Friday, January 25, 2019

Weekly Update: 1/28-2/2

SPELLING: We DID NOT have a spelling test this week due to the short wacky week. Our next spelling test will be on Thursday, January 31st. We will be learning all about the sneaky letter "Y" that can make the /e/ and /i/ sound at the end of words! (This is the reason why we say that "Y" is sometimes a vowel!)



CONFERENCES: Don't forget to sign up for winter conferences!

NEW SCHEDULE: With the start of a new semester, our schedule has changed a little bit. We have finished our semester in Spanish class and will now have Media/Library time on MONDAYS. Making the shift to semesters has allowed our students to maximize their learning. It is hard to learn a language with half-hour sessions! Take a look at our updated schedule below:



KINDNESS DAY: Keep on the lookout for a special note from Mrs. Huettl in our Somerset E-News for information about how Somerset will be celebrating Valentine's Day!

MYSTERY READERS: We have had SO much fun with our Mystery Readers this year! There are still PLENTY of slots open, so spread the word! We love to have parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins...all of our classroom family's special friends for a visit! Please click THIS LINK to sign up!

SELF TALK: With or without realizing it, all of us have a voice inside our minds that speaks to us whenever we make a mistake or struggle with something. We have spoken A LOT about "mindset" and how we can help foster a growth mindset in our children, but the REAL power lies in a child's inner voice, or self talk. A growing amount of research is showing that self-compassion is linked to not only better mental health, but higher levels of motivation and achievement! This week, we chose to be mindful of our self-talk, and are working on flipping the script of our inner voice when we make mistakes or encounter a challenge.


We have also been starting each morning with a positive affirmation during circle time. Each morning, a student chooses a number and we say that positive affirmation together. Then, we reference it throughout the day whenever we need a reminder! :-) 



Be on the lookout for positive self-talk and don't forget to catch yourself if you happen to slip into negative self-talk. Children learn the most from our own modeling and actions! 

100th DAY OF SCHOOL: Friday, February 15th is our 100th day of school!



LAST WEEK:

(Ask your child these questions about school!)
  • MATH: 
    • Finish these patterns:
      • 14, 24, 34, 44, __, __, __
      • 56, 66, 76, 86, ___, ___, ___
  • READING:
    • What is "CAFE?"
      • C: comprehension
      • A: accuracy
      • F: fluency
      • E: expanding vocabulary
    • Which area of CAFE are you working on while you read?
    • SOCIAL STUDIES:
      • Fill in the blanks: "A community is a place where people live, ____, and have ____ together."
      A PEEK AT THIS WEEK:

      (Looking ahead...)

      • MATH: 
        • I can measure objects using standard and non-standard units of measurement.
      • READING:
        • I can compare and contrast two topics, characters, or books. 
        • I can read and write words that end in Y.
      • WRITING:
        • I can add details to my writing.
      • SOCIAL STUDIES:
        • I can describe how communities have changed over time. 


      UPCOMING DATES:

      • 1/31: Winter Conferences (3-8 p.m.)
      • 2/5: Winter Conferences (3-8 p.m.)
      • 2/6: Dodge Nature Center (Chaperones needed!) 11:45-1:30
      • 2/12: Somerset Smart School Series
      • 2/14 Kindness Day! 💚
      • 2/15: Jump Rope for Heart
      • 2/15: 100th Day of School! 

      FUN in First Grade! (Photos)


















      Our math talk this week was a success! Look at all of that awesome thinking!














      Monday, January 14, 2019

      Weekly Update: 1/14-1/17

      SPELLING: We will NOT have a spelling test this week due to the end of quarter day on Friday. However, your child DID receive a spelling list in order to get a head start on practicing! Our next spelling test will be on Thursday, January 31st. We will be learning all about the sneaky letter "Y" that can make the /e/ and /i/ sound at the end of words! (This is the reason why we say that "Y" is sometimes a vowel!)


      MYSTERY READERS: We have had SO much fun with our Mystery Readers this year! There are still PLENTY of slots open, so spread the word! We love to have parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins...all of our classroom family's special friends for a visit! Please click THIS LINK to sign up!


      LAST WEEK:

      (Ask your child these questions about school!)
      • MATH: 
        • What numbers would you put in the following number lines?

      • READING:
        • Can you split these words into syllables?
          • follow
          • chapter
          • helmet
        • SOCIAL STUDIES:
          • Fill in the blanks: "A community is a place where people live, ____, and have ____ together."
        • SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: 
          • Can you tell me about these posters?
          A PEEK AT THIS WEEK:

          (Looking ahead...)

          • MATH: 
            • I can add and subtract using number lines.
          • READING:
            • I can compare and contrast two topics, characters, or books. 
          • WRITING:
            • I can add details to my writing.
          • SOCIAL STUDIES:
            • I can describe jobs people can have in communities. 


          UPCOMING DATES:

          • 1/18: End of Quarter 2 (NO STUDENTS)
          • 1/21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (NO SCHOOL)
          • 1/22: Professional Development (NO STUDENTS)
          • 1/31: Winter Conferences (3-8 p.m.)
          • 2/5: Winter Conferences (3-8 p.m.)
          • 2/6: Dodge Nature Center (Chaperones needed!) 11:45-1:30
          • 2/12: Somerset Smart School Series
          • 2/14 Kindness Day! 💚

          FUN in First Grade! (Photos)