One Hundred Fifteenth Day of School

Quite a few Reading Logs have not been turned in for the second reporting period. Please make sure that your child has turned in a signed Reading Log for November, December, and January by this Friday.

Topic 10 Math Test tomorrow.

Science Test tomorrow. Students brought home notes for studying yesterday. Concepts for Science:

• Elements of weather
• Sleet, freezing rain, snow
• Air

One Hundred Thirteenth Day of School

Today we took our Social Science Test.

We made parachutes in Science to demonstrate air's useful ability to push on a surface. Look for notes to be brought home next week for a Science test.

One Hundred Seventh Day of School

Due to scheduling conflicts we had to move our Science lesson to today. We asked the questions: What can air do? and How can we use air? (tested). We learned, observed, and discovered that air can push, pull, suck, and cause things to float.

We took notes on an article about George Washington.

The due date for citizenship speeches was extended to Thursday (tomorrow).

One Hundred Sixth Day of School

Tomorrow is likely the last day to review math responses and get them returned in time for the test.

Speeches are due tomorrow.

Time Sensitive Math Information #2

Find the missing number which makes this number sentence correct.

   48 + __ = 55

Show how you know the answer using pictures (hint: showing the correct amount of numbered counters for the difference is possible *49 *50 *51 etc), words (hint: if you use words to explain there is a difference between these two numbers which can be found in a variety of ways.) or numbers (hint: It is also possible to show a section of a number line with the numbers between the two in the example).

Again, do not teach or show your child how to do this problem. Watch their process. Some explanations may include references to place value. If you would like feedback about your child's response to these questions, either see your child's teacher very soon or send your child's work to school ASAP.

Time Sensitive Math Information

Dora has 3 cards each with a single digit printed on the face. The cards read 3, 5, and 7.

1. What is the largest two-digit number (the number of greatest value) Dora can make with her cards?
2. Show how you figured it out using pictures (hint: tens and ones model) words or numbers.
3. With the same cards what two-digit number can Dora make that is closest to 66 (note: in order to get credit for this answer a child has to be able to compare the difference between all of the possible numbers to 66 and then explain how they arrived at their conclusion). 
4. Show how you found your answer using pictures, words, or numbers.

Rather than showing your child how to solve this problem, provide a variety of tools (e.g. number line, hundred chart, counters) and observe their strategy. Assist them in articulating their explanation.

If you would like feedback about your child's response to these questions, either see your child's teacher very soon or send your child's work to school ASAP.

One Hundred Second Day of School

No homework today.

Point of clarification: Students will not have to outline the continents on their map test. They will only need to place the name over its location.

One Hundred First Day of School

Yesterday we had a quick 100th day celebration.

Today many students added a conclusion to their procedural writing. Tomorrow we will choose one of our pieces to quick publish. We will begin our larger informational instruction and work on Thursday.

We will either have a quiz or a test in math Thursday or Friday.

At-Home Project

The 1st grade will be hosting the Citizen of the Month Assembly at the end of February. One child from the 1st grade classes will be chosen to read an essay they have written on the subject of sportsmanship. All students wishing to be considered for reading a speech to the student body at the end of the February need to submit an essay to their teacher by Wednesday, February 11th. A winning essay/student will be chosen by the 1st grade teachers. Parents of that child will be notified so they can make plans to be at the assembly. This is good public speaking experience and an excellent opportunity for video memories.

Unit 4 Week 1 Preview

In our new unit we will take a look at teamwork and what is necessary for teammates to work together. This week we will read folk tales and fables as well as a selection on bees working as a team. We will practice the comprehension strategy of generating questions to improve our comprehension skill of making predictions. Our oral vocabulary words are encourage, friendship, relationship, rely, suggest. Our sight words are across, carry, eight, once, saw, upon, walked. We will focus on various spellings of the 'long-a' vowel sound specifically 'ai_' (paid) and '_ay' (pay).