Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

It is cold outside!  Please make sure your child comes to school with a winter jacket, boots, snow-pants, gloves/mittens and hats.  We have recess every day unless the weather gets too cold.  Last week, it was so cold and windy, we had to have indoor recess.  For Friday workshops, we brought the snow inside instead!  We had so much fun playing in the snow and making slush!

4 Winds:
We learned about Snowflake Bentley and snowflakes in our 4 Winds class.  We learned that snowflakes have six sides and have different shapes.  We also learned that Snowflake Bentley came from Jericho, Vermont!  He is a local hero.  If you wish to learn more about his amazing discoveries about snowflakes, please contact the Jericho Town Clerk's Office.  They would be happy to direct you.
We went outside and collected snowflakes.  Just like Snowflake Bently, we looked at the flakes through magnifying glasses.

I hope you had a chance to see our follow-up activity using SeeSaw.  They students did an amazing job manipulating geometric shapes online while creating a snowflake and then recording their new learning from 4 Winds!  If you did not get a chance to go online, please do so.  The students love the comments from you all!  Thank you.

Math:
First grade mathematicians have been busy learning how to add three addend and how to find efficient strategies for doing so.  They are encouraged to find groups of 5 or 10, or rely on familiar, already known facts.  Among other things, we have used unifix cubes to show our thinking.  Here is an example how to show 3+4+8
Notice how the two solutions both anchor to 10, but in different ways.  Ask your child to explain!

Reading and Writing:
We continued our investigations into non-fiction writing and reading.  The students are learning how to read non-fiction books efficiently while also focusing on comprehension.  In writing, we focused on adding labels to our scientific drawings in our all about books.  Next week, we will add glossaries and different kinds of text!

Upcoming Events and Reminders:

• Report cards go home with students on Friday, 1/24/20.  They will be inside your child's backpack.
• ABS will attend the WCS Chorus performance on Wednesday, 2/5/20.  Dismissal will be from WCS.  More information will follow.
• The 100th day of school is on Monday, 2/10/20.  We will celebrate in school.  Stay tuned for more information.
• Our intern, Ms. Z, will slowly increase her responsibilities in our classroom.  She will teach a mini-unit on non-fiction animal report writing, starting mid-February.
• Don't forget to hand in your reading logs on Fridays.  Students are encouraged to read just right books at home every day!
• Don't forget to bring a snack every day.  Don't forget to pack a spoon for your child if he/she eats something that requires that.  We are running very low on Harmony!  Thank you!