Weekly Update ~ 2/26/12

We had another wonderful week in first grade!

Language Arts

-This week we reviewed Unit 3 Language Arts skills, and completed the Unit 3 Assessment.  We practiced identifying the main idea, and comparing and contrasting selections.  The students also used story clues to make and confirm predictions.  I am so proud of my little reading detectives! 

Click here for extra reading practice: http://www.lexialearning.com/ www.starfall.com

Grammar

-We reviewed Unit 3 Grammar skills throughout the week.  The children worked on contractions, verbs, nouns, inflectional endings, and proper sentence structure. 

For more grammar practice, check out the following links: http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/match/dragflip.asp?filename=jwildecontraction2 http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/flyby/flyby1.htm

Math

 

Nivesrita counts fruit snacks.  Were they even or odd?



-In Math, we completed Chapter 12, Number Patterns.  The chapter introduced several important skills such as skip counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s. We also learned tricks for identifying even and odd numbers, identified ordinal numbers, and used number patterns to solve problems.  Next week, we will spiral back to using addition and subtraction strategies as we move on to Chapter 13. 



Number Patterns: Counting by 4's

   

even or odd? 

   

  

Number Patterns:  Counting by 2's



Even or odd?

 

Fun with Number Patterns

Understanding Ordinal Numbers

 



For additional math practice, check out the following sites: Count by 2’s: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/connect_the_dots/ Count by 5’s and 10’s: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/connect_by_5/ Number Line:  http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/numberline1_5_04/ Subtract to Compare:  http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/subtract_compare/ The Number Line March Song: http://www.harcourtschool.com/jingles/jingles_all/1number_line_march.html

Odds and Ends

-Friday, March 2^nd is Read Across America Day, in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday!  Thank you to all who have volunteered to read to our class.  If you would like to be a guest reader, please be sure to contact me as soon as possible:  bswisher@moonarea.net

-February Book-It Reading Lists are due this Wednesday, February 29^th.  March is the final month for the Pizza Hut Book-It Reading program.  Just read the designated number of books, record the book title and author, and return to Mrs. Swisher for your certificate!  (Weekly reading stories count towards the Book-It program!) 

-Please continue to read with your child every night.  Our Accelerated Reader Program will continue through the month of May.  Read an AR book at home (2 or 3 times), and take the test the next day at school.  All first grade students who have earned 25 AR points by the end of May will take part in a school-wide pizza party at the end of the school year!  Keep up the super reading! 

-We are running low on the following supplies:  pencils, tissues, Band-Aids, Ziploc bags.  Please consider sending in a donation.  Thank you! J

Weekly Update ~ 2/19/12

We really made a splash in first grade this week!

Valentine’s Day Fun!

-We started off the week with a special Valentine’s Day party!  Thank you to Mrs. Maritato, Ms. Pittman, Mr. and Mrs. Spezialetti, Mrs. Longwell, Mrs. Polster, and Mrs. Jafarace for organizing a lovely class celebration.  We all had fun participating in crafts, decorating our Valentine’s Day boxes, playing games, and spending time with our friends!  I especially love my sweet book titled, We Love Mrs. Swisher.  Thank you for your kind words.  I will cherish this book forever!  Here is a video highlighting our celebration:

Language Arts



Nishu has fun writing his story!



-This week in Language Arts, we had a fabulous time reading nonfiction stories as we learned how kids across the world have fun!  Kids enjoy jumping rope, playing games with balls and bats, finding things under water, and more!  The students used a Venn diagram graphic organizer to compare and contrast the ways in which children around the world have fun.  We also shared personal stories and wrote books about the many ways in which we have fun!  

First graders have fun reading to self and reading to someone! 

*BONUS CHALLENGE*:  Use a Venn Diagram to compare two of your favorite characters.  Tell how the characters are alike and different.  Turn in to Mrs. Swisher by Monday, February 27th.

Click here for reading extra practice: http://www.mhschool.com/vocab_games/mmh_games/content/Grade1/Unit3/w5v1/index.html http://www.starfall.com/n/fiction-nonfiction/come-play/load.htm?f

Spelling

-In Spelling, the students were introduced to 3-letter blends (spl-, str-, scr-).  They practiced reading and writing words with 3-letter blends in various ways throughout the week, including dry erase practice, stamping words, oral practice, and paper and pencil writing.  The students made a splash, as they played a new game called, Whale Done Spelling!  Check it out! 

 

For more 3-letter blend spelling practice, click on the following links: http://www.mhschool.com/mmh_games/content/reading/gr1/unit03/week5/s1/index.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enPGDBN6MVk http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=1ww71XWdIr4&feature=endscreen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uGWoNP6O00&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Grammar

-Our Grammar lessons focused on identifying and using contractions.  A contraction is a shortened form of one or two words.  In a contraction, an apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter or letters.  For example, can’t (cannot), didn’t (did not) and shouldn’t (should not).  We played a fun contraction game, called Gone Fishing, to reinforce the skill.

For more fun with contractions, check out the following links: http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/match/dragflip.asp?filename=jwildecontraction2 http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/flyby/flyby1.htm

Math

-In Math, we began Chapter 12, Number Patterns.  The students practiced counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s.  We have been using a Hundreds Chart to assist in skip counting and recognizing number patterns.  We are able to start at any given number and count on or back by 10’s.  The children also enjoyed using seashells as manipulatives to practice grouping items and skip counting.  Next week will explore even and odd numbers and ordinal numbers.                   

                      

    

For additional math practice, check out the following sites: Use a Hundred Chart to count: http://www.eharcourtschool.com/ma/math04/se/media/activities/intervention/lesson.html?g_iGrade=0&g_iChapter=7&g_iLesson=1&g_iProduct=5&g_iSection=7&strUserID=st1 Count by 2’s: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/connect_the_dots/ Count by 5’s and 10’s: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/connect_by_5/ http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1/counting-by-twos-fives-and-tens http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1/skip-counting-with-pictures

Whale Done!

-The Moon Area School District is incorporating the use of a strategy called “Whale Done!” to continue to build positive relationships district-wide.  “Whale Done!” is based on the book, Whale Done! The Power of Positive Relationships, which emphasizes proper responses to behavior, used by whale trainers at Sea World.  “You can’t get a 12,000 pound Killer Whale to jump 30 feet in the air by screaming at it!"

You may want to try these Whale Done! strategies at home too! *Praise immediately *Share your positive feelings about what they did *Encourage them to keep up the good work *Be specific about what someone did right or almost right *Redirect the energy when a mistake occurs

Ask your child to demonstrate the “Whale Done Wave”!  On Friday, during our class meeting, the students were honored by Mrs. Swisher for a job Whale Done!  Each student received an award and a whale eraser for their excellent performance in class.  I am so proud of the first graders continuous effort!  Keep up the wonderful Whale Done work!

  

Whale Done awards can be given throughout the remainder of the school year for any particular reason!  For example, if a child is caught following directions, worked very hard to achieve a specific goal, put forth extra effort to complete a task, etc.  It is our goal to build confidence by recognizing the positive efforts made by students and staff.

During our weekly class meetings, we will be recognizing positive behaviors by reading our “Whale Done Notes”.  Parents are welcome to send in a “Whale Done Note” or award to recognize students and staff for a job Whale Done!  Whale Done! awards can be found in a folder (titled “Whale Done”) on our class Edline page (http://www.edline.net/), on the top right corner under “Contents”.

Thank you for your continued support!  Have a Whale Done Week!

Weekly Update ~ 2/11/12

We had a splendiferous week in first grade!

That’s just what Fancy Nancy, the famous character created by our Author of the Month, Jane O’Connor, would say!  We’ve been learning many fancy words this month, and have compiled an ongoing list of super synonyms.  For example, instead of saying special, we learned the word unique! Rather than saying great, we now use the word spectacular!  We’ve also learned a few French words like parfaits, and merci!

Isn’t it fun being fancy?  Through our author study, it is my hope for the children to develop vivid vocabulary and use colorful words and details when speaking and writing.  It’s just like adding sprinkles to an ice cream sundae! 

Click below to watch an interview with Jane O'Connnor.

Enter Fancy Nancy World here:    http://www.fancynancyworld.com/ 

- This week in Language Arts, we read many stories about people who create new things by recycling the old. 

http://activities.macmillanmh.com/OralLanguageActivities/main1.php?activityID=390

                http://activities.macmillanmh.com/OralLanguageActivities/main1.php?activityID=391

   Watch this cool video about recycling! http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_vid_recycleplant/

-We were flabbergasted by the true story of Grandma Prisbrey, a woman who made a village out of glass bottles.  Ask your child why Grandma Prisbrey began building her first bottle house?  What did Grandma Prisbrey collect?  Do you consider Grandma Prisbrey to be an artist?  Why or why not? 

-The students were so impressed with Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village, they asked if we could take a field trip.  I don't think the district could afford to send us to California, so the next best thing is a virtual tour.  Click on the following link to visit the Bottle Village. 
 http://home.roadrunner.com/~echomatic/bv/index.html

-Our main selection story was a fantasy story called, Rose Robot Cleans Up.  Rose was a lot like Grandma Prisbrey, because she liked to collect old materials and reuse them for new inventions.  How were Rose and Grandma Prisbrey different?  What 3 things did Rose create?  How did Rose’s parents change from the beginning of the story to the end?  

*BONUS CHALLENGE*: Build something by reusing old materials.  Write about your new object.  What is its purpose? http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5363105&height=267&width=200

-This week we worked on drawing conclusions.  When you draw a conclusion, you use information you already know, and clues from the story to help understand what is happening.  Use the following links for additional practice.

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/e/drawconclusionsp.cfm

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/ttravis-57276-Drawing-Conclusions-Detective-ConclusionsDetective-Title-Lets-Review-Steps-conclus-Education-ppt-powerpoint/

http://www.mhschool.com/vocab_games/mmh_games/content/Grade1/Unit3/w4v1/index.html

http://www.mhschool.com/vocab_games/mmh_games/content/Grade1/Unit3/w4s1/index.html

-In Spelling, once again, the Magic E played a role, as we worked with long u and long o vowels.  Check out the Silent E video created by Niversita and Jake.

For more spelling practice, try these links:

http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/media/repository/protected_content/COMPOUND/50000024/78/21/phonics_launch.html?defaultSkill=31&stateCode=PA&defaultGrade=1

http://www.starfall.com/n/make-a-word/long-u/load.htm?f

http://www.starfall.com/n/long-u/lu/load.htm?f

-Our Grammar lessons focused on using is and are as verbs that tell about the noun.  For example: 

The dog is barking loudly. 

The boys are playing outside. 

Here is a fun linking verb game: http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/viper/viper.html

-In Math, we completed Chapter 11, Comparing and Ordering Numbers.  Throughout the chapter, the students learned about greater than and less than symbols to compare numbers.  They also identified numbers before, after, and between one another.

Review:
http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1/comparing-numbers-up-to-100

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1/hundred-chart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5bEcjYBepU&feature=related

-In chapter 12, the children will explore skip counting to 100.  On Thursday, our 100^th day of school, the students practiced counting to 100 in various ways.  We used estimation to guess the number of popcorn kernels in a bag, and how much space 100 popped kernels would fill.  We practiced counting 100 kernels by 2's, 5’s, 10’s 20’s and 25’s.  The children had a blast celebrating the 100^th day of school!

-I am thrilled with all the awesome 100^th Day of School posters the students completed.  We put them on display at the main entrance of the building for everyone to see, and you wouldn’t believe how many compliments we received!  Thank you for your creativity and participation!

Check out our 100^th day of school videos!

Hat's off to another fabulous week in first grade!