Integrated Literacy ~ Science
Once again we will take a break from our guided reading groups and focus on whole group reading from our science series.
1st Grade~ Weather and Seasons
Children will learn about two features of weather ~ temperature and wind. They will also learn about the four seasons and the water cycle.
2nd Grade~ Looking at Matter
Children will learn that matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. They will learn that matter can be a solid, liquid or gas.
Sitton Spelling~
1st Grade~
Children are being introduced to homophones. Homophones are words that sound alike but are not spelled the same and do not mean the same. They have also learned short vowel “a” and will soon focus on short “i” and “o”.
2nd Grade~
We are working on long vowels and the different spellings a long vowel may have. For example long vowel “a” can be spelled with a silent e at the end, “ai” together or “ay” together. Sometimes long “a” can be spelled with “eigh” as in eight or neighbor. Children must learn to visualize what looks right to them. Children continue to learn more homophones and sight words.
Everyday Mathematics~
1st Grade~
Unit 4 focuses on measurement with inches, telling time to the hour, half hour and quarter hour, addition and solving oral number stories. Please continue to practice skip counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, and counting money with pennies, nickels and dimes.
2nd Grade~
Do not panic! The end of unit four is challenging—more so than what we’ve practiced so far. The children are going to learn how to do algorithms. An algorithm is a set of step-by-step instructions for doing something, such as carrying out a computation or solving a problem. Many of the children may not get it at first, but through repeated practice, they will eventually understand how to do this process. Once again, it is important to read the Family Home Links and do the math assignments with your children.
Winter clothing ~
It is inevitable that we will have plenty of snow very soon. When we do get the snow, it will be important for the children to come to school with boots, snow pants, hats and mittens. It would be wise to send an extra pair of socks and mittens along with a bag for the wet clothing. We do not have radiators in the classroom that can dry outer clothing. Once the clothes are wet, they are wet for the day. I do ask for shoes along with boots. The wet boots stay in the hall. Dry shoes or sneakers are needed for the classroom. Children are frequently asked to sit on the classroom rug. We need the dry footwear to keep our classroom floor and rug dry for children to sit on. If your child has an extra pair of sneakers, they may leave them at school for the wintertime season.
Please label all coats and snowpants. There are many times when a child does not recognize their own clothing.
Behavior Awards~
For the last several weeks, I have sent home behavior awards. These awards are to express appreciation to the children who show good behavior and follow the rules. I have a chart that I keep track of behaviors. My rule is: “Three strikes and you’re out”. So if a child receives three marks in one week, they will not receive an award. Some behaviors that earn marks and are unacceptable are, talking out, interrupting, excessive talking during quiet work time, not listening, making noises, not following directions and not paying attention.
Please praise your children when these awards come home.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Field Trip to Meadow Ledge Farm
What a great time we had at Meadow Ledge Farm! Everyone enjoyed a tractor ride to the orchard. Lenny, an apple picker from Jamaica showed us how to correctly pick an apple off a tree. We then were on our own to pick a bag of delicious Macintosh apples. Later, we watched a presentation, lead by Heather our guide, of how apple cider is made. Finally, we were given a cup of apple cider to try and had a very nice picnic lunch before heading back to school.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
I Smile When...
Our first and second grade combination class consists of 16 kind and caring children.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
September 17, 2008
What your children are learning~
Literacy~
1st Grade…
Beginning next week, children will be divided into smaller groups for guided reading instruction. Guided reading is an approach that enables a teacher and small group of children to think about, talk about, and read a book together for a specific purpose. The ultimate goal in guided reading is to help children focus on reading for meaning and learn how to use independent reading strategies successfully.
2nd Grade…
The children were administered a second grade Scholastic Reading Placement Test during the past two weeks. If any child was unable to pass the test, they were then given a DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). DRA’s are the reading tests used in first grade to determine a child’s reading ability. The children will also be given the second grade fall writing prompt.
We are now ready to begin our guided reading groups. While small groups of children read with the teacher, others are completing literacy activities which may involve listening to a story on tape and responding to the story in written format, working with words that reinforce spelling or phonics skills, completing an art project, working on our school laptops or playing math games for skill reinforcement. When children complete activities they read independently or with a buddy.
Mathematics~
A note regarding math instruction…
Because our Everyday Math program is so structured and time consuming, Mr. Bousquet has assigned Mrs. Linda Beloin to co-teach with me. She is currently working with the 8 second graders in the library for math instruction while I teach the 8 first graders in the classroom. We will swap grade levels monthly so in October, she will instruct the first graders and I will instruct the second graders.
1st Grade…
We are nearly to the end of Chapter 1 in our Everyday Math program. The children have practiced counting by ones, thinking about one more and one less, counting pennies, making tally marks and are currently learning how to use a number grid. At home you can practice counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s and thinking of equivalent names for numbers. For example, different names for 10 might be: ten, X , 4+6, 12-2, etc.
2nd Grade…
Children are practicing counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s with numbers in the hundreds. They are also reviewing money and how to exchange 10 ones for a ten and ten tens for a hundred. Last week children reviewed place value (ones, tens and hundreds), rules for using a calculator as well as time to the hour and half hour.
Word Study~
1st Grade…
As with reading, the word study skills your child learns will depend on their level of readiness. First graders begin the year reviewing the alphabet letters and their sounds. Once the review is over, children will be introduced to the five short vowels.
2nd Grade
Due to the wonderful summer break, many children forget skills learned in first grade. I am beginning the year reviewing the short vowel sounds. To me, phonics or word skills as it is known today, consists of very important letter/sound skills that all children need to learn and internalize in order to become better readers.
Friday, September 5, 2008
September 5, 2008
What your children are learning~
Hello Parents & Guardians!
This is my first attempt at a blog. In the blog I hope to keep you informed of school events and happenings in the classroom. You will find information regarding curriculum skills the children are learning as well as new skills to be introduced. Sometimes I will feature photos from the class of interesting activities we are doing.
Teaching Grade 1 & 2 Combined~
As you are all aware, this class consists of 8 first graders and 8 second graders. You might ask, “How does a teacher do that?” Well, my answer is…lots of little groups, which is how I have always taught. I am very familiar with teaching a mixed age class. I used to teach a multiage of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd combined. It was great because I was able to have children for three years! In this class, first graders will learn from their first grade curriculum and the same goes for the second graders with their curriculum. There will be occasions where I will teach in a whole class setting. Those times will be for writing instruction and a few literature activities, which will have open response activities or art projects relevant to a particular story. All children will be challenged to their individual abilities.
Mathematics~
The Everyday Mathematics Program for math instruction is the program adopted by the Goffstown School District. Some of you probably remember that before each new unit is introduced, you will receive a “Home Link Family Letter”. It is extremely important that you keep these handouts for easy reference. The “Home Links” will inform you of the content to be taught, vocabulary your child will learn and will give instructions regarding how to help your child with homework they will be receiving. So, as the math becomes more challenging, it is important to keep yourself informed by reading the “Home Link”.
Literacy~
We will begin the school year with grade level instruction using the Scholastic Literacy Place Anthology.
1st Grade…
Cat on the Mat is the introductory story in the first grade anthology. Children at this level will be introduced to making predictions, phonics with the “at” family and using picture clues.
2nd Grade…
Children will enjoy reading a story called Ruby the Copycat written by Peggy Rothman. The skills emphasized throughout this story will be short vowels, digraphs (sh, th, wh, ch), vocabulary, word meaning, main idea, story details, character analysis, making inferences, predicting and understanding problems and their solutions.
Sitton Spelling~
The Sitton Spelling Program is our spelling curriculum. It is not like the old spelling tests you might remember as a child. This program teaches core words that children spell on a daily basis. Children will be taught to internalize these important words for everyday writing.
“Core Words” will be practiced daily and assessed through weekly Cloze Word Tests and Dictation. Second graders will begin the program soon. First graders will begin in a few weeks.
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