DECEMBER NEWS
from first grade
READING
We have been working on answering and asking questions to demonstrate our reading comprehension with fiction and nonfiction texts. We will be reading poems and looking for elements of poetry such as rhythm, rhyme, repetition, shorter length, humor, and descriptive language. When your child’s poetry books come home for homework, read some of the poems for enjoyment and also look for these elements.
Until the winter break we will mostly be reading nonfiction texts. Your child should be able to point out text features such as photographs, headings, bold print, labels, and captions. The students should also be able to tell true facts that come from the text.
After the winter break we will primarily be reading literary (fiction) texts, including fairy tales and folktales. There are many wonderful traditional and multicultural tales you can read with your child. We will review the elements of a story, such as characters, setting, problem, solution, sequence, and main events. We will summarize texts. For first grade, this means that we tell in a few sentences what the story is about, using our own words.
We will also be working on reading with fluency and expression. Fluent reading is reading at an appropriate rate, not too fast or slow, and not choppy (no “robot reading” or “racecar reading”). Expressive readers use punctuation and other clues to read in a way that holds the attention of the listeners.
Please remember that a student’s reading grade is not just based on a reading level or how well they can say the words that are on the page, but how well he/she can demonstrate comprehension and the quality of the follow-up work.
WORD STUDY
Word study is sometimes differentiated by the needs of each reading group, as some groups need more direct instruction with phonics and vocabulary than other groups. As a whole class, we have been working on vowel sounds, blends, and digraphs. We continue to practice the high frequency vocabulary. After the winter break we will introduce - r- controlled vowels, which is also called the “bossy –r-”. These vowels are tricky because they do not have short or long vowel sounds, but a different sound because of the influence of the –r-. Examples include words like car, start, bird, her, fur, and corn.
WRITING
We are proofreading and revising our writing. Revision is changing, adding, or taking away to improve the content of students’ writing. We’ll work on using describing words (adjectives) to make our writing more interesting.
Editing is checking the conventions or mechanics of writing. Even our very best writers can improve in this area.
When we proofread and edit we say to “Call the COPS” and check for:
Capitalization
Organization/Overall Appearance
Punctuation and
Spacing/Spelling
MATH
In math, we have been working on fact families as well as addition and subtraction facts and story problems. We are working toward fact fluency, but at this time it is especially important for students to be able to demonstrate their understanding of these operations with manipulatives, pictures, and words. We’re will be working on place value, greater and less than, and using the numbers to 120. We’ve worked with geometric shapes and fractions. This objective is easy to connect to real-life situations such as making snowmen, wrapping presents, cooking, and dividing objects (such as fruit, pizza, pie, and toys) into equal parts.
SCIENCE
We have enjoyed our new science unit on space. We have learned about the earth, sun, and moon. had a field trip the Earth and Space Science Lab in Frederick to enhance this unit as well as our Organisms unit that will take place later in the year. We encourage our students to be curious about the world around them, to observe carefully, to record data, to ask questions, and to talk and read about nature and the universe. You can enhance this unit with a real or virtual field trip. You can keep track of the phases of the moon.
SOCIAL STUDIES
We enjoyed learning about life in the past. Perhaps a visit to a history museum over the break will enhance what we learned. We’ll be learning about cultures and celebrations around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your family traditions with your child. During the week of the 19th your child may bring an item to represent a traditional celebration from your family. (Ideas include a story, music, ornament, photograph, prayer rug, outfit, etc.) You will receive more information on this soon. That sharing time will be a great way for us to learn about each other. It will also be a way to practice our speaking and listening skills.
OTHER
We had a successful round of conferences before our Thanksgiving break. Thank you parents for taking the time to come and discuss your child’s progress and for all you do to help your child.
Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for cold winter weather. We will go outside for recess whenever possible, even if it is just for a few minutes. It is also a good idea to have a sweater or sweatshirt in the locker for when the temperature in the building is a little cool. Be aware of how to get information about possible weather-related delays and closings.
Please ask your child to check school supplies and let you know if he or she is in need of crayons, glue, dry-erase markers, scissors, or pencils. (These make great stocking stuffers!)
Please use the break to have your child work on zipping, buttoning, and trying to tie shoes! These are important skills that lead to increased independence. Thanks!
As we begin a new year, we’ll look back on 2018 and remember our blessings. We feel fortunate to have enthusiastic students and caring parents!
Have a safe and happy winter break!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM TEAM ONE!