News from Fantastic 1st Graders!
Mrs. Leidig's Learners - a Weekly Newsletter
A few of the skills we'll be learning this week:
MTSS (Reading Switches): This week, we will not have MTSS, as we will be beginning our end of year testing. The students will be busy at work reviewing and selecting their writing to share on Friday. :)
Writing: This week, we will continue our work with animal writing.
Daily 5/Guided Reading: We will continue working in our stations of "Read to Partner", "Read to Self", "Work on Writing", "Listen to Reading", and "Word Work". I will be working on report card data, so students will be tested these next few weeks on many things, such as guided reading book levels, words per minute, AIMSweb, PALS, etc. We will also have teacher/student sessions where we will review their writing portfolios/folders.
Phonics: Sight words - Please continue to help students work on words each and every night these last 2 weeks of school! Let's see how many of the kids can make it to the end...if your child has passed all 10 pages and phrases, please see how many of them they can remember and read correctly! :) This will also be a great tool for them to use this summer to make sure they are sharp with these words come second grade.
Nightly books - We plan to switch our bags of books to the students' new reading levels one last time this week. They are so proud of their ability to read independently! Please also continue to send back any of our classroom books that may be at home.
Phonics Skill - Our skill this week is words containing the "ink/ank/onk/unk" sound, as in "stink" and "trunk".
Math: We will continue in our weekly math journals, as well as our "calendar math". We will continue a bit of double digit addition this week, as students will face this skill in 2nd grade. Students are still taking 1 addition and 1 subtraction timed test on Mondays and on Fridays with daily iPAD fact practice in between. These timed tests would also be a great tool for summer practice with fluency. We have been exploring some new math apps, as well. One of them is called "Addition Top-It".
Science/Social Studies: This week, we will be continuing our work on life cycles and enjoying our last session of Junior Achievement about communities.
Odds and Ends
Book Orders: Thanks so very much for all of the books you've ordered this school year to foster a love of reading in your child and to also boost our classroom library! The last book order for the year will be due this Tuesday, May 5 at the latest! You'll notice that a couple orders with different reading levels were sent so that students have summer reading options. :) Please also check out the school book fair - they have a "buy one get one free" deal going on.
Summer learning: Please be watching student folders for different fliers coming home about summer programs to keep learning continuing through the summer! I saw one for TenMarks (a FREE online program), and students should also keep working on Lexia all summer too to stay sharp! Students may also work on the new online math component for next year called IXL....more info to come as I get the class enrolled this week. Let me know if you'd like me to send home paper timed math fact tests with students to review! Finally, I would be open to also do some small group or one on one tutoring this summer, as well. Please let me know how I can help you take advantage of these learning opportunities!
Upcoming Events
1st Grade Author's Tea: This will be held this Friday, May 8th from 2:25-3:15 pm in our classroom. Students will have a chance to share some of their writing projects with you from the year and to show their growth. We'll even have a few refreshments while you listen. :) Don't forget to turn in your RSVP by Tuesday so we know how to best prepare snacks and our room arrangement!
P.E.S. Olympics: The end of year "fun day" will be held Thursday, May 14 from 8:15-10:30 a.m. here at the school. The kids enjoy some fun activity stations that morning in small groups on the blacktop. You are more than welcome to come be with your child during this time. Thanks so much!
A Reason to Celebrate!
Your child's growth: This year, I have had the privilege of guiding your child's growth through 1st grade. I can already tell that next week is going to be an emotional one, as I will really miss each and every one of them! They are a special bunch - thanks for partnering with us as they grew into 2nd graders! I appreciate you all very much....
Have a great week!
LeAnn