Happy New Year Everyone,
The new year is off to a strong start in Grade 1 with everyone completing and returning nightly reading. Thank you for investing the time in this aspect of your children's learning. It was hard to believe how much our students grew over the break. Teeth keep falling out and smiles keep changing. This physical growth parallels the mental development taking place internally. The cold season is striking with quite a force and students may need more sleep, water, healthy food, and supplements.
Winter trimester ramps up academic expectations to match the students' growing aptitude. Concepts build on each other becoming more complex while the components of stamina and sitting in the process are added. Sitting in the process requires students to take what they have learned and problem solve with it. We are excited to engage in this learning journey with this special class.
In math, we are applying number bonds and basic math facts to solve problems with more efficiency. This requires automatic recall of basic math facts so continue practicing these at home. We have started graphing and tallying using visual prompts. Answering basic questions based on the graphs is easy for us. The trickier part is when we are required to compare the data in word problems. This week we completed a four way pattern puzzle. It was impressive to watch the way many of the students willingly sat in this process given that it was not a linear problem.
In language arts, we are studying sentence structure by looking at sentences in books and writing our own sentences. Students are attending to capitals, periods, spacing, meaning, phrasing, and sentence variation. It is exciting to be at this stage of writing so early in the year. In reading students are progressing through the levels fluidly. Nightly reading is critical at this age as fluency and comprehension are built regardless of their level of reading. If you notice that your child can read through the text fluidly it is appropriate to ask a few comprehension questions at the end. If they are reading and recalling accurately it is helpful to ask questions that require them to draw conclusions. This week our read-alouds were "Goldfish Memoirs," "Silly Street," "Listen and Learn," and "Interrupting Chicken."
In science, we added the component of constructing a hypothesis before conducting our experiments. Our prior experiments focused on observing changes that occur using our "science eyes." Students wore goggles as they drew chalk murals on the ground. Then they used paint brushes and water to paint over their murals. The goal was to have them make a smart guess about what they thought would happen and them complete a science write up. It was refreshing to see that students all felt comfortable making and writing their own hypothesis.
In history, we are studying Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to serving all people. We are discussing black history at a developmentally appropriate level. This is a great time to expose your children to this area of American history. Students will be participating in service day projects on January 21st. Grade 1 will decorate sugar cookies and walk them to the fire station. We would love to have our parent volunteers join us.
In Social Thinking and Toolbox training, we are learning how to use the Listening Tool and how to take power over our thoughts and choices to create the outcome we want.
Enjoy the start of the New Year,
Grade 1 Team
The new year is off to a strong start in Grade 1 with everyone completing and returning nightly reading. Thank you for investing the time in this aspect of your children's learning. It was hard to believe how much our students grew over the break. Teeth keep falling out and smiles keep changing. This physical growth parallels the mental development taking place internally. The cold season is striking with quite a force and students may need more sleep, water, healthy food, and supplements.
Winter trimester ramps up academic expectations to match the students' growing aptitude. Concepts build on each other becoming more complex while the components of stamina and sitting in the process are added. Sitting in the process requires students to take what they have learned and problem solve with it. We are excited to engage in this learning journey with this special class.
In math, we are applying number bonds and basic math facts to solve problems with more efficiency. This requires automatic recall of basic math facts so continue practicing these at home. We have started graphing and tallying using visual prompts. Answering basic questions based on the graphs is easy for us. The trickier part is when we are required to compare the data in word problems. This week we completed a four way pattern puzzle. It was impressive to watch the way many of the students willingly sat in this process given that it was not a linear problem.
In language arts, we are studying sentence structure by looking at sentences in books and writing our own sentences. Students are attending to capitals, periods, spacing, meaning, phrasing, and sentence variation. It is exciting to be at this stage of writing so early in the year. In reading students are progressing through the levels fluidly. Nightly reading is critical at this age as fluency and comprehension are built regardless of their level of reading. If you notice that your child can read through the text fluidly it is appropriate to ask a few comprehension questions at the end. If they are reading and recalling accurately it is helpful to ask questions that require them to draw conclusions. This week our read-alouds were "Goldfish Memoirs," "Silly Street," "Listen and Learn," and "Interrupting Chicken."
In science, we added the component of constructing a hypothesis before conducting our experiments. Our prior experiments focused on observing changes that occur using our "science eyes." Students wore goggles as they drew chalk murals on the ground. Then they used paint brushes and water to paint over their murals. The goal was to have them make a smart guess about what they thought would happen and them complete a science write up. It was refreshing to see that students all felt comfortable making and writing their own hypothesis.
In history, we are studying Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to serving all people. We are discussing black history at a developmentally appropriate level. This is a great time to expose your children to this area of American history. Students will be participating in service day projects on January 21st. Grade 1 will decorate sugar cookies and walk them to the fire station. We would love to have our parent volunteers join us.
In Social Thinking and Toolbox training, we are learning how to use the Listening Tool and how to take power over our thoughts and choices to create the outcome we want.
Enjoy the start of the New Year,
Grade 1 Team