In writing at this time of the school year, we are working on creating journal entries and stories with two sentences in a logic order and evidence of a beginning, middle, and end with supporting details. In addition to that, we will continue to work on making the finished piece readable by adults and students alike. In the area of mechanics, students will be expected to write using beginning, some middle sounds and ending sounds, correct spacing, correct sentence structure, and periods, as well as capital letters to be used correctly.
In math, we will work on creating an understanding of the relationships between 5 and 10, using10 frames. Homework practice of quick recall in addition and subtracting facts to 20 continue to be important. Flexible grouping for math domains 1-6 has been created and is in use for the three first grade classrooms. Each topic has a test at the end of the topic. A math lesson reviewing the topic occurs the day after the last lesson for the topic; at this time the completed study guide is sent home for families wishing to review the concepts. The test occurs the next day. Each new topic has a mini book,completed in class, and a game board with highlights of the new topic on the reverseside. We play the game in class; students then take the game board home and are encouraged to play it at home with family.
In reading, we are working toward the end of the trimester's benchmark of reading at a level 8 in a Guided Reading setting. This means with teacher support a child can read a level 8 text. To reach this goal, we are working on developing independent skills such as looking at the picture for clues, recognizing chunks of words, and focusing on beginning sounds of unknown words to get ready for that word, as well as to think about what makes sense as text is read.
At this time, flexible grouping for spelling words has also been started. Currently we are on week 3. Weekly spelling tests have begun; typically, we test on Fridays.
Typically, reading homework goes home Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays. On Wednesday, math and spelling homework goes home. In our classroom, homework responsibility is the student's. Certainly, they need home support in completing it; returning homework to school is their part of the homework job. We have dialogue about this part of their responsibility as we work through the responsibility aspect of our Meroby Code.
In social studies, we talk about responsibility, respect, and kindness all year through as we work on making the Meroby Code part of our daily practice. We include homework, appropriate dressing for the weather, tying shoes, and dressing oneself as respect and responsibility topics. We also discuss people that have shaped our holidays, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., when appropriate to our calendar year.
In health, hand-washing, germs, and the "Dracula-cough" technique are part of our conversations all year long. Safety in the classroom and out of the classroom are topics of discussion as needed throughout the year.
In science, we look at life cycles of apples, pumpkins, and leaves. We talk about the current season, including changes and characteristics of each season. Later in the year, we will visit the Gray Animal Park and incorporate Maine animal characteristics in a unit of study.
In math, we will work on creating an understanding of the relationships between 5 and 10, using10 frames. Homework practice of quick recall in addition and subtracting facts to 20 continue to be important. Flexible grouping for math domains 1-6 has been created and is in use for the three first grade classrooms. Each topic has a test at the end of the topic. A math lesson reviewing the topic occurs the day after the last lesson for the topic; at this time the completed study guide is sent home for families wishing to review the concepts. The test occurs the next day. Each new topic has a mini book,completed in class, and a game board with highlights of the new topic on the reverseside. We play the game in class; students then take the game board home and are encouraged to play it at home with family.
In reading, we are working toward the end of the trimester's benchmark of reading at a level 8 in a Guided Reading setting. This means with teacher support a child can read a level 8 text. To reach this goal, we are working on developing independent skills such as looking at the picture for clues, recognizing chunks of words, and focusing on beginning sounds of unknown words to get ready for that word, as well as to think about what makes sense as text is read.
At this time, flexible grouping for spelling words has also been started. Currently we are on week 3. Weekly spelling tests have begun; typically, we test on Fridays.
Typically, reading homework goes home Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays. On Wednesday, math and spelling homework goes home. In our classroom, homework responsibility is the student's. Certainly, they need home support in completing it; returning homework to school is their part of the homework job. We have dialogue about this part of their responsibility as we work through the responsibility aspect of our Meroby Code.
In social studies, we talk about responsibility, respect, and kindness all year through as we work on making the Meroby Code part of our daily practice. We include homework, appropriate dressing for the weather, tying shoes, and dressing oneself as respect and responsibility topics. We also discuss people that have shaped our holidays, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., when appropriate to our calendar year.
In health, hand-washing, germs, and the "Dracula-cough" technique are part of our conversations all year long. Safety in the classroom and out of the classroom are topics of discussion as needed throughout the year.
In science, we look at life cycles of apples, pumpkins, and leaves. We talk about the current season, including changes and characteristics of each season. Later in the year, we will visit the Gray Animal Park and incorporate Maine animal characteristics in a unit of study.