Mrs. Jansen's First Grade Class
Weekly Newsletter: January 18, 2016
KEYSOR PRIDE
We are Respectful, Responsible and Safe.
New Tablemates and Learning Fun!
As we continue into the month of January, the children have also moved to their new seats in class, as based upon their 2016 goal setting and reflections in which they shared a classmate they would like to know better. To kick-off their new table spaces in the room, they had a great time in their engineering challenge of working together with their new tablemates to create the highest structure they could, using only spaghetti and marshmallows!
In addition, last week we celebrated our friend Jake as he was selected as this week's Leader of the Week. Jake has been working really hard in making great choices throughout his day and we loved being able to celebrate him. Also, way to go for our newest students of the week, Sawyer and Sarah! Can't wait to see who this next week's recipients will be!
In addition, last week we celebrated our friend Jake as he was selected as this week's Leader of the Week. Jake has been working really hard in making great choices throughout his day and we loved being able to celebrate him. Also, way to go for our newest students of the week, Sawyer and Sarah! Can't wait to see who this next week's recipients will be!
Special Classes/Activities Schedule:
Monday, Jan. 18th: No School due to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, Jan. 19th: E Day - Art with Mrs. Lang; Speed-Stacking in Gym before school
Wednesday, Jan. 20th: A Day - P.E. with Coach Widamen; Wellness Wednesday for walking, running or riding your bikes to school.
Thursday, Jan. 21st: B Day - Wellness with Mrs. Ehrlich; Chess Club at 8:00 a.m.; Parent/Teacher Conferences during the evening
Friday, Jan. 22nd: C Day - Music with Dr. St. Clair
**100th Day of School will be on Wednesday, Jan. 27th! More information to come!
Tuesday, Jan. 19th: E Day - Art with Mrs. Lang; Speed-Stacking in Gym before school
Wednesday, Jan. 20th: A Day - P.E. with Coach Widamen; Wellness Wednesday for walking, running or riding your bikes to school.
Thursday, Jan. 21st: B Day - Wellness with Mrs. Ehrlich; Chess Club at 8:00 a.m.; Parent/Teacher Conferences during the evening
Friday, Jan. 22nd: C Day - Music with Dr. St. Clair
**100th Day of School will be on Wednesday, Jan. 27th! More information to come!
New Plantings!
Our avid gardeners are back to work, preparing for the next seedlings in our Tower Gardens: spinach and kale. As our gardens have been thriving, once the plant's life span is complete, we are able to easily switch out the former plant for new ones. Soon enough, our next harvest for our sample table will be ready!
Poetry: Rhyme and Rhythm
Our poetry unit is off to a great start, as the children last week learned about the various forms poetry can take to tell it's story. This week through Douglas Florian's In the Swim, the children will be listening to poetry about ocean animals to discover rhyme and rhythm. We will also explore these two elements of poetry within our guided reading experiences.
Measurement and Adding Tens!
Following great measurements being completed with unifix cube sticks, the children created their own 'tape measure' of alternating sets of five to double check their previous measurements. We will use these measurements to explore adding sets of 10 onto two-digit numbers.
Sight Word and Sound Focus
Our sight words this week are: could, dark, down, road, two
We will also be exploring the 'r controlled vowels' beginning with the 'ar' and 'or' combinations in words like: worm, farm, short, & barn.
Lastly, the children will be exploring how they can use the current words they know to create like words that sound the same. These words can include 'cat' for 'hat' and 'is' for 'this.'
We will also be exploring the 'r controlled vowels' beginning with the 'ar' and 'or' combinations in words like: worm, farm, short, & barn.
Lastly, the children will be exploring how they can use the current words they know to create like words that sound the same. These words can include 'cat' for 'hat' and 'is' for 'this.'
Writing Workshop: Continuing in Drafting of 'How To' books
Last week, the children developed their graphic organizers to share the steps needed in teaching another how to do something. This work provides for a review of informational stories, inclusion of non-fiction text features within their newest writings, and transitional words. To support these activities in class, explore some ways as a family that you could share step-by-step how to do everyday tasks, perhaps: brushing teeth, sorting laundry, beginning afternoon routines. :)
Continuing in Place Value Strategies
Our two digit number work is extended into use with number lines, measuring strips and adding tens. As we continue, this work will support the children in realizing they can break apart two digit numbers into tens and ones to add them together with another two digit number.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Exploring Patterns in the Sky: The Moon & Stars
As we begin our week, we will reflect upon the honoring of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the children sharing their knowledge of one of country's greatest civil rights leaders and understanding his pivotal dream upon our nation. Then, during the second part of the week, our studies during topics time will move back into the night sky.
The children have been monitoring the sun at school and the moon at home, and realized the pattern of the sun and moon over time. As we continue this week, we'll move into learning conversations about the stars and how they form constellations. This work will lead into a concluding activity next week, of experiencing the planetarium through the guidance of our District Science Curriculum Facilitator, Joe Bartin. He will be sharing the district's planetarium with us at school, bringing the night sky to our First Graders.
The children have been monitoring the sun at school and the moon at home, and realized the pattern of the sun and moon over time. As we continue this week, we'll move into learning conversations about the stars and how they form constellations. This work will lead into a concluding activity next week, of experiencing the planetarium through the guidance of our District Science Curriculum Facilitator, Joe Bartin. He will be sharing the district's planetarium with us at school, bringing the night sky to our First Graders.
Mrs. Traci Jansen
Email: traci.jansen@kirkwoodschools.org
Website: http://keysor.kirkwoodschools.org/pages/Keysor_Elementary/Classes/Jansen
Location: 725 N Geyer Rd, Kirkwood, MO, United States
Phone: 314-213-6120 (2164)
Twitter: @TraciJansen