May
Letterland: Students will learn the r-controlled vowel sounds, ar and or, in unit 29 and will be introduced to the “Vowel Stealing” Robots, Arthur Ar and Orvil Or. In unit 30, children learn three new ways to spell the /or/ sound: ore, oor, and our (as in your). Another pair of “Vowel Stealers” are found in the “sound-alike” spellings of ir and ur, in unit 31. The last “Vowel Stealer” er is introduced in Unit 32. This is the 3rd “sound alike” that has the same sound as ir and ur. Students will learn to “catch” these sounds before they trick them into saying the usual short i or short u sound. In our last unit this month, students will learn the first of two sounds for oo (as in zoo, moon, and choose).
Reading: Students will continue to identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. They will act out a selected scene from a story of their choice. With prompting and support, children will read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for First Grade. We will also identify the main topic and retell key details of an informative text, and use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key details.
Math: Students will add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10. Students will work to understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a new ten. They will be able to order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object. Students will express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; they will work to understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Students will continue to collect, organize, and analyze data. Students will be able to partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of.
Science: First graders will recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment. Students will recognize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth.
Writing: Students will write opinion and informational writing. They will learn to form opinions and write clear reasons for this opinion. Students also learn to include an introduction and closing in all types of writing in first grade as well. Students will participate in all types of science investigations and write about these investigations in science notebooks. This will be students first formal exposure to the Scientific Method in written form.
March
Letterland: Students will continue “vowel men” out walking with the vowel pair oa (long o sound). A story about Walter Walrus explains why ow (low) also makes the long o sound. In unit 24, students learn that Mr I and Mr O say their names but do not follow the familiar patterns we have learned thus far. (Magic e, vowel men out walking, or vowel men on the end). Most of the words we learn with this unit are rhyming words (old, cold, fold) and (kind, find, mind). They will also learn the story behind -mb.
Reading: Students will identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (illustrations, descriptions, etc). They will also identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Writing: We are beginning a unit of study called Authors as Mentors. During this unit, children will be exposed to different types of literature from many authors such as Dr. Seuss (Hop on Pop), Mo Willems (Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus), Kevin Henkes (Lily's Purple Plastic Purse), Laura Numeroff (If You Take a Mouse to School) etc. They will become familiar with each author's style of writing and then write their own stories based on these author's.
Math: They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations
addition and subtraction within 20
Science: We are learning about Pebbles, Sand and Silt this month. Students will become familiar with and identify certain attributes of rocks and Earth materials.
February
Letterland: The following 3 units will be covered in February: long vowel u_e, the soft sounds of c and g as in -ge, -ce, and the long vowel e sound in ee, and ea.
http://www.letterland.com/parent-guide
Reading: Students will be reading informational texts to identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.They will also describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas or pieces of information in a text.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Social Studies: Our unit of study will be on learning about our Community. Students will identify examples of goods and services in their home, school and community. They will also become familiar with various ways in which people earn and use money for goods and services. Students will also learn how to read a map using a map key and become familiar with landforms such as mountains, lakes, plains, etc.
Math: Students will learn about 2D shapes and identify their attributes. They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations. Please view the links below for more information about this unit.
Shapes
addition and subtraction within 20
January
Letterland: This month students will learn the sound of the digraph ng, and the same sound represented by n in words ending in nk. We will review the suffix ing. Students will study the word endings -ang, -ank, -ink, and -ong. They will learn, in Unit 16, that Silent Magic e causes a Vowel Man to appear in a word. Adding a Silent Magic e to a word can transform it into a completely new word. In Unit 17 students learn Magic e words with Mr. I and Mr. O and the digraph wr is introduced in the words write and writing. Students also learn the soft sounds of c /s/ and g /j/ when followed by e and they will use the Magic e with Mr. U.
Reading: Students are working collaboratively to compare and contrast information across text types. They are asking “how” and “why” questions about new topics, and compiling “I Wonder” statements to further research. They are learning about the features of informational text (non-fiction books), including the table of contents, captions and labels. They will also tell the difference between the information given by a picture and information given by words.
***For the next few weeks, I will be conducting reading assessments to determine each child's instructional level and use timed assessments which focus on fluency and phonemic awareness. These will be conducted during our Daily five time so children will not participate in guided reading groups. They will be given independent reading materials which focus on certain skills.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Science: This month students will learn about Balance and Motion. They will discover how many different objects and shapes can be made to balance or remain in a stable position. Students will also learn about the different ways objects can move. They will create tops that spin, wheel and axle systems that roll in different directions and build a rollercoaster using tubes.
Math: This month in math, the students will be reviewing previously introduced strategies for solving addition and subtraction equations, and the best time to use particular strategies. Included are the “Think Addition” strategy, the use of number lines, and the “Subtracting Down to 10” strategy. A handout will be sent home to familiarize you with the terminology and strategies the students are using in class. Next we will learn that order doesn’t change the outcome when adding two numbers, (6 +2 = 8 just as 2 +6 = 8; commutative property). However, students will find that it is sometimes easier to add three numbers together if they are able to make a ten! (7 + 9 + 3=? is easier to solve if we rewrite the equation as 7 + 3 + 9; the associative property). Students will also discuss the passage of time, different types of clocks, and begin to tell time to the hour and half hour.
StudentVideo support can be found on The WCPSS Academics YouTube Channel.
http://tinyurl.com/WCPSSAcademicsYouTube
o ES 1 Math Passage of Time and Ordering Events
o ES 1 Math Time to the Hour
o ES 1 Math Understanding Clocks
Video support can be found on the Kahn Academy Website.
http://www.khanacademy.org
o Telling Time Examples
Video support can be found on Learn Zillion
http://learnzillion.com
o Read and Record Digital Time*
December:
Reading: Students will continue practicing their retelling skills while describing the characters, setting, and events in fiction texts. They will be comparing and contrasting the experiences and adventures of characters in stories. They will also will be reading non-fictions texts to determine if information from the text is provided by pictures and other illustrations or by words in a text.
Letterland: Students will practice seven r- blends. Many children have difficulty spelling the tr and dr words because tr sounds very similar to /ch/ and dr may sound like /j/ to them. Students will also learn the final blends nd, nt, st, and sk. The digraph ng is introduced as a final ending sound in many words. Students will learn the sound n is represented in words ending in nk.
Writing: Students will learn to write "How-To" books, a type of informational text in order to teach. Students will learn that how-to texts have an introduction, materials page, detailed step pictures and step sentences which are sequenced using numbers or ordinal words like first, second, third, and a closing sentence. For example: How to build a paper airplane, How to make pancakes. Students will tell their audience how to do something whether it be a game, tying a shoe, etc.
Social Studies: Students will continue to compare the languages, traditions, and holidays of various cultures through the use of literature, websites and family input. Students will also participate in a "Holidays Around the World" activity. They will have passports and visit a new country each day to compare how different countries celebrate Christmas!
Math: Since students now have a better understanding of place value, they will now learn how to compare two, 2-digit numbers based on meanings of the tens and ones digits. They will record the results of their comparisons using the symbols >, < and =.
November:
Reading: This month, students will continue to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts. They will be describing characters, settings and major events in a story using key details. Students will also compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
Letterland: Unit 10-Double consonants of ff,ll,ss at the ends of words, Unit 11-Consonant blends with s (sk, sl,sn, st), Unit 12-Consonant blends with l (bl, gl, cl,pl).
Mechanics: Students will learn how to read words with inflectional endings. Some inflectional endings are s, es, ing and ed. These endings create a new word with a different meaning. They will also learn about adjectives. They will express their ideas and feelings in a clear manner when describing people, places, things and events.
Writing: Students will write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion and provide some sense of closure.
Math: Students will learn about Place Value. They will understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones. A ten can be thought of as a bundle of ten ones, called a "ten". For example, the number 15 is composed of one group of ten and five ones, 10+5=15. They will also continue to build their fluency for addition and subtraction equations within 20 using several strategies such as counting on and making a 10.
Making a Ten video support
Place Value
Place Value-Spanish
Social Studies: Students will explain why national holidays are celebrated (Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving), and explain the importance of celebrations and their impact on local communities.
October
Reading: Guided Reading groups will begin this week. Students will be reading for information and learning to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. We're off to a great start during Daily 5 and rotating nicely through all components; Read to Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Word Work and Listening. They continue to learn the I PICK strategy when choosing a good fit book and will bring home their Good Fit book soon. We will also be practicing different strategies that will help us tackle tricky words.
Letterland: Who's Who in Letterland (This link will tell you all about our letterland friends we are learning about this year and the sounds each produce).
This month students will be learning about the rhyme patterns, -ug, -un, and -ut and the suffix -s with its two sounds: /s/ and /z/. In unit 7 they will learn a new way of sorting, by vowel sound, using all 5 short vowels. The digraph ch is introduced and the spelling pair qu. In unit 8, students learn the Letterland story of why y is a single vowel on the end of short words and says /i/ as in my and why. The “vowel men at the end” are also introduced. Students learn that when a 2 or 3 letter word has one vowel at the end, the vowel almost always says its name. In unit 9, the students focus on the sound of a in -all and will review short vowels a, e, and i.
Mechanics: In the month of October, we will be identifying words that are common nouns. We will also practice the correct usage of punctuation.
Writing: Writing for Readers is the second unit of first grade. During Writer's Workshop, students will continue to write small moment stories while learning to utilize writing conventions within their writing. They are learning to ask themselves questions as they write such as; Who is in my story?, Where does my story take place? and What else happened in my story?
Math: Students will continue to learn addition and subtraction strategies. They are using different strategies for addition and subtraction to solve word problems and equations, including circle drawings, “counting on”, math mountains, “think addition”, crossing out circles, number lines, counting backward, and “make a ten”. We can find a missing number in an addition or subtraction problem using these strategies. Please use the link below to learn more about our math standards and to watch videos of the different strategies your child is learning about.
Math Unit: Addition and Subtraction within 20
Math Unit: Addition and subtraction within 20 (Spanish)
Science: Students will recognize patterns in the moon's appearance from day to day, recognize the different features between a day and night sky and apparent movement of objects across the sky as observed from Earth.
August/September:
Reading: We will be reviewing and/or learning our Daily 5 routines, including Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listening, Word-work, and Writing. Students will learn how to retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of the central message or lesson. Students will Identify the main topic and retell key details of informational text. During this first month, students will also be assessed on their reading levels to prepare for reading groups.
Letterland: Students will be learning about word families in Units 1-4 including the following ad, ap, at; ack, am, an; ix, in, ick; and ock, op, ot.
Writing: We will be focusing on small moments. Writing expectations will be based on students' abilities.
Math: Students will count to 120, starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. Students will use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. Students will relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).
Social Studies: Students are learning about how they are a citizen of many communities including their home, class, school, and neighborhood. They will understand the importance of rules in these environments.
May
Letterland: Students will learn the r-controlled vowel sounds, ar and or, in unit 29 and will be introduced to the “Vowel Stealing” Robots, Arthur Ar and Orvil Or. In unit 30, children learn three new ways to spell the /or/ sound: ore, oor, and our (as in your). Another pair of “Vowel Stealers” are found in the “sound-alike” spellings of ir and ur, in unit 31. The last “Vowel Stealer” er is introduced in Unit 32. This is the 3rd “sound alike” that has the same sound as ir and ur. Students will learn to “catch” these sounds before they trick them into saying the usual short i or short u sound. In our last unit this month, students will learn the first of two sounds for oo (as in zoo, moon, and choose).
Reading: Students will continue to identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. They will act out a selected scene from a story of their choice. With prompting and support, children will read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for First Grade. We will also identify the main topic and retell key details of an informative text, and use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key details.
Math: Students will add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10. Students will work to understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a new ten. They will be able to order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object. Students will express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; they will work to understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Students will continue to collect, organize, and analyze data. Students will be able to partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of.
Science: First graders will recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment. Students will recognize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth.
Social Studies: Students will understand that the natural environment often provides many natural resources for people to live such as land, plants, water and animals. Students will understand how people use and conserve natural resources in their community. Students will also understand how the environment impacts where people live.
Writing: Students will write opinion and informational writing. They will learn to form opinions and write clear reasons for this opinion. Students also learn to include an introduction and closing in all types of writing in first grade as well. Students will participate in all types of science investigations and write about these investigations in science notebooks. This will be students first formal exposure to the Scientific Method in written form.
April
Letterland: Students will learn that y can represent the long /e/ at the end of words in unit 26 (Mr. Yo-Yo man works for Mr. E.). They will also learn two of the three sounds for the suffix -ed. The suffix ed can say /ed/ or just /d/. Students learn to finger-sound just the base word and then add the suffix when reading the words. When spelling the words, students should pronounce the base word, segment it, write the base word, then add the suffix. In unit 28 students will learn the third sound of the suffix -ed, the /t/ sound.
Reading: First Graders will continue to retell and think about a central message or lesson. We will focus on understanding character’s feelings, and how they are important to a storyline. We will be reading increasingly complex texts, comparing and contrasting experiences of characters by looking for patterns across books. Students will reread with purpose, and practice citing text evidence when discussing stories with partners or small groups.
Writing: Students will brainstorm all that they know about writing, how to write effectively as well as different types of writing and each type’s purpose. They will then use what they know about writing to help them generate ideas for their own type of writing. Students will have choice in what they choose to write and the format they use to convey their written message. They will notice that characteristics of good writing span across different types of writing. Good writers always plan before writing, no matter what type of writing they are producing. Good writers also choose their words wisely, reread to make sure they have written what they intended to write, “show and not tell” details, and make sure their writing is focused and on topic. Students will work with their partners and mentor texts to lift the level of their writing. Finally, students will choose one piece to publish and reread their work making sure others will react to their writing.
Math: Given a two-digit number, first graders will mentally find 10 more or 10 less than the number, without having to count; explain the reasoning used. They will also subtract multiples of 10 using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
Science: Students will use their senses to observe a variety of seeds and to find out how the seeds are alike and different. They will begin to understand that a seed is the starting point in a plant’s life cycle. They will also recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment. Students will recognize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth. Students will understand ways to protect their environment and/or improve conditions for the growth of the plants and animals that live there. (e.g., reuse or recycle products to avoid littering)
March
Letterland: Students will continue “vowel men” out walking with the vowel pair oa (long o sound). A story about Walter Walrus explains why ow (low) also makes the long o sound. In unit 24, students learn that Mr I and Mr O say their names but do not follow the familiar patterns we have learned thus far. (Magic e, vowel men out walking, or vowel men on the end). Most of the words we learn with this unit are rhyming words (old, cold, fold) and (kind, find, mind). They will also learn the story behind -mb. In unit 25 children learn the sound of ue, ui, and ew. In some words we hear the long u sound as in cue and few. In the words blue, fruit, and flew, the sound is the sound of oo (zoo). Students will learn that y can represent the long /e/ at the end of words. Please continue to review these units weekly as they will be assessed on their words every 3 weeks.
Reading: Students will identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (illustrations, descriptions, etc). They will also identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Writing: We are beginning a unit of study called Authors as Mentors. During this unit, children will be exposed to different types of literature from many authors such as Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, Kevin Henkes, etc. They will become familiar with each author's style of writing and then write their own stories based on these author's.
Math: They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations
addition and subtraction within 20
Science: We are learning about Pebbles, Sand and Silt this month. Students will become familiar with and identify certain attributes of rocks and Earth materials.
February
Letterland: The following 3 units will be covered in February: long vowel u_e, the soft sounds of c and g as in -ge, -ce, and the long vowel e sound in ee, and ea.
http://www.letterland.com/parent-guide
Reading: Students will be reading informational texts to identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.They will also describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas or pieces of information in a text.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Social Studies: Our unit of study will be on learning about our Community. Students will identify examples of goods and services in their home, school and community. They will also become familiar with various ways in which people earn and use money for goods and services. Students will also learn how to read a map using a map key and become familiar with landforms such as mountains, lakes, plains, etc.
Math: Students will learn about 2D shapes and identify their attributes. They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations. Please view the links below for more information about this unit.
Shapes
addition and subtraction within 20
January
Letterland: This month students will learn the sound of the digraph ng, and the same sound represented by n in words ending in nk. We will review the suffix ing. Students will study the word endings -ang, -ank, -ink, and -ong. They will learn, in Unit 16, that Silent Magic e causes a Vowel Man to appear in a word. Adding a Silent Magic e to a word can transform it into a completely new word. In Unit 17 students learn Magic e words with Mr. I and Mr. O and the digraph wr is introduced in the words write and writing. Students also learn the soft sounds of c /s/ and g /j/ when followed by e and they will use the Magic e with Mr. U.
Reading: Students are working collaboratively to compare and contrast information across text types. They are asking “how” and “why” questions about new topics, and compiling “I Wonder” statements to further research. They are learning about the features of informational text (non-fiction books), including the table of contents, captions and labels. They will also tell the difference between the information given by a picture and information given by words.
***For the next few weeks, I will be conducting reading assessments to determine each child's instructional level and use timed assessments which focus on fluency and phonemic awareness. These will be conducted during our Daily five time so children will not participate in guided reading groups. They will be given independent reading materials which focus on certain skills.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Science: This month students will learn about Balance and Motion. They will discover how many different objects and shapes can be made to balance or remain in a stable position. Students will also learn about the different ways objects can move. They will create tops that spin, wheel and axle systems that roll in different directions and build a rollercoaster using tubes.
Math: This month in math, the students will be reviewing previously introduced strategies for solving addition and subtraction equations, and the best time to use particular strategies. Included are the “Think Addition” strategy, the use of number lines, and the “Subtracting Down to 10” strategy. A handout will be sent home to familiarize you with the terminology and strategies the students are using in class. Next we will learn that order doesn’t change the outcome when adding two numbers, (6 +2 = 8 just as 2 +6 = 8; commutative property). However, students will find that it is sometimes easier to add three numbers together if they are able to make a ten! (7 + 9 + 3=? is easier to solve if we rewrite the equation as 7 + 3 + 9; the associative property). Students will also discuss the passage of time, different types of clocks, and begin to tell time to the hour and half hour.
StudentVideo support can be found on The WCPSS Academics YouTube Channel.
http://tinyurl.com/WCPSSAcademicsYouTube
o ES 1 Math Passage of Time and Ordering Events
o ES 1 Math Time to the Hour
o ES 1 Math Understanding Clocks
Video support can be found on the Kahn Academy Website.
http://www.khanacademy.org
o Telling Time Examples
Video support can be found on Learn Zillion
http://learnzillion.com
o Read and Record Digital Time*
Social Studies: Our Unit on Maps and Landforms began with an introduction to a book by Jeff Brown called, Flat Stanley. Our classroom project is to send Flat to a friend or family member so that we can learn about the many places he has visited. This is a yearlong project, but please make sure to send Flat in the mail soon if you haven't done so already. If you have more than one person that you wish to send Flat to, please let me know and I can send home another one. Students will also learn how to read a map using a map key and become familiar with landforms such as mountains, lakes, plains, etc.
October:
Reading: Guided Reading groups will begin this week. Students will be reading for information and learning to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. We're off to a great start during Daily 5 and rotating nicely through all components; Read to Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Word Work and Listening. They continue to learn the I PICK strategy when choosing a good fit book and will bring home their Good Fit book soon. We will also be practicing different strategies that will help us tackle tricky words.
Letterland: Who's Who in Letterland (This link will tell you all about our letterland friends we are learning about this year and the sounds each produce).
This month students will be learning about the rhyme patterns, -ug, -un, and -ut and the suffix -s with its two sounds: /s/ and /z/. In unit 7 they will learn a new way of sorting, by vowel sound, using all 5 short vowels. The digraph ch is introduced and the spelling pair qu. In unit 8, students learn the Letterland story of why y is a single vowel on the end of short words and says /i/ as in my and why. The “vowel men at the end” are also introduced. Students learn that when a 2 or 3 letter word has one vowel at the end, the vowel almost always says its name. In unit 9, the students focus on the sound of a in -all and will review short vowels a, e, and i.
Mechanics: In the month of October, we will be identifying words that are common nouns. We will also practice the correct usage of punctuation.
Writing: Writing for Readers is the second unit of first grade. During Writer's Workshop, students will continue to write small moment stories while learning to utilize writing conventions within their writing. They are learning to ask themselves questions as they write such as; Who is in my story?, Where does my story take place? and What else happened in my story?
Math: Students will continue to learn addition and subtraction strategies. They are using different strategies for addition and subtraction to solve word problems and equations, including circle drawings, “counting on”, math mountains, “think addition”, crossing out circles, number lines, counting backward, and “make a ten”. We can find a missing number in an addition or subtraction problem using these strategies. Please use the link below to learn more about our math standards and to watch videos of the different strategies your child is learning about.
Math Unit: Addition and Subtraction within 20
Math Unit: Addition and subtraction within 20 (Spanish)
April
Letterland: The following units will be covered in April: ew, ue, ui. In some spelling words the sound is Mr. U's name (you) as in few, and in other words the sound is the sound of oo in zoo as in blue and fruit. Children will also learn that y can represent long e at the end of words. They will also learn the sounds for the suffix -ed ((d), (t) and (ed). Please continue to review these units weekly as they will be assessed on their words every 3 weeks. They should be able to apply these words and spell them correctly into their writing as well.
Reading: Students will identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (illustrations, descriptions, etc). They will also identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Writing: We are continuing our unit of study on Authors as Mentors. We have learned about Dr. Seuss, Robert Munsch (50 Below Zero) and Audrey Wood (Silly Sally). We will also learn about Mo Willems ( Don't Let the Pigeon Stay up Late), Kevin Henkes (Owen) and Laura Numeroff (If you Give a Mouse a cookie). Please ask your child about these authors.
Students will be reading Informational (non-fiction) text to identify text features (captions, headings, table of contents, glossaries, photographs, etc.) to locate key facts. They will explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, and identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Letterland: Students will learn the r-controlled vowel sounds, ar and or, in unit 29 and will be introduced to the “Vowel Stealing” Robots, Arthur Ar and Orvil Or. In unit 30, children learn three new ways to spell the /or/ sound: ore, oor, and our (as in your). Another pair of “Vowel Stealers” are found in the “sound-alike” spellings of ir and ur, in unit 31. The last “Vowel Stealer” er is introduced in Unit 32. This is the 3rd “sound alike” that has the same sound as ir and ur. Students will learn to “catch” these sounds before they trick them into saying the usual short i or short u sound. In our last unit this month, students will learn the first of two sounds for oo (as in zoo, moon, and choose).
Reading: Students will continue to identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. They will act out a selected scene from a story of their choice. With prompting and support, children will read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for First Grade. We will also identify the main topic and retell key details of an informative text, and use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key details.
Math: Students will add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10. Students will work to understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a new ten. They will be able to order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object. Students will express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; they will work to understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Students will continue to collect, organize, and analyze data. Students will be able to partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of.
Science: First graders will recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment. Students will recognize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth.
Writing: Students will write opinion and informational writing. They will learn to form opinions and write clear reasons for this opinion. Students also learn to include an introduction and closing in all types of writing in first grade as well. Students will participate in all types of science investigations and write about these investigations in science notebooks. This will be students first formal exposure to the Scientific Method in written form.
March
Letterland: Students will continue “vowel men” out walking with the vowel pair oa (long o sound). A story about Walter Walrus explains why ow (low) also makes the long o sound. In unit 24, students learn that Mr I and Mr O say their names but do not follow the familiar patterns we have learned thus far. (Magic e, vowel men out walking, or vowel men on the end). Most of the words we learn with this unit are rhyming words (old, cold, fold) and (kind, find, mind). They will also learn the story behind -mb.
Reading: Students will identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (illustrations, descriptions, etc). They will also identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Writing: We are beginning a unit of study called Authors as Mentors. During this unit, children will be exposed to different types of literature from many authors such as Dr. Seuss (Hop on Pop), Mo Willems (Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus), Kevin Henkes (Lily's Purple Plastic Purse), Laura Numeroff (If You Take a Mouse to School) etc. They will become familiar with each author's style of writing and then write their own stories based on these author's.
Math: They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations
addition and subtraction within 20
Science: We are learning about Pebbles, Sand and Silt this month. Students will become familiar with and identify certain attributes of rocks and Earth materials.
February
Letterland: The following 3 units will be covered in February: long vowel u_e, the soft sounds of c and g as in -ge, -ce, and the long vowel e sound in ee, and ea.
http://www.letterland.com/parent-guide
Reading: Students will be reading informational texts to identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.They will also describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas or pieces of information in a text.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Social Studies: Our unit of study will be on learning about our Community. Students will identify examples of goods and services in their home, school and community. They will also become familiar with various ways in which people earn and use money for goods and services. Students will also learn how to read a map using a map key and become familiar with landforms such as mountains, lakes, plains, etc.
Math: Students will learn about 2D shapes and identify their attributes. They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations. Please view the links below for more information about this unit.
Shapes
addition and subtraction within 20
January
Letterland: This month students will learn the sound of the digraph ng, and the same sound represented by n in words ending in nk. We will review the suffix ing. Students will study the word endings -ang, -ank, -ink, and -ong. They will learn, in Unit 16, that Silent Magic e causes a Vowel Man to appear in a word. Adding a Silent Magic e to a word can transform it into a completely new word. In Unit 17 students learn Magic e words with Mr. I and Mr. O and the digraph wr is introduced in the words write and writing. Students also learn the soft sounds of c /s/ and g /j/ when followed by e and they will use the Magic e with Mr. U.
Reading: Students are working collaboratively to compare and contrast information across text types. They are asking “how” and “why” questions about new topics, and compiling “I Wonder” statements to further research. They are learning about the features of informational text (non-fiction books), including the table of contents, captions and labels. They will also tell the difference between the information given by a picture and information given by words.
***For the next few weeks, I will be conducting reading assessments to determine each child's instructional level and use timed assessments which focus on fluency and phonemic awareness. These will be conducted during our Daily five time so children will not participate in guided reading groups. They will be given independent reading materials which focus on certain skills.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Science: This month students will learn about Balance and Motion. They will discover how many different objects and shapes can be made to balance or remain in a stable position. Students will also learn about the different ways objects can move. They will create tops that spin, wheel and axle systems that roll in different directions and build a rollercoaster using tubes.
Math: This month in math, the students will be reviewing previously introduced strategies for solving addition and subtraction equations, and the best time to use particular strategies. Included are the “Think Addition” strategy, the use of number lines, and the “Subtracting Down to 10” strategy. A handout will be sent home to familiarize you with the terminology and strategies the students are using in class. Next we will learn that order doesn’t change the outcome when adding two numbers, (6 +2 = 8 just as 2 +6 = 8; commutative property). However, students will find that it is sometimes easier to add three numbers together if they are able to make a ten! (7 + 9 + 3=? is easier to solve if we rewrite the equation as 7 + 3 + 9; the associative property). Students will also discuss the passage of time, different types of clocks, and begin to tell time to the hour and half hour.
StudentVideo support can be found on The WCPSS Academics YouTube Channel.
http://tinyurl.com/WCPSSAcademicsYouTube
o ES 1 Math Passage of Time and Ordering Events
o ES 1 Math Time to the Hour
o ES 1 Math Understanding Clocks
Video support can be found on the Kahn Academy Website.
http://www.khanacademy.org
o Telling Time Examples
Video support can be found on Learn Zillion
http://learnzillion.com
o Read and Record Digital Time*
December:
Reading: Students will continue practicing their retelling skills while describing the characters, setting, and events in fiction texts. They will be comparing and contrasting the experiences and adventures of characters in stories. They will also will be reading non-fictions texts to determine if information from the text is provided by pictures and other illustrations or by words in a text.
Letterland: Students will practice seven r- blends. Many children have difficulty spelling the tr and dr words because tr sounds very similar to /ch/ and dr may sound like /j/ to them. Students will also learn the final blends nd, nt, st, and sk. The digraph ng is introduced as a final ending sound in many words. Students will learn the sound n is represented in words ending in nk.
Writing: Students will learn to write "How-To" books, a type of informational text in order to teach. Students will learn that how-to texts have an introduction, materials page, detailed step pictures and step sentences which are sequenced using numbers or ordinal words like first, second, third, and a closing sentence. For example: How to build a paper airplane, How to make pancakes. Students will tell their audience how to do something whether it be a game, tying a shoe, etc.
Social Studies: Students will continue to compare the languages, traditions, and holidays of various cultures through the use of literature, websites and family input. Students will also participate in a "Holidays Around the World" activity. They will have passports and visit a new country each day to compare how different countries celebrate Christmas!
Math: Since students now have a better understanding of place value, they will now learn how to compare two, 2-digit numbers based on meanings of the tens and ones digits. They will record the results of their comparisons using the symbols >, < and =.
November:
Reading: This month, students will continue to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts. They will be describing characters, settings and major events in a story using key details. Students will also compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
Letterland: Unit 10-Double consonants of ff,ll,ss at the ends of words, Unit 11-Consonant blends with s (sk, sl,sn, st), Unit 12-Consonant blends with l (bl, gl, cl,pl).
Mechanics: Students will learn how to read words with inflectional endings. Some inflectional endings are s, es, ing and ed. These endings create a new word with a different meaning. They will also learn about adjectives. They will express their ideas and feelings in a clear manner when describing people, places, things and events.
Writing: Students will write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion and provide some sense of closure.
Math: Students will learn about Place Value. They will understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones. A ten can be thought of as a bundle of ten ones, called a "ten". For example, the number 15 is composed of one group of ten and five ones, 10+5=15. They will also continue to build their fluency for addition and subtraction equations within 20 using several strategies such as counting on and making a 10.
Making a Ten video support
Place Value
Place Value-Spanish
Social Studies: Students will explain why national holidays are celebrated (Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving), and explain the importance of celebrations and their impact on local communities.
October
Reading: Guided Reading groups will begin this week. Students will be reading for information and learning to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. We're off to a great start during Daily 5 and rotating nicely through all components; Read to Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Word Work and Listening. They continue to learn the I PICK strategy when choosing a good fit book and will bring home their Good Fit book soon. We will also be practicing different strategies that will help us tackle tricky words.
Letterland: Who's Who in Letterland (This link will tell you all about our letterland friends we are learning about this year and the sounds each produce).
This month students will be learning about the rhyme patterns, -ug, -un, and -ut and the suffix -s with its two sounds: /s/ and /z/. In unit 7 they will learn a new way of sorting, by vowel sound, using all 5 short vowels. The digraph ch is introduced and the spelling pair qu. In unit 8, students learn the Letterland story of why y is a single vowel on the end of short words and says /i/ as in my and why. The “vowel men at the end” are also introduced. Students learn that when a 2 or 3 letter word has one vowel at the end, the vowel almost always says its name. In unit 9, the students focus on the sound of a in -all and will review short vowels a, e, and i.
Mechanics: In the month of October, we will be identifying words that are common nouns. We will also practice the correct usage of punctuation.
Writing: Writing for Readers is the second unit of first grade. During Writer's Workshop, students will continue to write small moment stories while learning to utilize writing conventions within their writing. They are learning to ask themselves questions as they write such as; Who is in my story?, Where does my story take place? and What else happened in my story?
Math: Students will continue to learn addition and subtraction strategies. They are using different strategies for addition and subtraction to solve word problems and equations, including circle drawings, “counting on”, math mountains, “think addition”, crossing out circles, number lines, counting backward, and “make a ten”. We can find a missing number in an addition or subtraction problem using these strategies. Please use the link below to learn more about our math standards and to watch videos of the different strategies your child is learning about.
Math Unit: Addition and Subtraction within 20
Math Unit: Addition and subtraction within 20 (Spanish)
Science: Students will recognize patterns in the moon's appearance from day to day, recognize the different features between a day and night sky and apparent movement of objects across the sky as observed from Earth.
August/September:
Reading: We will be reviewing and/or learning our Daily 5 routines, including Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listening, Word-work, and Writing. Students will learn how to retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of the central message or lesson. Students will Identify the main topic and retell key details of informational text. During this first month, students will also be assessed on their reading levels to prepare for reading groups.
Letterland: Students will be learning about word families in Units 1-4 including the following ad, ap, at; ack, am, an; ix, in, ick; and ock, op, ot.
Writing: We will be focusing on small moments. Writing expectations will be based on students' abilities.
Math: Students will count to 120, starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. Students will use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. Students will relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).
Social Studies: Students are learning about how they are a citizen of many communities including their home, class, school, and neighborhood. They will understand the importance of rules in these environments.
May
Letterland: Students will learn the r-controlled vowel sounds, ar and or, in unit 29 and will be introduced to the “Vowel Stealing” Robots, Arthur Ar and Orvil Or. In unit 30, children learn three new ways to spell the /or/ sound: ore, oor, and our (as in your). Another pair of “Vowel Stealers” are found in the “sound-alike” spellings of ir and ur, in unit 31. The last “Vowel Stealer” er is introduced in Unit 32. This is the 3rd “sound alike” that has the same sound as ir and ur. Students will learn to “catch” these sounds before they trick them into saying the usual short i or short u sound. In our last unit this month, students will learn the first of two sounds for oo (as in zoo, moon, and choose).
Reading: Students will continue to identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. They will act out a selected scene from a story of their choice. With prompting and support, children will read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for First Grade. We will also identify the main topic and retell key details of an informative text, and use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key details.
Math: Students will add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10. Students will work to understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a new ten. They will be able to order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object. Students will express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; they will work to understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Students will continue to collect, organize, and analyze data. Students will be able to partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of.
Science: First graders will recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment. Students will recognize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth.
Social Studies: Students will understand that the natural environment often provides many natural resources for people to live such as land, plants, water and animals. Students will understand how people use and conserve natural resources in their community. Students will also understand how the environment impacts where people live.
Writing: Students will write opinion and informational writing. They will learn to form opinions and write clear reasons for this opinion. Students also learn to include an introduction and closing in all types of writing in first grade as well. Students will participate in all types of science investigations and write about these investigations in science notebooks. This will be students first formal exposure to the Scientific Method in written form.
April
Letterland: Students will learn that y can represent the long /e/ at the end of words in unit 26 (Mr. Yo-Yo man works for Mr. E.). They will also learn two of the three sounds for the suffix -ed. The suffix ed can say /ed/ or just /d/. Students learn to finger-sound just the base word and then add the suffix when reading the words. When spelling the words, students should pronounce the base word, segment it, write the base word, then add the suffix. In unit 28 students will learn the third sound of the suffix -ed, the /t/ sound.
Reading: First Graders will continue to retell and think about a central message or lesson. We will focus on understanding character’s feelings, and how they are important to a storyline. We will be reading increasingly complex texts, comparing and contrasting experiences of characters by looking for patterns across books. Students will reread with purpose, and practice citing text evidence when discussing stories with partners or small groups.
Writing: Students will brainstorm all that they know about writing, how to write effectively as well as different types of writing and each type’s purpose. They will then use what they know about writing to help them generate ideas for their own type of writing. Students will have choice in what they choose to write and the format they use to convey their written message. They will notice that characteristics of good writing span across different types of writing. Good writers always plan before writing, no matter what type of writing they are producing. Good writers also choose their words wisely, reread to make sure they have written what they intended to write, “show and not tell” details, and make sure their writing is focused and on topic. Students will work with their partners and mentor texts to lift the level of their writing. Finally, students will choose one piece to publish and reread their work making sure others will react to their writing.
Math: Given a two-digit number, first graders will mentally find 10 more or 10 less than the number, without having to count; explain the reasoning used. They will also subtract multiples of 10 using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
Science: Students will use their senses to observe a variety of seeds and to find out how the seeds are alike and different. They will begin to understand that a seed is the starting point in a plant’s life cycle. They will also recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment. Students will recognize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth. Students will understand ways to protect their environment and/or improve conditions for the growth of the plants and animals that live there. (e.g., reuse or recycle products to avoid littering)
March
Letterland: Students will continue “vowel men” out walking with the vowel pair oa (long o sound). A story about Walter Walrus explains why ow (low) also makes the long o sound. In unit 24, students learn that Mr I and Mr O say their names but do not follow the familiar patterns we have learned thus far. (Magic e, vowel men out walking, or vowel men on the end). Most of the words we learn with this unit are rhyming words (old, cold, fold) and (kind, find, mind). They will also learn the story behind -mb. In unit 25 children learn the sound of ue, ui, and ew. In some words we hear the long u sound as in cue and few. In the words blue, fruit, and flew, the sound is the sound of oo (zoo). Students will learn that y can represent the long /e/ at the end of words. Please continue to review these units weekly as they will be assessed on their words every 3 weeks.
Reading: Students will identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (illustrations, descriptions, etc). They will also identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Writing: We are beginning a unit of study called Authors as Mentors. During this unit, children will be exposed to different types of literature from many authors such as Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, Kevin Henkes, etc. They will become familiar with each author's style of writing and then write their own stories based on these author's.
Math: They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations
addition and subtraction within 20
Science: We are learning about Pebbles, Sand and Silt this month. Students will become familiar with and identify certain attributes of rocks and Earth materials.
February
Letterland: The following 3 units will be covered in February: long vowel u_e, the soft sounds of c and g as in -ge, -ce, and the long vowel e sound in ee, and ea.
http://www.letterland.com/parent-guide
Reading: Students will be reading informational texts to identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.They will also describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas or pieces of information in a text.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Social Studies: Our unit of study will be on learning about our Community. Students will identify examples of goods and services in their home, school and community. They will also become familiar with various ways in which people earn and use money for goods and services. Students will also learn how to read a map using a map key and become familiar with landforms such as mountains, lakes, plains, etc.
Math: Students will learn about 2D shapes and identify their attributes. They will also continue their fluency with addition and subtraction facts of plus zero, plus 1, and learn about doubles (2+2=) and doubles plus 1 (2+3=)in equations. Please view the links below for more information about this unit.
Shapes
addition and subtraction within 20
January
Letterland: This month students will learn the sound of the digraph ng, and the same sound represented by n in words ending in nk. We will review the suffix ing. Students will study the word endings -ang, -ank, -ink, and -ong. They will learn, in Unit 16, that Silent Magic e causes a Vowel Man to appear in a word. Adding a Silent Magic e to a word can transform it into a completely new word. In Unit 17 students learn Magic e words with Mr. I and Mr. O and the digraph wr is introduced in the words write and writing. Students also learn the soft sounds of c /s/ and g /j/ when followed by e and they will use the Magic e with Mr. U.
Reading: Students are working collaboratively to compare and contrast information across text types. They are asking “how” and “why” questions about new topics, and compiling “I Wonder” statements to further research. They are learning about the features of informational text (non-fiction books), including the table of contents, captions and labels. They will also tell the difference between the information given by a picture and information given by words.
***For the next few weeks, I will be conducting reading assessments to determine each child's instructional level and use timed assessments which focus on fluency and phonemic awareness. These will be conducted during our Daily five time so children will not participate in guided reading groups. They will be given independent reading materials which focus on certain skills.
Writing: Students will be writing informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts and provide some sense of closure. They will be writing "All About...." books and choosing a topic they are familiar with.
Science: This month students will learn about Balance and Motion. They will discover how many different objects and shapes can be made to balance or remain in a stable position. Students will also learn about the different ways objects can move. They will create tops that spin, wheel and axle systems that roll in different directions and build a rollercoaster using tubes.
Math: This month in math, the students will be reviewing previously introduced strategies for solving addition and subtraction equations, and the best time to use particular strategies. Included are the “Think Addition” strategy, the use of number lines, and the “Subtracting Down to 10” strategy. A handout will be sent home to familiarize you with the terminology and strategies the students are using in class. Next we will learn that order doesn’t change the outcome when adding two numbers, (6 +2 = 8 just as 2 +6 = 8; commutative property). However, students will find that it is sometimes easier to add three numbers together if they are able to make a ten! (7 + 9 + 3=? is easier to solve if we rewrite the equation as 7 + 3 + 9; the associative property). Students will also discuss the passage of time, different types of clocks, and begin to tell time to the hour and half hour.
StudentVideo support can be found on The WCPSS Academics YouTube Channel.
http://tinyurl.com/WCPSSAcademicsYouTube
o ES 1 Math Passage of Time and Ordering Events
o ES 1 Math Time to the Hour
o ES 1 Math Understanding Clocks
Video support can be found on the Kahn Academy Website.
http://www.khanacademy.org
o Telling Time Examples
Video support can be found on Learn Zillion
http://learnzillion.com
o Read and Record Digital Time*
Social Studies: Our Unit on Maps and Landforms began with an introduction to a book by Jeff Brown called, Flat Stanley. Our classroom project is to send Flat to a friend or family member so that we can learn about the many places he has visited. This is a yearlong project, but please make sure to send Flat in the mail soon if you haven't done so already. If you have more than one person that you wish to send Flat to, please let me know and I can send home another one. Students will also learn how to read a map using a map key and become familiar with landforms such as mountains, lakes, plains, etc.
October:
Reading: Guided Reading groups will begin this week. Students will be reading for information and learning to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. We're off to a great start during Daily 5 and rotating nicely through all components; Read to Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Word Work and Listening. They continue to learn the I PICK strategy when choosing a good fit book and will bring home their Good Fit book soon. We will also be practicing different strategies that will help us tackle tricky words.
Letterland: Who's Who in Letterland (This link will tell you all about our letterland friends we are learning about this year and the sounds each produce).
This month students will be learning about the rhyme patterns, -ug, -un, and -ut and the suffix -s with its two sounds: /s/ and /z/. In unit 7 they will learn a new way of sorting, by vowel sound, using all 5 short vowels. The digraph ch is introduced and the spelling pair qu. In unit 8, students learn the Letterland story of why y is a single vowel on the end of short words and says /i/ as in my and why. The “vowel men at the end” are also introduced. Students learn that when a 2 or 3 letter word has one vowel at the end, the vowel almost always says its name. In unit 9, the students focus on the sound of a in -all and will review short vowels a, e, and i.
Mechanics: In the month of October, we will be identifying words that are common nouns. We will also practice the correct usage of punctuation.
Writing: Writing for Readers is the second unit of first grade. During Writer's Workshop, students will continue to write small moment stories while learning to utilize writing conventions within their writing. They are learning to ask themselves questions as they write such as; Who is in my story?, Where does my story take place? and What else happened in my story?
Math: Students will continue to learn addition and subtraction strategies. They are using different strategies for addition and subtraction to solve word problems and equations, including circle drawings, “counting on”, math mountains, “think addition”, crossing out circles, number lines, counting backward, and “make a ten”. We can find a missing number in an addition or subtraction problem using these strategies. Please use the link below to learn more about our math standards and to watch videos of the different strategies your child is learning about.
Math Unit: Addition and Subtraction within 20
Math Unit: Addition and subtraction within 20 (Spanish)
April
Letterland: The following units will be covered in April: ew, ue, ui. In some spelling words the sound is Mr. U's name (you) as in few, and in other words the sound is the sound of oo in zoo as in blue and fruit. Children will also learn that y can represent long e at the end of words. They will also learn the sounds for the suffix -ed ((d), (t) and (ed). Please continue to review these units weekly as they will be assessed on their words every 3 weeks. They should be able to apply these words and spell them correctly into their writing as well.
Reading: Students will identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (illustrations, descriptions, etc). They will also identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Writing: We are continuing our unit of study on Authors as Mentors. We have learned about Dr. Seuss, Robert Munsch (50 Below Zero) and Audrey Wood (Silly Sally). We will also learn about Mo Willems ( Don't Let the Pigeon Stay up Late), Kevin Henkes (Owen) and Laura Numeroff (If you Give a Mouse a cookie). Please ask your child about these authors.
Students will be reading Informational (non-fiction) text to identify text features (captions, headings, table of contents, glossaries, photographs, etc.) to locate key facts. They will explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, and identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.