1A Classroom Update 7
January 19, 2018
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.
Important Dates
Tuesday, January 23 - ELA & Math Family Workshop (more info below)
Thursday, January 25 - ELA & Math Family Workshop (more info below)
Friday, January 26 - Anytime/Anywhere Jamaica
Monday, January 29 - School Closed - Faculty Professional Development
Friday, February 9 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Queens Museum of Art
Monday, February 19 - School Closed - President's Day
Tuesday, February 20-23 - School Closed - Mid-Winter Break
Tuesday, February 20-23 - Mid-Winter Break Camp
Announcements and Reminders
- We will be beginning our new Inquiry unit on "Maps and Geography" soon. We would appreciate if you have any type of maps (e.g. subway, museum, world, etc.) that you could donate or lend us for the unit. If you would like us to return the map, please label it so along with your child's name. We thank you in advance!
- Beginning January 30th, First Grade's schedule will change until the end of the school year. 1A will no longer have Art and Dance. Instead, we will have Science, Music, or P.E. Please send your child to school with sneakers on Monday and Friday since we will have PE on those days. Thank you!
ELA & Math Family Workshops
This is a friendly reminder to sign up for the ELA & Math Family Workshops being offered to our ES families. The workshops are for all grades K-4, and will focus on grade specific content and strategies. On each night there will a 1 hr ELA & Math workshop. Childcare will be provided for all school aged children and siblings. A pizza dinner will also be provided for parents and children. Please see below for dates and times the workshops will be held:
Tuesday, January 23rd
G: K-2:
- ELA & Math Workshops from 6-7pm
G: 3 & 4th:
- ELA Workshop 6-7pm
- Math Workshop 7-8pm
Thursday, January 25th
G: K-2:
- ELA & Math Workshops 7-8pm
G: 3 & 4th:
- Math Workshop 6-7pm
- ELA Workshop 7-8pm
Here is the link to the form: ELA & Family Workshops Registration Form
Academics Update
Literacy
Ruby and Maddie interviewing each other
Find out who is an expert at what!
What is Axel and Isabella an expert at?
What are Penny and Zoe good at?
Scavenger Hunt for experts!
1A is on a mission to find experts!
Morgan tells Carmen what she is an expert at
Aiden, Troy, Edward finding out what each other are good at
Nonfiction v. Fiction Sort!
Reading nonfiction texts
Partner Reading has begun in 1A!
Adison and Leo are sitting "hip to hip" to share their favorite part
Mirabelle is listening to what Jasir's favorite part is
1A sitting "back to back" to independent read before sharing
So many readers in 1A!
Math
Practicing using tape diagram
1A & 1B plays a memory game to find combinations of 10
Can Oceana and Trimaine find it?
Inquiry
We have continued with our Inquiry lessons on homes and have brought the focus on our own homes and homes around the world. 1A got to "travel" around the world and visited homes in other countries. We also read books such as Houses and Homes by Ann Morris and Home by Carson Ellis as another virtual world trip! Soon, we will be wrapping up our unit on "Homes" and move on to our new unit of "Maps and Geography".
Learner Profile of the Month: Thinker
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 December, our school focused on how a person demonstrates they are thinkers. Here are examples why 1A friends thought Lazer, Maddie, and Jasir are thinkers:
Lazer
- He tries his best to solve math problems.
- He thinks about other people. If someone is lonely during recess, he plays with them.
- He shares and thinks about his friends.
Maddie
- She thinks about other people before herself.
- She thinks before she does something and she apologizes if she has to.
- She thinks a lot about what she should in Writer's Workshop.
Jasir
- Thinks a lot to solve problems.
- I couldn't find my seat and he told me where my seat was and did it quickly so we could get our work done.
- He thinks about who he can make new friends with.
Specials Update
Hola Familias de 1A
¡Feliz año 2018!
1A is full of great energies this New Year. They are more eager than ever to learn more Español. They started the year by leaning about El día de los Reyes Magos. On January 6th, in Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico and other Spanish speaking countries, families celebrate El día de los tres Reyes Magos or the Three Wise Man day. They learned about how it was a holiday that was part of their culture and was not only a religious celebration. To join the celebration, 1A made a Rosca, a type of bread made in Mexico in honor of this special day to celebrate with their families and members of their community.
1A is looking forward to a very successful year full of learning and new adventures in the Spanish class.
Gracias,
Maestra Nivia