Dear Parents, January 5, 2015
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the new year!
This week in first grade, we are learning…
Language Arts: We will be jumping right in with Theme 5 (Home Sweet Home)! Our reading strategy is questioning and the comprehension skill that will help us with that strategy is compare and contrast. We will practice this skill using a Venn diagram. Our phonics focus is on the consonant digraphs, th, wh, sh, ch, and tch. We will also review triple clusters and the short sound of /u/. Our grammar focus is on exclamatory sentences – sentences that express strong emotion and end with an exclamation point.
At this point in the year, I am requesting that the students begin to record their own reading on the reading log. I would like for them to write all that is needed, excluding your signature of course! This will help us greatly with our writing skills.
As a reminder, all students are tested on their sight words once a week. Students are to know the words by sight within 3 seconds. I am challenging the students by asking the students to use each word in a sentence. This helps with building our reading comprehension. As always, your student receives a new packet only if all words are mastered, this includes knowing the assigned words within 3 seconds and using the word correctly in a sentence.
Spelling: Our spelling words are from unit 19 and concentrate on the digraphs th (that, then) and wh (whip, when). This is the first week with the jump to ten basic words and two challenge words. This means a couple of things! 1) Spelling tests will be graded on correct formation of letters. For example the reversals of letters b/d, p/q will be marked wrong and letters that are capitalized when not needed will be marked wrong. 2) We will begin “7 sentences” for homework on Wednesdays. This homework is to be completed in the students spelling journal (as Rainbow Write 2x is completed). Students are to select 5 basic words and both challenge words for a total of 7 words. They are then to create a sentence with each of the selected words they chose and write it neatly in their Spelling Journal.
Math: We will be taking the first day back to review the content that we learned before break and then we will push forward. We will be focusing on comparing and solving number stories.
Religion: We will be reading from our textbook this week and discussing the birth of Jesus.
Science: In science we will begin a new chapter on environments. This week we will be previewing the vocabulary.
Social Studies: In social studies we will be addressing a new chapter with the focus of living in a community!
Homework for the Week:
- Monday: Rainbow Write 2X
- Tuesday: Math Worksheet and Spelling p. 143-144
- Wednesday: Math Worksheet 1.7.15 and 7 Sentences (see directions above)
- Thursday: Math Worksheet and Spelling p. 146
- Friday: Read two times!
Reminders for the Week:
- PE Uniforms on Tuesday and Thursday!
- Please remind your child to bring their library book on Tuesday so that they may check out a new one.
- Friday is a full day.
Upcoming Events:
- Schoolwide centers is on January 16th – If you would like to volunteer please email me at firstgrade@sacredheartschoolventura.org
- No School on January 19th
Have a wonderful week back!!
Ms. Manning
