Dear Families,
Here is our week in review:
Social-Emotional Learning:
This week, we learned about how to help ourselves and others during work times in class. It can be challenging to be an active and engaged student. With the help of Snail from our Second Step curriculum, we practiced different strategies. The students reviewed asking the teacher or a buddy for help, looking around the room to see what other friends are doing and taking a mindful moment to collect our thoughts and feelings. Lastly, the students learned about “Self Talk”. Self talk is an efficient strategy to use to help us as students stay on track. The students helped Snail get back on track when he got sidetracked. Self Talk is using a whisper voice, or thought, to basically remind yourself of the task at hand.
The students filled the classroom buzzy jar again this week for being safe, kind and responsible. This week, the students wanted to listen to songs from my Online Resource Website and do arts and crafts together. They did a great job sharing materials and creating projects.
Reading:
The students continued to navigate their reading times between partner reading, independent reading and guided reading groups this week. They are improving their reading stamina every day. Thank you for reading with your child at home daily.
We continued our unit on Mo Willems this week. We deepened our understanding of character traits too. The students participated in a variety of whole class read alouds followed by “turn and talks” to describe the characters in the books we read. One of our favorite books this week was “Bug Girl” by Sophia Spencer, a true story about a girl whose love of bugs helps her realize the importance of being true to who you are.
Writing:
First grade authors added adjectives and senses to their personal narratives this week. They learned to add these details in their pictures and in their words.
They did an amazing job working on their stories this week. When we were out of time one day, they asked for an additional five minutes to write! What a class! They are all authors. We look forward to publishing these stories and sharing them with you at home. Stay tuned for more details.
First grade writers are encouraged to try their best when they spell their words. The words do not have to be perfectly spelled. In fact, it is more important for first grade authors to get their ideas down on paper to tell their stories. We encourage our young learners to “tap out the sounds” they hear and represent each sound with a letter/s. These skills will evolve as the first grade writers master more knowledge of spelling patterns and can recognize words automatically in print.
First Grade Math:
First grade mathematicians continued exploring numbers based upon our “Days in School” chart. They are showing these numbers in different ways, in different groups and equations. We are almost at the 50th day of school already!
We also continued working on partners to ten. We hope that first grade mathematicians will automatically recognize these relationships and know what strategies to use when solving math problems. This week, for example, first graders created a story-book for partners to ten on a playground. I hope you will have a chance to read these at home. The students were so proud creating them and they worked hard.
Science:
This week, we learned more about how heating and cooling can change solids and liquids. As your child to explain how we used jellybeans and chocolate chips to show this.
News and Reminders:
Ms. Emily will start her first solo week on Monday, 11/1/21. I will be in the classroom, but in a supporting role. Ms. Emily will be the lead teacher. Nothing will change in terms of dismissal/email/phone communication. Thank you.
ABS Picture retakes will be on 11/1/21. Here is a note from the photographer: Please let families know they must have their student return their complete original package to receive a retake. Those students who are having their pictures taken for the first time can just show up.
I will host parent-teacher conferences next week. I look forward to the opportunity to share your child’s day at school with you. Please remember not to enter the google meet code until your conference starts as we all share the same link. I will do my best to be the time keeper. If we need more time, we will need to reschedule and find additional time at another date. Thank you for understanding. I also want to let you know that some teachers have experienced technical problems with these google meet links. If your time is affected by technical difficulties, we will reschedule. Fingers crossed!
We have noticed an increase in toys and trading cards on Harmony and in our class. Please talk to your child about the importance of not bringing toys and trading cards to school. They are not allowed and can easily be lost. Thank you for reinforcing this message at home too.
Please check your child’s HomeFolders on Fridays. We send home lots of work from school. This can stay home. We hope you will celebrate your child’s work at home. They work hard at school. Please return your child’s Home Folder empty on Mondays so it is ready to be filled again for the following week. Thank you.
Changes in dismissal plans: If you ever have changes to the dismissal plans you shared with the school, please email absinformation@cvsdvt.org and me at mmccormack@cvsdvt.org.
Please remember to help your child pack his/her library books on Monday nights. We have Library Exchange on Tuesdays. Thank you!
Have a great weekend,
Maria
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