Spelling - Closed Syllables

trim

flat

kept

crop

pluck

clip

mask

west

chomp

rush

Math - In math we have been working on subtracting 2, tally marks, using a ruler to draw line segments, and adding 2 digit numbers without regrouping.

Phonics - We have been working on words that are blends.  We also learned about what happens when there is a digraph with a consonant - it's a digraph blend!  Some examples of digraph blends are lunch and shred.  We have just been introduced to the r-controlled vowels.  Our nickname for the r-controlled vowels is the bossy r.  When there is a vowel and then an r, the r bosses the vowel around and you cannot hear it.  

This week we will start learning about closed syllables.  A closed syllable is a syllable with one vowel, the vowel must be closed in at the end by something (consonant, blend, digraph, or digraph blend), and the vowel has a short sound.  Here is how you mark a closed syllable -

Science - We have begun our second PLTW unit - The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars.  The first lesson that we did, we learned about the sun.  The project that we did in this lesson was making a sundial.  

We had a little trouble testing our sundials - we have barely seen the sun lately!  :)  We were lucky enough to get one day where the sun came out!  We are now onto lesson 2.  In lesson 2 we learn about the moon.  We did the first part last week. We will continue lesson 2 this week.  We will be learning about the moon phases. 

We are also starting to work on our gardens!  Last week we planted basil, lemon balm, and snacking peppers.  Other classes have planted a few other things such as lettuce, cucumbers, and spinach.  

Religion - In our Promise Paper we learned about Epiphany - The Magi following the star to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and the gifts they brought them.  We also read a story of Jesus and the holy spirit - and more about John the Baptist.  We are working on learning the Guardian Angel prayer.  In Friendzy we are working on "Respond instead of React".

Mass - Today I sent out an email sharing with you that our first mass is going to be  on February 9th.  If your child has a reading, it is going home today.  Please practice the readings with your child.

Reading - We have a new word work concept this week - contraction words!  Contractions are words such as isn't, we'll, and he's.  They are 2 words - pushed together to make one word. 

Knowing basic sight words is a big part of reading.  By the end of first grade, the goal is for the students to know the first 175 sight words.  Some of the students already know all 175.  Some of the students know only a few words.  Some of the students are somewhere in between those.  :)  The sight words that we use are in our Bee Binder.   Please take some time to practice sight words with your student.  

Reading with your child for 20 minutes a day is another way for your child to strengthen their reading skills!  

Remember, you can access Raz Kids and Vocabulary A-Z at home to practice both reading and spelling.  

To access Raz Kids, you can either go to the website or download the app.  

The website is https://www.raz-plus.com/

The app is Kids A-Z.

Once there, go to kids login.
The teacher name to enter is jsullivan100.
Once in, the student will click on their name.
The password is the apple.
Press go.

The student can click on the purple planet for reading or the yellow plant for spelling.  (It says vocabulary)
     
     *If the student would like to choose books on their own, they will click reading room.

       In reading room, they have lots of options on how to choose the books they want to read.  If they want to read books at their level only, they may press leveled books.  Every student has their level entered in the website.  This allows them to read books at their level, as well as 2 levels above and below.

    *If the student would like to practice their spelling words, they will click on vocabulary.  Their assigned spelling list will pop up.  Click on the list.  From there you can choose phonics, spelling, or vocabulary.  Whichever one is chosen, it will bring you to games that use the spelling list.

Writing - We are working our our personal narratives.  A personal narrative is a story that is true that happened to you.  We read samples of personal narratives.  Then we have been been working in the planning stage.  We made a brainstorm of ideas, took an idea and divided it into the big topic, the smaller topic, and the small moment, and then we divided our idea into a beginning, a middle, and an end.  This week we are going to start working on writing our stories!

Today is day 95.  The 100th day of school is coming up!  This year it will be on Monday, January 30th.  Students have started bringing in their 100th day projects!  They are so fun to see!  :)

Have a great week!  :)

Holy Cross Mission Statement

Holy Cross Catholic School guides each student in developing academic, emotional and physical excellence while spreading the Gospel message as Jesus did, since 1868.