Choosing Good Fit Books

When a student reads a book by his or herself, it needs to be a good fit- just right for his or her reading level. 

Use the strategy below to help you and your child learn how to choose good fit books. 

Also, please note that if you are reading a book to your child, you can choose a higher level book, and I encourage you to do so. Read a variety of books to your child for fun.

Reading Packets

Dear Parents,

I am so excited to begin sending home reading packets. These packets will include sight words, a leveled book, reading strategy work, and a reading log, as well as other activities specifically made for your child. Each child will have different materials sent home in their manilla folder. This is their reading packet.

Please have your child bring this packet with everything in it to school every day.

We will use these in class, and they will be given new books to take home.

If a book is lost, you will be responsible for paying for a new book. Please help your child to take care of their materials, and keep their books safe.

I suggest that your child reads his or her book each day, or for 10-20 minutes. I also suggest that your child practices reading and writing the sight words given to them. Their words are on a list in the packet, as well as on notecards.

Thank you for all you do,

Ms. Minnerick

Symbols Poster Project

Symbols Poster Project

Due Date: October 7^th

This coming week we will be learning about the symbols of our state and country. Each student will be required to make a poster showing the American flag, Texas flag, the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, and the Alamo. 

Students may use pictures or drawings for each item. A short sentence describing the meaning of each symbol also needs to be included. 

This poster does not need to be elaborate, but we would like to see your child’s work. Examples are included on the document sent home today.

Thank you for partnering with us for your child’s education.

Our Reading Strategies: Flippy Dolphin

Our class has read and discussed the book, The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper. (I highly recommend getting a copy to read aloud to your child over and over.)

The Little Engine is an example of not giving up, and the power of believing in ourselves. Students know not to give up when it comes to reading a word. They know that good readers have good habits, also called Reading Strategies, for solving hard words. They know to stay positive. They tell themselves, "I Think I can. I think I can." They try their strategies for solving hard words.They really can do it! They have strategies! Encourage your child when they get to a tricky part, and say, "I think you can!"

Be patient, and always, keep reading fun! 

One of our reading strategies that we use when reading a book  is called "Flippy Dolphin." It's also called "Try it 2 Ways."

This strategy helps us to figure out how to read a tricky or hard word, by trying saying the sound of a vowel in a different way. One sound is called a short vowel, the other is called a long vowel. 

For example, in "cane" and "can" the vowel sound "a" is pronounced in different ways. So if a student was reading  a book and the sentence said, "The man with the hurt foot was using his cane to walk", but your child reads it as, "The man with the hurt foot was using his can to walk", we want your child to ask himself, "Does it make sense?", and if not, try saying the vowel sound, or other "chunks" (see our Chunky Monkey Reading Strategy, and see image below) in a different way. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Flippy-Dolphin-Anchor-Chart-1306252

You can download and print this document for FREE at Teachers Pay Teachers. I highly encourage you to make an account so that you can download all the resources I share on this website. It's simple and free, and oh so helpful for our kiddos!

Watch this short video to see "Flippy the Dolphin" in action:

Flippy Dolphin Example Video

You can sing this song to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know it", to help your child remember this strategy.

You can print this for free: Flippy Dolphin Song Sheet

We use Reading Strategies Bookmarks during independent reading time in class. This  help us to remember all the things we can try to figure out how to read a tricky word. I plan on sending each child home with a Reading Strategies bookmark. 

You can learn all about the strategies and download free Reading Strategy Bookmarks here: Reading Strategies Posters and Bookmarks, By Growing Firsties

Math: Skip Counting

This week in Math, we are focusing on skip counting. We will learn to skip count by 2's, 5's, and 10's up to 120. We will also be able to skip count starting from any given number.

Videos for Kids:
Counting by 2's

Count by 2's and Dance

COUNT BY 2'S TO 120

Counting by 5's 

Count by 5's to 120

School House Rock Counting by 5's

Counting by 10's


Counting  by 10's Song

Essential Questions:

• How can I skip count by 2's? Start at 0 and count on two more . . .
• How can I skip count by 5's? Start at 0 and count on 5 more. . . 
• How can I skip count by 10's? Start at 0 and count on 10 more
• How can I skip count if I start from any given number?
• Can I skip count by 2's from any given number?
• Can I skip count by 5's from any given number?
• Can I skip count by 10's from any given number?

Use a 120 chart with your child, and have them place candy or small toys on the numbers as they count by 2's, 5's, or 10's. More ideas are below. 

You can download this 120 chart and idea sheet for free here: 

Ship Shape First Grade: Math Freebie

Writing: Nouns

You can help your child notice nouns all around. They can make lists of their favorite noun-things, favorite noun-people, and favorite noun-places They can also circle or highlight nouns in sentences.

Videos for Kids:
The Noun Song

How to Help Your Child in Reading and Math

For Fiction

For Non-Fiction

Math Games

Our wonderful Math Specialist, Angela Talbert, has created a list of recommended games for your kiddo to play that help teach first grade math concepts:

Doubles game: http://www.ictgames.com/bridgedoubles.html

Making 10 game: http://www.primarygames.com/math/mathlines/

Bonds of 10 game: http://www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html

Number track 1-2 digit number ordering: http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2numeracy-properties-and-ordering.html

Shark numbers place value blocks: http://www.ictgames.com/sharkNumbers/sharkNumbers_v5.html

Counting, subitizing , number identification: http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=3528

About Words Their Way: At Home Practice

Words Their Way Begins Today

ABOUT WORDS THEIR WAY

Words Their Way is a new approach to teaching spelling that allows students to learn words at their individual level of instruction and teaches them how words work. Students will take a diagnostic spelling assessment (for which they do not study) to determine their spelling level at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. After looking at what students know about spelling, we have put them into spelling groups at their developmental levels. Each group will have a different spelling word sort.

By studying these word sorts, students will learn to sort, compare and contrast word features in each category, make discoveries, become more fluent readers, and increase their vocabulary through word meanings. Students move through weekly word study patterns by doing in class activities, homework and ending the week with a word sort test on Fridays.

WHAT IS A WORD STUDY?

Word study is a study of words features. Students lists will be on a word study PATTERN (example – the study of the long “u” sound in “u_e”, “ew”, or “ue” or how adding the suffix “-ful” or “-less” changes a word’s meaning). The quiz on Fridays will be on the pattern from that week using some of their words from each student’s sort and some additional words that were not on their sort, but fit the pattern they were studying.

WHY A "WORD STUDY" INSTEAD OF A "TRADITIONAL" SPELLING PROGRAM?

Research studies indicate that memorization of lists of "spelling words" does not promote the development of spelling skills. In the past when we’ve used this traditional approach, many students who received a 100% on their spelling test could not spell most of the words in their writing! Memorizing a list of words and getting 100% on weekly tests does not necessarily mean a child is a good speller. It may just mean they are good at memorizing words for a test. Using the Words Their Way word study program also allows us to work at each student’s individual level rather than using a “one size fits all” spelling list.

WHAT DOES THE HOMEWORK LOOK LIKE?

Homework will consist of spelling sorts and other activities Monday through Thursday. Students will receive new sorts every Monday. Tests will be on Friday. It is highly encouraged to get a composition notebook to use as your Words Their Way notebook. A sample homework routine and activity suggestions will be sent home. Please don’t lose this information as it will be only sent home with the initial word sort. Homework activities are a personal choice and will not need to be turned in.

Words Their Way Homework Activities

Speed Sorts: Sort your words and time yourself. Re-sort and time again to see if you can beat your best time.

Brainstorm: Sort again and write your sort down. Add other words (not from your weekly list, but words you can think of, or from a dictionary, book, magazine, etc) that fit in the sort.

            Examples:   WH Words

                         which, when, who, where                  Add in: whether, whopping

Word-O: Take a word from your sorting list and make a new word by changing one letter.

            Examples: tub à cub              take à cake                why à who         

       

Open Sort: Sort your words in a new and different way. Write down your new headings and sorts.

            Example: First sort in alphabetical order and then by the number of syllables.

Word Hunt: Look for new words that fit into sorting categories from books or stories you are reading. Write the title and author of the book or story with your sort.

Blind Sort: Two to three people required, so try with mom or dad or a sibling! The goal is to get the most cards. With your partner(s) take turns being the Caller and the Writer. The Caller says each word aloud without letting the other person see the word. The Writer writes the word in his/her notebook. The Writer keeps the card of any word he/she spells correctly. If the spelling is not correct the Caller keeps the card. The person with the most cards at the end of the round wins.

Write Sentences: Write sentences using words from your sort. Please limit each sentence to a maximum of 1 or 2 WTW words. Your sentences must prove that you understand what the WTW word means. (Don’t forget proper sentence structure: capitalizations, spaces between words, punctuation)

Picture Dictionary: When you find an interesting or exciting new word use an index card to create an illustrated dictionary for yourself. Write the word and its part of speech. Then write a definition of the word and a sentence that uses the word correctly. On the back, draw a picture to illustrate the sentence. Collect all your cards to make your own picture dictionary.

Videos/Song: Search youtube for songs and videos that help teach the particular skill you are working on for the week.

Writing Sort: Place the words in the correct category and then spell them correctly. Don’t just spell them once, try two .. three.. or four times!

Search online for different Words Their Way & Spelling activities. Create your own! Share J  

Reading: Making and Confirming Predictions

In Reading, we have been learning that readers have good habits. Things they do without having to be reminded to do them. One of those good habits is making predictions. Good readers predict what the book they have is going to be about by looking at clues such as the title and pictures. Last week, we learned how to make predictions before and while reading fiction books. This week, we are learning to make and confirm predictions while reading Non-Fiction texts.

Making and Confirming Predictions in Non-Fiction Texts

Essential Questions/Question Stems:

*The reader can tell that __ (prediction stated) because – 

*The reader can tell that __ (prediction not stated) because –

*How can/did my prediction help me understand what I am reading?

*How can I make predictions while reading?

*What parts of a nonfiction book can help us to make predictions?

At Home Practice: 

Choose a non-fiction book that peaks your child's interest, and is on their reading level. 
List of Non-Fiction Books:
http://commoncore.scholastic.com/teachers/books/non-fiction

Explain that one characteristic of informational books is that they have nonfiction text features. Use a nonfiction book to briefly go over some of the nonfiction text features: headings, photographs, table of contents, diagrams, labels, etc. For this activity to be effective, the text needs to have plenty of text features for the reader to use. Example: Read a bold heading and use the information in the heading to make a prediction about what a page/section will be about. Provide your child with a variety of non-fiction, good-fit books for them to practice making and confirming predictions while doing independent reading.

Answer: Labels

Videos for Kids:

Fiction Vs. Nonfiction:

v=7RRPqkPnRl8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RRPqkPnRl8

Science: Identify and Describe Different Forms of Energy

In Science, students are learning to identify and describe the different forms of energy such as light, heat, and sound.

Essential Questions:

What types of energy does an alarm clock make?  The alarm clock makes sound energy when it ticks and/or beeps.

What types of energy does a hair dyer make? The hair dryer demonstrates heat energy first, perhaps light energy with the red-hot coils, and sound energy as it blows air from the hair dryer fan.

Vocabulary:

Energy: The ability to do work

Heat

Light 

Sound

Lead students to understanding with the following questions:

When we use a flashlight, what types of energy can be seen?

What other tools produce this type of energy?

What are some ways that light energy is useful?

How would our lives be different if we did not have ways to produce light?

Videos for Kids on Energy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyVF6R9e6xE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUa7I7D_myU

Charts to Help with Reading

Hello Parents,

This chart can be helpful to have your child review before reading and during reading.

You can download a copy for free here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blend-and-Digraph-Chart-FREE-139048

You can consider having it color-printed and laminated.

It is important that your child reads for at least 60 minutes a week. Be sure that the book your child is reading is a good fit for him or her.

Thank you for all that you do!

Creating Numbers that are Greater or Less Than

In Math, students are learning to generate a number that is greater than or less than a given whole number up to 120.

Essential Questions:

What does greater than mean? What does less than mean?

How do you read a greater or less than problem (5 is less than 6)? You read the left number first.

Do you see patterns in greater or less than problems?

Videos for Kids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzf1-bGNLW4

At Home Practice:
Have your child roll two dice and write down the first total number. Then, have them draw a square box for the greater than, less than, or equal to sign to go. Next, have them roll the dice a second time, and write that number to the side of the empty box. Finally, have your child fill in the greater than, less than, or equal to sign in the box. For a greater challenge, if your child is ready for it, have him roll the dice more times to make larger numbers to compare. You can use a whiteboard. Here is an example of what we are aiming for:

You can roll dice or use this dice website: http://www.curriculumbits.com/prodimages/details/maths/doubledice.html

Practice Sentence Writing

In writing, students are learning to create complete sentences that use correct capitalization, appropriate spacing between words, and correct punctuation. It is important that students re-read what they write, pointing to the words as they are reading. This way, they can notice if what they wrote doesn't make sense. Have your child read out loud what they wrote. In class, we like to giggle about our bloopers! :)

Have your child check this checklist before, during, and after writing.