What we were up to last week!

This past week we were busy taking our DIBELS, and  NWEA testing! Quite a lot for first graders to do all in one week, but we did it!! I think the students loved the NWEA test because it was all on the computer....a nice change of pace. We also had our first 'mini' spelling test, and I'm proud to say that almost everyone got 100% !! They students were so cute all week, coming in to me and proudly stating that they knew how to spell 'because' !! Exactly my reason for having the test!! [I will post next weeks list tomorrow as I left the word list at school - oops!]


We were also busy last week learning about penguins. Do you know how long the father Emperor Penguin goes without food while holding his babies' egg on his feet? Do you know how tall an Emperor Penguin is? Ask your child because they do!! We also completed an adorable penguin art project and  will continue our study this week!


In math we continue to become experts on reading and writing numbers by their place value. We've been playing games, and doing math puzzles. In reading we continue to learn new vocabulary words, work on our fluency, and to practice all of our long vowel sounds. In writing we have begun focusing on using adjectives [describing words] to make our sentences "Super" !


Our new classroom focus has become "Fancy Nancy Words"!! Fancy Nancy is a character in a series of children's books that we have been reading. Fancy Nancy likes to use "fancy " words when she talks. We have been having lots of fun learning other ways to say 'regular' words. We have started a bulletin board with all of our "Fancy" words  on it. What a fun way to enhance our writing!! Our favorite words so far have been 'crestfallen' for disappointed [Izzy's favorite!], 'posh' for fancy, and 'aroma' for smell [Sean's favorite!]. We've been having fun making our vocabulary more 'posh'!!


As we roll into February we have a lot to look forward to..................Groundhog Day, 100 Day, Valentine's Day, and President's Day. And yes, we will be learning about them all! Information on Valentine's Day and 100 Day will soon be sent home, so be on the look out for it! 


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What we've been up to this week!

This week we have been practicing our place value stategies. We've been placing objects into groups of tens and ones with partners during Math Workshop time. The students LOVE Math Workshop!! I hope to post some pictures soon!


We also made "Math Number Story" snowmen, and wrote about what we think snowmen might do at night. One of my cuties wrote "I think he drinks cold chocolate", and another wrote "I think he has a big party all night long". SO cute!


In Reading we continue to learn new vocabulary words, and new long vowel spellings. Remember that we will start having "mini" spelling tests this week. These will be frequently used words that the students often misspell. We also have our "Reading Workshop" almost daily as well. During this time your child may be working on ABC order, vowel sorting, writing, reading to a partner, spelling, or "writing the room"[ask your child what this is -- it's a favorite activity!]


This next week we will begin to learn about penguins. Always a favorite with the First Graders!


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Welcome

Welcome to our class website.  Here you can find out about the lastest news in our classroom. I hope to share some helpful homework tips as well as give highlight pictures of our days! I look forward to sharing with you and your child.
     
           Mrs. Young