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