A few FYI's -

First Grade Math - This week we had the unit 5 test.  We worked on the test Monday and Tuesday.  Today we started unit 6.  We are working on interpreting data.  Today the students had to cut out pictures of bugs and sort them in 2 different ways.  (First they sorted bugs with legs and bugs without legs.  Then they sorted the bugs by color.)  Then they had to answer questions about what they had sorted.  Today we also had our firsts math facts quiz.  I am super excited!  Every single student passed the first time!  Woohoo!  Tomorrow they will be getting their next set of math facts to practice.  The next set has problems that go up to 8.  The next quiz will be next Thursday.

Phonics - This week we learned a new concept - closed syllables.  Closed syllables have a short vowel sound and they are closed in at the end of the word with a consonant (or digraph or blend).  This week we also practiced making words with our blank tile cards.  Today we started learning about vowel teams. Our first two vowel teams are -ai and -ay.

Reading - This week we continue to work on adjectives and compound words in  work on writing and word work.  We also started running records this week.  I love seeing the progress that the students have made!  Running record take a while to complete.  I would guess we'll be doing this for another week or two.  After that we can get into our new reading groups.  Here are a few pics of students working in the spelling center this week -

Social Studies - This week we finished the first chapter of our social studies book.  We learned about school communities, school workers, basic maps, the map key, and directions.  

Religion - This week in our Religion book the focus was baptism.  Some of the students knew where they were baptized, some didn't.  If you have a chance, talk with them about their baptism.  :)  We talked about baptism, but then expanded a little bit.  We did go over all seven of the sacraments briefly.  

Writing - This week we got to have work on writing in daily 5 and handwriting, but we didn't get to have writer's workshop because of the snow day.  Writer's workshop is each Wednesday from 2:00-3:00.  We could always use more help editing, typing, and binding books.  If you're ever free on Wednesday at 2:00, you are welcome to join us and help us out.  

Tomorrow is a Packer Dress Down Day!

January 2017    PE K-2 

Happy New Year. I am glad to feel it warm up (relative term). I don’t like those below 0 wind chills. That is just too much when your coat crunches within seconds. We still have our cardio Friday’s. You are welcome to join during your child’s PE class if you want. Feel free. There are some that are struggling with the counting and keeping track. (Example: The other day there was a child that said they had 99 in 15 minutes.) OOPS. During the other class of the week, we are doing to start working on throwing and catching with hands. The throwing with opposition comes easy for some but it is difficult for others. So, we will all work on it. It is important for them to learn to catch with their hands and not always do a basket catch with their arms. We will continue to add spurts of gross motor skills as well.