1G Weekly News
February 7th, 2016
Notes and Updates
Dear Parents,
Students had so much fun at Sports Day last week. I will be uploading pictures sometime this week to our February folder. I hope everyone will enjoy and do something active this Tuesday for Qatar Sports Day.
Last week, in reading students reviewed different text features such as understanding bold words and reading a glossary. They also worked on how to read a non-fiction story by practicing different expressions. The changed their voice when asking a question or change their volume when something exciting was happening.
In writing, students worked on writing a introduction and conclusion in their books. They also spent time reviewing how to plan and make a new book. Trying to decide the different types of pages is a small adventure in first grade. Finally we worked on elaborating our stories by creating twin sentences. For example: A porcupine has quills. Quills are small spikes used to protect itself from predators.
In Math, we worked on adding 2 digit numbers. We learned how to use base ten block to create a new 10. Then we drew it using quick tens and ones and showed are thinking using the arrow way. We learned how to notate our thinking by decomposing the ones in order to make the two digit number into an easily added 10.
We started a new Science Unit, Plants and Animals. We went on a plant hunt around the school and discovered different kinds of plants. Then we investigated the parts of a plant but cutting up an onion. Finally we compared parts of a plant using an onion and celery.
Scroll down to read about what we will be learning next week and important dates and information for next week.
Cheers,
Shannon Keane
Special Announcements
Pre-K Play-Doh Sale!
Please help us build schools in Kenya and Mozambique!
In order to demonstrate the ASD values of compassion and responsibility, the Pre-K classes will be raising money to help the Machakos Education Centre buy land for a new school as well as help with the building of a new school in rural Mozambique. The students will be selling homemade play-dough for 5 QR per bag. The sale will take place during recess times on Wednesday, February 10th and Thursday, February 11th. Please make sure that students have exact change.
Thank you for your support!
The Pre-K Team
100th Day of School
1st Grade will celebrate the 100th day of school on Thursday, Feb 11. Students have the option to bring in 100 items to make a 100 collection during Explore time this week. So far, students have brought in bow-tie pasta, jewels, stickers, and craft sticks, to name a few objects. These can be sent in any day, Sunday - Wednesday, this week.
Valentines
Our Valentine's Day party will be held on Sunday, Feb 14 from 12:40-1:20. Students should be writing 2 or 3 Valentine cards each day so they are not under pressure to get them all completed the weekend before the party. The purpose of the Valentine is to write something kind and respectful about each students in our class. Students may also create cards for specialist teachers, as well. Cards should be sent in on Thursday, Feb 11 or Sunday, Feb 14 at the latest. We will pass the cards out in the morning of the 14th.
Snack
This is just a reminder to please send students with a snack everyday as they are not allowed to buy snack. We recently have had a few students without snacks and it is a long morning before lunch. Also please make sure to send healthy snacks. We have asked a few students not to eat the sweets until they get home. As a school we teach healthy choices and snack is a good way to reinforce the message to your child.
Friendship Festival T-Shirts
If you have not ordered a T-Shirt they will be sold at Gate 5 and Gate 8 the week of February 21st - 25th. This year’s Friendship Festival T-Shirt gives you free entrance to this years Friendship Festival which will be on February 26th.
Lower Elementary Math Parent Drop-in
Our Math Coordinator, Mrs. Carol Little will be holding a Lower Elementary parent drop in / office hour every Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:00pm. Mrs. Little will be available at this time every week to assist parents who need further information about our Math program or who would like help / suggestions with how to support their children at home. It will be held in Ms. Mindy Martin’s office.
Upcoming Dates
February 9- No School, Qatar Sports Day
February 11- Elementary Swim Champs
February 11- 1st Grade 100th Day of School
February 14- Valentine’s Classroom Party
February 14-18- Reading Week
February 23- 2nd Grade Concert
February 26- Friendship Festival
March 10- Trimester 2 Ends
March 17- Report Cards sent home electronically
March 17- St. Patrick’s Day and Shamrock Shamble
March 25-April 4- Spring Break
A Peek at the Week Ahead
Reading
Informational Readers Learn About the World
- Determining Importance
Writing
Informational/All About Books
- Comparisons
- Bold Words and Glossary
Math
Addition Within 40
- Using a Tape Diagram to represent part/part/total
- Adding ones and ones or 10s and 10s
Science
The Function of the Stem
Celery Experiment
Word Study
- Word Wall Words: than, could, away, have
Whole Child
- Solving social problems independently
No School Qatar Sports DAy
Tuesday, Feb 9, 2016, 07:30 AM
American School of Doha, Al Bustan Street, Doha, Qatar
Shannon Keane
Email: skeane@asd.edu.qa