It's been a fun-filled couple of weeks in first grade. We celebrated Read Across America Day last Friday and the costumes were adorable! I loved seeing the kids bring their favorite book characters to life! And the crazy hair today was hysterical. Here's a look at a few of the things that the kids learned this and last week.
- We have been focusing on vowel digraphs in words: ou, ow, ue, ew, au, and aw. Examples of words with these letter combinations are brow, blue, haul, and saw. After being introduced to them during a lesson and practicing reading and writing words, the kids use the letter/sound cards to review them each day. These can be tricky, so we circle back to them every day.
- We have also been talking a lot about syllable division. Knowing where syllables begin and end helps the kids decode unfamiliar words and it also helps with spelling. Here's a cute video that we watched to reinforce the concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S7DY2lgJlU
- The trick words over the past 2 weeks have been: any, many, how, now, down, out, about, our
- During Reading Workshop, the kids have been working hard with their partners to create a plan when they are having difficulty with a word.
- The kids also finished up the nonfiction stories that they have been writing for the past few weeks. They created tables of contents, glossaries, and packed their books full of facts. Last week, they used a checklist to evaluate their writing on their own. I love reading the stories!
- I also introduced commas as a form of punctuation. The first graders practiced creating lists in sentences using commas. For example: I like ice cream, cake, and cookies.
- In math, the focus has been on place value. The kids learned how to compare numbers. They also started using the greater than, less than, and equal signs (>, <, =).
- In science, the kids are learning about light. They are considering the source of the light in a room, as well as which materials are transparent and opaque. They did a fun activity last week with flashlights and paper that they colored with markers so that they could send messages to a partner across the room. Ask them to tell you about it!
- In celebration of Read Across America, we read several Dr. Seuss books. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish was a favorite! We created a cute craft to go along with the story that is hanging in the hallway. Take a peek if you are in the school.
Reading aloud is very, very beneficial for kids at this stage in their development. And so many of them have told me how much they love spending a little time each night reading with a grown up. I know that some nights are busier than others, but I just wanted to remind everyone that your kiddo brings home 2 books from school each week to read at home. Of course, they can read anything from your home library as well!
Upcoming Dates
3/11 (Wednesday): Early release for teacher professional development at 1:45
3/13 (Friday): Dress in Green Day, library
3/18 (Wednesday): Library
3/20 (Friday): Crazy Sock Day
3/25 (Wednesday): Early release for teacher professional development at 1:45
3/27 (Friday): Library, Crazy Hat Day and Pajama Day
Thank you for the supplies at the beginning of the year!
We have an ample supply of sanitizing wipes in the classroom and we've been using them every day.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks for all you do at home to support your child's learning.
Enjoy the week and the beautiful weather!
Katie Barnett
