Carl L. Dixson Primary School

• Phonics: We spent all of May using a Writer’s Checklist to check sentences. We looked for sentences that began with capital letters, had white spaces (finger spaces), and used the correct punctuation (. , ! , ?).

• Word Families: We looked at word families as another way to read and write unknown words. Some of the word families we focused on are: -am (ham, ram, jam), -up (pup, cup) -it (sit, hit, bit), -in (pin, bin, win), -at (bat, cat, hat) ***The complete list is on the weekly homework packets.***

• ELA: We spent the month of May learning all about Entomology (the study of bugs). We learned that there are three groups of bugs; insects, arachnids, and myriapods. We learned about their adaptations, behaviors and life cycles. We also learned about social insects that stay together like bees in hives and ants in colonies. We also learned all about spiders. We finished the unit learning about why we need bugs.

• Math: We learned about the teen numbers 11-15. We focused on how a teen number is one whole group of 10 and some extra ones.

• Science: We learned about plant life cycles, plant needs, that plants and animals depend on each other, an introduction to ladybugs and their needs, and ladybug habitats.

• ELA: Students continued their unit on family stories. Students used venn diagrams to compare and contrast story elements within two different stories. Students also wrote their own stories making sure to include important story elements. In phonics, first graders practiced reading and writing two syllable words. They added -y and -ly to adjectives and adverbs, -er and -est to to comparative and superlative adjectives.
• Math: Students began a unit on measurement and time. They used different units to measure length and height. They explored telling time using digital and analog clocks.
• Science: Students continued to explore the external parts of animals and their functions. They learned about biomimicry and had a chance to use recycled materials to make their own creation and tell how we can use ideas from nature when solving problems.
• Social Studies: Students learned about needs and wants. They discussed the differences between things we need in order to live and survive and things we want but do not need for survival. We then learned about goods and services as well as producers and consumers.
  

• Kindergarten friends have learned “teen” numbers - a group of ten with extra ones. Reinforce vocabulary by having your student wiggle their ones (their fingers) and make a bundle of ten by putting their hands together. A great way to reinforce this at home is to have your child create groups of objects to represent a teen number using toys or objects at home. They should count a group of ten and then the extra ones. For example, 10 and 2 are 12. Our first grade friends have learned to identify coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter). Ask your child to sing the song they have learned about the value of each coin. For example, “Penny, penny, easily spent. Copper brown and worth 1 cent!”. Now is a great time to open up piggy banks and practice how to identify and count coins together!

• A great way to practice phonemic awareness and segmenting is to get outside and jump around! Sound blending with chalk is a fun way to do this. Start by drawing 3 different colored circles with chalk on the sidewalk. Draw one more on the end with some sort of “pop” feature (like a star or sun). Next, say a word (with 3 sound parts), and have your child say one sound for each circle they STEP on. Finally, have them SAY the whole word as they JUMP on the last circle. For example:

Summer is on its way! A favorite season for most kids - a time to play outside and have fun! However, summer weather in school can become less desirable as the temperature rises, particularly during heat waves. Here are some ways we can help keep our kids cool and safe during these warmer days:

• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!!! Drinking water regularly throughout the day is essential to staying cool and hydrated. Please remember to send your child to school with a reusable water bottle every day.
• Loose-fitting, light-colored and breathable clothing (like cotton) can help your child stay comfortable by allowing air circulation.
• Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your child before they get to school.

• Please do NOT hold the door open for others looking to enter the building, including other parents/guardians. Each person must ring the bell and be approved by the main office staff prior to entering the building.

• All visitors must present an identification card in order to obtain a visitor's pass.

• Students arriving late or leaving early must be signed in/out from the Main Office.

• Remember to bring your identification card when picking up your child.

• If you wish to change your child's dismissal status, please notify the main office (for example your child is being picked up instead of taking the bus). Please call the main office at 914-592-2092 to ensure that the teacher gets your message prior to dismissal. Teachers might not see a TalkingPoints message from you if they are absent, in a meeting, or working with students.

• Please do not park or walk through the staff parking lot as it is an active lot.

• The playground is strictly for school use until after dismissal.

• We do not permit the release of students to parents/guardians during the following transitional times:

• Class movement from Annex to/from Main building

• Movement between lunch and recess

• 3:00pm- 3:20pm (2:35-2:55 on Mondays)

• Please make arrangements with the main office in advance so that your child can be picked up before or after these transitional times.