Friday, February 28, 2014

March 3-7, 2014

Math:  This week in Math we will be learning strategies using Count on 3 subtraction.  We are linking our thinking with addition to subtraction.  We will practice our strategies during stations and problem solving situations.  We will identify fact families (3+2=5, 2+3=5, 5-3=2, 5-2=3) and related facts (3+2=5, 5-3=2).  The objective is to quickly recall facts by visualizing and using a strategy when we solve problems.

Reading Workshop:  This week in Reading Workshop we will be celebrating Read Across America with Dr. Seuss books!.  Our focus this week is: author study!  We will start the week off exploring the biography of this famous author.  Each day we will read a new book and do an activity with the literature.  Wednesday we will readWacky Wednesday and wear wacky socks to school.  We will kick off our shoes and spend our reading time reading different Dr. Seuss books with our partners!  If you have any Dr. Seuss books, please bring them to school for this fun reading time. Please put your child's name on the book so we can make sure it gets returned to you.  If you don't want to write on the book, please use the blue painters tape and write your child's name on the tape.  It will remove easily and not harm the book. :)  This author study will lead itself into our poetry unit that will follow after spring break.  We will also be learning how, as a reader, we will know that we REALLY understand what we are reading.

Word Study:
Green Group:  an and ad Word Families
Blue Group:  pl, sl, and bl blends
Red Group:  Review of ar, Schwa-plus-r, and or Words (jar, earn, thorn)

Writing Workshop:   This week, we will be learning to write Procedural texts.  We will discuss that this type of writing will teach our readers how to perform a task.  The students will think about what they would like to teach the reader, and write and illustrate each step of the task.  

Science:  This week we will finish up our unit on objects in the sky.  We will observe the sun during the morning, noon and afternoon and notice that how the position of the sun seems to change in the sky. We will learn about the moon and the stars and how the moon appears to change in the night sky.  This week we will be the super scientists who make careful observations and record their observations in their journal.

Habit #1:  Be Proactive.  I am responsible.  I am in charge of my actions.  I choose my actions, attitude, and mood. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Library day is Tuesday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.
*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day
     Family Skate Night
March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up
April 2:  Spirit Night
May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)
May 2:  Field Day
          Talent Show (4-5)
May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7:  Early Release Day
May 9:  Career Day
May 12-16:  Book Fair
May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!
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Monday, February 24, 2014

February 24-28, 2014

Math:  The Count On subtraction strategy is introduced in this unit. The primary strategy for subtraction is “Think Addition;” therefore, students need to have mastered the Count On addition facts prior to introducing the Count On subtraction strategy.  Count On Addition (5+1=6, count on one example) was introduced in the fall semester.  Students will be working on problem solving situations during this time as well.

Reading Workshop:  This week in Reading Workshop, we will talk about asking questions before, during and after reading.  We will learn why it is important to ask questions and what types of questions we might want to ask.  We will also talk about how sometimes our questions aren’t answered…and that’s ok!

Word Study:
Green Group:  sh, ch, th, and wh diagraphs
Blue Group:  p, l, and pl blends
Red Group:  ur, ure, ur-e (turn, sure, curve)

Writing Workshop:   This week we will be thinking and writing about important events from our year so far for our class timeline.  We will be taking our writing all the way through the writing process.  We will revise, edit and finally publish our timelines, and then we will present them in the hallway.
Science:  This week we will learn about the objects in the sky.  We will observe the sun during the morning, noon and afternoon and notice that how the position of the sun seems to change in the sky. We will learn about the moon and the stars and how the moon appears to change in the night sky.  This week we will be the super scientists who make careful observations and record their observations in their journal.

Habit #1:  Be Proactive.  I am responsible.  I am in charge of my actions.  I choose my actions, attitude, and mood. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Library day is Tuesday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.
*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day
     Family Skate Night
March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up
April 2:  Spirit Night
May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)
May 2:  Field Day
          Talent Show (4-5)
May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7:  Early Release Day
May 9:  Career Day
May 12-16:  Book Fair
May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!
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Monday, February 17, 2014

February 17-21, 2014

Math:  The Count On subtraction strategy is introduced in this unit. The primary strategy for subtraction is “Think Addition;” therefore, students need to have mastered the Count On addition facts prior to introducing the Count On subtraction strategy.  Count On Addition (5+1=6, count on one example) was introduced in the fall semester.  Students will be working on problem solving situations during this time as well.

Reading Workshop:  This week we will focus on learning about the holiday: President's Day and introducing a new genre for reading: Historical Fiction.  We will learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and why we celebrate this holiday.  The students will compare and contrast the two presidents.  Look for them in the hallways!  We will also focus on identifying a new genre called Historical Fiction.  The students will learn what it is and the characteristics that make up this genre.

Word Study:
Green Group:  th and wh Diagraphs (thorn, whale)
Blue Group:  sc, sn, and sw Blends (scarf, snap, sweep)
Red Group:  or, ore, oar, w+or (form, more, board, work)

Writing Workshop:  This week we will be thinking about important events from our year so far and then writing a class timeline.
Science:  This week we will learn about seasons, day and night.  We will learn that each season is different. The nature looks different in each season and the weather changes from season to season. As a result we do different activities in each season.  We will also learn how day and night are different and how we see different objects in the sky during day and night.
Habit #7:  Sharpen the Saw.  I take care of myself.  I spend time with family and friends.  I find meaningful ways to help others. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Library day is Tuesday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.
*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:
February 17:  Bad Weather Make Up Day- We will have school this day!
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day
     Family Skate Night
March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up
April 2:  Spirit Night
May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)
May 2:  Field Day
          Talent Show (4-5)
May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7:  Early Release Day
May 9:  Career Day
May 12-16:  Book Fair
May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!
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Monday, February 10, 2014

February 10-14, 2014

Math:  This week in math we will be doing problem solving.  We will apply concepts that we have learned so far this year to word problems.

Reading Workshop:  This week we will begin talking about some strategies we can use to clear up confusion while we are reading.  We will learn how to reread to understand tricky parts, to read the tricky parts aloud, and how to make a picture in our mind to help us understand better.

Word Study:
Green Group:  th and wh Diagraphs (thorn, whale)
Blue Group:  sc, sn, and sw Blends (scarf, snap, sweep)
Red Group:  or, ore, oar, w+or (form, more, board, work)

Writing Workshop:  This week in Writing Workshop, we will continue writing Small Moments.  We will work on Revising, Editing, and Publishing our Small Moment stories.

Social Studies:  This week, we will continue reading Biographies.  With President’s Day right around the corner, we will read and learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Friday, February 14 will be our Valentine’s Day Party from 1:30-2:30.  Please remember to send Valentines and a decorated Valentine’s Day box to school with your child by Friday.  Thanks!

Habit #7:  Sharpen the Saw.  I take care of myself.  I spend time with family and friends.  I find meaningful ways to help others. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Library day is Tuesday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.
*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:
February 14:  Chocolate Fever Day
       Valentine’s Day Party @ 1:30-2:30
February 17:  Bad Weather Make Up Day- We will have school this day!
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day
     Family Skate Night
March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up
April 2:  Spirit Night
May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)
May 2:  Field Day
          Talent Show (4-5)
May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7:  Early Release Day
May 9:  Career Day
May 12-16:  Book Fair
May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!
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Friday, January 31, 2014

February 3-7, 2014

Math:  This week in math we will be comparing 2 dimensional shapes to 3 dimensional shapes.  We will discuss the attributes and explore 3 dimensional shapes.  Do they roll? Can you stack them? What do their faces look like?
Reading Workshop:  This week we will introduce the students to biographies.  They will learn that biographies are true stories about a real person.  Our focus will be on three characteristics of biographies: 1. Take place during a real historical time period. 2. Tell about a person's life in chronological order. 3. Written about people who have made a significant contribution to society.  

Word Study:
Green Group:  h, sh, and ch Diagraphs (hose, shack, cherry)
Blue Group:  sp, sk, and sm Blends (spoon, skip, smell)
Red Group:  Words with ir, ire, ier (girl, fire, drier)

Writing Workshop:  This week in Writing Workshop, we will continue writing Small Moments.  We will work on writing what we hear when we don’t know how to spell a word and it isn’t on our Word Wall, and sketching a picture instead of drawing before you write.  We will plan and add details to our stories so our readers can get a clear picture in their mind.  We will also work on planning our story as a beginning, middle, end story before we begin writing.
Social Studies:  This week, we will finish up our Texas unit.  We will then begin to read Biographies about a leader in our Community (Sam Houston) and Inventors (Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison).  We will talk about what a timeline is and we will create a timeline of Alexander Graham Bell’s life as well.     
Habit #7:  Sharpen the Saw.  I take care of myself.  I spend time with family and friends.  I find meaningful ways to help others. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Library day is Tuesday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.
*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:
February 4:  1st Grade PE Program
February 5:  Early Release Day
February 7:  101st Day!
February 14:  Chocolate Fever Day
       Valentine’s Day Party
February 17:  Bad Weather Make Up Day- We will have school this day!
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day
     Family Skate Night
March 24:  Turkey Trot Make-up
April 2:  Spirit Night
May 1:  Talent Show (K-3)
May 2:  Field Day
          Talent Show (4-5)
May 5-9:  Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7:  Early Release Day
May 9:  Career Day
May 12-16:  Book Fair
May 29:  End of the Year Party

May 30:  Last day of school!
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Monday, January 27, 2014

January 27-31, 2014

Math:  This week in math we will continue to explore shapes. We've folded squares to see what other kinds of shapes can be made. We will sort shapes according to their attributes (sides, corners).  We will compare 2 dimensional shapes to 3 dimensional shapes.  We will learn the names of shapes we see all around us.  We will identify shapes that make up other shapes such as a cylinder has 2 circle bases.  This discovery based unit has been a lot of fun so far!!

Reading Workshop:  This week in Reading Workshop, we will be reading Fables.  Just like Fairy Tales, Fables are a type of Folktale.  Fables have animal characters with human attributes and always have a lesson (moral) to the story.  We will read The Lion and The Mouse, Fox and the Crow, The Ugly Duckling, and The Tortoise and the Hare.  While we are reading these stories, we will think about the story structure (characters, setting, problem and solution) and retelling the story by remembering what happened in the beginning, middle and end of the story. 

Word Study:
Green Group:  h, sh, and ch Diagraphs (hose, shack, cherry)
Blue Group:  sp, sk, and sm Blends (spoon, skip, smell)
Red Group:  Words with ir, ire, ier (girl, fire, drier)

Writing Workshop:  As we turn our focus back to non fiction writing with personal narratives this week, we will learn to think about events that have happened in our lives, then focus on only that event. We will learn that all of the things that lead up to that, as well as all of the things that happened after it, are not as important as the details of that single event that we would like to share about with our friends. We will be learning to "zoom in" on our stories.
Social Studies:  Howdy Y’all!  This week we will be learning about the customs and traditions of our community in the great state of Texas.  We will learn about different state symbols such as the Bluebonnet, Mockingbird, Pecan Tree, State Flag, and the Texas Pledge.  We will also talk about the capitol of Texas, our home, sweet, home…Austin.  We will take a step back in Texas history to learn about the Alamo.  Yee haw!
Habit #7:  Sharpen the Saw.  I take care of myself.  I spend time with family and friends.  I find meaningful ways to help others. 

Reminders:
*Please remember to send a healthy snack every day.  Snack time is @ 9:30am.
*Make sure your child wears tennis shoes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Library day is Tuesday.
*Please remember to send back your child’s orange folder and homework bag every day.
*It helps me tremendously if you leave the reading response notebook and books in the homework bag every day.  We use them at school!

Dates to remember:
January 30:  Science Fair
January 31:  Fairy Tale/Folktale Parade @8:15
February 4:  1st Grade PE Program
February 5:  101st Day
      Early Release Day
February 14:  Chocolate Fever Day
       Valentine’s Day Party
February 17:  Bad Weather Make Up Day- We will have school this day!
March 1:  Family Dinner Night
March 3-4:  Turkey Trot
March 10-14:  Spring Break
March 19:  Early Release Day

     Family Skate Night
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