Upcoming Writing Unit

Dear Families,

We will soon be starting a new unit on opinion writing during our writer’s workshop. The students will learn to grow opinions and insights about all that matters most to them as well as learn to write their judgments and reasons for them. They will learn to write reviews of all sorts - on their favorite toy, book, movie.

To introduce this unit, we would like the students to look around their homes for something that they enjoy collecting - lego figures, stickers, balls, marbles, rocks, hats, books, etc. We have sent a bag home with your child labeled with their name, please help them find a collection of around 5 of the same type of objects to bring to school. Please have your child bring them into school no later than Friday, February 24th.

Thank you for your continued support in our first grade studies!

The First Grade Team

Reading Aloud Like an Expert

In reader's workshop this past week students have been learning to read aloud like an expert. As we head into our last bend in this nonfiction unit, students have switched roles and are now working as teacher experts. After spending a few days with a nonfiction text, reading it a few times, children have been going back into the text and marking interesting parts after reading, and looking at pictures/graphs. Students use sticky notes to write they find fascinating, what questions they have, and write important thoughts down that come to their mind. Students will use these sticky notes as they partner read with someone else to guide the book conversation. INQUIRE with your child what book they have chosen to become an expert in! As they finish up one, they move on to the next. Did you ever think your first grader would be learning to take notes?? I don't think I was taught that until college! I'm amazed at how focused the children are doing this task.

As students continue to become experts in their nonfiction text, they continue to think about the importance of rereading.  First graders can reread for a variety of reasons - INQUIRE with your child why they might reread a text.  

It would be great for first graders to continue reading at home. If you have not been seeing books come home with your child, please let me know and we can make a plan for this.

Guest Reader

We love having guest readers in our classroom - including Grandma's from Maryland! Thank you for joining us and teaching us a great lesson about making mistakes! 

Moon Phases

Have you seen this poster come home? If you haven't, take a look and go outside throughout the rest of February to check out the moon.  First graders have been learning about the moon's pattern in the sky.  INQUIRE with your child what the different phases are. Why does it go through this cycle?

NBNC

It may have been single digits last Tuesday morning, but first graders braved the cold and reached for the sun as they explored the grounds of the North Branch Nature Center.  Thank you to parent volunteers for joining us for the morning and guiding our first graders around this wonderful community space.  

Mindfulness

We continue to do a variety of mindfulness exercises throughout our day to get our bodies ready for learning. Taking a minute to breathe and focus our energy on ourselves as learners is a helpful tool for first graders.  

Snowshoe Fun!

This month, first graders are outside for PE learning how to snowshoe! 

VALENTINE’S DAY

Dear Families,


We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, February 14th. We will focus on the ways that people care for each other, and the importance of good friends.

If your child wants to bring Valentine Cards, please have your child bring them for ALL of their classmates. Please 
help your child with their Valentine’s cards. A class list with all the children’s names was sent home last week. This is a great opportunity for your child to practice writing names starting with an uppercase letter. Working on a few cards each day helps keep this activity fun.  Go ahead and start early.

· Homemade cards are great too!

·  Our school policy states that candy should not be sent to    school

Enjoy this season of love!