28 February-6 March 2011
What a week! Kudos go out to all the parent chaperones at our recent Study Trip to San Giorgio's Pizzeria. The students performed their duties in the kitchen, restaurant and long walk to and from the restaurant. Thank you so much for all your involvement with this excursion. We look forward to our next Study Trip on Tuesday, 22 March, to the Aviano Market and enjoying another pizza lunch at Casa Bianca. The permission slip will be sent home this week. Please return with signed permission and the Euro for this walking trip! We'd love to have you join us, once again!
We will begin our class participation in our School-Wide Reading Challenge this Sunday. Individual logs will be coming home on Monday, 28 February, but you can begin to count the minutes read the day before, on Sunday. PLEASE keep their reading log in their reading bag, so that we can count the minutes by week and post our results here at school. I will also count 10 minutes for each Reading Counts points your child accrues througout the week. This is a fun way to get really involved in the habit of reading. It usually proves to be a very successful way of increasing your child's reading level in order to meet end-of-year benchmarks, also.
Unit 3 Benchmark tests are completed and we're resuming full efforts on our story selection of the week: The Dot! Here are the skills we'll be learning of:
UNIT THEME: Treasure: What do we treasure?
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Theme (What lesson can we learn from the story?)
Comprehension Strategy: Graphic Organizers (aaah-our intervention for increasing student achievement in Text Analysis & Vocabulary! SMART Goal #2 Improve in Reading!
Study Skill: Table/Chart
Spelling/Phonics: -ea long e/ inflected endings
Language/Vocabulary: describe words
Grammar: Adjectives for Colors & Shapes
Writing: Steps
Spelling Words: - ea/Long e
1. eat
2. sea
3. each
4. teach
5. please
6. treat
8. beach
9. clean
10 lean
11.colors
12.sign
We've enjoyed Math Lab and our 2nd round of 7 days will culminate with another rotation through 5 centers and taking the post-test to measure what we've learned. We're also completing our fractions unit in our regular math instruction in class.
We are tracking our Reading Counts points and IXL Math Medals on our awards board. Please help your child to earn more points by allowing them to use the computer links on this blog.
I may be adding to this post, so stay tuned for updates.
Have a great week-end,
Mrs. Petty
Monday, February 21, 2011
21-27 February 2011
Thank you for sending in the permission slips and 8 Euro for our walking study trip to San Giorgio's next Wednesday, 23 February. We'll depart from the school NLT 10:30, so if you're a chaperone don't be late. Parking is such a problem here at the complex. Those chaperones coming (thank you very much!) are Eaves, Hall, Jackson, Lovelace, Weymer, Brown-Williams, & Young. We're sure to have a great time and students will be attending a mini-chef school of sorts! Yummy--
Welcome to a new 4-day week! This is getting to be a habit! :-) After celebrating our 100th Day of First Grade this past week, we're all aware that the year is passing quickly. The spring weather beckons us to come outside and soak up the sunlight. We're earning extra recess by two measures: how much work we get accomplished and our citizenship in and out of the classroom. It's a great motivator and with sidewalk chalk, bubbles and other outside learning tools available, we'll be learning outdoors, as well.
We will begin rotating each student through the Unit 3 benchmark test. This test evaluates target skills taught and hopefully mastered from the past six selections. There are 40 questions and it's a long test. Students are allowed to stop the test (at which time it saves their answers that have been completed) and return to more work on the following day(s). To assist your child, have them re-read the story selections in their Fluency Folder, where they can practice the High Frequency Words, and other thinking along comprehension skills that we've worked on during the last weeks.
New Beginnings:
We will also simultaneously begin work on Unit 4: TREASURES: What do we treasure? A summary of the skills includes:
Phonics: Long a: ai, ay, possessives, long e: ea, Long o: oa, ow, Longi: ie, igh, Kn/n/, and wr/r/, compound words, Vowells: we, eu, ui; Suffixes: -ly--ful
Many new practice words including high frequency words, story words and amazing words, & words with decodable (phonics) rules for spelling and fluent reading practice. They are getting more diverse and difficult, so attention to the fluency folder will assist in performance this next 6 weeks.
Comprehension Skills: Drawing Conclusions, and Theme (with a review of Compare/Contrast, Plot, Sequence, Main Idea, Author's Purpose, Cause & Effect, Character and Realism and Fantasy.
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics: (impacts writing composition and spoken language) Adjectives (with a review of Verbs, Nouns, and composing/writing of super sentences!
Writing: Persuasive Letter (with a review of Description, How-to Report, and personal Narrative)
Specifically this week, we'll begin our new Story Selection with Mama's Birthday Present
Skills Covered are:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Draw conclusions
Comprehension Strategy: Monitor/Fix-Up
Study Skill: Calendar
Spelling/Phonics: Long a: -ai, -ay, possessives
Language/Vocabulary: foreign words--they should do quite well on this!
Grammar: Adjectives
Writing: Book Review
Of course, at the end of each story, there is a 13 item test to show skill possession and work toward mastery. Please continue to have them read and participate on RAZ-kids a minumum of 2 times a week, with a journal response, either with their reading bag books, or the on-line selections.
During math for the week, we'll continue with our fractions and measurement skills, possibly take a few chapter tests, and attend math lab with Ms. Breault, where center-based activities help them toward mastery, as well.
For the following parents: We'll see you on Wednesday morning NLT 10:25 for our walking Study Trip to San Giorgio's Pizzeria. We're hoping for sun and warmth for this excursion. Please dress your child appropriately and check the weather predictions for Wednesday, 23 February. Even though we're learning about all kinds of Weather in an EARTH Science unit, we'd like to experience sunlight on this day! :-)
Thank you for all your support. We're working on the most important thing about learning in our class throughout the rest of the year: What is it? .....what you can do on your own!
Have a wonderful week,
Mrs. Petty
1st grade
Thank you for sending in the permission slips and 8 Euro for our walking study trip to San Giorgio's next Wednesday, 23 February. We'll depart from the school NLT 10:30, so if you're a chaperone don't be late. Parking is such a problem here at the complex. Those chaperones coming (thank you very much!) are Eaves, Hall, Jackson, Lovelace, Weymer, Brown-Williams, & Young. We're sure to have a great time and students will be attending a mini-chef school of sorts! Yummy--
Welcome to a new 4-day week! This is getting to be a habit! :-) After celebrating our 100th Day of First Grade this past week, we're all aware that the year is passing quickly. The spring weather beckons us to come outside and soak up the sunlight. We're earning extra recess by two measures: how much work we get accomplished and our citizenship in and out of the classroom. It's a great motivator and with sidewalk chalk, bubbles and other outside learning tools available, we'll be learning outdoors, as well.
We will begin rotating each student through the Unit 3 benchmark test. This test evaluates target skills taught and hopefully mastered from the past six selections. There are 40 questions and it's a long test. Students are allowed to stop the test (at which time it saves their answers that have been completed) and return to more work on the following day(s). To assist your child, have them re-read the story selections in their Fluency Folder, where they can practice the High Frequency Words, and other thinking along comprehension skills that we've worked on during the last weeks.
New Beginnings:
We will also simultaneously begin work on Unit 4: TREASURES: What do we treasure? A summary of the skills includes:
Phonics: Long a: ai, ay, possessives, long e: ea, Long o: oa, ow, Longi: ie, igh, Kn/n/, and wr/r/, compound words, Vowells: we, eu, ui; Suffixes: -ly--ful
Many new practice words including high frequency words, story words and amazing words, & words with decodable (phonics) rules for spelling and fluent reading practice. They are getting more diverse and difficult, so attention to the fluency folder will assist in performance this next 6 weeks.
Comprehension Skills: Drawing Conclusions, and Theme (with a review of Compare/Contrast, Plot, Sequence, Main Idea, Author's Purpose, Cause & Effect, Character and Realism and Fantasy.
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics: (impacts writing composition and spoken language) Adjectives (with a review of Verbs, Nouns, and composing/writing of super sentences!
Writing: Persuasive Letter (with a review of Description, How-to Report, and personal Narrative)
Specifically this week, we'll begin our new Story Selection with Mama's Birthday Present
Skills Covered are:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Draw conclusions
Comprehension Strategy: Monitor/Fix-Up
Study Skill: Calendar
Spelling/Phonics: Long a: -ai, -ay, possessives
Language/Vocabulary: foreign words--they should do quite well on this!
Grammar: Adjectives
Writing: Book Review
Of course, at the end of each story, there is a 13 item test to show skill possession and work toward mastery. Please continue to have them read and participate on RAZ-kids a minumum of 2 times a week, with a journal response, either with their reading bag books, or the on-line selections.
During math for the week, we'll continue with our fractions and measurement skills, possibly take a few chapter tests, and attend math lab with Ms. Breault, where center-based activities help them toward mastery, as well.
For the following parents: We'll see you on Wednesday morning NLT 10:25 for our walking Study Trip to San Giorgio's Pizzeria. We're hoping for sun and warmth for this excursion. Please dress your child appropriately and check the weather predictions for Wednesday, 23 February. Even though we're learning about all kinds of Weather in an EARTH Science unit, we'd like to experience sunlight on this day! :-)
Thank you for all your support. We're working on the most important thing about learning in our class throughout the rest of the year: What is it? .....what you can do on your own!
Have a wonderful week,
Mrs. Petty
1st grade
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
14-20 February 2011
Sorry about the late post this week. Let me 'catch us up' on all the learning activities this week.
Thank you for sending in the permission slips and 8 Euro for our walking study trip to San Giorgio's next Wednesday, 23 February. We'll depart from the school NLT 10:30, so if you're a chaperone don't be late. Parking is such a problem here at the complex. Those chaperones coming (thank you very much!) are Eaves, Hall, Jackson, Lovelace, Weymer, Brown-Williams, & Young. We're sure to have a great time and students will be attending a mini-chef school of sorts! Yummy--
Our Reading Selection this week is our 1st PLAY-"Where Are My Animal Friends". Yes, that's a new genre for us and we're excited that today we'll be given parts (5 characters) and each group will 'read' their part with phrasing, fluency and expression for each of their characters: Goose, Bear, Squirrel, Raccoon, and Hummingbird. Here are the additional skills covered in this unit:
Genre: Play
Comprehension Skill: Sequence
Comprehension Strategy: Prior Knowledge
Study Skill: Bar Graph
Spelling/Phonics: Compare (-er, -est)
Language/Vocabulary: Multi-meaning words
Grammar: contractions with not
Writing: Song
Spelling Words: bigger, biggest, faster,fastest, slower, slowest, shorter, shortest, sadder saddest, good-bye, before. 12 words/comparisons -er, -est (doubling the consonant on short vowel words before adding the suffix.)
We'll also be taking a Unit 3 Benchmark Test with 40 questions. This test is a review of all the High Frequency Words, selection words, comprehension skills, grammar, and phonics skills covered in Unit 3 selections, but a cumulative for the entire year, as well.
We talk each day about how much their reading has improved, ways they can improve, and the 'thinking' part of taking a test; which includes visualization, fixing-up tricky part, reading for meaning (what's happening in the story), predicting and checking predictions along the way, and making personal connections to the text. This is critical as their level of reading increases and true comprehension (the purpose for reading) occurs because of the brain activity which includes all of the above. Orchestrating all of these items, especially in a test scenario is critical. Does this sound like a post-high school lecture? It's not, it's just 1st grade!!!!
Keep your child reading at home. There is no lack of books for them to borrow in our own classroom! Remember to have them tell you what happened in the story, then ask questions about Main Idea (what was the story mostly about), Plot (sequence of events; beginning, middle, end, and identify what the problem and solution was), then don't forget Theme (what are we supposed to learn from the story). These questions are best suited for fiction selections. For non-fiction reading, have them tell the facts about their text and notice the differences with them about informational, non-fiction, or TRUE text, rather than fiction, where there is a distinct beginning, middle and ending.
We began visiting the Math Lab in Ms. Breault's room on floor 1. This is a center-based, small-group activity time where students work together on the standards-based activities to support mastery of math skills assigned to this quarter. We attend for 10 days, with a few delays because of other scheduled activities. Ask your student what they did today? I'm certain they'll be able to tell you.
There are a few links changed on the homework sites, so remember to make certain that you visit RAZ-kids Reading, Sampson's Classroom, and IXL Math. Yesterday six students were awarded Drops for their bucket because of their participation on IXL during the last week. Great job, students.
We'll be finishing our first 5-day week of school this Friday, finally! I knew it would happen sometime.
How are the Reader's Response Logs coming along? Thanks for assisting your child and having them complete a minimum of 2 per week.
Mrs. Petty
Sorry about the late post this week. Let me 'catch us up' on all the learning activities this week.
Thank you for sending in the permission slips and 8 Euro for our walking study trip to San Giorgio's next Wednesday, 23 February. We'll depart from the school NLT 10:30, so if you're a chaperone don't be late. Parking is such a problem here at the complex. Those chaperones coming (thank you very much!) are Eaves, Hall, Jackson, Lovelace, Weymer, Brown-Williams, & Young. We're sure to have a great time and students will be attending a mini-chef school of sorts! Yummy--
Our Reading Selection this week is our 1st PLAY-"Where Are My Animal Friends". Yes, that's a new genre for us and we're excited that today we'll be given parts (5 characters) and each group will 'read' their part with phrasing, fluency and expression for each of their characters: Goose, Bear, Squirrel, Raccoon, and Hummingbird. Here are the additional skills covered in this unit:
Genre: Play
Comprehension Skill: Sequence
Comprehension Strategy: Prior Knowledge
Study Skill: Bar Graph
Spelling/Phonics: Compare (-er, -est)
Language/Vocabulary: Multi-meaning words
Grammar: contractions with not
Writing: Song
Spelling Words: bigger, biggest, faster,fastest, slower, slowest, shorter, shortest, sadder saddest, good-bye, before. 12 words/comparisons -er, -est (doubling the consonant on short vowel words before adding the suffix.)
We'll also be taking a Unit 3 Benchmark Test with 40 questions. This test is a review of all the High Frequency Words, selection words, comprehension skills, grammar, and phonics skills covered in Unit 3 selections, but a cumulative for the entire year, as well.
We talk each day about how much their reading has improved, ways they can improve, and the 'thinking' part of taking a test; which includes visualization, fixing-up tricky part, reading for meaning (what's happening in the story), predicting and checking predictions along the way, and making personal connections to the text. This is critical as their level of reading increases and true comprehension (the purpose for reading) occurs because of the brain activity which includes all of the above. Orchestrating all of these items, especially in a test scenario is critical. Does this sound like a post-high school lecture? It's not, it's just 1st grade!!!!
Keep your child reading at home. There is no lack of books for them to borrow in our own classroom! Remember to have them tell you what happened in the story, then ask questions about Main Idea (what was the story mostly about), Plot (sequence of events; beginning, middle, end, and identify what the problem and solution was), then don't forget Theme (what are we supposed to learn from the story). These questions are best suited for fiction selections. For non-fiction reading, have them tell the facts about their text and notice the differences with them about informational, non-fiction, or TRUE text, rather than fiction, where there is a distinct beginning, middle and ending.
We began visiting the Math Lab in Ms. Breault's room on floor 1. This is a center-based, small-group activity time where students work together on the standards-based activities to support mastery of math skills assigned to this quarter. We attend for 10 days, with a few delays because of other scheduled activities. Ask your student what they did today? I'm certain they'll be able to tell you.
There are a few links changed on the homework sites, so remember to make certain that you visit RAZ-kids Reading, Sampson's Classroom, and IXL Math. Yesterday six students were awarded Drops for their bucket because of their participation on IXL during the last week. Great job, students.
We'll be finishing our first 5-day week of school this Friday, finally! I knew it would happen sometime.
How are the Reader's Response Logs coming along? Thanks for assisting your child and having them complete a minimum of 2 per week.
Mrs. Petty
Saturday, February 05, 2011
6-13 February 2011
As you probably already know, there is NO school for students on Monday 7 February!........I know, I, too, am waiting on a full week of school with the students! With our accreditation process with the ADVANCE ED team from the U.S., we've accomplished and lot and preparations continue for our school's site visit the first week in May. Your patience is appreciated, and let it be known that your child will have the same amount of required days as any other year, regardless of the days that we use for these kinds of situations.
This week's work includes:
Reading:
Story: I'm a Caterpillar (with Science connections)
Skills:
Genre: Narrative Non-Fiction (reading for information)
Comprehension Skill: Drawing Conclusions
Comprehension Strategy: Text Structure (which is different than fiction!)
Study Skill: Technology: My Computer
Spelling/Phonics: Contractions (-'s,[is] -'ve[have] & -'re [are-were)] and vowel controlled 'r' words: /er/, /ir/, & /ur/
Language/Vocabulary: Using the dictionary
Grammar: am, is, are, was, & were
Writing: Facts
The castles are beginning to arrive in our hallway and they look amazing. During our math unit on measuring, we'll practice using non-standard and standard forms of measuring the different parts of our castles with a recording sheet. We'll have fun and post the results to accompany their creations. No one is allowed to touch anyone else's creations, so we're hoping that measuring doesn't damage any of them either. We'll be extra careful!
We'll be participating in Math Lab with Ms. Breault, again for 7 consecutive days in the afternoon. So you'll hear news about that, as well. It's our 2nd round, so we hope to 'get busy' and also enjoy some extra math activities throughout the day in our own classroom.
Our math flash card races have produced some pretty awesome results with strategies such as: counting up, counting on from the greater number, taking the greater number to ten and adding the remainder of the 2nd addend, knowing our doubles and just plain mental computation. I'm really pleased and we'll continue this into subtraction, as well. We're also pretty fluent with saying the quarter of fact family equations (2 subtraction, and 2 addition) with a set of three numbers. Good job! Some of us still need our fingers, but we're hoping to have that soon taken care of. Practicing on the IXL math homework site is so much help to them, as well. It gives immediate feedback on errors, and monitors each skill for mastery. We're tracking their medals and Isha is the leader in our class for now. Good job, Isha!
We're also posting their Reading Counts points. The books they're bringing home now are leveled by the ABC's. The 'higher' the letter, the harder the book. These books require your child to know most of their high frequency words, so continue practicing the chart of 100 at home, unless they've already mastered that. Then, each day they are expected to get on the computer and take a 10-question quiz about the book and story. They must score a minimum of 7 correct answers in order to earn a point. Right now, Dakotah takes the lead with 37 points! Way to go, Dakotah!
I hope the contents of the Progress Report gave you enough information to know how your child's performance is progressing. I am 'raising the bar' with work production, time on task, and accuracy in written work. I am also asking that they read book(s) each night, enter a response twice-weekly in the RR log; and visit the MOST IMPORTANT links on this blog in order to increase their accuracy in spelling, reading, math and sight words. I know it's a lot, but in the end, you'll be grateful for the investment of time that helps to produce independent 2nd graders.
I sent the permission slip home concerning the Study Trip to San Giorgio's Pizzeria. This is a fantastic trip, where students will enter the kitchen, form their own pizza with toppings of their choice and enjoy their efforts with water and, of course, gelato for dessert. If you'd volunteer to chaperone, that will be fantastic. Parents are welcome to order off the menu while we're there. If you bring your camera, you'll be glad you did! Walking shoes, and lots of wishes for NO rain on that day. Please return the 8 Euro in a zip-loc and the completed permission form as soon as possible. I need to have chaperone information filled out, as well. Thank you!
As a last item, we'll have our valentine exchange on Monday, 14 of February, so make yours ahead of time so they can 'mail' them before then. They'll be decorating a paper bag for their valentine box.
Here are the student names:
Janiah
Blake B.
David
Elijah
Julio
Manuel
Layla
Enndean
Lucas
Aiden
Isha
Jaylyn
Michael
Kole
Jacob
Gracie
Blake W.
Kaliyah
Dakotah
As you probably already know, there is NO school for students on Monday 7 February!........I know, I, too, am waiting on a full week of school with the students! With our accreditation process with the ADVANCE ED team from the U.S., we've accomplished and lot and preparations continue for our school's site visit the first week in May. Your patience is appreciated, and let it be known that your child will have the same amount of required days as any other year, regardless of the days that we use for these kinds of situations.
This week's work includes:
Reading:
Story: I'm a Caterpillar (with Science connections)
Skills:
Genre: Narrative Non-Fiction (reading for information)
Comprehension Skill: Drawing Conclusions
Comprehension Strategy: Text Structure (which is different than fiction!)
Study Skill: Technology: My Computer
Spelling/Phonics: Contractions (-'s,[is] -'ve[have] & -'re [are-were)] and vowel controlled 'r' words: /er/, /ir/, & /ur/
Language/Vocabulary: Using the dictionary
Grammar: am, is, are, was, & were
Writing: Facts
The castles are beginning to arrive in our hallway and they look amazing. During our math unit on measuring, we'll practice using non-standard and standard forms of measuring the different parts of our castles with a recording sheet. We'll have fun and post the results to accompany their creations. No one is allowed to touch anyone else's creations, so we're hoping that measuring doesn't damage any of them either. We'll be extra careful!
We'll be participating in Math Lab with Ms. Breault, again for 7 consecutive days in the afternoon. So you'll hear news about that, as well. It's our 2nd round, so we hope to 'get busy' and also enjoy some extra math activities throughout the day in our own classroom.
Our math flash card races have produced some pretty awesome results with strategies such as: counting up, counting on from the greater number, taking the greater number to ten and adding the remainder of the 2nd addend, knowing our doubles and just plain mental computation. I'm really pleased and we'll continue this into subtraction, as well. We're also pretty fluent with saying the quarter of fact family equations (2 subtraction, and 2 addition) with a set of three numbers. Good job! Some of us still need our fingers, but we're hoping to have that soon taken care of. Practicing on the IXL math homework site is so much help to them, as well. It gives immediate feedback on errors, and monitors each skill for mastery. We're tracking their medals and Isha is the leader in our class for now. Good job, Isha!
We're also posting their Reading Counts points. The books they're bringing home now are leveled by the ABC's. The 'higher' the letter, the harder the book. These books require your child to know most of their high frequency words, so continue practicing the chart of 100 at home, unless they've already mastered that. Then, each day they are expected to get on the computer and take a 10-question quiz about the book and story. They must score a minimum of 7 correct answers in order to earn a point. Right now, Dakotah takes the lead with 37 points! Way to go, Dakotah!
I hope the contents of the Progress Report gave you enough information to know how your child's performance is progressing. I am 'raising the bar' with work production, time on task, and accuracy in written work. I am also asking that they read book(s) each night, enter a response twice-weekly in the RR log; and visit the MOST IMPORTANT links on this blog in order to increase their accuracy in spelling, reading, math and sight words. I know it's a lot, but in the end, you'll be grateful for the investment of time that helps to produce independent 2nd graders.
I sent the permission slip home concerning the Study Trip to San Giorgio's Pizzeria. This is a fantastic trip, where students will enter the kitchen, form their own pizza with toppings of their choice and enjoy their efforts with water and, of course, gelato for dessert. If you'd volunteer to chaperone, that will be fantastic. Parents are welcome to order off the menu while we're there. If you bring your camera, you'll be glad you did! Walking shoes, and lots of wishes for NO rain on that day. Please return the 8 Euro in a zip-loc and the completed permission form as soon as possible. I need to have chaperone information filled out, as well. Thank you!
As a last item, we'll have our valentine exchange on Monday, 14 of February, so make yours ahead of time so they can 'mail' them before then. They'll be decorating a paper bag for their valentine box.
Here are the student names:
Janiah
Blake B.
David
Elijah
Julio
Manuel
Layla
Enndean
Lucas
Aiden
Isha
Jaylyn
Michael
Kole
Jacob
Gracie
Blake W.
Kaliyah
Dakotah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)