students will be dismissed at 12:05.
Thank you and have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, January 27, 2017
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Week of January 4-6
Dear families,
Happy New Year and welcome back to school! We are having a busy, short week here in room 109.
We have gotten back into the swing of school the last two days. We began yesterday by sharing what we did over our winter break. We wrote New Year books about our goals for 2017. Many students wrote about reading and writing goals.
This week we read the book Matthew and Tilly by Rebecca C. Jones. We read the story and practiced retelling the story orally. We talked about connections to the book after reading. We wrote about "Text to self" connections, a new comprehension strategy we will be working on the next few weeks.
We are finishing up our writing unit called Writing for Readers. Today students chose a piece of writing to "fancy up" by fixing spelling and punctuation. We also added color illustrations to our stories. We shared some of our stories in class. We will begin a new unit of writing next week called How-to or procedural writing.
In science we are nearing the end of the Solids and Liquids unit. This week we will work with solids in containers. Next week we will explore mixtures and solutions. We will put several different solids (candy, a cookie, rock salt) in water to watch them dissolve completely then evaporate over several days. We will observe how the water changed the solid. It will be exciting to see what is left after the water evaporates! This is also a fun experiment to try at home!
In math, we have just completed unit 4. We will have a cumulative test tomorrow which will cover units 3 and 4. We will begin unit 5 next week. Look for a family letter to come home detailing the specifics of what we will be learning.
Have a great night!
Mrs. Scheck
Happy New Year and welcome back to school! We are having a busy, short week here in room 109.
We have gotten back into the swing of school the last two days. We began yesterday by sharing what we did over our winter break. We wrote New Year books about our goals for 2017. Many students wrote about reading and writing goals.
This week we read the book Matthew and Tilly by Rebecca C. Jones. We read the story and practiced retelling the story orally. We talked about connections to the book after reading. We wrote about "Text to self" connections, a new comprehension strategy we will be working on the next few weeks.
We are finishing up our writing unit called Writing for Readers. Today students chose a piece of writing to "fancy up" by fixing spelling and punctuation. We also added color illustrations to our stories. We shared some of our stories in class. We will begin a new unit of writing next week called How-to or procedural writing.
In science we are nearing the end of the Solids and Liquids unit. This week we will work with solids in containers. Next week we will explore mixtures and solutions. We will put several different solids (candy, a cookie, rock salt) in water to watch them dissolve completely then evaporate over several days. We will observe how the water changed the solid. It will be exciting to see what is left after the water evaporates! This is also a fun experiment to try at home!
In math, we have just completed unit 4. We will have a cumulative test tomorrow which will cover units 3 and 4. We will begin unit 5 next week. Look for a family letter to come home detailing the specifics of what we will be learning.
Have a great night!
Mrs. Scheck
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Holiday Fun!!
Dear parents,
Thank you to all the parents who helped and donated food to our party today! We had fun making a snowman ornament, eating and making pancakes and playing "minute to win it" games!
I am so proud of our class. Every day they come to school to learn. The students are kind to each other. They love taking on new challenges, just like today making the 100 cup tower! Below are a few photos from our fun morning!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Enjoy your children at this special time of year.
Thank you to all the parents who helped and donated food to our party today! We had fun making a snowman ornament, eating and making pancakes and playing "minute to win it" games!
I am so proud of our class. Every day they come to school to learn. The students are kind to each other. They love taking on new challenges, just like today making the 100 cup tower! Below are a few photos from our fun morning!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Enjoy your children at this special time of year.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Week of December 19-22
Dear families,
We are nearing the end of 2016! Our class is very excited for the holidays and the upcoming winter break!
This week we read the book The Biggest, Best Snowman and practiced retelling the story. We have been focusing on remembering the main events in order, the characters and the solution. After reading the book we wrote a retelling of the story onto a snowman. The students will need to be retelling independently in January. Please have your child practice retelling stories at home after reading to help them prepare. You can practice retelling with any familiar book.
In writing, we are "Writing for Readers". This week I have been showing students how to make their writing readable for a partner. We have been picking one writing goal each day to focus on. We will wrap up this unit the week after we return from our break.
In math, we have been working on learning rules for facts. Yesterday we discussed the +0, +1 and the doubles rules. We will work today on ways to make 10. We will play the two-fisted penny game and "Fishing for 10." Both are great ways to practice making 10.
In science we will be doing a sink and float experiment tomorrow. We will begin working with solid mixtures after the break. In class last week we discussed matter in the form or a solid, liquid or gas. We learned that liquids take the shape of what ever container is holding it. We watched a short video on the three forms of matter. We also observed water in a bottle and how it moves with the bottle as you tip it.
It is very cold out and we have been indoors for the last two days. Tomorrow looks like it could be warmer! It is best to please continue to send the necessary snow clothes. Hopefully the really cold weather is ending today!
Our party is this Thursday at 10:30-12:00. If you are sending in food for the party, you can send it in tomorrow!
Thank you,
Mrs. Scheck
We are nearing the end of 2016! Our class is very excited for the holidays and the upcoming winter break!
This week we read the book The Biggest, Best Snowman and practiced retelling the story. We have been focusing on remembering the main events in order, the characters and the solution. After reading the book we wrote a retelling of the story onto a snowman. The students will need to be retelling independently in January. Please have your child practice retelling stories at home after reading to help them prepare. You can practice retelling with any familiar book.
In writing, we are "Writing for Readers". This week I have been showing students how to make their writing readable for a partner. We have been picking one writing goal each day to focus on. We will wrap up this unit the week after we return from our break.
In math, we have been working on learning rules for facts. Yesterday we discussed the +0, +1 and the doubles rules. We will work today on ways to make 10. We will play the two-fisted penny game and "Fishing for 10." Both are great ways to practice making 10.
In science we will be doing a sink and float experiment tomorrow. We will begin working with solid mixtures after the break. In class last week we discussed matter in the form or a solid, liquid or gas. We learned that liquids take the shape of what ever container is holding it. We watched a short video on the three forms of matter. We also observed water in a bottle and how it moves with the bottle as you tip it.
It is very cold out and we have been indoors for the last two days. Tomorrow looks like it could be warmer! It is best to please continue to send the necessary snow clothes. Hopefully the really cold weather is ending today!
Our party is this Thursday at 10:30-12:00. If you are sending in food for the party, you can send it in tomorrow!
Thank you,
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, December 9, 2016
Friday fun!
Dear families,
It has been a busy week in first grade!
In Science I introduced liquids to the class. We started with discussing what we already know about liquids. Then we explored seven different liquids in bottles. The students rolled, spun, shook and watched each liquid. We learned several new vocabulary words; viscous, transparent, translucent, foamy, and bubbly. We observed corn syrup in a bottle and discovered it was viscous because it moved slowly. We shined a flashlight on the different liquids and observed which ones were translucent. Students may come home asking to do some "experiments"!
In reading this week we read the book The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. We discussed the beginning, middle and ending. We wrote about the story. We learned a new vocabulary word: auditorium.
In Social Studies we read The Story of Ping. We discussed consequences. Ping is a duck who does not listen to his master's call and ends up hiding to avoid his consequence. We used pictures from the story to practice beginning, middle and end. We wrote using transitional words; first, next, then and last.
In math, we practiced measuring with blocks, paper clips, dominoes, craft sticks and unifix cubes.
We learned that to measure something accurately you need to do these things: no overlapping, use one size object, measure to the end (not past it) and not to leave spaces.
In writing, we have been working on adding descriptive words, reading to check for beginning, middle and ending. Using spaces, spelling the popcorn words correctly and using neat handwriting.
We will continue with Writing for Readers next week!
Today we painted a fun reindeer picture.
It was a busy and productive week!
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
It has been a busy week in first grade!
In Science I introduced liquids to the class. We started with discussing what we already know about liquids. Then we explored seven different liquids in bottles. The students rolled, spun, shook and watched each liquid. We learned several new vocabulary words; viscous, transparent, translucent, foamy, and bubbly. We observed corn syrup in a bottle and discovered it was viscous because it moved slowly. We shined a flashlight on the different liquids and observed which ones were translucent. Students may come home asking to do some "experiments"!
In reading this week we read the book The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. We discussed the beginning, middle and ending. We wrote about the story. We learned a new vocabulary word: auditorium.
In Social Studies we read The Story of Ping. We discussed consequences. Ping is a duck who does not listen to his master's call and ends up hiding to avoid his consequence. We used pictures from the story to practice beginning, middle and end. We wrote using transitional words; first, next, then and last.
In math, we practiced measuring with blocks, paper clips, dominoes, craft sticks and unifix cubes.
We learned that to measure something accurately you need to do these things: no overlapping, use one size object, measure to the end (not past it) and not to leave spaces.
In writing, we have been working on adding descriptive words, reading to check for beginning, middle and ending. Using spaces, spelling the popcorn words correctly and using neat handwriting.
We will continue with Writing for Readers next week!
Today we painted a fun reindeer picture.
It was a busy and productive week!
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, December 2, 2016
Tower Building
Way to go, Engineers!
Nov. 28-Dec 2
Dear families,
December already! I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. The students came back eager to share all the fun they had celebrating with family and friends.
This week we read the book On Down the Road. After reading the story students made text to self connections with the main character. We discussed and wrote about a new character trait: cautious. We learned new a vocabulary word: Dillydally. The book had a strong beginning, middle and end. We will focus more on re-tellings as we get closer to the middle of the school year because in January, I will be re-assessing all students for reading. Along with determining reading levels, I will be assessing comprehension. To help at home, ask this questions after reading:
Who were the characters?
What was the setting or where the story mostly took place?
What was the problem?
What are the main events (in order)?
How was the problem solved?
What connections can you make to the story?
The reading books that are coming home are familiar and it is best to practice retelling with a familiar story.
In writing, we are working on making our writing readable. We wrote for partners this week. Sharing our writing is important, students loved hearing compliments and one suggestion about their work as they read each others stories. We also re-read our stories to see if anything in our story did not fit. We crossed out parts that were not on topic. We also circled popcorn words in our writing and fixed them up. I gave the students another tool to use for writing, a blends chart.
In math, we have completed unit 3. We have begun a unit 4. Unit 4 is mostly about measurement. Students will learn to measure using non-standard ways (like a paper clip or pencil). I will also introduce tools for measuring. A family letter for unit 4 will come home Monday.
We had a math assessment for unit 3. I will be sending it home next week. Please go over anything your child needs extra practice on. The most difficult parts for many students was explaining the way they solved problems.
In Social Studies we have been sharing the wonderful family trees! If your child still has not completed this project, please turn it in next week. We will read the book The Goodness Gorillas and The Kindness Quilt. We will talk about ways to be kind and write on lightbulbs how to "light up the world with kindness."
In Science we are imagining we are engineers. We will build towers with different objects. We will compare our towers and tell how we built them. This is always a fun experiment!
I am beginning to plan for the Holiday party on Dec. 22nd. We will have a pancake breakfast. The party will be at 10:30-12:00. We hope to have volunteers to make pancakes and help with a craft. We will watch a Holiday movie in the afternoon. Look for more information coming soon. If you are wishing to join us or help out, please eamil me and let meknow. I have parents who are already volunteering, but we can always use more hands!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
December already! I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. The students came back eager to share all the fun they had celebrating with family and friends.
This week we read the book On Down the Road. After reading the story students made text to self connections with the main character. We discussed and wrote about a new character trait: cautious. We learned new a vocabulary word: Dillydally. The book had a strong beginning, middle and end. We will focus more on re-tellings as we get closer to the middle of the school year because in January, I will be re-assessing all students for reading. Along with determining reading levels, I will be assessing comprehension. To help at home, ask this questions after reading:
Who were the characters?
What was the setting or where the story mostly took place?
What was the problem?
What are the main events (in order)?
How was the problem solved?
What connections can you make to the story?
The reading books that are coming home are familiar and it is best to practice retelling with a familiar story.
In writing, we are working on making our writing readable. We wrote for partners this week. Sharing our writing is important, students loved hearing compliments and one suggestion about their work as they read each others stories. We also re-read our stories to see if anything in our story did not fit. We crossed out parts that were not on topic. We also circled popcorn words in our writing and fixed them up. I gave the students another tool to use for writing, a blends chart.
In math, we have completed unit 3. We have begun a unit 4. Unit 4 is mostly about measurement. Students will learn to measure using non-standard ways (like a paper clip or pencil). I will also introduce tools for measuring. A family letter for unit 4 will come home Monday.
We had a math assessment for unit 3. I will be sending it home next week. Please go over anything your child needs extra practice on. The most difficult parts for many students was explaining the way they solved problems.
In Social Studies we have been sharing the wonderful family trees! If your child still has not completed this project, please turn it in next week. We will read the book The Goodness Gorillas and The Kindness Quilt. We will talk about ways to be kind and write on lightbulbs how to "light up the world with kindness."
In Science we are imagining we are engineers. We will build towers with different objects. We will compare our towers and tell how we built them. This is always a fun experiment!
I am beginning to plan for the Holiday party on Dec. 22nd. We will have a pancake breakfast. The party will be at 10:30-12:00. We hope to have volunteers to make pancakes and help with a craft. We will watch a Holiday movie in the afternoon. Look for more information coming soon. If you are wishing to join us or help out, please eamil me and let meknow. I have parents who are already volunteering, but we can always use more hands!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
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