Fabulous First Grade
Growing smarter every day!
Language Workshop
We are continuing our unit on "Why do we investigate?" Students are learning why it is important to ask questions, be inquisitive and do experiments to find answers to your questions. We have also learned about the many text features in non-fiction texts (table of contents, heading, subheading, bold words, label, diagram, glossary, index and captions). We learned how to use these text features to help us when we are trying to find information in a text.
Math Workshop
Students have been working on addition and subtraction facts to 20. Kids learned turn around facts, fact families and various strategies (number line, counting on/back, number bonds, draw a picture) to help solve these types of problems. This week we started a unit on Word Problems. In this unit students will work on solving addition and subtraction word problems. Students will first identify the numbers in the problem. Then determine the operation to solve it. Next use a strategy to help solve it (ten frame, number line, picture, etc). Then write a number sentence to solve the problem and last label the answer. This is a difficult skill for many first grade students but the steps they are taught will give them a systematic approach to help solve word problems. See photos below for these steps.
Solving Word Problems
Word Problem Process
Informational Writing
Writing Workshop
We have been focusing on writing informational texts during writing workshop. Students are creating books with some of the text features we have learned (Table of contents, headings). Kids are choosing a topic from Pebble Go, gathering research about their topic and writing facts they learn. We then are elaborating on each fact to share more information. Students are working to edit their writing using a checklist as well. We will be sharing our books to teach others about what we learned.
Makerspace
Our first grade kids are participating in a Makerspace Project around the book Gingerbread Baby. Kids will be making a ramp for the gingerbread baby to escape out of the oven. These projects will be showcased for buddy classes to see.
Important Dates to Know
Spring concert - March 12th
"Tinker Bell" play at noon on May1st.
Holiday Parties
Our Holiday Parties this month will be on Friday, December 21st from 1:00-2:00 (1C, 1M) 1:30-2:30 (1L, 1S) . Each class will send out information for you to volunteer to help out if you are interested. Thanks for making this a fun holiday season for all!
Holidays Around the World
We will be traveling to the different classrooms to learn about different customs and traditions around the world. Students will compare and contrast their holiday traditions to the ones they learn about.
Your first grade team!
We welcome Maggie Gannon to our team. She is will be teaching for Mrs. Shumaker while she is on maternity leave. Happy to have Maggie join our team!
Thanks for your support!
Mrs. Czarnecki, Ms. Gannon, Mrs. LaValle & Ms. Matze