Dear Families,

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend!  I wanted to thank all the parents who came into the classroom for our 2 science days.  The children were able to observe 4 plants from the aquarium and terrarium as well as 4 critters which is all part of our organisms and their habitats unit.  We were also lucky enough to have Marla from Stony Brook come in and talk to the children about habitats and what a habitat needs for organisms to live (food, water, shelter, air, space).  Marla also brought a friend from Stony Brook to visit:)
                                         




Here are some of the areas we are focusing on in the classroom...

In Fundations, we continue to learn about basewords and suffixes.  This past week we reviewed the suffix "s" and learned how to add "ing" and "ed".

In math, we have learned about measurement and how to use inch tiles to measure "fish" and tapes on the floor.  Here is a few photo of this activity.
                                        

We also continue to learn about place value.  We have talked about the >, <, and = signs.  We have learned how to look at the tens place to compare numbers.  If the tens are the same we then look at the ones place.  We have learned how to use mental math when adding on 10 to another 2 digit number.


In reading groups, we have read many brand new non-fiction books that Mrs. Cooney worked hard to get us.  These books support the organisms and their habitats unit as well as focusing on non-fiction.  We have worked hard at finding evidence in the text to support our thinking.

In Writer's Workshop, we have started the opinion unit.  The children are learning how to form an opinion and then support their opinion with reasons why.  All the children have done a great job picking out 1 favorite from their collection they brought from home and supporting their opinion with reasons why it's their favorite.

This past week we have also read aloud many Kevin Henkes books and learned about his style of writing.

Helping Hands
At this point in the year, we find ourselves running out of supplies.  If any family could dontae a box of tissues to our classroom we would greatly appreciate it:)

As always, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to email me!
Heather

Dear Families,

Happy Spring!  (I know the weather isn't feeling the same way this weekend)  It was really nice meeting with all the families the last 2 weeks and talking about your children!  We have been working very hard in first grade since we returned from February vacation.  We have celebrated Read Across America week (and read lots of Dr. Seuss books), Presidents Day (we learned about George Washington and Abe Lincoln), and now St. Patrick's Day.  Here are some other exciting things that are going on in Room 24!

In Fundations, we have learned about blends and digraphs.  We have learned about closed and open syllables (and how to mark them).  We are now starting a new unit where we will be working with closed syllables with 5 sounds, and suffixes s, ed, and ing will also be introduce.

Last week in reading groups, we focused on plants and seeds and solids and liquids.  Each group read a different non-fiction text which ties into our science curriculum.  Ask your child something they learned during our book talks.

In writing, we are finishing up our informational unit on "teaching books".  Our next unit will be opinion writing.  The children usually love this unit.  More info to come on this.

In math, we continue to learn about place value and have introduced money.  The children learned the names of the coins, their value, equivalent values (5 pennies = 1 nickel), and combining coins.  A fun home connection would be to give your child a handful of coins and have them name the coin and it's value.  This week, we will also start to learn about measurement.

In science, we have finished the unit on solids and liquids and have been focusing on plants and seeds.  The children have all planted seeds and are very excited every morning to see how much their plant has grown.  This week we will be building terrariums and aquariums.  We will start learning about habitats and organisms.

Homework Schedule Reminder

Below is the homework assignment for each night.  I will be increasing the math homework to 2 pages on Monday nights.  If your child has difficulty completing this feel free to take a few days to work on it.

Monday-math
Tuesday-Book envelopes
Wednesday-Raz-Kids
Thursday-Poem notebook

If your child completes their homework quickly, reading is always encouraged :)

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me!
Heather

Dear Families,

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  I would like to thank all the families for their generosity.  Thank you so much for the Target gift card.  I love that store and can't wait to buy myself something there:)

I also wanted to welcome Raphael to our class.  Raphael joined our class right after the break.  The children have been so helpful making Raphael feel right at home!

A quick reminder that once there is snow on the ground, all children need to bring snow pants, boots, hats and gloves if they would like to play on the playground.  If your child does not have all of these items, they will need to stay on the hardtop because no one wants to spend the afternoon in wet shoes and clothes.:)

We have been very busy these past 2 weeks in Room 24.  Here are some things we are working on...

In math,  we are working on Topic 5.  We are learning how to add 3 addends in equations and word problems.  We have talked about one strategy, which is to combine 2 addends that work well together.  They may make 10 or a doubles fact.  Then add the 3rd addend.

example:  6+3+6=   (add the doubles fact then add 3) or 3+5+7= (add the 3+7 to make 10 and then add 5 more.

We have also worked on equations with missing addends in all parts of an equations.

example: _+5=11 or 11=_+5 (this type of equation is tricky for the children so we have talked a lot about whatever is on one side of the equals sign should be the same or equal to the other.  I have also had the children circle the equals sign to help them visually.

In writing we have started our non-fiction unit.  We have talked about how we re switching gears from telling stories to writing "teaching books"  the children seem to love this kind of writing because it gives them the opportunity to share what they know or are an expert on.  They have learned so much this past week about the differences between a story book versus a teaching book (fiction vs. non-fiction).  One way you can help your child with this type of writing in the classroom is to brainstorm all the things they can "teach" their reader about.  This way, they have topics ready to go when we start writing!

In Fundations, we have introduced some new glued sounds.

-ang (fang)  -ong (song)  -ing (ring)  -ung (lung)

-ank (bank)  -onk (honk)  -ink (pink) -unk (junk)

These sounds are tricky because they sound so similar but the children have been doing great so far.  This is also an area where practice at home could include having your child either build or write words that are dictated to them and talking about the different glued sounds.

In reading, we continue to read leveled text at each child's reading level.  This week, we have continued to focus on retelling a story by using a fun tool called "Brady".  Brady is used to support children in retelling a story including the characters, setting, "kickoff" (beginning of the story), the events that follow, and an ending.  Ask your child to tell you about Brady and how he works:)

As always, if you ahve any questions, feel free to email me at hherring@email.medfield.net

Thank you,
Heather

Happy almost winter vacation!

I want to thank all the families for donating to the Gift for Kids program.  We got Olivia so many presents that she wanted like Lego Friends, art supplies, books and games.  The children really seemed to enjoy this project and most of all they learned that the holidays are about family, friends, and giving so thank you!!

We have been busy in Room 24!  Ask your child about...

* basewords and suffixes in Fundations
* the books we have read in reading group this week
* how to use the sequence of events words (First, Next, Then, In the end) to retell a story
* the Jan Brett books we read and how there are many characteristics that are the same in her books
* the different versions of the gingerbread man and what was the same and different in each book
* the Jazz band concert
* working in the library on the Hour of Code project

We have also been talking about different math strategies that we can use to add and subtract.

We have used a part, part whole mat

We have used a tens frame to Make 10

We have used the number line too!

Other strategies we have talked about are using doubles, doubles plus 1 and doubles plus 2

I hope all of your families have a wonderful vacation and enjoy time to relax and spend time with your family!  Thank you for all your support this year!

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email me at herring@email.medfield.net

Heather Herring

Dear Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and got to enjoy some time with family and friends. Thank you to all the families for meeting during our conferences.  It was so nice to sit down with you and tell you what a great job your child is doing in first grade!

I also wanted to thank any families who have donated to the Gifts for Kids program.  We are sponsoring a 7 year old little girl named Olivia.  Olivia has asked for a few toys and we have also brainstormed some other things we think she may like (hat, gloves, etc.).  Once all the shopping has been done, I will be looking for a parent to drop off the presents in Walpole.  More to come on this...

Here are some of the things we are working on in the classroom....

This week, we will be reading books by Jan Brett and doing some center activities that will involve the theme of mittens.

We have also started a new unit in Fundations.  We have started learning about basewords and suffixes (example: cat/cats).  We have learned that adding s to a word makes the word plural.  We have also learned that s can have the sound of /s/ or /z/ such as in pens or bugs.

In math, we continue to practice adding to 10 and 20 using strategies such as a number line, doubles (6+6), near doubles (6+7) and making ten using a tens frame. In the next unit, we will begin to focus on subtraction facts to 20 and the different strategies that can be used.

In reading groups, we have and will continue to talk about comprehension and how to retell a story.  We will begin using a new friend called Braidy after the break:)  We also continue to write small moment stories in Writer's Workshop.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me at hherring@email.medfield.net

Heather

Homework Update

Yesterday a blue notice went home to kick off homework but... the information on the notice in the Book Envelope did not match the information on the blue notice I sent home!!!  I accidentally sent home the wrong notice in the Book Envelope.

Homework will look like this...

Monday-Math assignment (due Friday but can be brought back anytime during the week if your child finishes early)

Tuesday and Wednesday-  Read either Book Envelope books or do Raz-Kids

Thursday-Poem Notebook


Book Envelope

The book envelope will contain books which your child has previously read the week before during independent reading.  The books may have been from reading group or ones that your child selected because it interested them.  If any photocopied books come home in the envelope, you may keep them.  All other books should come back to school in the envelope on Friday.  Both the Book Envelope and Poem Notebook should be returned to school on Friday so we can start again the next week.

I hope this clarifies things....so sorry about the confusion!!!

If you have any other questions please feel free to email me at hherring@email.medfield.net

Heather :)

We had another great week in first grade!

Ask your child...

*  something they learned about fire prevention (we studied this all week).  Also pick a meeting spot in case of a house fire (if you don't already have one)

*  about our bus evacuation drill (in the rain:)

*  about picture day

*  about the new sounds (digraphs) we learned in Fundations.  Have your child say the letter names, the sound they make and the corresponding picture (sh /sh/ ship, ch /ch/chin, th /th/ thumb, wh /wh/ whistle, ck /ck sock)

*  about Writer's Workshop.  The children have been working on planning out stories across 3 page booklets, sketching their ideas, and then goig back to write the words.  Also ask them what to do when they think they're finished (add to a story or start a new one)

*  what we have been learning in math...doubles (4+4, 5+5), near doubles (4+5, 5+6), and combos to 10

Reminders and Important Information  

Conference schedules

Hopefully everyone received an email and has signed up for a time and date to meet in November.  If not, please do so ASAP

Math Night

In Novemeber there will be a night to come and learn about math.  More information to come soon!!!

Halloween Parade

The Halloween parade will be on 10/30 at 9:30 in the morning.  We have changed the parade to the morning this year so that the half day Kindergarten can participate.

This is all for now!  Have a great week!

Heather