September 30th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week, we'll be working on making our stories clear and understandable, by telling them in sequence.  In reading, we will focus on thinking about what word would make sense when we get stuck reading because "sounding it out" doesn't work all the time.  We'll also practice retelling some of our stories, making sure to include the important parts of the story.  This will help us understand what we should be paying attention to in a story.  Both of these skills will be something we practice a lot throughout the year.  

Please remember that reading to you child is extremely important.  Modeling for your child with expression and sharing what you are thinking will truly set your child up for success later on.  Thank you so much for your support!  


Our take-home book program will begin today!  Please remember to initial and return the books after you have read them so that your child can bring home new books.  Thank you for reading with your child each night at home.  It is extremely important!

In math this week we will...

• Use dominoes to estimate the number of dots and compare quantities using <, > and = symbols.
• Use dominoes to find total number of dots. We will use counting strategies including instant recognition of small quantities (subitizing), counting on, making 10 and working from a known sum to one that is less familiar. We will play a game called "Domino Top Draw".
• Write addition equations using dots on a domino.
• Read a story titled, Domino Addition, by Lynette Long. 
• Practice writing numbers 9 and 10.

This week in science we will be learning about animals that we see in the fall.  We will be learning about these animals by reading non-fiction stories and using an online resource called Pebble Go.  

Our class earned five tally marks and they voted for a pajama day.  Your child can wear their pajamas to school this Thursday!

Special Points of Interest

• September 30- "Take Home" books will be sent home
• October 2- Walking School Bus
• October 3 - Pajama Day - Classroom Incentive
• October 4- No School
• October 7- Math homework due (because of short week)
• October 14- PTO Meeting (7:00 pm)
• October 16- Dining for Dollars- Even and Odds Pizza
• October 18- Box Top Turn In Day
• October 30- Picture Retakes
• October 31- Halloween Parade (3:00 pm)
• November 1- End of first quarter- No School

September 23rd Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in literacy we are working together as a class to write our own version of the book "In a Dark, Dark Wood" which is a class favorite!  Our version is titled:  "In a Dark, Dark School."  We choose what happens in our story, and the students take turns coming up to the big book we are creating and write some of the letters and words.  This is important because we teach and reinforce many things at this time, such as using spaces between words, proper letter formation, sound and letter correspondence, using our word wall to correctly spell some words, capitalization, punctuation and more!  Stay tuned for photos of our book!  We work at this a little each day, so our shared reading, centers, interactive read aloud and writing workshop are all still going on.  This week, the listening center, buddy reading center and word work center will all be added to our work board.  We're staying busy!  

This week in math we will...

• Learn how to write 7, 8, 9 and 10.
• Measure objects with craft sticks and Unifix cubes. We will discuss how to measure using non-standard units (units must be same-sized length, lay units end to end with not gaps or overlap).
• Estimate lengths of objects and check our estimates.
• Use the words, equal, length, longer/longest, and shorter/shortest.
• Use number racks to solve equations involving unknown addends. 
• Play a game called Quick! Look! Plus One, Minus One on our number racks. 
• Count forward and backward by 5's and 10's within 100.

This week in Social Studies, we will continue to learn about citizenship. We will also meet with our 4th grade buddies in the outdoor classroom to talk about the items we collected last week.  We will be comparing and contrasting the items and talking about living/non-living things.

Special Points of Interest

• September 24- Picture Day
• October 2- Walking School Bus
• October 4- No School
• October 16- Dining for Dollars- Even and Odds
• October 30- Picture Retakes
• November 1- End of first quarter- No School

Scholastic Book Order

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub
One-Time Class Activation Code: JBVLX

Dear Families,

Please remember to place your Reading Club orders by this Friday, September 20th.

You can shop and submit your order online or return the order form with payment directly to me. No matter how you order, every purchase you make earns FREE Books and educational supplies for our classroom.

The arrival of the book box is always a highlight - thanks for making it happen!

Happy reading,

Mrs. Majinski

Ordering online is fast and easy:

• REGISTER at scholastic.com/readingclub
• ENTER the Class Activation Code at the top of this letter
• CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and Storia eBooks
• SUBMIT the order to me by the due date at the top of this letter
• EARN FREE Books for our classroom too!

September 16th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

During our literacy block we continue to learn new centers.  Our class has made this their time to shine!  They've been consistently focused, hard working and respectful of others during this time of our day.  It is so important that we carefully teach the routines and behaviors that are necessary during centers so that it is a successful time for students, allowing teachers to meet with small groups of students.  As we focus on doing our best work, using quiet voices, and taking care of materials, our students are becoming increasingly more responsible and independent.  Even in these few short weeks it has been exciting to see such growth!

We are also learning a lot in our shared reading and interactive or community writing time.  During this time, we focus on the process of reading and the process of writing, together in the whole group.  We have been noticing how sentences start with a capital letter and end with punctuation (periods, question marks and exclamation marks).  We have even discussed commas and quotation marks!  We will continue to review these concepts throughout the year.  This week we will also be examining the author's choice of words and how they make us feel because analyzing text should even happen in first grade!  

In math this week, we will...

• Work on subitizing (telling a number of objects in a set without having to count) using number racks.
• Solve story problems using number racks to find the unknown quantity in different positions in equations (2+4=___,  2+___=6  or ___+4=6).
• Count by 10s forward and backward within 100.
• Count by 5s and 1s when playing a game called, Which Coin Will Win, using nickels and pennies. 
• Practice writing numbers 3,4,5 and 6 using correct formation.
• Continue learning and practicing procedures for Math Work Places. 

This week we will continue working on our school and safety social studies unit.  We will be learning about the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance.  The students will also learn about maps through a wonderful interactive read aloud book called Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney.  After reading the book, the students will work in a group to create a map of our classroom.

Please remember to check your child's Seesaw account.  We have added our first few items and will be adding more throughout the week.

I sent home information about our Second Step unit. On one side of the sheet, there is a family activity to do with your child, if you choose. You do NOT need to return that sheet. It is for your information and to provide you with something to practice at home with your child.

Friendly Reminders

• September 17- MAP Reading
• September 18- Dining for Dollars- Hefner's
• September 19- MAP Math
• September 23- MAP Math
• September 24- Picture Day
• October 2- Walking School Bus
• October 4- No School- Professional Development

Seesaw

All of the students learned about Seesaw on Friday with Mrs. McCalmont.  They interviewed a classmate and uploaded a video to their account!  Make sure to register if you haven't already and look at your child's account so you can see their first masterpiece.  We will be using Seesaw a lot throughout the school year so be sure to check it often! :-)

September 9th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend!  In our Literacy block this week we will be sharing a few great stories, be sure to ask your child about Buddy and Earl, and the Elephant and Piggy characters!  As we share fun stories about friendship we are getting to know each other, building our sense for stories, enjoying stories together, and developing or maintaining the love of reading we all want our kids to have!  This time of our day is called Interactive Read Aloud, and we sit together on the rug, so that when we discuss different parts of the book we can all see and hear each other.  This is a critical piece to building the kind classroom environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and learning about and respecting one another.  We will also be working on Community Writing this week, which is where we work together to create labels, messages, and anchor charts that help solidify our understandings of new concepts and stories.  Stay tuned for more components of our literacy block in upcoming blog posts!

In math this week we will...

• Continue recognizing, describing, and extending number patterns (counting by 2's, 5's and 10's) using the popsicle chart we made last week.
• Begin working on the Number Rack to make combinations of 5 and 10. Students will make their own Number Racks and play a game called "Show Me". 
• Use Number Racks to find missing addends in equations within 10 (7+___= 10).
• Play a game called "Ten-Frame Flash," during which students will look at a ten frame quickly, then make their Number Rack to match what they see. 
• Learn and practice procedures for Math Work Places. This week, students will work with Geo Boards, Polydrons and play a game called, "Flip & Write". 

This is an example of a Number Rack. On this Number Rack, the students can see that 5 on top and 1 on the bottom make 6.

In Social Studies we are focusing on our classroom community and classroom/school rules.  We will play a "Find a Friend" game as well as a few other community building games.  We will also watch a video click based on the book Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathmann.

Many items will come home in your child's red folder (take home folder), please help your child become responsible for bringing their red take home folder to and from school each day.  If you have a note with a change of going home plan, please feel free to send it to school in your child's red folder.

Homework in First Grade consists of nightly reading and weekly Math Home Connections.  Take Home Book bags will be end home towards the end of September.  Math Home Connections will be sent home on Mondays and are due on Fridays.

Reminders and Upcoming Events:

• September 9- PTO Meeting 
• September 12- MAP Begin Reading
• September 17- MAP Finish Reading
• September 19- MAP Begin Math, Dining for Dollars- Hefner's
• September 23- MAP Finish Math
• September 24- Picture Day
• October 2- Walking School Bus
• October 4- No School- Professional Development

Welcome to First Grade Booklets

Hi Families!

I have a lot of extra "Welcome to First Grade" information booklets from the sneak peek.  If you need one, email and let me know and I will send one home in their take home folder this week.

Also, please remember to send in a photograph of your child/family from the summer so your child can do some oral story telling and we can get to know each other a bit better.

Thank you!

Mrs. Majinski

Welcome!

Dear First Grade Families,

I am so excited to start a new school year and teach all of your new first graders!  It is always so exciting to watch them grow and develop their skills throughout the year.  Each week this newsletter will include helpful information for that week or upcoming weeks.  The curriculum that is being taught will be included.  This will give you the opportunity to know specifically what your child is learning about and you will be able to reinforce these skills at home.

During the first few weeks of school, much of our time is spent learning routines and school/classroom expectations.  Throughout the year we will also learn about staying organized and being responsible for things such as our take home folders and our materials.

If you have any questions, please contact me at anytime. 

Thank you,

Mrs. Majinski