You all should have received a conference invitation attached to this week's homework. If you have not yet done so, please return your requested times ASAP so that I can send confirmation notes home next week.
I would like to remind you that when it comes to homework, I am very flexible when it comes to expectations. Each child is different and at this young age I do not want homework to become the dreaded evening activity. The priority is reading and math Homelinks. Handwriting practice for written activities is always important, but the amount completed can vary if your child struggles or is tired. If there are 5 sentences to write and your child is overwhelmed, do one or two. Just jot a note on the Homework House that this was enough for your child. I would like each student to understand that there is some responsibility for their learning beyond the school day. It does help them to form good study habits to have some homework time scheduled during their week. Of course, as the year goes on, they will be able to handle more.
This week students took the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. This test is a measure of general ability that requires the student to use reasoning and problem solving skills. This test also helps determine which students will work with Mr. Bulger.
Book orders will come home with your child on Friday, October 2nd. Please return these by October 9th. If you are interested in ordering books as a gift for your child and would like me to set aside an order for your "secret" pick-up, I am always willing to do that.
There is no school on Monday, October 12th and there are half days on October 22nd and 23rd. Please make sure your child is aware of going home plans on the half days. First graders are often confused by this change in schedule.
LANGUAGE ARTS
We are nearing completion of Unit 1 in our Open Court series. The strategy of Prediction was introduced and we also worked on the criteria to identify reality and fantasy in our reading selections. Comparing and contrasting has also been a part of our lessons. Our next unit's theme is "Animals." Phonics work has primarily focused on the segmenting and blending of sounds, syllables, alliteration, and sound/spelling patterns.
Our grammar and mechanics work has primarily consisted of the use of capital letters and periods. In writing this week, we have started autobiographies working with a web organizer. The students will continue with this assignment next week.
SOCIAL STUDIES
We finished up our first unit this week with lessons about community life, community helpers and why people move. During these lessons, the skills of cause/effect, classifying and comparing/contrasting are used. We learned how to read a simple map key and identify map symbols.
SCIENCE
In our first weather lessons, we brainstormed weather vocabulary words. We continued charting weather observations and made a class graph of our favorite kind of weather. Class discussions also touched on how we decide what to wear each day.
MATH
This week we completed written and slate assessments for our first unit and began our Unit 2 in Everyday Math. This unit will introduce "Math Boxes" which is a built-in daily routine for review. We are using number lines and number grids to develop place value understanding and addition and subtraction skills. We are working on complements of ten and will be exploring the use of the calculator.
Telling time to the hour on an analog clock is part of our work next week. We will revisit the concept of a.m. and p.m. and try to develop a sense of the duration of a minute. It is helpful to draw your child's attention to analog clocks when you are out and about or from your watch. Using words to reference time ("about ten minutes", "about an hour", etc.) helps young children begin to understand elapsed time.
CELEBRATIONS
We are 7 books away from completing our first 100 Green Light Books! Students who brought at least one book back to read to me will enjoy a popcorn treat this next week. Thank you for supporting good reading habits at home!
