Hello families!
Monday is Martin Luther King day! We will not have school in observance of this important day.
In class we will be reading a book called Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King! and making a flip book about his life. We will discuss the importance of treating others fairly.
In math, we will begin Unit 5. In this unit we will be working more on addition and subtraction. This week we will learn how to play beat the calculator game, we will learn about coins and their equivalencies, and we will practice making change. We will have a new math journal for the second half of the year. I am sending home Journal 1 for your child to keep. The unit 4 math test and cumulative review will be sent home on Tuesday, January 22nd. Please review the test, sign the front page and return to school.
We will read a non-fiction picture book about seeds. We will focus on the features of non-fiction books, paying attention to how real authors use bold words, diagrams, captions, and a glossary to help readers learn about a topic. We will read books about force and motion to help us with our non-fiction teaching books in writing.
In writing last week students picked topics for their non-fiction teaching books. They began with writing a table of contents including the things they want to teach their reader. We wrote introductions to our topics and included the definition of the the topic. We will work on writing the chapters this week using some of the features of non-fiction: diagrams, bold words, captions and a glossary over the next few weeks.
In phonics, we will review CVVC patterns including: ai, oo, ee, ea, oa. We will work on writing, sorting and using the words inside of a sentence.
In Handwriting, we are practicing writing letters with lines that slant. We will work on tracing and writing letters carefully in our handwriting books.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
January 14
Hello families!
We will be going to the Walled Lake Outdoor Center on February 4th. We will be learning more about air and weather and how animals survive in the cold weather. We will take a bus to the outdoor center. Chaperones are welcome, we will be limited to five parent chaperones. The cost will be $12.00 per child and $7.00 per chaperone. Please see the note coming home tonight for more details!
In reading, we will continue with non-fiction reading. We will learn how to be an expert on non-fiction. We will learn ways to say more about a book when we read (these are called "talking moves"). For example students may say "Another example is..." or" this is the same as --- because" to help them build our language skills for talking about books! We will compare books to spot differences that are big and small when we read about a topic. Soon we will get ready to celebrate our learning about non-fiction! We will also have the i-ready reading assessment on Tuesday this coming week.
In writing, we are writing non-fiction teaching books. This week we will brain storm good topics for writing a non-fiction book about an activity or sport. We will plan a table contents, using examples from other books of what we need to include. Then we will begin writing our chapters.
In phonics this week, we have new word study notebooks! We will be focusing on short e and long e using a double vowel -ee and -ea pattern.
In math, we will wrap up Unit 4 early next week. Monday students will bring home a study guide for Unit 4. The test will be on Wednesday. The class will be taking the i-ready math test next week as well! We will begin Unit 5 the following week.
In social studies this week we will wrap up our unit on maps. I will read a book called The Wartville Wizard. We will discuss how pollution effects our environment and do some activities with the book in class.
Please remember to send your child to school with snow clothes and especially mittens or gloves. We will be outside on cold days. Pack an extra pair of mittens if possible!
Thank you!
Mrs. Scheck
We will be going to the Walled Lake Outdoor Center on February 4th. We will be learning more about air and weather and how animals survive in the cold weather. We will take a bus to the outdoor center. Chaperones are welcome, we will be limited to five parent chaperones. The cost will be $12.00 per child and $7.00 per chaperone. Please see the note coming home tonight for more details!
In reading, we will continue with non-fiction reading. We will learn how to be an expert on non-fiction. We will learn ways to say more about a book when we read (these are called "talking moves"). For example students may say "Another example is..." or" this is the same as --- because" to help them build our language skills for talking about books! We will compare books to spot differences that are big and small when we read about a topic. Soon we will get ready to celebrate our learning about non-fiction! We will also have the i-ready reading assessment on Tuesday this coming week.
In writing, we are writing non-fiction teaching books. This week we will brain storm good topics for writing a non-fiction book about an activity or sport. We will plan a table contents, using examples from other books of what we need to include. Then we will begin writing our chapters.
In phonics this week, we have new word study notebooks! We will be focusing on short e and long e using a double vowel -ee and -ea pattern.
In math, we will wrap up Unit 4 early next week. Monday students will bring home a study guide for Unit 4. The test will be on Wednesday. The class will be taking the i-ready math test next week as well! We will begin Unit 5 the following week.
In social studies this week we will wrap up our unit on maps. I will read a book called The Wartville Wizard. We will discuss how pollution effects our environment and do some activities with the book in class.
Please remember to send your child to school with snow clothes and especially mittens or gloves. We will be outside on cold days. Pack an extra pair of mittens if possible!
Thank you!
Mrs. Scheck
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Welcome back!
Dear families,
Happy New Year!
I wanted to touch base with everyone and let you know what we will be working on this and next week!
We are getting ready for another I-Ready reading and math assessment. I will give you the dates after I have confirmed our testing times. Please continue to have your child read daily. Also, be sure your child has headphones for taking the test in class.
In reading, we are continuing to work on reading non-fiction. We read the book Ivan the Shopping Mall Gorilla today. We compared the non-fiction book to the fiction chapter book The One and Only Ivan that we read in December. We will write about the book tomorrow. Next week, we will work on reading books to grow our knowledge across more than one book. We will compare information, notice parts of books that go together, retell information, add pieces of information from multiple sources to help us become experts.
Today we wrote news reports about our Winter Breaks! The students enjoyed sharing all the special times they had over the break, celebrating and having fun with family and friends!
We will work on writing goals for the new year and talk about different ways that people celebrate the coming of a new year!
Next week, we will begin the next part of non-fiction writing. We will be writing Non-Fiction Teaching books (or All Abouts). Students will read non-fiction books in class to help them prepare writing. I will begin showing them how to add science to their reports as well as other features of non-fiction.
This week students began working on handwriting using the Zaner-Bloser style of printing. Each child has a packet that will be kept at school. Our goal is to work a few times a week for about 15 minutes on specific letters. We discussed writing letters that are tall or short, and how capitals touch the top and the bottom of the lines when we write. This will be helpful next year when cursive handwriting is introduced.
We will begin using a word study notebook next week. Second graders continue to work on vowel teams. Our focus for the week will be on ways to make the long u sounds in words such as: cruise, food, mule. The books will be kept at school, they will not be coming home. I will teach the rule for the vowel team. The students will do the sort in their word study books and we will write words that have those vowel teams (ui, oo and u_e) in class next week.
In math, we are about half way through unit 4 on place value. We will work today on an open response to a math problem. Students will use base ten blocks to show a number with ones, tens and hundreds place. Next week we will be learning how to play the game "Target," learn how measure using the foot, inch and centimeter. Students will begin to use and understand how to make an array.
In Science, we have wrapped up our kits! We will continue to discuss weather and record the temperature.
We will start on a new social studies unit next week on the History of Our Community.
Have a good (short) week!
Mrs. Scheck
Happy New Year!
I wanted to touch base with everyone and let you know what we will be working on this and next week!
We are getting ready for another I-Ready reading and math assessment. I will give you the dates after I have confirmed our testing times. Please continue to have your child read daily. Also, be sure your child has headphones for taking the test in class.
In reading, we are continuing to work on reading non-fiction. We read the book Ivan the Shopping Mall Gorilla today. We compared the non-fiction book to the fiction chapter book The One and Only Ivan that we read in December. We will write about the book tomorrow. Next week, we will work on reading books to grow our knowledge across more than one book. We will compare information, notice parts of books that go together, retell information, add pieces of information from multiple sources to help us become experts.
Today we wrote news reports about our Winter Breaks! The students enjoyed sharing all the special times they had over the break, celebrating and having fun with family and friends!
We will work on writing goals for the new year and talk about different ways that people celebrate the coming of a new year!
Next week, we will begin the next part of non-fiction writing. We will be writing Non-Fiction Teaching books (or All Abouts). Students will read non-fiction books in class to help them prepare writing. I will begin showing them how to add science to their reports as well as other features of non-fiction.
This week students began working on handwriting using the Zaner-Bloser style of printing. Each child has a packet that will be kept at school. Our goal is to work a few times a week for about 15 minutes on specific letters. We discussed writing letters that are tall or short, and how capitals touch the top and the bottom of the lines when we write. This will be helpful next year when cursive handwriting is introduced.
We will begin using a word study notebook next week. Second graders continue to work on vowel teams. Our focus for the week will be on ways to make the long u sounds in words such as: cruise, food, mule. The books will be kept at school, they will not be coming home. I will teach the rule for the vowel team. The students will do the sort in their word study books and we will write words that have those vowel teams (ui, oo and u_e) in class next week.
In math, we are about half way through unit 4 on place value. We will work today on an open response to a math problem. Students will use base ten blocks to show a number with ones, tens and hundreds place. Next week we will be learning how to play the game "Target," learn how measure using the foot, inch and centimeter. Students will begin to use and understand how to make an array.
In Science, we have wrapped up our kits! We will continue to discuss weather and record the temperature.
We will start on a new social studies unit next week on the History of Our Community.
Have a good (short) week!
Mrs. Scheck
Friday, December 21, 2018
December 21- Happy Holidays!
Hello families!
We had an awesome day today, celebrating with our class!
THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who came and were such a big help with the craft, games, food and fun!
Here are a few pictures from the party!
We had an awesome day today, celebrating with our class!
THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who came and were such a big help with the craft, games, food and fun!
Here are a few pictures from the party!
Friday, December 14, 2018
December 17-21
Hello families,
This week is going to be a busy and fun week of school. We are at our last week before Winter Break!
In reading next week we will be working on reading non-fiction books and sounding like an expert when we read. We will discuss strategies for solving tricky words using more than one way to solve the word. For example, when a child is stuck and they try to "sound it out" it does not always work. A better way to unlock a tricky word is breaking it into parts or "chunking" the word from left to right. Another strategy is trying the vowel both ways "flipping the sound" trying out long and short sounds the vowel can make. Lastly, the child should go back and re-read the entire sentence to make sure after he or she fixes a word that it sounds right, then go on with reading the rest of the page.
For phonics this week will be working on vowel teams that make the long o (oa, o_e) and short o. I will introduce the new vowel team, we will read a poem, make a sort with words containing the long o and we will check the words on Friday writing them within a sentence. Here are some words to help your child practice: clock, knock, chose, note, boat, float.
In writing, we will wrap up our lab report writing. After we return from break, we will write non-fiction "teaching books." These books will be about an activity that involves force and motion. We will plan out writing the books. The books will include a table of contents, chapter titles, glossary, pictures with captions and bold words.
In math, we will continue on in Unit 4. We will be focusing next week on numeration, place value, comparing three digit numbers and we will work for two days to use base 10 blocks to show a number.
In Science, we have learned about the many types of instruments that meteorologist use to predict the weather. We will observe and use a rain gauge, continue charting the weather, try out flying our kites and make a weather vane.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
This week is going to be a busy and fun week of school. We are at our last week before Winter Break!
In reading next week we will be working on reading non-fiction books and sounding like an expert when we read. We will discuss strategies for solving tricky words using more than one way to solve the word. For example, when a child is stuck and they try to "sound it out" it does not always work. A better way to unlock a tricky word is breaking it into parts or "chunking" the word from left to right. Another strategy is trying the vowel both ways "flipping the sound" trying out long and short sounds the vowel can make. Lastly, the child should go back and re-read the entire sentence to make sure after he or she fixes a word that it sounds right, then go on with reading the rest of the page.
For phonics this week will be working on vowel teams that make the long o (oa, o_e) and short o. I will introduce the new vowel team, we will read a poem, make a sort with words containing the long o and we will check the words on Friday writing them within a sentence. Here are some words to help your child practice: clock, knock, chose, note, boat, float.
In writing, we will wrap up our lab report writing. After we return from break, we will write non-fiction "teaching books." These books will be about an activity that involves force and motion. We will plan out writing the books. The books will include a table of contents, chapter titles, glossary, pictures with captions and bold words.
In math, we will continue on in Unit 4. We will be focusing next week on numeration, place value, comparing three digit numbers and we will work for two days to use base 10 blocks to show a number.
In Science, we have learned about the many types of instruments that meteorologist use to predict the weather. We will observe and use a rain gauge, continue charting the weather, try out flying our kites and make a weather vane.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Scheck
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Week of December 10-15
Dear families,
This week we will be continuing to work on Non-Fiction reading and writing. In reader's workshop we will read non-fiction texts and look for text features. We will read books that discuss force and motion to help us plan for our own non-fiction teaching books. The features we are learning include: a table of contents, detailed pictures with labels, vocabulary words with definition, text boxes, index and a glossary.
In writing, we will spend this week writing our last lab reports. We will spend time writing about how kites work. We will try out making kites in class, according to a template. We fly them in the cafeteria and possibly outside (weather permitting)! Then students will plan and make their own kites, writing their lab report independently. We will wrap up lab reports this week and move on to non-fiction teaching books next week!
This week we will begin Unit 4 in math. A family letter detailing the new unit went home last week. The unit 3 math tests will be handed out at Parent-Teacher conferences on Thursday. The new unit will focus on measurement and telling time. Last year in first grade, students learned how to tell time to the hour and half hour on an analog clock. This year they will be expected to learn to tell time to the five minute mark. In this unit we also practice using non-standard units of measurement and standard units (centimeter and inches).
In science, we have begun the weather section of our Air and Weather unit. Last week we learned about 4 types of clouds: Stratus, Cumulus, Cirrus and Nimbus. We learned that different types of clouds produce weather. We made clouds out of cotton balls to match the 4 types. We also built an anemometer to measure wind speed, testing it out in class with a fan. We read about different tools that meteorologist used to predict weather. This week we will use a rain gauge to measure precipitation. We will make pin wheels to show how the wind moves them much like a weather vane. We will continue to record and monitor the changes in our weather in our weather journals.
Our holiday party will be on December 21st at 10:30 - 12:00. We will have pizza, play games and make a fun craft! If you have any questions, please email me!
Reminder: Thursday, December 13th is a half day. Students will be dismissed at 11:09. Please let me know of any changes in your child's normal dismissal routine. I will be meeting with parents from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. If you are not able to make your conference time, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule your time. Many slots are still available for the evening.
Thank you!
Mrs. Scheck
This week we will be continuing to work on Non-Fiction reading and writing. In reader's workshop we will read non-fiction texts and look for text features. We will read books that discuss force and motion to help us plan for our own non-fiction teaching books. The features we are learning include: a table of contents, detailed pictures with labels, vocabulary words with definition, text boxes, index and a glossary.
In writing, we will spend this week writing our last lab reports. We will spend time writing about how kites work. We will try out making kites in class, according to a template. We fly them in the cafeteria and possibly outside (weather permitting)! Then students will plan and make their own kites, writing their lab report independently. We will wrap up lab reports this week and move on to non-fiction teaching books next week!
This week we will begin Unit 4 in math. A family letter detailing the new unit went home last week. The unit 3 math tests will be handed out at Parent-Teacher conferences on Thursday. The new unit will focus on measurement and telling time. Last year in first grade, students learned how to tell time to the hour and half hour on an analog clock. This year they will be expected to learn to tell time to the five minute mark. In this unit we also practice using non-standard units of measurement and standard units (centimeter and inches).
In science, we have begun the weather section of our Air and Weather unit. Last week we learned about 4 types of clouds: Stratus, Cumulus, Cirrus and Nimbus. We learned that different types of clouds produce weather. We made clouds out of cotton balls to match the 4 types. We also built an anemometer to measure wind speed, testing it out in class with a fan. We read about different tools that meteorologist used to predict weather. This week we will use a rain gauge to measure precipitation. We will make pin wheels to show how the wind moves them much like a weather vane. We will continue to record and monitor the changes in our weather in our weather journals.
Our holiday party will be on December 21st at 10:30 - 12:00. We will have pizza, play games and make a fun craft! If you have any questions, please email me!
Reminder: Thursday, December 13th is a half day. Students will be dismissed at 11:09. Please let me know of any changes in your child's normal dismissal routine. I will be meeting with parents from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. If you are not able to make your conference time, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule your time. Many slots are still available for the evening.
Thank you!
Mrs. Scheck
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Week of December 3-7
Dear families,
As I begin this blog I can't believe that we are already into the month of December! Wow, time flies when you are having fun!
In reading this week we will continue to work on non-fiction. I will teach readers how to anticipate and use the language of a nonfiction topic. Non-fiction texts use vocabulary specific to the topic. We will talk about how readers preview a text with this in mind. We will practice using text features to notice and understand key words. We will build knowledge of unknown words through using context clues. Students have already picked up on how non-fiction books teach us about a new topic and use a variety of ways to teach with: photographs, captions, bold words, maps and diagrams.
Our phonics goal for last week was learning how to write words with final k sound. After checking students understanding, I have decided to spend two more days working on final k. There are three ways we have worked on -ck, ke and just k.
In writing and science, we are working on writing lab reports and including definitions using dashes this week. We will also begin a new experiment from our air and weather kit. We will be designing kits and observe blowing bubbles. We will begin the weather section of this unit. We will preview the unit by brain storming all we know about weather. We will begin charting the changes in the weather and recording the temperature.
We are nearing the end of unit 3 in math. We have been using strategies for subtraction and reinforcing concepts with math games. In the last few lessons students will learn a strategy called going up through 10 and we will explore geometric shapes and coins. A unit study guide will be coming home for unit 3 on Tuesday. We will do an in class review on Wednesday ("math scoot") where students move around the room and solve math problems from unit 3. The test will be on Thursday, December 6.
Please send outdoor clothing daily! Label all of your child's belongings. Many students have a hard time keeping track of their mittens, boots and snow pants. We do our best to remind them!
Upcoming dates:
December 6 - Holiday sale after school
December 13 - Half day for students - dismissal time is 11:09 a.m.
December 13 - Parent teacher conferences (please login to Skyward and sign up!)
December 21 - Last day before winter break and Holiday party at 10:30 a.m.-12:00.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Scheck
As I begin this blog I can't believe that we are already into the month of December! Wow, time flies when you are having fun!
In reading this week we will continue to work on non-fiction. I will teach readers how to anticipate and use the language of a nonfiction topic. Non-fiction texts use vocabulary specific to the topic. We will talk about how readers preview a text with this in mind. We will practice using text features to notice and understand key words. We will build knowledge of unknown words through using context clues. Students have already picked up on how non-fiction books teach us about a new topic and use a variety of ways to teach with: photographs, captions, bold words, maps and diagrams.
Our phonics goal for last week was learning how to write words with final k sound. After checking students understanding, I have decided to spend two more days working on final k. There are three ways we have worked on -ck, ke and just k.
In writing and science, we are working on writing lab reports and including definitions using dashes this week. We will also begin a new experiment from our air and weather kit. We will be designing kits and observe blowing bubbles. We will begin the weather section of this unit. We will preview the unit by brain storming all we know about weather. We will begin charting the changes in the weather and recording the temperature.
We are nearing the end of unit 3 in math. We have been using strategies for subtraction and reinforcing concepts with math games. In the last few lessons students will learn a strategy called going up through 10 and we will explore geometric shapes and coins. A unit study guide will be coming home for unit 3 on Tuesday. We will do an in class review on Wednesday ("math scoot") where students move around the room and solve math problems from unit 3. The test will be on Thursday, December 6.
Please send outdoor clothing daily! Label all of your child's belongings. Many students have a hard time keeping track of their mittens, boots and snow pants. We do our best to remind them!
Upcoming dates:
December 6 - Holiday sale after school
December 13 - Half day for students - dismissal time is 11:09 a.m.
December 13 - Parent teacher conferences (please login to Skyward and sign up!)
December 21 - Last day before winter break and Holiday party at 10:30 a.m.-12:00.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Scheck
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