1st Grade News
February 19, 2016
Upcoming Events
2/26 - Scholastic Book Orders Due
3/11 - PTO Movie Night
3/11 - Report Cards Go Home
3/13 - Jayden's Birthday - Happy Birthday Jayden!
3/15 - Institute Day - No student attendance
3/18 - Early Dismissal (2:35)
3/21 - 3/25 - Spring Break
Winter Conferences
Class Dojo
Guided Reading Texts
When I meet with a reading group, I send the students back to their seats with their brand new leveled text. The students take it home so that they can practice using the decoding strategies we have been practicing in our small group with you as they are reading their "perfect fit" books. Please make sure that these texts come back to school the next day with the sticky note signed. The students earn a focus ticket and a Class Dojo point for their hard work!
Math Update
You should be seeing student work coming home just about every night. If you are not, please let me know and I will make sure work is not getting lost in desks or lockers. :) I have grouped students according to the results of a pre-assessment so that they are working at an appropriate level.
Our focus has been on using various addition and subtraction strategies. We have used these strategies to help us solve word problems within 20. The students should have facts within 10 memorized by now.
The students have been using addition strategies to solve word problems. Sometimes, the word problems are written at a higher level than our kiddos can read. I always read the word problem to them, as I am only concerned with their math skills, not reading skills. Please feel free to do the same at home! I also allow students to use manipulatives to help them solve these problems. It is pretty hard for these little ones to think abstractly. Most of the time, they need concrete (or pictorial) help.
The end of the year expectation for first graders is to be able to count and recognize numbers from 0 - 120, as well as to show the value for each numeral. Students also need to be fluent in solving addition and subtraction problems within 10.
Reading Update
In Reader's Workshop we are exploring strategies good readers use to read tricky words. I am encouraging students to be the boss of their own reading.
We have also discussed the author's purpose. After I read books aloud to the class, we talk about what the author's purpose was. The students have become very good at determining if the authors purpose was to persuade the reader, inform the reader, or entertain the reader.
Please make sure that the guided reading book comes back to school. Some of these books are getting lost somewhere between school and home. Thanks for your help!
Writing Update
The students have begun writing persuasive papers. They are learning about the importance of giving reasons or examples for their opinions so that they can convince others to hold the same opinion. Ask your student which smelly sticker they chose and why they chose that particular one.
The students have continued writing their own texts independently or with a buddy during our Daily 5 rotations.
Science
Our Buddy Project
Class Twitter Account
Robert Frost Library Checkout Days
Homework
The students are also bringing home math homework almost nightly. Please remember that this does not need to come back to school. Feel free to use it as your family seems fit.
Mrs. Elizabeth Loverde
Email: Loverde.Elizabeth@ccsd59.org
Website: http://frost.ccsd59.org/teachers/loverdeelizabeth/
Location: 1308 Cypress Drive, Mount Prospect, IL, United States
Phone: (847) 593-4378
Twitter: @llizl1