November 21st Newsletter

Due to Thanksgiving break, we will begin the reading lesson on Monday, December 1st.

Reading
Our stories will be An Egg is an Egg, Fluff is Missing, Go Away Otto! and Helping at Home.

Comprehension Strategies
We will be working on the comprehension strategies of summarizing, drawing conclusions, responding, and reading for information.

Vocabulary Words
The vocabulary words will be: children, come, family, father, loves, mother, people, picture, your, black, block, Fluff, and plan.

Phonics Skills
We will be working on words with clusters with “l” (block, plan, etc.), blending short “o” words, clusters with “r” (train, crow, etc.) and contractions with ‘s.

Grammar Lesson
We will work on recognizing the difference between a sentence and a non sentence.

Spelling Words
on, not, got, box, hot, top, pond, doll, they, why
Conference Notes

Our student of the week this week was Manas Gajjela. He did a nice job of leading our calendar activities.

Math
We have been working on adding and subtracting using the number lines on their desks. They all seem to be getting the concept, but occasionally get confused about which direction to move. We also worked with doubles, and doubles plus 1. For example, if you know that 3+3=6, then 3+4=7. The more practice they get with the facts, the faster they will become and the less dependent they will be on bean counters, fingers or number lines.

Important Dates
November
25 Farmer Day – wear farm clothes to school
26, 27, & 28 – Thanksgiving Break – No School

December
2 – Report Cards Go Home
4 – Parent/Teacher Conferences
5 – No School
20 – Winter Break Begins

Thanksgiving Break

Since next week is a short week due to the Thanksgiving Break, there won't be a newsletter. I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving with your families.

November 14th Newsletter

Important Dates
November
14 – Movie Night – 6:30 – at Prairieview
17 – Book Orders Are Due
21 – End of the 1st trimester
26, 27, & 28 – Thanksgiving Break – No School
December
2 – Report Cards Go Home
4 – Parent/Teacher Conferences
5 – No School



Math
In math, we have been working on using different strategies (such as counting on, using a number line,adding doubles, & doubles plus 1) ) to figure out the answers to math problems.
Last week during library time, the students were shown a video explaining the Math-a-thon program. This program is a fund raiser for St. Jude's Hospital in Chicago. If you would like your child to participate in it, return the form (filled out) to school. The librarian will send home either a booklet or a CD depending on which one you requested. Thank you for supporting local charities.

Our student of the week this week was Grace Malatia. She did a nice job of taking care of the fish and frogs.

Character Counts
Our pillar for the month of November is “Respect.” Please have your child wear yellow on each Friday in November.

On Friday, I am sending home a sheet with your conference time on it. Please sign and return the bottom of the sheet to me as soon as possible. Thanks.
Reading
Next week we will read four stories. Hilda Hen’s Scary Night is about a brave hen that crosses the farmyard at night. In The Trip, we will read about a mouse family that visits the art museum. At the Aquarium is a nonfiction selection with beautiful photographs of fish and other marine animals. Our final story, Why Sun and Moon Live in the Sky is based on an African tale.


Comprehension Strategies

• categorizing, classifying, questioning and rereading.

Vocabulary Words

The vocabulary words are: blue, color, green, also, funny, many, like, some, and brown.

Phonics Skills

• contractions, short “i” words, verbs ending with –s, -ed, -ing, and possessives with 's.

Grammar Lesson

• action parts of a sentence and on capitalizing the first word in a sentence.
  

Spelling Words
Our spelling words for next week are: trip, grab, crab, trap, drip, grin, crack, brown, when, & this.

November 7th Newsletter

Reading
We will be reading four stories. Pearl's First Prize Plant is about a little girl who plants a seed and watches it grow. Our other stories, Ham and Eggs, Miss Jill's Ice Cream Shop, and Making Ice Cream are about things we like to eat.

Comprehension Strategies
We will focus on making predictions and inferences and how to read a social studies article.

Vocabulary Words
Our vocabulary words for the week are:
all, call, eat, every, first, never, paper, shall, and why.

Phonics Skills
We will review blending short “a” and short “i” words, double consonants, plurals, final consonants ck, s as (z), and verb endings -s, -ed, & -ing.

Grammar Lesson
We will learn about possessives with 's and parts of sentences.

Spelling Words
in, it, him, big, sit, did, dish, milk, who, said

Reading Anthologies
Please return your child's reading textbook if you haven't done so already. Thanks.

Book-It
If you haven't turned in your October reading calendar yet, please do so by Monday. Thanks.

Math
In math, we completed chapter 4 and took a unit review test covering chapters 1-4. We will starting chapter 5 which covers addition facts (sums) to 12 and different strategies that can be used to find the answers to these addition problems.

Halloween Party

Thank you to all of the parents that helped out with the Halloween party and also to the parents that brought in paper products, food, treats, etc. The party ran very smoothly. The children had a good time.

Field Trip
On Wednesday, all first grade classes went to Hinsdale to see Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. The play was very good & the children were well-behaved. Everyone had a great time!

Important Dates

November

11 – Veteran's Day – No School
14 – Movie Night – 6:30 – at Prairieview
21 – End of the 1st trimester
26, 27, & 28 – Thanksgiving Break – No School

Have a Great Weekend!