1A Classroom Update 6
December 15, 2017
Dear 1A Families,
Important Dates
- December 22 | Full day of school
- December 25 - January 1 | Winter Break (No School)
- January 15 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)
- January 29 | Faculty Professional Development (No School)
Important Reminders
- We sent home yellow take-home folders with your child's work from the first term. 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.
Academics
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!
Focused 3D Shape Experts
How many vertices, faces, and edges are there?
Cut and Paste Galore!
Roll and Add with Giant Dice!
Adding Is Fun!
Axel aims in Subtraction Bowling
How many pins is Aiden going to knock down?
Whatever Carmen knocks down, students will subtract from 10.
So focused on what numbers to take away from 10!
Reading
We have started a new unit in Reading of how to effectively retell a story. To strengthen our retells, we worked on using sequencing words in our retell. To do this, we use words like “first, next, then, after that, finally” to help us remember the order that a story occurs. We have also been identifying the problem and solution in the stories that we read. While doing this, our 1A friends met a new special guest, Mr. Solution-stache. When he shows up in 1A, he is constantly looking for children to retell a story with important details, including the character, setting, major events, problem, as well as solution so that they can deepen their understanding of how characters develop and the message of the story. When reading with your child at home, ask them to tell you what the story was about using sequencing words. We also added DEAR Time to our daily schedule, which stands for "Drop Everything And Read." During this time, our 1A friends read a "just-right" book independently for a certain amount of minutes. Ask your child how many minutes we have been able to silently read as we are building our reading stamina!
Writing
In writing, our friends are in the final stages of the editing process and moving on to "publishing" our small moment stories. After working with a partner to edit our work for capitalization, punctuation, and spelling errors, we are now making sure that our work is organized! We have been rewriting our work on brand new sheets of paper based on edits that we've made. Next week, we will jump into a new unit of nonfiction in both Reading and Writing!
Tap, Blend, and Stamp Center
Spell CVC Words with Magnetic Boards
Tap, Blend, Spell!
Spelling with Shaving Cream!
What a fun mess!
What word are we spelling?
CVC Word Bingo
Trimaine almost fills his board!
Spelling CVC words in Lit Block
CVC Dice Roll and Cover Game
What CVC word did they find on their game board?
Friends identify a picture and spell the CVC word with playdough!
Jasir recognizes the short e vowel sound in net!
Adison hears the short u vowel sound in run!
Solving consonant cluster word puzzles in guided reading
This is Mr. Solution-stache.
He likes to ask "What's the problem?"
Or "What's the Solution...stache?"
Inquiry
We have begun our new Inquiry unit on homes. First, we brainstormed what we already knew about homes. Then we will be looking at and comparing/contrasting homes in both the urban and suburban settings. Moving forward, we will discuss how these homes are similar or different from their own homes as well as how homes are different around the world!
Learner Profile of the Month: 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, our school focused on how a person demonstrates they are open-minded. Here are examples why 1A friends thought London, Chloe, and Trimaine were open-minded:
London
- "She listening to other's ideas and shows that she cares about them."
- "She taught us how to respect our materials."
- "She has been working really hard on her writing and keeps trying."
Chloe
- "In writing, she thinks about new things to write about"
- "She is understanding and caring of the people at my table."
- "She reminds people if they forget something."
Trimaine
- "He tries new strategies in reading and writing."
- "He was open-minded to listensto other people when they're talking."
- "He walks away from the poor choice."
Fort Greene Park Trip
Curriculum Share
1st Field Trip: The Brooklyn Nutcracker
All ready for the show!
So happy to be here!
Ballet Performance
They were all so talented!
This hula hoop performance was a hit!
The Grand Finale!
Specials Update
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