We have been busy in first grade, sorry no blog post on Wednesday.

We have been learning to tally!  Yesterday we focused on numbers 10 and under and today we will extend beyond.  We are first using pop sticks to make tally marks and then learning to make by writing.  This is preparing us to count by 5's.

In literacy we are beginning to rotate to jobs to prepare for starting reading groups! 

Today and yesterday we had 3 centers, reading table (working with Mrs. Pelletier on writing letters and sounds), read to self and then word work (making letters out of play doh).

We also wrote our school rules today.  The kids brainstormed the rules themselves and we groups them together into 3 main ideas:

1. Take care of me

2. Take care of each other

3. Take care of school stuff

Today we had our first Library!  We were so excited to see Mrs. Brewster and take out 2 books each.  Please return these two books next Monday when we will get a chance to go and exchange them for new ones!

In literacy we have introduced 3 vowels and (i,e & u) and 6 consonants (t,b,f,m,n,&c).  The kids really are learning these sounds and we played the mystery letter game today.  I use my finger to write a letter and they guess which letter is it.  You might want to play at home.  You can also have your first grader be the mystery letter writer and write it on your back!

In math we reviewed all the math materials we have been learning and made huge posters to show a number.   For example if my number was 10 I might have on my poster:

*orange cuisenaire rod

*dice for 4 and dice for 6

*a tens frame with exactly 10 dots

*ten pennies

*a hexagon and a square for ten sides total

*10 hearts I drew

ETC.

The kids loved doing this!  

Enjoy the day tomorrow and don't forget the idea books are due Wednesday if you can!

We have been introducing buddy reading!  One partner reads the words or the pictures and the other partner listens and then does 'check for understanding'.  Your first grader might like to practice this at home with you!

In math we are exploring and learning more of our math materials including cuisenaire rods and tens frames.

Yesterday we launched our word wall with our names as the first words on the wall.  Ask your child what 2 colors they used to make their name and why they needed 2 colors (vowels / consonants).

Have a great weekend and remember no school on Tuesday for students.  

Today we did the second lesson (yesterday we did the first) of our word study program called FUNdations.  We are beginning by reviewing all the letters and sounds of the alphabet.  Your student should be able to remember the key word and sounds for these letters, ask them and see if they can!

T top B bat F fun M man N nut

In math we are exploring and learning how to use some of our math materials.  Today we used cluster cards, these are like playing cards without the numeral.  These are very useful to give kids a visual for each number.  It also helps us learn to decompose and recompose numbers.  For example if I show this:

The kids might say "This is 9 because I see 4 and 4 and 1"

We also started reading our first chapter book!

Look for a pink paper coming home today that is for a friendship list.  Please fill out and return IF you would like your contact information shared with the purpose of planning play dates and party invitations etc.

Heads up!  I like to call all families around this time of the year to check in on their first grade transition to school.  If you see a number pop up from the school it is probably me calling during lunch or special time to just check in.  Talk to you soon!

Today we are coming home with our first first grade homework!
This letter should be printed on a blue paper and coming home in a small notebook labeled 'Idea Book'.

First Grade Writing Idea Book

Due Date:   Wednesday, September 14th.

If students finish before September 14, please have them bring it to school!

First Graders will writing throughout the year.  Our first unit is  ‘Small Moments’ where writers create stories about things they have experienced, for example: I went apple picking. I take the school bus. I baked muffins. I rode my bike. I help my brother.

We are asking that over the next week your first grader put 10 ideas (or more) in their idea book - 1 idea per page.  They could sketch, glue a photograph, cut and glue a magazine picture, write a word(s) for an idea or dictate to an adult and have the adult write a word(s) for an idea.  The idea book will be a resource of ideas to potentially develop into stories.  This should be a fun family activity that is NOT writing intensive!   

If you have any questions please email me!  Thank you for your support at home!

Phew!  What a week.  Expect your child to be tired!  Remember any emotional meltdowns tonight or tomorrow are likely in part due to a very long week back where they are working so hard to listen and follow directions!  Get lots of rest over the weekend!

Conversation starters;
*I heard you practiced a fire drill today, what do you do if it is a fire drill?
*Mrs. Pelletier said all the first graders wrote and drew hope for first grade, what were you coloring this afternoon that showed your hope for first grade?
*You read the book Owen where the mouse has a favorite blanket, what did that make you think of (self to text connection to a doll/blanket/stuffed animal at home)?
*Who was your partner (s) when you played your math games today? (Penny Dice & Bunny Hop)

We are really getting into our groove!
Today we practiced doing read to self, which is when we sit and read a book by the pictures, words or retell the story to ourselves.  We are working to build up our stamina to read to self longer and longer.  Today we did 4 minutes!  Tomorrow we will try to go for 5 and eventually work up to 15!

In math we used our white boards for the first time and practiced numbers before and after.  Look for a practice paper coming home.  We also learned a simple math game called Penny Dice where we practiced taking turns, sharing, cooperating, rolling a dice and counting the corresponding number of pennies and determining of there was enough left to take.

We also explored our FUNdations word work board and I was excited to know that lots of kids knew their letters and figured out the vowels on this tool are all a different color.

We will be having our first field trip on October 6th from 845-955 am. 
We will be taking a short woods walk on the Bow School Woods behind our building and finding a spot ot build fairy houses.  Please save the date if you would like to join us!

Please email me with a conference time of your choice if you have not signed up yet:

Nov. 7 MONDAY
1-
130
2-
230- Anthony
3-
330-
4-
430- Andrew
5-Piper
530- Zoey
6-Jenny
630-Mily
7- Tyler
730- Isabelle (potentially)

Nov. 8th TUESDAY
730-
8-
830-
9-
930-
10-
1030-
11-
1130-
12-
1230-
1- Aurelian
130-
2-

Email me to set up a time if you cannot make these days.