We Can Make a Claim!

Classroom News

Reading: Students continued learning about the author’s purpose and making a claim to support that purpose.  Our week centered around informative books.  We selected and read books which taught facts.  A student favorite of the week was a book entitled Pop!  This book taught students about the history of bubble gum.  Kids were entertained by the book and also learned new information.  Then, we cited evidence from the text supporting our claim of reading an informative book.  The evidence we cited was in written form.  We are doing a great job with making a claim!

Math: Students continued preparing for second grade math by adding double digits and learning about repeated addition.  We also continued to practice counting mixed coins.

Grammar: First grade has mastered using the art of pronouns!

What We’re Learning Next Week:

Reading: We will spend our final week in school making a claim to support the author’s purpose.  This time the selections will be mixed.  Students will read a variety of books on persuasion as well as informative and entertaining books.  Just like last week, students will read a selection, identify the author’s purpose and make a claim using evidence from the text. 

Math: We will continue to spend time on money while also preparing for second grade math.

Grammar: Students will be reviewing topics taught throughout the year.

Phonemic Awareness:

Students will spend time reviewing sounds and vowel combinations taught throughout the year.

Non Fiction Text Features and Life Cycles

Reading: Our knowledge of life cycles certainly has heightened as we spent another week on this topic.  We really enjoyed learning about turtles, apes, and chickens.  We continued to identify text features and visual features.  These informative features really help us learn more about the topic we are reading about.  When reading a nonfiction selection at home or at the library, please have your child point out any text and/or visual features.   

Math: Students began learning about money.  We introduced the penny and nickel.  We spent time identifying these coins, counting these mixed coins, and making change.  This is challenging to many students so please do your best to practice at home.  We also began to prepare for second grade math.  We took first grade topics and really advanced the skill level.  For example, we returned to the topic of place value but increased our numbers to over 100!  Way to go first graders.  We also worked on greater than and less than with numbers over 100.

Grammar: Students did well learning about pronouns for girls (she), boys (he), things (it), and groups (we).

What We’re Learning Next Week:

Reading: Next week we learn about making a claim to support the author’s purpose.  Students are already familiar with author’s purpose (persuade, inform, and entertain).  This may sound like a mature goal and subject but keep in mind we will read selections about persuasion and discuss what the author is trying to persuade us to do or to think.  We will practice this with many fiction books.  We will use the text to support our claim and prove it.

Math: Our study of money will continue.  Students will learn about a dime and a quarter.  We will also continue to prepare for second grade by advancing our first grade skills.  We will continue with place value and learn about addition and subtraction function tables.

Grammar: Pronouns will continue for another week.  We will focus on the the pronouns I and me which will take the place of a name.  Use I in the subject of the sentence.  Use me after an action verb.

Ex. I invent things.

      My friend Kim helps me.

                         

Phonemic Awareness:

The letters aw  and au can stand for the vowel sound in ball.

The letters ea can stand for the short e sound or the long e sound.  The context provides the clue to the pronunciation.

Important Dates:

ABC Schedule

5/19 No Homework Day

5/20 Once Upon a Time

5/21 Picnic Day: bring a blanket!

5/22 Fun Day!

5/23 Read Outside Day