1st Grade News
February 1, 2016
Upcoming Events
2/2 - Jakub's Birthday - Happy Birthday Jakub!
2/3 - Samuel's Birthday - Happy Birthday Samuel!
2/5 - 100th Day of School!
2/10 - Winter Conferences
2/11 - Winter Conferences (No School)
2/12 - No School
2/15 - President's Day (No School)
2/16 - Amalia's Birthday - Happy Birthday Amalia!
3/11 - PTO Movie Night
Winter Conferences
Class Dojo
Guided Reading Texts
When I meet with a reading group, I send the students back to their seats with their brand new leveled text. The students take it home so that they can practice using the decoding strategies we have been practicing in our small group with you as they are reading their "perfect fit" books. Please make sure that these texts come back to school the next day with the sticky note signed. The students earn a focus ticket and a Class Dojo point for their hard work!
Math Update
You should be seeing student work coming home just about every night. If you are not, please let me know and I will make sure work is not getting lost in desks or lockers. :) I have grouped students according to the results of a pre-assessment so that they are working at an appropriate level.
Our focus has been on using various addition and subtraction strategies. We have used these strategies to help us solve word problems.
The students have been using addition strategies to solve word problems. Sometimes, the word problems are written at a higher level than our kiddos can read. I always read the word problem to them, as I am only concerned with their math skills, not reading skills. Please feel free to do the same at home! I also allow students to use manipulatives to help them solve these problems. It is pretty hard for these little ones to think abstractly. Most of the time, they need concrete (or pictorial) help.
The end of the year expectation for first graders is to be able to count and recognize numbers from 0 - 120, as well as to show the value for each numeral. Students also need to be fluent in solving addition and subtraction problems within 10.
Reading Update
In Reader's Workshop we are exploring strategies good readers use to read tricky words. I am encouraging students to be the boss of their own reading.
We have also discussed the author's purpose. After I read books aloud to the class, we talk about what the author's purpose was. The students have become very good at determining if the authors purpose was to persuade the reader, inform the reader, or entertain the reader.
I have just completed another round of assessments. Our Guided Reading time is back up and running! I am working with small groups of students while the rest of the students are working independently.
I have started sending the leveled text we are using during Guided Reading home with the students to read to you. Please make sure that the book comes back to school the next day. Thanks for your help!
Writing Update
The students are finishing up their past and present books. We will be moving into opinion writing next.
The students have continued writing their own nonfiction texts independently or with a buddy during our Daily 5 rotations. Mr. Safina, our district technology coach, has taught the students how to compose a book using their tablets! They are excited to show you all their hard work during conferences.
Science
Class Twitter Account
Robert Frost Library Checkout Days
Homework
The students are also bringing home math homework almost nightly. Please remember that this does not need to come back to school. Feel free to use it as your family seems fit.
Mrs. Elizabeth Loverde
Email: Loverde.Elizabeth@ccsd59.org
Website: http://frost.ccsd59.org/teachers/loverdeelizabeth/
Location: 1308 Cypress Drive, Mount Prospect, IL, United States
Phone: (847) 593-4378
Twitter: @llizl1