We've certainly had some interesting weather this winter!  I hope you've stayed warm and been able to enjoy the snow! 

Valentine Projects went home last week.  This is a big task for your child to complete.  Please help your child organize his/her time so that the project is manageable.  The project is due on Monday, February 10th.  Please send me an email if you have any questions.

Here's what we were working on in the classroom last week:

Reading : Last week we started talking about text-to-self connections.  A text-to-self connection is when a book reminds the reader about something that has happened in his/her life.  When reading with your child, ask your child if the book reminds him/her about anything.  This week, we'll start talking about making sure the students' connections are meaningful and lead to deeper understanding, but for right now, any connection is great!

Word Study : We learned all about our first long vowel last week - the long a.  Since it was a short week, the students haven't completely mastered it yet, but they'll get a firmer grasp on long vowel patterns over the next few weeks.

Writing : The students' how-to books are done!  Last week, the students worked on getting their pieces ready for publishing.  They used a checklist to make sure that their piece included all of the important parts of a how to.  Of course, they also edited their writing to make sure that it made sense and was easy to read.  The students will be sharing their pieces with a kindergarten class this week!

Math : Last week we finished up unit 4.  This week, we'll be started unit 5.  Unit 5 will introduce the students to place value.

Science : We wrapped up our unit on space last week by talking about solar and lunar eclipses.  Next, we're moving on to a social studies unit all about Mexico!

Here are some pictures of the students playing a new math game - The Digit Game :

Last week was a relatively 'normal' week in 1-Bu, which was nice to have.  We went to the Discovery Lab on Friday to learn a little bit more about the moon phases that we had learned about in science earlier in the week.

Please remember that there is no school on Monday, January 20th.

Here's what we were working on in the classroom last week:

Reading : Last week was all about schema.  By now, your child should be able to tell you what schema is.  (Schema is your background knowledge about something, or as we say it in 1-Bu 'what you know.')  Before, and while, reading a book, it is important that you activate your schema about the topic of the book.  This will lead to a much deeper understanding of the book.  When you have schema about the topic of a book, you will understand the book much better than when you read a book that you don't have a lot of prior schema about. 

In class, we read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.  Before reading the book, we activated our schema about snowy days.  We talked about how the weather is cold, you can have snowball fights, sometimes you're off school, you can build snowmen, etc.  Then, we read the book.  Afterwards, we spoke about how much deeper of an understanding we had about the story because of all the schema we had about snow.  If someone read that book who had never experienced snow, he/she would not understand it as well as the members of 1-Bu.

Word Study : We continued talking about different kinds of blends last week.  We also did a quick review of all the short vowels because next week we'll be starting long vowels.

Writing : The students' how-to books are almost done! They have been having a lot of fun with this writing unit.  Last week, the students worked on adding details to their how-to pieces by adding in size words, number words, and arrows.  They also added warnings, which they seemed to enjoy.  Ask your child what his/her warning says.

Math : Math facts were the main focus in math last week.  While I don't expect the students to have their math facts memorized at this point, we started talking about developing 'fact power.'  Fact power is when you know your math facts in a snap.  As the students progress through first grade, the goal is that math facts become more and more automatic.  Playing math games like Addition Top It will help the students become more familiar with their math facts.

Science : The students learned all about the moon's phases this week.  If you haven't done so already, have your child look up at the moon every few nights and discuss the changes.  After a few nights, your child should be able to tell you if the moon is waxing (i.e. the lighted side is getting bigger) or it is waning (i.e. the lighted side is getting smaller).  The students should also be able to tell you if it's a new moon, half moon, crescent moon, or full moon.

Sorry, no pictures from 1-Bu this week! 

We all survived the polar vortex last week!  Even with the cold weather outside, we had a very eventful first full week back from winter break.  The most exciting part of last week was that Ms. Callahan, 1-Bu's student teacher for the next five weeks, started!  The students have done a great job welcoming her to the classroom and have started to get to know her.  They're certainly enjoying the extra attention.

Also, on a sad note, one member of 1-Bu moved out of River Edge last week.  We all will miss him very much.  We had a fun dance party on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate his last day.

Here's what we were working on in the classroom last week:

Reading : We started getting our minds ready for our schema unit last week.  To get the students to take an active role in paying attention to make sure they are understanding what they are reading, we kicked off the unit by talking about 'real reading' and 'fake reading.'  Ask your child to tell you the difference between the two.  Our goal is to always be doing 'real reading.'

Word Study : Last week, we started to talk about blends.  A blend is when the sounds from two (or three) consonants are blended together.  We can see blends at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of words.  We discussed s blends (st, sn, sc, etc) and l blends (pl, bl, fl, etc) last week.

Writing : Since we've gotten back from break, we've been working on a new writing unit.  This is a non-fiction 'how to' unit.  In this unit, the students will create writing pieces that tell someone how to do something.  So far, we've all made lists of things that we are experts at (and could teach others how to do), we've written the materials (or 'you will need' page), and we've written the steps.  Ask your child what 'how to' book he/she has been working on!

Math : Last week's focus was all about measuring.  We learned about inches and feet and about how to use different measuring tools (rulers, 6-inch rulers, and tape measures) to do these measurements.

Science : In January, we've been learning all about the sun and the moon.  We'll expand upon that knowledge this week to talk about the moon's phases and solar/lunar eclipses.  If the sky is clear this week, have your child look at the moon and track the moon's phases.

Here are some pictures of 1-Bu this week:

I hope that you all enjoyed your winter break and that you are having a great new year.  Here are some pictures from the week before winter break.  Regular updates will continue next week.  Keep warm!