Jory Jon Read Aloud Links

 The Cool Bean

The Bad Seed

The Good Egg

The Week of Nov. 14

 

Upcoming Events 

Thank you to all of the  First and Second Grade families who donated stuffing for our Thanksgiving baskets :)

Thanksgiving Break 

Nov. 23-25

Winter Sports Student Sign Up Deadline

Dec. 2 

Please be sure your student has picked and signed up for their winter sport by Dec. 2. If you need another form, please let me know and I will send another one home. If students have not returned their form by Dec 2. they will be assigned to a group. 

Trimester I Ends 

Nov. 22

Report Cards Go Home

Dec. 9

Winter Concert 

Dec. 14 @ 5:30

Students will meet in our room  at 5:15 . They can leave their coats and boots in the classroom and return after the concert to get them.

First Grade Math 

This week, we wrapped up Unit 2! We have learned important strategies for adding and subtracting single-digit numbers.

Here are the strategies we focused on:

counting on, combining small groups of numbers with larger numbers, building from known facts, using doubles facts to solve other addition problems, counting by 5s and 10s, commutative property.

Students continue to work with fractions and telling time to the hour on both analog and digital clocks.

We will begin Unit 3 when we return from Thanksgiving break. Click on the link below to learn more!

First Grade Unit 3 Unit Overview

Big Buddies/ Little Buddies 

For the past few weeks, we have been planning for, and creating some beautiful turkeys! Students focused on gratitude and thankfulness and brainstormed a list of things, people or places they are grateful for. Together the Big and Little Buddies, created these colorful turkeys with something they are grateful for written on each feather. 

Readers Workshop

In reading, the first and second graders continue to work on Getting Super Smart about Reading Nonfiction Texts! This week, we reviewed important decoding strategies students can use when they come across an unknown word. Students reviewed our Kind and Helpful Partner Agreements, and worked to improve their reading partner relationships. Next week, we will finish up our study of fiction texts with a fun story elements project based on our study of Jory Jon's book The Cool Bean. 

Writers' Workshop

In writing, we are working hard to complete our "fancy copies" of our favorite small moments stories. Students worked hard to fix-up and revise their stories. Students are working on adding detailed illustrations and writing in their best handwriting. In Dec. we will invite First and Second Grade Families into school for a special writing celebration! 

A note on publishing... 

Current best practice around student publishing and editing is that teachers work together with a child to enhance writing. We work together to target age appropriate spelling, use of capitalization and punctuation, handwriting skills, and overarching goals we have learned about.

 We don't fix every single word, grammar/usage and mechanics error that would be only significant to a highly experienced  writer.  You will see that your child may still have misspelled words and/or other errors in their book. Please remember we are celebrating our children's hard work, growth and developmental stage. 

The Week of Oct. 31

 

Silly Soccer/ Morning Choice Time

Upcoming Events

Special Share Days Begin Monday 11/7

Share Day Schedule 2022-2023

Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Nov. 8-10 

I still have a few times available! Please contact Ms. Stephanie in the office to schedule a conference. 

Teacher In-Service/ No School 

Nov. 11

School Picture Retake Day

Nov. 15

Thanksgiving Break 

Nov. 23-25

First Grade Math 

This week in math, we worked on using our addition and subtraction knowledge to write equations. We learned the part, part whole model and solved many equations using this knowledge. Students used the smartboard to write equations, and later in the week we worked in flip books to write and solve equations. 

Number Corner

In Number Corner, we are learning about fractions. Students are learning to name and identify a whole, half and fourth. We are also learning to identify analog and digital clocks and tell time to the hour. 

Math Menu 

During our Math Menu time, we have begun teacher station! Ms. Russin and I are beginning small group instruction. Every 2-3 weeks, we form flexible groups based on student need and readjust as needed. Students continue to work independently at cooperative math games, problem solvers and journal writing.  Here are two fun counting games we have been playing on our computers. Click on the links below to play at home. 

Bubble Pop

Birthday Cake Counting

Readers' Workshop

In reading, the first and second graders began a new unit of study on reading nonfiction texts. Students are learning important parts of nonfiction texts (table of contents, page headings, and labels). In the coming weeks, we will begin learning important word solving skills that will help us read unknown words. 

Big Buddies/Little Buddies

This week, we played games together! Students enjoyed playing their favorite board games, building with LEGOS and sharing fun math games together. 

Writers' Workshop

In writing, the first and second graders are continuing to work on their small moment stories. This week, we built up our writing stamina, learned what to do when we finish a story and practiced strategies that help bring our stories to life. Students enjoyed adding speech bubbles to their stories!

CLiF Presentation with Mr. McDougall

https://clifonline.org/

to check out more click on this link. 

On Friday, the WES students were visited by Duncan McDougall the executive director of the Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF). He presented our school with some excellent new books, while inspiring WES children to visit the town library to explore their fantastic new book collection. Thank you to the Waterville Library trustees for visiting our school and building our community's  love of books!