November News 2019

Reading: We finished our NonFiction unit and started Readers Have Big Jobs to Do: Word Detectives.  Children will learn to use all they know to help them read multi-syllabic words. One  of the teaching points is STOP at the first sign of trouble and try a strategy.
Some of the strategies are:
cover and slide-look at all parts,
start with the blend or digraph
see a word you know in the middle,
take off the ending,
pull off the blend,
flip the vowel,
silent e rule,
two vowels rule
At every point we emphasize that all words should make sense. In addition, I am teaching students to not rush their progress. If they are making more than 3 errors, then they need to find a just right book. Reading should be fun and not a struggle. I am also teaching that good readers go back and fix mistakes and are careful readers. Students should notice when they make a mistake and want to go back, fix and learn the new word. Students are shopping in the level library at least once a week along with going to the library. Please make sure they are taking home the BLUE reading bag every night. Reading at home is a first graders' homework.

Writing: We are finishing Nonfiction Reports, All About. The students have written all about a topic and include many features of nonfiction books. They included captions on pictures, a table of contents and/or a glossary.We have been working on spelling words that are "no-excuses". These are words must be spelled correctly. We continue to learn about spelling patterns and how words work. We have finished short vowels: a, o, u i, e and R blends. Next up: digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh)  and S Blends.

Math:  We Started Ch. 5- Addition and Subtraction to 20. We will learn  strategies to add to 20. They include:

1. Making a 10 and then adding: 9+4 is the same as 10+3
2. Counting on: Adding by starting with the bigger number. 12 +3.
       Say 12 and count on 3 more to get 15.
3. Knowing Doubles, 3+3, 4+ 4, 6+6, etc
4. Knowing Neighbors, since 3+3 = 6 then 3+4 = 7
And using all the tools we have to help us until we understand and know fluently the answers.
Fingers, number lines, cubes, drawing dots, number bonds, ten and twenty frames.
These are just strategies to help them know their math facts fluently. The goal is be able to add and subtract up to 20 in their head. Being able to see the numbers in their head and manipulate them to get the answer they need will help them later with word problems. A computer math site that reinforces these skills are:
www.gregtangmath.com


Social Studies: We spent time before Thanksgiving learning about the Pilgrims. We learned that 100 Pilgrims came to America, but only 40 survived the winter. Most of these were children. We talked about why people immigrate to another country like the Pilgrims. Many of our activities focused on how hard the Pilgrims had coming to this country, and we related it to how hard immigrants have coming to a new place. We learned about Maps and Globes. We studied: a map key, compass rose and how to make and read a map. We are learning about Rules versus laws.  Up Next will be the different celebrations in December and how we respect all that are in our school and community.
Looking Ahead:

Early Release: Friday, Dec 6th and Dec 20th. 

Winter Holiday Sing: Wednesday, December 18 at 2 p.m.

Winter Holiday Read-In: Friday, December 20, Early Release day
                                        Kids wear PJs to school, bring a blanket and pillow.
                                        All school Read-in. starting at 9:30 a.m
           
 Winter Break- No School- Dec 23 through January 2rnd. School Resumes January 6th

THANK YOU to all who shopped at the Captain Library Book Fair. All books donated to my room were read to the students. I really appreciate the extra books for the kids to read.