September Newsletter
What We Are Learning in First Grade
Welcome
Reading
Math
Writing
Also in Writer's Workshop, we began the first Lucy Calkins unit of study on Small Moments. Small Moments are true stories that students visualize in their minds before they draw a picture and write a story to match it. We will continue to work on adding details to our stories as we grow as writers.
We are also working on handwriting and letter formation. Each day, the students practice writing 1-2 letters, focusing on forming letters in the correct way. We finished "pull back letters" and we are now working on "slant letters."
Project Based Learning
We started this year with an "All About Me" unit in Project Based Learning. We created self-portraits, All-About Me bags, and "Heart Maps" that featured the things that are the most important to us. In this unit we got to know more information about our classmates and the things that make us unique.
We are also working on a map unit in Project Based Learning. In this unit we are learning how to read and interpret maps including their title, compass rose, and map key. We have also learned to identify landforms (hill, valley, lake, mountain, river) and their specific features. Using what we have learned about maps we were able to create our own maps of the classroom.
In our next unit we will begin learning about the properties of rocks, soil, and sand!
Upcoming Events
Thursday September 25th- Teacher Workday
Friday September 26th- Progress Reports go home & Picture Day