1A Classroom Update 8
January 20, 2017
Dear 1A Families
We can't believe that we are almost at the end of January! We hope that everyone had a nice break and happy new year! In 1A, the new year means more learning and fun going on. Please read till the end to check out what we've been doing and for some important reminders.
We have kicked off this month by introducing our nonfiction unit. During Reader’s Workshop our 1A friends have been exploring and reading nonfiction books. We have delved into the unit by comparing Fiction Books to Nonfiction Books. In the next coming weeks, our friends will look into what some nonfiction topics are as well as nonfiction text features and how they help the reader. At home, practice reading some nonfiction books and have your child identify what they notice is different from fiction books. Ask them how it helped them learn more about the given topic!
Writing
In conjunction with our Reading unit, our authors have also been working hard on their All About Books the past two weeks! We have gathered all the Information needed for us to start their All About Books by going through research and finding out more facts to add on to what we already know about our topic. Our friends will be incorporating what they have learned in Reader's Workshop about nonfiction text features into their own writing! Our authors have begun to draft the pages to their All About Book and will continue to do so next week. We cannot wait to share these informational texts with you. Ask your child what they are writing about and feel free to continue to research and/or talk about their given topic. This way, they can make their writing even richer!
Math
In Math, we explored place value by breaking apart numbers into tens and ones (or hundreds, tens and ones). You can practice this skill with your child at home by asking them "How many tens are there in 61?" (6 tens) and "How many ones are there?" (1 one).
Then, students learned how to compare numbers under 100 by using the words and symbols for "greater than" (>) "less than" (<) or "equal to" (=). Students explained their thinking, for example, by stating "I know that 61 is less than 72 because 72 has 7 tens and 61 has 6 tens" or "I know that 61 is less than 72 because 72 comes after 61 when we count." Students learned how to write the number sentence for this as 61<72.
Next, we began adding and subtracting two-digit numbers without regrouping. (Regrouping involves making or breaking apart groups of 10.) For example, 42+36 or 78-45. Students learned how to use a new manipulative: base-10 blocks (tens and ones) to solve these problems or to solve these problems mentally by separating the tens and ones. For example, for 42+36, students know that 40+30 = 70 and 2+6=8, so therefore, they know that 70+8 = 78!
Once students were comfortable with this, we introduced the idea of "regrouping" with addition. While we as adults often learned about "carrying the 1," today we teach kids the regrouping through place value so that they understand why we are "carrying a 1" rather than just memorizing an algorithm. We showed students how when we add two numbers and the ones equal more than 10, we make another group of ten. For example, with 19+6, the 9 ones and 6 ones make a new ten with five ones--that's why the answer is 25! Next week we will explore regrouping with subtraction.
Inquiry
We have wrapped up our inquiry unit on "Homes" and moved on to our new unit of "Maps and Geography". So far, students have brainstormed what they think are maps. Moving forward, we will be exploring how maps and globes are a tool to help us better understand the world. We will be examining the similarities and differences of maps and globes as well as examine the symbols and features used in them.
Important Dates
- Monday, 1/23: 1A Field Trip to SIMS Recycling Center
- Friday, 2/3: 1st grade Armory trip (more details below)
- Monday, 2/20 - 2/24: Mid-Winter Break
- Monday, 2/27: Classes Resume
Important Reminders
- A liability form for our field trip on Monday, 1/23 was sent home this week. Please sign and return by Monday, 1/23 in order for your child to come on the trip. We have also uploaded an electronic copy of it so that you can print it out and sign to return.
- Yellow Take Home folders are sent home every Friday. In the folders, we also send home some Anytime Anywhere reading response sheets. This is part of our Anytime Anywhere reading experience this year where students show what they have learned through their reading. The more they read, the more "fuel" we have to travel to back in time. Each 1st grader should be reading at least 15 minutes per night (independently or with an adult). The sheets are designed to start a conversation between you and your child about what he/she is reading. Please complete it any night that you have time (during the week or weekend) as long as one is returned each week.
Park Slope Armory
1st Grade Armory dates are: 2/3, 2/17, 3/17, 3/31.
If you would like to be a chaperone on the above dates, please sign up using this link and we thank you in advance!
We
Do
Phonics!
Math
is
Fun!
Adding and Subtracting
With or Without
Regrouping
This is similar to “carrying the 1” but in 1st grade, we use the terms "regrouping" as a way to learn how and why we carry the 1, not just memorizing a trick.
Authors In
Writer's
Workshop
Inquiry
Unit:
Homes
Investigators in
Reader's
Workshop
When the
weather
gets cold...
PODS Time!
1A has begun our first PODS where students are placed in groupings or "learning pods" according to their learning style or needs and rotate to different stations. This allows our friends to get a chance to work with different peers in the class and for us to spend more time working closely with smaller groups of 4-5 students. Check out the different teacher-led and independent "PODS" we had this time.
Writing Station
Independent Reading
iPads
Sight Word Practice
Math Fluency
Inquiry
Third Townhall Meeting
Amazon Wishlist
P.S. - Of course, the cleaning supplies do not need to purchased from Amazon!
Specials Update
Music
Hello, first grade families!
Due to holidays, I have only seen 1A once in 2017. Thanks to their work in the fall, though, they are well on their way to mastering folk dances and keeping a steady beat. 1A kicked off 2017 by starting to learn a lovely folk song that features some cold weather -- “Fox Went Out On a Chilly Night.” Then, after reviewing musical concepts from the fall, they started learning songs and doing activities to prepare them for a major first grade musical concept: steady beat! We marched to “The Noble Duke Of York,” tapped heads to “Hickety Tickety Bumble Bee,” and danced the beat to “Shoo Fly.”
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email at jkramer@brooklynprospect.org.
Thanks!
Jacob KramerKonnichiwa- ¡Hola 1A!
1A continues to develop their Spanish Brains by listening, speaking, reading and writing in Spanish. Everyday in our Spanish Classroom students read the Español Newsletter. It`s amazing how much they are developing a deeper understanding of Spanish! On January 6 we learned about El día de los Reyes Magos- a holiday celebrated in México, Puerto Rico, España, among others Spanish Speaking Countries. On that day we received a wonderful surprise- we met Maestra Rosado’s nephews (via Skype,) and asked them a lot of questions about Puerto Rico and the holiday. It was a very memorable day! Now, we are getting ready to explore “casa” (house) by reviewing all the shapes that surround us (círculo, cuadrado, triángulo, rectángulo, rombo, trapezoide…).
Ps.
Last year, at the end of December we had so much fun with the parranda (the Puerto Rican version of parranda). We made maracas with spoons, cups and rice, and then went around the school to sing and surprise with a latin touch. Check out our pictures and videos!
Ps. We are getting ready for our second stop back in time - Kyoto Japan. To begin, we are learning how to say hola, buenos días, gracias y adiós in Japanese. Please check out the video and practice at home.
Gracias,
Maestra Rosado and Maestra Nivia