Mrs. Nathan's 1st Grade Class

Week of February 25th

THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY TREATS! I had a great day!

Language Arts: this week we will read Frog and Toad Together; the genre is animal fantasy. We will be focusing on the author's purpose: why did the author write the piece? Was it to entertain, persuade, or inform /teach? The spelling patterns this week are endings -ed, -ing and doubling the final consonant as well as r-controlled -ar.

Math: we will continue working on doubles this week and making 10.

Social Studies: we will wrap up our study on Presidents Lincoln and Washington

PYP: we started a new planner last week entitled How the World Works. The central idea is science helps us understand changes in our world. The lines of inquiry are: properties of solids, liquids, and gases; changes in the states of matter; causes and effects of changes in matter.

The kids really enjoyed going to watch the Trail Riders! Enjoy the photos:
As a break from "grades" we made decorated western 'hats' before heading off to see the Trail Riders.

Waiting for the Trail Riders!

Language Arts: this week we will read Life in the Forest. The genre is expository text and we will be working on authors' purpose. The spelling pattern this week is long u spelled u_e, long e spelled e_e, and inflected ending -ed as in jumped, wanted, and poured.

Math: we will finish comparing numbers and begin working on $money$. We have been working on Calendar Math since December and the kids have gotten so creative in the different ways they show the number of the day (date).

Science: the kids had a great time recording the temperature last week. We have one more day to record. We used WeatherBug as our source but when one of the kids asked how we knew that temperature reading was correct, it prompted our on observation: we hung thermometers on a tree by the First Grade wing. It was a great way to evaluate the accuracy of WeatherBug and also to hypothesize why they might be different.

PYP: we will continue working on How We Organize Ourselves.

The central idea is Interactions throughout communities reflect the cultures of the world. The lines of inquiry are: similar and different needs and wants around the world; roles and responsibilities of a community's members; resources of different cultures.

Miscellaneous:
1. Bash Basket donations can be dropped off in the classroom, the deadline was extended through Jan. 25th
2. I will be at a PYP planning meeting, on campus, the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 23rd.
3. Early Dismissal (12:30) is scheduled for Wednesday, January 30th.

Week of January 14th

Report cards were sent home on Friday. Please sign and return. I will send you a copy home once I receive the signed one.

Language Arts: this week we will read The Big Circle, the genre is fiction. We will be working on story sequencing. The spelling pattern this week is long o spelled o_e, and contractions.

Math: we will continue comparing and ordering numbers and also using the hundred chart

Science: we will working on seasons and weather

PYP: we will begin working on a new planner this week: How We Organize Ourselves. The central idea is Interactions throughout communities reflect the cultures of the world. The lines of inquiry are: similar and different needs and wants around the world; roles and responsibilities of a community's members; resources of different cultures.

Miscellaneous:
1. I wanted to let you all know that Mohammad has returned to his country, he was here for only a short while; we also got a new student, her name is Jood, please welcome her when you get a chance.
2. I will be conducting the TPRI (Texas Primary Reading Inventory) with each student over the next two weeks.

Happy New Year!!!!

Wow! I can't believe two entire weeks went by soooo fast!

Language Arts: this week we will focus on special titles like Officer, President, and Mayor. We will read Who Works Here? The genre is Expository Text which tells about real people and events. The spelling pattern this week is long i spelled i_e, and consonant digraphs ch and tch.

Math: we will work on more and less than a number and also comparing and ordering numbers.

LDC: we will have a one week rotation

PYP: we will be wrapping up our planner this week. I am looking forward to seeing the school maps created by the kids, they are due on Friday, January 11th.

Miscellaneous:
a. Reports cards go home on Friday
b. I am sad to inform you that Ethan's last day at Twain was Dec. 21st. He will now attend the same school as his sister. I am very happy for the family but know that we will miss him! They have promised to visit :)

Week of Dec. 17th

This is a follow-up to my email regarding this week.

As you already know, there is no homework this week, yeah! We will be reviewing some things, introducing a few new activities, and working away on our planner. This morning we worked on an activity and as we worked on it, the kids came up with things to add to it. Gotta love that they take the ownership!!!

Tomorrow is Pajama Day. If your child is not comfortable wearing PJs all day please send a change of clothes. We talked about it this afternoon :)

We do have several extra activities planned this week but we are really trying to keep learning all the way through Friday. I can't believe the semester is over already, it has flown by!

Thank you for all the snacks for Field Day, we enjoyed some in between events and the rest during lunch in our classroom. Enjoy some pictures.