Community project

Check out this model of Hubbard Park!  For November's home school connection (optional for families) students had an opportunity to learn more about a place in our community.  We loved learning how this student used materials from Hubbard Park to create the model  - and how this place is special to his family.  We are also learning about the fire station this week from another friend!  If you would still like to participate in this project, feel free - you can have your child bring it it whenever works for you! 

Word Detectives

Word Detectives have been voraciously tackling new and challenging words in their just right books. Students have learned a variety of strategies, from looking at beginning and endings to learning about vowel teams in words. As they add new strategies to their toolbox, students are able to tackle more challenging text and make improvements in their accuracy and fluency. I am so proud of our first graders and the progress they are making. Thank you so much for continuing to support your child at home. Take a closer look at these strategies your child has used (click on pictures) and watch them use them as they read to you at home. Hope you are having as much fun as I am watching them progress into readers!

Have you heard about the "Super Secret Detective Agency?"  If not, be sure to inquire with your readers what the confidential envelope is all about that appeared in our room!  What has this agency challenged first grade readers to do?   It has been so fun learning how to be a word detective in first grade! 

Snap Words

Each week, four new words are introduced to first graders. On Monday, students begin practicing to read and write these high frequency words - that sometimes are "trick words". These high frequency words range from decodable to non-decodable. All of the words appear frequently in student's independent reading books. Your child is expected to know how to read and spell ALL of these words (and more to come) by the end of the year. INQUIRE with your child what some of these words are - you'll be surprised - most know them ALL! YAAAY ! You can help your child be word detectives while they read at home - have them point out these words in the books that come home in the ziplock bag.   Reading them is easy - but how about writing them?  A task that certainly takes more practice!

Nonfiction Writing

Since the introduction of our new writing unit - nonfiction writing - I am amazed at the eagerness of this group of students.  Not just during writing time are these kids taking out their writing folders - but they are choosing to do it during any free moment of their day.  Students have been immersed in learning how to write teaching books and have been LOVING it.  They are studying nonfiction texts to learn what other authors do to teach their readers.  They then go and try these techniques out in their own books.  Students are learning to elaborate and add "twin sentences" are learning strategies to spell domain specific words, and are learning how to teach someone using pictures, labels, captions, and close ups!  INQUIRE with your child what their most recent nonfiction teaching book is all about - I can't wait to share these with all of you! 

November Math Update - Fractions, Clocks, and Number Sense!

During number corner (calendar) time this month, we have been learning about time and fractions.  Children are learning how to break something into parts - or a fraction of the whole.  They are identifying 1 whole, 1/2, and 1/4.  First graders have even been introduced to adding fractions - as their enthusiasm for learning is always going above and beyond. I am amazed with the questions these kids come up with - that are often extending our learning each day.  

We are also learning about clocks- and how to tell time to the hour. We will move on to half hours later in the year. We are also trying to understand 24 hours a day, am/pm, and what time of day we do certain activities. 

We continue to count each day in school. We are so excited there are less than 50 days until day 100!  Today marks the 59th day!  Students are learning about groups of ten and ones in double digit numbers, and learning to add these together as we approach the 100th day!  We are also exploring numbers in the hundreds as we learn more about place value.  

Each day, we continue practicing ways to add and subtract.  In particular, we explore ways to add  more automatically - looking for "friendly 10's" when adding bigger numbers. This strategy has helped us mentally add numbers of increasing value.  Looking at patterns and strategies to develop fluency, without using manipulatives is a focus of 1st grade math!

Sock Sale?

Are you going to the Cabot Sock Sale in Northfield this weekend? Please consider purchasing an extra pair of wool socks for our ECO program. We are in need of warm wool socks for winter months. Bulk army surplus socks work well too! Thanks for your help in keeping young naturalists warm at ECO this winter.

Tulip Planting

This past week the first grade launched a science and beautification project here at UES.

Through the Journey North Citizen Science Tulip Test Garden Project (http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tulip/) every first grader will plant a tulip bulb, and track its growth this Spring. Students will report when their tulips emerge, track and record the rate of growth and date of blossoming to the national Journey North database. There scientists will compile data from all international test tulip garden sites to report the progression of Spring globally, and identify trends.

Classes will plant in the Park Ave. gardens in front of the school and at the UES welcome sign, as well as in the Loomis St. gardens. The 80 bulbs needed for this project were graciously donated by Montpelier Agway - thank you! First graders will be learning about what scientists do - from asking questions, to collecting data, experimenting and making observations throughout the year.  Before planting, we  looked closely at the tulip bulbs. We used our 5 senses to explore the bulb and document what we smell, feel, and see. The children also made wonder questions about the bulb - such as I wonder if it will survive the winter, I wonder what the outer covering does for the bulb.  In addition, students will looked at the cross-section of a tulip bulb and made a diagram of the inside.

INQUIRE with your child what they have learned about bulbs, where they planted their bulb, and when they think it will bloom in Vermont!  

Veterans Day Parade

On Friday, first graders will join others in our school community at the Montpelier Veterans Day Parade.  We will walk for a PORTION of the parade before returning to school.  The weather is supposed to be VERY cold, so please help your child dress appropriately for an extended time outside.  If you want to watch or even join us in our walk, please let me know!

Gary Home

Students in first grade will travel once a month or so to the Gary Home to spread kindness.  Residents of the Gary Home listened to the first graders share songs they have been learning.  As we continue to learn about our community of Montpelier, first graders are being mindful of how to spread kindness and smiles around town. INQUIRE with your first grader about their experience at the Gary Home on Tuesday.  

All Around Town

All Over Town

Optional Independent Project

As a class, we enjoyed learning about new insects and hearing friends share their learning through the insect projects you completed at home!  There was so much creativity and effort put into each project.  Thank you for your support!

We have launched a new social studies unit about community. Students have been discussing class community, school community, and have begun to visit various places in our Montpelier community.  Throughout this year long unit, students will be exploring who lives and works in their community, how people take care of themselves, and what people need to meet their needs in a community.  

We have started to travel to different places in our community and throughout the year will visit a few more.  This home connection project will give students an opportunity to explore their own special place in the community.  This project is also optional and can be done as a family or individual.

Here is what we would like to have included in the final project.  Your child can present it any way they would like, but we would like to see students demonstrate these components:

1.) Choose a place in Montpelier (State House, Sarducci’s, Hubbard Park, etc.)

2.) Make a model of the place (clay, playdough, legos, paper, cloth, foam, etc.).

3.) Label the place (name).

4.) Have at least one real photograph of the place (magazine, internet, own photograph).

5.) What happens at the place?

7.) Where is the place?

8.) Include some interesting facts about your special place in the community.  

9.) Use your imagination and have fun!

If you have any questions about this project, please send us an email!  

Have Fun!

The First Grade Team

**Please note that projects are due by November 30th, but if finished sooner, please send it in.

Scholastic Book Fair

Scholastic Book Fair

Our class will visit the Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday, November 9th.  Your child may browse or shop at this time.  If you would like your child to buy an item, please send in a labeled envelope with your child’s name and a note saying if there are any planned purchases or if they may choose what to buy.  In addition to books, there are also posters, pencils, and misc. toys available to purchase.  Students in our class will be encouraged to just purchase books UNLESS I HEAR FROM YOU OTHERWISE.  If I don’t hear from you that they CAN buy trinkets, I will encourage the purchase of books.   

Families can join us at our scheduled shopping time (8:45) or visit the book fair before or after school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Our classroom will have a wish list available at the book fair with books that would enrich our curriculum.  Please consider helping out our classroom library and donating a book.

Thank you!

Jill Closter