Elm Class Update
New York News Compass
Sending out Love to Anabell
Retell the Story
We are using our five fingers and sequencing words as a guide to a retell.
- First...
- Then...
- Next...
- After...
- Finally...
When reading at home, model retelling a shared book and ask you child to retell books they read independently. When readers retell, they may notice that they missed important information. If your child shows confusion, encourage them to use the pictures to recall events and reread.
Sight Words this Week
This week first graders added these words to the word wall:
-love
-our
-three
Look for these words in your child's book as you read at home and our poem of the week.
If you like, try to write a poem or story using all three words!
Continuing Work with Patterns
Growing Patterns
We built some designs using tiles. Then we tried to discover a rule that governed the way the design was growing. Students were asked to come up with a way to predict how many tiles would be in the tenth, twelfth, or fourteenth series by using this rule. This was challenging stuff! We worked together to discuss our theories.
At home, you can create patterns together with pieces of cereal, fruit, or other food items. Then you can, identify the unit, or repeating part in the pattern.
You could also start a growing jar.
Start with a small number of objects in a jar (e.g., one penny). Each day, add 2 more of the same object. Help your child record how many are in the jar each day. Ask your child how the pattern of pennies in the jar will continue for the next two or three days. When you have reached 10 days, empty the jar and start again. Change the start number and the number added and try it again. Try to keep the total number of pennies fewer than 30.
Integrated Project Time
As a part of our research, we interviewed a compost expert to learn more about how compost works in the natural world. Kim told us that "compost happens". The worms speed up the process to make food for plans, but composting would happen naturally.
We plan to share our knowledge of living systems through these projects on Thursday, April 2nd at 2:00.
We hope you can join us and learn from fist graders about living systems.
Writing Fiction
Ameyia was inspired to write a story with Anabell as a character.
March Family Conferences
We will have your child's progress report available before each conference time. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early in order to review your child's report.
Childcare with Compass staff will be available during conference times. We will contact you with confirmation of your scheduled time next week.
Thank you and we are looking forward to our conference.