Reading : Last week, we spent a lot of time taking about 'real reading' vs. 'fake reading.' Real reading requires that you think about and understand the text that you are reading. Ask your child to explain this chart to you.
Writing : The students have been doing a phenomenal job during our 'how to' writing unit. Last week we learned about how to create the 'you will need page' at the beginning of a how to piece (to make sure that the person has everything they need) and then we got to work writing down the steps of our how to pieces, using sequencing words to go from one step to the next.
Math : Last week, we learned about telling time to the quarter hour, timelines, and the number grid. As I said in the email I sent last Monday, please do not be concerned if your child is not successfully telling time to the quarter hour. This is a very tough skill for first graders, and I do not expect them to master it.
On Friday, we started creating number scrolls, which will be on ongoing project for the rest of the year. We discussed the patterns in the number grid, and the students started to fill out blank number grids, which they will eventually attach together to create scrolls. Some students are already up to the 200s!
Phonics : Last week, we continued learning more about blends (which I explained in last week's post). This week, we'll start our next phonics unit, which focuses on long vowel sounds. The long a sound is the first sound we'll be studying.
Adopt-a-Cop : Last Friday, we were lucky enough to have Officer Marc, our Adopt-a-Cop, visit again. He spoke to the students about signs that they see around the community, and what the colors red, yellow, and green on signs may indicate.
Adopt-a-Cop is a great program in River Edge, where a police officer is matched with each first grade class. Officer Marc comes in every once in a while to develop a positive rapport with the students and to discuss safety. The students love when he comes to visit. Here's a picture of the students with him on Friday.