Week 4

It was great seeing you all at Back to School Night - thank you so much for coming and for your continued support!

We continue to practice and focus on the independent reading expectations (Stay in one spot, work quietly, work the whole time, start right away, and build stamina). As we practice what it looks like and sounds like, we are also building good reading habits. We have discussed that good habits are things that we remember to do without people telling or reminding us. The good habits that we focused on this week are taking a "sneak peek" (ex. looking at the cover, taking a picture walk, making predictions, etc.) of a book before you read it, and "doing something" when you finish the book (ex. rereading, asking questions, going back to your favorite part, discussing it with a friend, etc.). Super readers have good habits when they start a book and when they finish one! 

 In writing, we added the final step to our writing process: Revise! The first graders did an incredible job rereading, adding and fixing their small moment stories to make them even better! They have been thinking about questions the reader might have, to zoom in on details and to stretch out our stories. I have read, and the students have shared some great small moment stories and I am excited for them to keep writing and sharing. I encourage you to work through this process at home with your first grader.  

  • Think of an idea (a thing that happened to you, a thing that you do)
  • Plan (touch and tell your story with your invisible pencil)
  • Write!
  • Revise (reread and make sure your story has: who, what, when, where). 
Our Room 112 mathematicians have been warming up their brains every day with a story problem. They have been practicing their problem solving strategies by using pictures, numbers, words, number lines and number bonds, etc. The story problems feature our Room 112 first graders and Stephenson staff. You can try this at home and see their amazing math skills at work!

Ex: Ms. Soulas had 10 pencils. She gave some away. Now she has 4. How many pencils did she give away?

 We have also been working on building our number sense and fluency with building ten. We have been playing games like 10 or Bust, and Make 10 Go Fish - these are games you can play at home, ask your first grader to teach you!

 On Friday- In honor of the Global Climate Strike, the first graders watched a short video about climate change that was created by a kid, for kids! After watching, we were inspired to help people learn ways that they can help take care of the earth, because if we don't take care of the earth, it can't take care of us! The first graders made posters - plant trees, use reusable bags, pick up trash, etc.

For those of you who weren't able to attend Back to School Night here is the conference sign up:

 Conference Sign Up

Also, please make sure to fill out the volunteer survey if you're interested in helping out!

 Volunteer Survey

 Reminders:
Monday – 23rd -LOCK DOWN Drill, 10:05am 
Tuesday – 24th -Picture Day–AM

 Here are some photos from the week...










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