April 15th Update...

Dear Parents,

This week has been a great week. We completed some important testing in Language Arts, Reading and Math.  We are so excited about our upcoming field trips.  The first one will be to the zoo on Friday. Be on the lookout Monday for some important information.  Check out below to see what we've been up to this week...

Phonics/Grammer:  This week, we reviewed the -r controlled vowels (er, ir, or, ar, ur).  We also reviewed the spelling patterns used when making words plural.  We talked about the rules when adding -s, -es, or -ies to words and completed several activities.

Reading:  We worked on our fluency this week.  We read a play and discussed how to use our oral reading skills to grab readers' attention.  We also used the UNRAAVEL strategy to improve our comprehension when working with short passages.

Writing:  I modeled how to organize a response to literature paragraph.  We all worked together on an organizer, then we independently used that organizer to write a paragraph.  The format of this type of writing includes beginning with the main idea, writing a brief summary, then ending by stating our opinion about the book or making a connection to the story.

Math:  We learned all about double digit addition this week. Some students have been ready for the challenge of regrouping when adding.  The first grade standard is to just be able to add double digit numbers, although many have mastered this more challenging concept! 

Social Studies:  We have learned about many historical folktale figures including Mike Fink, Annie Oakley, John Henry, and Johnny Appleseed.  We've enjoyed hearing about the tales that surround these interesting figures!

Class News...

Remember to pay close attention to important field trip information that will be coming home Monday.  Most importantly, your child should wear comfortable shoes on Friday and IF your child is bringing a sack lunch from home, everything should be disposable including the sack. 

Chaperones, you will have a special letter coming home Monday with important instructions to help you prepare for our fun day!

Parents, if you come to the zoo with us, you will be allowed to check out your child from the zoo.  This will allow you to either continue your fun at the zoo or take your child directly home from the zoo. I will have a sign out sheet with me that day.

Moms, our special Mother's Day Activity is scheduled for Friday, May 6th at 8:30.  Be on the lookout for an invitation containing an RSVP.