1B Family Update 1
September 15, 2017
Dear Families
It has been another great two weeks in 1B, getting to know each other and starting academics. We have begun all subjects and lit block and math block, where students work in small groups and rotate through 3 to 4 differentiated centers.
Academics Update
Literacy
In literacy, we have been "launching" readers and writers workshop, discussing our identity as readers and writers and learning routines. We have been working to see ourselves as readers and writers, even if we are only looking at pictures and reading some words or only drawing pictures and writing one or two words. Next week, we are starting our first unit in writing: narratives or "small moments" in which students will write true stories from their lives, learning to add details and also working on writing full sentences. At home, please discuss this with your child and brainstorm some favorite family memories that they could write about for this unit!Math
Our mathematicians started off the school year with an exploration of how to use and care for math materials in our classroom. With these materials, they've practiced making different shapes as well as writing and counting up to 120 through various games! Moving forward, we will also begin Number Stories, a math curriculum focused on Cognitively Guided Instruction, where students solve word problems by utilizing a variety of strategies including counting unifix cubes or drawing pictures. This is a great way for students to openly explore strategies and then be able to share their strategies with their classmates, learning from one another and advancing their mathematical thinking. To support your child at home with their formation of numbers, we encourage kinesthetic activities such as making numbers with playdough or shaving cream.
Social Emotional
At BPCS we always want to make sure we are creating a community where students come together and work with others to strengthen their academic as well as social emotional skills. In order for us to start getting to know one another along with the classroom expectations, we created a classroom contract that described how they wanted their classroom to be. Students distilled their ideas down to being caring, respectful, clean, helpful, trying their best, etc. Each member of 1B signed the contract and have been trying their best to fulfill those qualities. Our classroom culture is becoming cohesive as we work to establish friendships and express how we feel in a positive way. One way this occurs is through giving someone a "shout-out" for demonstrating that they are caring for their community. We reinforce the message that we are a team and we are here to work together to make our community strong and successful. In the next couple of weeks, we will be showing our friends how to problem solve with read alouds, power talks, and letting others know how they feel in a positive manner.
Our Play-dough Exploration
Lennon using his imagination!
Hello Maartand!
Pascal is Ready!
Scavenger Hunt
What do you like?
I like that too!
Triple Team!
Launching Readers Workshop!
Partner Reading!
Independent Reaading
Tristan and Maxine
Literacy Block Centers
Read It Build It Write It
Phonics Station
Handwriting Station
Recess Time!
Me too!
Math Time!
Important Dates & Announcements
Tuesday, October 3 | Back to School Night | K-2
Tuesday, October 10 | Professional Development Day - No School
We will be a NUT-FREE classroom. Due to allergies in our classroom, we wanted to inform you that 1B will be a nut-free classroom. Please let us know if you have any questions, and thank you for your support in making sure that all our students remain happy and healthy.
- We are outside at MetroTech for recess on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 - 1:30pm.
- If you have not already, please send in an extra change of clothes for your child in a Ziploc bag.
1B Wishlist
Birthdays in First Grade
Starting in first grade, students celebrate their birthdays as a collective group. To do this, we will have a once-a-month classroom celebration for ALL students with a birthday occurring in that month. Besides promoting the idea of community, we feel that this will allow us to meet and better manage the diverse dietary needs, schedules, and cultural backgrounds of our school families. We will recognize your child’s birthday on his or her special day with a small token from the teachers and singing from the class.
This monthly birthday celebration will most likely take place on the last Friday of every month during which families are invited and treats are welcome. The celebration will usually occur from 2:15 - 2:35 (before Art); however, teachers will email to inform you if there is a change due to specials or school closings. Teachers will reach out to you with an invitation and to ask if you will be bringing any food items. While sweets are allowed, we encourage the size of them to be kept small and also encourage healthy snacks, such as pre-washed fruit or fruit snacks. If you do bring in sweets, mini cupcakes are a great option as well as cookies (one per student). We have 28 students in our class. Other items, such as goodie bags or balloons, are not allowed. Please reach out via email if you have any questions or concerns about the first grade birthday policy.
Our First Inquiry Unit : Family Diversity
We are excited to announce that our first inquiry unit will be Family Diversity! Inquiry is a time in which students ask questions about a teacher-selected topic and work together to answer them through a variety of hands-on activities. Our goal for this unit is to have students recognize that families have many differences and similarities across cultures. We hope to have them do so by identifying different family structures through comparison of their family or those of their friends to other families in our own community or even the world. We will also allow students to share some family story-telling with the class either through writing or other forms of communication.
To start the unit, we ask that you please send in or email a family photo to dtes1b@brooklynprospect.org for your child to share with the class.
SPECIALS UPDATES
Dance with Ms. Siby
Greetings BPCS families! I am truly excited to share the joy of dance with our elementary students, for the third consecutive year. I began dancing as a child and can attest to the power of finding expression through movement at a young age.
This year, students will have dance classes during the first half of the school year. They will explore dance-making, the basics of various dance techniques and what it means to think like a choreographer. Our dance curriculum will also loosely align with IB themes, adding a kinesthetic connection to inquiry units of study. By the end of the term, BPCS dance students will see movement everywhere in their world.
“To sing well and to dance is to be well-educated.” - Plato
Best,
Rohiatou Siby
(Specials Department Head)
Here's to a Great Year in ART!
Picture: Paintings on the walls, sculptures hanging from the ceilings, students knitting at choice time — and more. Aloha! You’ve arrived at BPCS!
ART is a verb! BPCS artists will explore a wide variety of materials this year — as we make individual and group projects in alignment with IB grade level themes. For inspiration, we’ll look at the work of artists from around the world. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving, experimentation and risk taking. Please look for our projects on display around the school.
Questions? Want to volunteer to work with us? I’m available at awalsh@brooklynprospect.org.
Many thanks!
Anita Walsh
¡Hola Familias de 1B!
Bienvenidos to another exciting school year! I am happy to start my second year at BPCS as a Spanish teacher! This year the students, parents, faculty, and staff will experience 100% Spanish Immersion. Our goal this year is to keep exposing students from Kinder to 4th Grade to the Spanish language (oral, visual and written) all the time. The Spanish immersion will be supported by theater, TPR (total physical response), storytelling, music, games, dance, art, and cultural exploration. I am super excited to see how our bilingual brains grow and develop!
There are plenty of ways you can support our learning experience and encourage your student to grow her/his interest in Español by reading books at home and listening to music in Español. Participate in a cultural events in your community that expose your student to the Spanish culture, such as plays, concerts, and festivals.
Spanish Course is looking to expand its BOOKS collection and resources. We would be very thankful for any Spanish book donations.
Muchas gracias,
Maestra Nivia
Please feel free to contact me with any question at: nmarrero@brooklynprospect.org