Spelling - With the half day on Friday again we will not have a spelling list this week.  When we return after spring break our next list will be on vowel teams oa, oe, and ow.

Math - We continue to work on doubles plus one facts.  We have also been working on place vlalue - ones, tens, and hundreds

Phonics - We continue to focus on vowel teams ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, oi, and oy.  This upcoming week we will start learning about a new set of vowel teams - oa, oe, and ow.

Science - We learned about the ultraviolet rays and the UV index.  We had a fun project.  We used a UV flashlight and UV detecting beads.  We tried to change the beads color by using light and heat.  We rubbed our hands together on the beads for heat.  We tested a regular flashlight, our grow lights, a lamp in our classroom, and our classroom lights for a light source.  Nothing worked.  Then, we used a UV flashlight.  Our UV detecting beads immediately changed color.  We also learned about groups of stars - constellations.

Religion - We have been working on our Promise Papers each week.  Last week we learned about forgiveness - even when it's hard.  This week the Gospel was about Jesus being tempted.  We learned about making good choices.  We have been talking about Lent / Easter.  On Ash Wednesday we buried the Alleluia.  During Lent, we refrain from saying Alleluia.  We made a chain and we colored pictures on Tuesday to get us ready.  We continue working in our Friendzy books. We finished up "Respond Instead of React".  Our new theme is "I am Brave". Our current virtues and values cards are about trustworthiness.  We also spent some time in prayer at Adoration.

Reading - This is our last week with synonyms in our word work centers.  After spring break we will switch our word work focus to antonyms.  (words that mean the opposite)

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 have just a few students left that are finishing up their personal narratives.  They should all be completed by the end of this week.  We have learned a lot about being an author from start to finish!  This week we'll be sharing our stories with our buddies and then they will be coming home.  It was so amazing to see the progress from their kindergarten stories to their first grade stories!

*A few classroom pictures

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.

Spelling - Vowel Teams -ai, -ay, -ee, -ea, -ey, -oi, -oy

main

paid

say

tree

green

seat

key

join

foil

toy

Math - In math we have been learning about doubles plus one.  The students learned the doubles facts months ago.  Now, we are using what they know to add a double plus one.  An example of a doubles facts is 4+4=8.  A doubles plus one fact would be 4+5=9.  

Phonics - We are learning about vowel teams.  The vowel teams we have learned are -ai, -ay-, -ee, -ea,

-ey, -oi, and -oy.  We are continuing to learn about closed syllables.  We have also just learned how to make words that are closed syllables with a suffix s.  We continue to practice and learn trick words and vocabulary words.

Science - We are continuing along in our PLTW unit - The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars.  Last week and this week our lessons focus on the patterns of the stars.  Last week we watched videos and read stories about the stars.  We learned the names of the planets in our solar system.  This week the lesson continues - and we will be learning about constellations.

Religion - Last week we practiced and practiced and practiced for our mass!  It was so beautiful on Thursday morning!  I am so proud of how hard the students worked to know their mass parts!  Thank you for helping them!  Our Promise Paper last week was one that the students really enjoyed!  The Gospel was from Matthew and it was about "The salt of the earth and the light of the world."  They really had a great understanding about the Gospel and how everyone can make a difference.  Now one of our class favorites is the song "Go Make A Difference".

Here are some pictures of our Mass and practicing for Mass.

Reading - We have a new word work concept this week - synonyms.  Synonyms are words that mean the same thing.  For example little and small.

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 continue to work on our personal narratives.  The stories are starting to come alive!  Each writing session we have a new focus.  We have already worked on page one - the beginning, page 2 - the middle, and page 3 - the end.  Now we are working on adding details to our stories.  We learned about how adding details (or adjectives) can make your story so much more interesting!  

A few pictures from our classroom -

*Conferences - Conferences will be held on March 2nd and 3rd.  This time conferences are OPTIONAL.  If you do choose to sign up, please make sure to mark in person or virtual in the notes.

*Talent Show - This year the talent show will be on March 2nd.  If your child would like to participate, I will need to know by February 21st.  Mrs. Peterson will be sending out information.  More details coming soon!

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.