​ First Grade News  

 

ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER 30, 2018 

Reading  
Reading Math  
Math
This week in Readers Workshop, first graders were  Students ended 
Word Detectives! A top secret “confidential” envelope  the week by 
was left in our classrooms every day this week! Inside  comparing 
the envelope was a special mission for the class to  numbers using 
work on. One day, the envelope even contained  the symbols for 
special magnifying glasses to help students remember  greater than, less 
to look across the whole word from start to end!   than and equal to 
  (>, <, =) on a 
These were our missions this week:  number line. They 
#1​​: Notice a problem and stop to solve it. 
#1 were introduced 
#2​​: Look CLOSELY from start to end. 
#2 to a new game called “What’s My Number?” The 
#3​​: Use everything you know. 
#3 object of this game is to determine a secret number by 
#4​​: Do a s-l-o-w check. 
#4 asking the fewest yes/no questions. They loved it! 
#5​​: Reading partners help each other. 
#5 First graders have also started investigating time to 
  the hour. 
Fundations  
Fundations  

This week we completed  Holidays of Light 

Light 
Unit 5 of Fundations  First graders are learning 
which focuses on the  about how people around the 
glued sounds  world celebrate many winter 
an-fan-/an/ and  holidays with light. Over the 
am-ham-/am/. Glued  next few weeks, we will study a 
sounds are word families  variety of seasonal holidays to 
in which one or more of the sounds is altered a bit. For  recognize how everyone is 
example, the /n/ and /m/ sounds often alter preceding  special and unique in our community. The holidays 
vowel sounds. We teach these word families as units  that we will focus on include: Diwali, Kwanzaa, 
because the sounds are not easily segmented.  Hanukkah, Christmas, Los Posadas and St. Lucia Day. 
  Thank you for helping us send out traditions letters to 
We learned and practiced the trick words from​
​from​, have​
​have​,  our loved ones. We look forward to sharing these 
and do​
​do​, does​
​does​ this week!  letters as a class and learning more about traditions 
  from our families and friends! 
Writing  
Writing  

In writing, first graders selected one of their small 

moment stories to be published and engaged in the  Save the Date  
revision process. First graders checked that they told   
their story in itsy-bitsy steps and added moving,  December 12th​
12th​: Delayed Opening (10:20am start) 
talking, feeling, and thinking details. They also  December 24th - January 1st​
1st​: Winter Recess 
checked their work for capitals, periods, finger spaces,   
 
and spelling. First graders are excited to publish their 
stories and show all of their hard work and learning. 
  

​ First Grade News