Weekly Update for 04-04-16

Welcome 4^th quarter! I look forward to our last couple of months together!
IMPORTANT DATES

• Wednesday, April 6th Spring Concert at Higley Center for the Arts from 5:00-8:00
• Friday, April 15th Half Day
• Wednesday, April 20th-22nd book fair
• Friday, April 22nd Fine Arts and French Night 5:30-8:00

- PLEASE send in "Sam the Minute Man" by Wednesday of next week (the 6th) we will be reading from it soon! 

- The Spring Concert is next Wednesday.  Please check your email with a detailed letter about arrival and attire.

-       -BEACH PARTY!! Tomorrow, Friday, April 1^st, we will be having our very own beach party. This was the party that was favored while earning fuzzies over the month of March.  Your child may pack a colorful (NO popculture) towel in his/her backpack. We will be using them while making our escape to the tropics! ;P

-       -Scholarly behavior is expected at all times and in all areas here at school. We had a brief discussion of what it looks and sounds like to be respectful citizens while in class, on the playground, during specials, and when using the restroom. Please take the time to talk to your child about being prepared and ready to learn up to our very last day of school. Second grade here we come!

-       -Optional island projects are due in class on Friday, the 8^th. Please only send in on Friday, we will be sharing and they will be sent home that day. I wish we had more space to display for a longer period of time! Can’t wait to see their creative projects!

Next week:

Math

It has been a tangible help using unifix cubes and counters to see adding and subtracting within 100.  We will continue to work with larger numbers within 100.  Comparing and ordering.

Literature

Scholars will be reciting “Rope Rhyme” next week.  “My Father’s Dragon” had a happy ending! Next week we will review various story elements and use the test to look back for evidence.  The hard cover copy that I have has 2 more stories, continuing with Elmer’s adventures.  A few read a aloud lessons will take place, just for pure enjoyment and love of reading!

Science

I hope to spark some curiosity about electricity!  We will discuss and experiment with static electricity.

History

We have LOVED reading and writing about the establishment, growth, and events within our 13 colonies.  Next week we will be continue to read about the birth of our nation and the American Revolution. We will also be reading about a few revolutionary lives such as Benjamin Fanklin, Debirah Sampson, and Phillis Wheatley. 

Working with thermometers and unifix cubes! 

Weekly Update for the week of 03-29

·      All optional Spring Break Island projects are due on April 8^th, please do not send them in ahead of time. We will have time to share on the 8th. Have fun!

·      I wish you all a happy spring break filled with lots of sunshine, fun, and relaxation. Our first graders (almost second graders…WOW!) have been working so hard, this break is well deserved.

When we return…

Math

Students will work on the skill of estimation.  We will also be working with numbers up to 100. Counting 1 more and one less, 10 more and 10 less.  And finally, comparing numbers within 100.

Science

Measurement of matter! Students will be working on 3 hands on units of measurement, measuring length, volume, and temperature.

History

We had a blast with our 13 colonies song and taxation without representation activity! Students will apply previous knowledge of the Boston Tea Party as we will move on to “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”.  Ending the week with our introduction to the American Revolution.

Literature

We will wrap up “My Father’s Dragon” with the last 2 chapters, a cumulative comprehension test, and a few fun activities.  This story was a fun one. I enjoyed listening to each and every scholar read aloud to the class. I am extremely impressed with the fluency growth and development of reading with expression!

WE ARE SPARTA!

Weekly Update for week of 03-14-16

·      Tomorrow, March 11^th we will be competing in our annual athletic field day as Spartans! The event will start on the field at 8:30 and will continue until lunch.  Please arrive to school on time. Our 1A Spartans will be competing in various field games while outside, our class will be representing our ancient city while wearing black athletic gear.   Hats, athletic shoes, and sun screen are encouraged. If you would like to be a spectator you will need to check in at the office for a badge and bring your own lawn chair. 

·      We will be having lunch in our classroom on Friday (tomorrow) after the Athletic field day event, we are a nut free room, be sure your child does not pack lunch items that contain nuts.

·      There will be an optional Literature assignment sent home over spring break.  The assignment is a fun one! We are reading about the magical and wild island of Tangerina as we read “My Father’s Dragon”. The scholar will design their own “island” picture/map/or diorama, have a story plot, and a problem/ solution to go along with it.  Details, due dates, and instructions will be sent home next week.  I want to be clear that this is an optional assignment and hope those who participate have a fun and creative time!

·      Please send me an email by Wednesday, March 16^th if your child would like an optional math and literature review to work on over Spring Break.

·      Thank you for the magazine donations, they will be perfect for our project next week, if you have more you can send them in until Monday.

Math

Next week we will practice and assess skip counting by 10s and hundreds. We will also review concepts that have introduced thus far. 

Literature

Continuing with “My Father’s Dragon”, in small groups the students will be designing their own islands, creating a who, what, when, where plot, as well as a problem and solution.  It is very similar to the optional assignment over break, this way they have an idea of what I am looking for them to complete at home. I look forward to seeing their creative juices flow!

Science

This next week will be filled with changes of matter experiments. We will be observing liquid to solid changes and solid to liquid changes. 

History

The scholars have loved learning about the pilgrims, we will start our unit on the 13 colonies! We will name and locate the original 13 colonies on a map.  We will also introduce actions that made a contribution to the Boston Tea Party. 

Tracking in our chapter books! And math center games! 

Weekly Update for Week of March 7th

ATHLETIC FIELD DAY INFORMATION

-       Next Friday, March 11^th we will be competing in our annual athletic field day as Spartans! The event will start on the field at 8:30 and will continue until lunch.  Please arrive to school on time. Our 1A Spartans will be competing in various field games while outside, our class will be representing our ancient city while wearing black athletic gear.   Hats and athletic shoes are encouraged.  A sign up genius will be created within the next few days as we are looking for volunteers and supplies.  If you would like to be a spectator you will need to check in at the office for a badge and bring your own lawn chair. 

-If you would like to volunteer use the link below: 

 https://archwayareteclubs.wufoo.com/forms/morning-athletic-field-day-volunteers-31116/

-       Sunscreen might be a good idea, please apply before school. :]

-       Lunch on athletic field day, extremely important! We will be eating in our room, we have a nut free classroom.  Mrs. Smith and myself will double check lunches, but please NO NUT items. 

-       In a few weeks we will be using magazines to find examples to matter and seasons. If you have any Arizona Highways, nature magazines, or home and garden magazines, we would love the donations.  Please go through prior to and take out any pop culture or sensitive advertisements.

-       It sure feels like spring, with that being said, the kids start to get a bit wiggly during the day! Please remind your scholar to retain attention and focus through out the entire school day.  Thanks :]

Math

Time has been fun, I have a class set of clocks the students were able to work with and showing time to the nearest hour hand half hour. Next week we will be working on more and less with numbers within 100.

Science

Continuing on with matter, focusing on properties of solids, liquids, and gases. A small main idea and detail quiz will take place at the end of the week to check for understanding of properties and states of matter.

History

Continuing with Early English Exploration.  The students have really enjoyed the history of Jamestown, the lost colony, and Pocahontas!

Literature

My Father’s Dragon has been a hit! For some odd reason multiple copies of the book have been ordered, all students have the correct copy, just the pages and pictures may differ.  Next week we will be reading chapters 4-7.