Family Update 6
December 15, 2017
Let it Snow...Let It Snow....Let It Snow!!
Important Dates and Reminders
- We will be sending Yellow Take Home Folders next week Friday. These folders will be holding student work as well as any school flyers. Some of the work is not yet finished so please feel free to complete these at home with your child. Please make sure to send your child back to school with these folders by Wednesday, along with their book baggies, so that we can send home other important flyers or student work.
- We have had some parents ask clarifying questions regarding expectations for reading at home with the book baggies. The ideal expectation is that students read 10-15 minutes every night. We suggest reading each Raz-Kids book at least twice over the course of the week, so they can familiarize themselves with the story and words. It is worthwhile to reread a book, because each time students read a book it strengthens their recognition of words and comprehension of the story. In addition, here is a resource with a list of other book options with your child's reading level. You may want to search out some of these titles at the library or bookstore if you are looking for alternative reading options.
A Message From Anastasiia - Ms.Bystrova
Dear 1B Families,
It is a pleasure to spend the day at school with your children, our 1B munchkins. It has been great to work with such supportive parents and caregivers as you are. My 4 months long tenure as Resident Teacher at Brooklyn Prospect Charter School was a very exciting teaching and learning experience. I had a chance to work with and observe excellent teachers, who are committed to Childhood Education. They taught me how to turn each lesson into effective and memorable events.
On this note, I would like to notify you that my BPCS journey is coming to an end. I will not be teaching 1B starting January 2nd, 2018. It’s a bittersweet, but necessary, decision. There are few reasons to that. First and most important one is that I have to take care of my mom, who is recovering from oncological surgery. Second reason is that I’m going back to college and have to focus on research. They say, a person can successfully perform only three roles at a time. I picked to be successful daughter, student, and mother.
I wish you all Happy Holidays and wonderful time with your families!
Kind regards, Anastasiia
Future Plans for 1B
Academics
In Fundations, we have reviewed our digraphs -- two letters that make one sound: th, wh, ck, ch and sh. This will help students when sounding out words and spelling words that have digraphs in them. If you see words on the street with digraphs, point them out to your children and have them try to sound them out!
Reading
In Reading, we have delved into our retelling unit. We started the unit by explaining the important of effective retelling. We added onto our retelling skills by using sequencing words in our retell. To do this, we used words like “first, next, then, after that, finally” to help us remember the order that a story occurs and strengthen our recall. When we are reading stories, ask us questions with these sequencing words.
What happened first?
What happened next?
What is the final event?
Writing
In Writing, we were publishing! We took our previously written stories, edited them and then wrote a final copy, some of you were able to see this during our family conferences! Whew, it was a lot of work! If your child likes to write at home, going through the same process may increase his/her stamina when working on a single piece of writing. Encourage students to write our first draft and then make any edits by erasing and fixing or using a special pen.
Math
Last term students were introduced to number bonds, strengthened their math fluency, and worked with 2D and 3D shapes. This term students will continue to explore number bonds, multiple combinations for composing and decomposing larger numbers, and subtraction. They will be challenged to think about the underlying relationship between numbers through a variety of games and activities. The fun has just begun!
New Inquiry Unit: Homes
We have begun our next Inquiry unit on Homes. We started the unit by defining what a home was to each person in 1B. Our students then took a trip around the world with Mr. Simon (Mr.Padilla's twin brother from London) and looked at different homes around the world. Students spoke about the difference between these homes and why people used specific materials such as mud, sticks, leaves, bricks, etc to build their homes. Students made the connection that many families would have to use the materials around them to build their homes. For our next activity, students will look at an apartment building in Brooklyn and share what they notice. They will then compare the urban apartment building to a photo of a suburban house.
LEARNER PROFILES - OPEN MINDED
As an IB World School, BPCS strives to foster the growth of students both academically as well as internationally minded citizens who are aware of the world outside of their local environment. To do this, the school incorporates the IB Learner Profiles into the classroom. The IB Learner Profiles describe a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities and, in turn, embody traits of a well-rounded individual. The Learner Profiles are: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced, and Reflective.
Throughout the year, we will be discussing the Learner Profiles in the classroom as a way to bring to life the traits. For the month of November, we looked for students who are understanding and value others' thoughts, listen to the thoughts and ideas of others, value the similarities and differences of each other, respect each other, etc.
Here are our Open - Minded friends for the month of November
Anya, Maxine, and Lennon!
Hard at Work
Subtraction Bowling
Henry in Action
Roll and Behold!
Field Trip - Brooklyn Nutcracker
Fort Greene Park
A Blast from the Past
Compose!
Number Story Station
Our Teachers explaining what to do!
Which strategy are you using!
Lets Interview!
What do we have in common!?
Family Recipe and Art Book coming soon!
Grade One Artists have been looking at the colorful paintings of Canadian artist Sandra Silberzweig — who experiences synesthesia. Synesthesia is a condition in which one sense (for example, hearing) is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses such as sight and/or taste. Sandra S.’s work inspired BPCS first graders to create vibrant drawings of their favorite foods. They used pigmented glue and dry pastels to make tasty drawings for their soon to be published Family Recipe and Art Book! Fingers crossed books will be ready for distribution before the holidays! Many thanks to all parents who submitted recipes!
There’s tons of amazing ART on view in NYC this month!
ENJOY! : ) Please have a Happy and Creative Holiday!
Ms. Drew and Ms. Walsh