Family Newsletter

Dear Families,
I hope this post finds you well.  I hope you and your family have a chance to relax and spend time together during our winter break from school.

I just emailed all of you a link to our upcoming parent-teacher conferences.  I hope you will sign up so we can chat about your child's day and progress at school.  Let me know if the slots offered do not work for you and your family.  We will find another time!

Here are some highlights from our week before the break:

Literacy and Trick Words:
The students worked hard on their trick words.  Trick words are challenging to master, because they do not follow the typical phonological rules and can, hence, not be "sounded out".  Many of our trick words also frequently occur in texts so mastery is important to ensure fluency and comprehension. In addition to our trick word booklets, we started small group/partnership stations using a variety of manipulatives, such as legos, popsicle sticks and pattern blocks.  The students worked so well together and their stamina was impressive.  Most students rotated through several stations each time!  WOW!  Here are some pictures:

My daughter Emilie had a day off from UVM too so she joined us as well, helping us with our trick words. Thanks Emilie!

Science:
We continued our unit on earth processes.  Last week, we learned about fast landform changes, such as earthquakes and flash floods.  The students participated in various stations, examining what happens during different kinds of earthquakes.  We used legos, blocks and styrofoam to simulate the earthquakes.

Reading Buddies:
Ms. Davison's Kindergarten students joined us for reading and trick word stations.  We had a lot of fun together working on reading and writing together. It is especially meaningful when you learn from another peer and when you get to be the teacher too!

Math:
First grade mathematicians started work on estimating.  They are learning why we estimate and what a reasonable estimate is.  The students are learned that we try to round up and anchor our estimates to the nearest decuble ("on-decade, ie 10s or 100s, etc).  For example, the students are learning that estimates are on decade, ie 90 instead of 92 or 93.  To help with this new thinking, the students learn to find a referent, a group of 10.  This is the only group we count.  We visually use this amount/group, and then quicky create groups of about 10 so quickly estimate how many we have in a particular sample.  Here are some pictures (notice that the referent is on the paper):

Enjoy the rest of break.

Best,
Maria

Family Newsletter

Dear Families,
What a fun-filled week we had at school!  Read all about it below and enjoy our pictures.

100th Day of School:
We celebrated the 100th day of school on Tuesday, February 11th.  It is hard to believe that we are more than half-way done with the academic school year!
First grade mathematicians brought in projects to show 100 in many different ways.  These amazing first graders certainly stepped up and showed 100 in many creative ways, using a variety of materials.  They used rubber bands, coins, legos, erasers and cheerios.  The students shared their projects in small groups and showed how they counted to 100.  Some students created groups of 10, while others counted by ones, using the 100 grid.  The students kept their projects in the classroom because we are going to learn about estimation on Friday and we will use these materials again.

Math and Valentine's Day:
First grade mathematicians continued work on the concepts of equality in mathematical expressions.  Last week, the students used conversation hearts to show equal and true equations.  Look at this amazing work:

Science:
The students learned about weathering and erosion.  We watched a brief video introducing the concepts, followed by small group experiments using dirt and sand.  In our scientists' meeting, the students shared their observations and wonderings.

Writing and the Rainforest:
Our animal reports are coming along nicely.  Last week, the students learned about the rainforest habitat, its layers and how we can use our words to describe this habitat.  We learned to compare the rainforest habitat to another habitat that is completely its opposite, such as the tundra, or the icy glaciers of the Antarctic.

We will continue writing next week.  We also hope to build the habitat, so we are asking families to donate shoe-boxes and paper towel/wrapping paper tubes for the classroom.  Each student will need a shoe-box to build his/her own habitat, so if you love shoe-shopping and have more than one at home, we would gladly take them off your hands!  Thank you!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Best,
Maria

Family Newsletter

Dear Families,
I hope you are all doing well after all the snow we got and have a chance to go out an enjoy it. It sure is beautiful outside now.

Since school was cancelled on Friday, we will celebrate our 100th day of school on Tuesday, February 11th.  First grade mathematicians are encouraged to create a 100th day project at home to bring in to share.  We will have a special "Gallery" displaying these projects and share different ways to look at 100.  Thank you for supporting math learning at home.

Global Play Day and Stop, Drop and Read:
On Wednesday, February 5th, Allen Brook celebrated Global Play Day.  We joined classrooms around the world to integrate play as much much as possible in our students' day at school.  We also celebrated that the students at ABS had filled the Hive again.  We stopped our learning momentarily to read together.  In our Fundations class, for example, Ms. Fisher and I offered various spelling games and the students rotated between our classrooms.  It was an amazing day.  Here are some pictures:

Math:

First grade mathematicians are working hard on developing an understanding of equality.  They are learning that two expressions can look different but as long as these expressions show the same amount, the equation is equal.  For example, the equation 5+2=8-1 is true because the expression 5+2 is 7 which is the same amount as the expression 8-1.  We have a math buzzy jar and the students filled it again last week for being safe, kind and responsible in math class.  We have several balloons filled with different activities written on small pieces of paper.  We popped the first balloon and celebrated with a dance party!

We will continue showing safe bodies, kindness and responsibility in math.  We can't wait to see the surprise in the other balloon!

Science:

Our unit on earth processes started last week.  The students learned about different land forms, such as mountains, valleys, deserts and rivers, to name a few.  They learned that land forms can change slowly or fast.  Next week, we will explore slow land form changes.  We will deepen our understanding of weathering and erosion.

Writing:

The students are doing an outstanding job in our animal research unit.  They finished their animals' descriptions last week and even started their pictures.  Throughout this unit, the students will reply on information from online resources as well as books.  They are learning that we rephrases/revoice the words of the author into our own words.  In other words, we read new information and then we stop and think about what we just read to make sure we understand it before we write it down using our own words.  Next week, Ms. Z will teach us about the rainforest habitat and the students will add a chapter on this to their animal research.

Upcoming Events and Reminders:

• 100th day of school is on Tuesday, 2/11/20
• Valentine's Day is on Friday, 2/14/20.  We will celebrate in our classroom.  If your child wishes to share Valentines with his/her friends, please make sure to include everyone.  Let me know if you need another class-list.
• Winter break, no school between 2/24-2/28.  Students return on 3/2/20.
• Parent-teacher conferences will be during the week of 3/16.  Students have no school on 3/20/20 as teachers offer conferences during that day as well.  More information will follow.
• We have snack every day.  No Tree Nuts, please.

Enjoy this beautiful snowy and sunny day!

Maria