Friday, February 10, 2017

Weekly Wrap Up February 10th

Our class has received many compliments this week about being kind and attentive.  I'm very proud of how hard everyone is working to be responsible and take care of each other.  We filled our 16th chip bucket on Friday!

Literacy
In literacy we are continuing to read and write non-fiction text.  We are learning about text features and how to use them to improve our understanding of what we have read.  This is a class of eager readers and they are learning so many things from their reading of non-fiction books.  Some popular topics include:  animals and space.  

We will be wrapping up our non-fiction writing unit late next week with an on-demand writing prompt.  During an on-demand writing prompt, the students are asked to independently write a piece using the skills and strategies that they have learned.  For example, the students have been taught to organize their writing using a table of contents.  I would then expect most students to create a table of contents for their piece without my reminder to do so.  If you have a chance to discuss potential topics for an "All About" or teaching book with your child, it would be helpful.  I strongly encourage them to write about topics that they have personal experience with and understand well.  The topics do not need to be complicated.  Some of the most successful texts are those written about topics such as: things to do in the snow, seasons, or all about my pet.  

Math
During math time, we are working on using our addition and subtraction knowledge to solve word problems.  We are learning to solve problems multiple ways, including using concrete materials, making drawings and using numbers.  One of the crucial steps for first graders is understanding how the numbers relate to the problem and being able to explain their thinking.  We will continue to work on these skills.  

Technology
We have continued to integrate our science and technology time.  Students are currently working in collaborative groups to demonstrate their knowledge of space.  We look forward to sharing the books that they are creating at our Celebration of Learning.

Upcoming Events
Tuesday - February 14th - Valentine's Celebration and Winter Wellness
Wednesday - February 15th - I Love East Montpelier Day
Friday - February 17th - ECO