October 13th updates!

Grade 1 Writing:

First graders were so excited to share their stories using See Saw! We hope you enjoyed their writing! We have reviewed storytelling with a partner. We also worked on deciding if we are writing about a giant watermelon topic or a small seed story. We want our small moments to be small seed stories! First graders continue to use their narrative writing checklist.

In word study, first graders learned about digraphs. A digraph is two letters that make one sound. As they are one sound, they are tapped using one finger.

Grade 2 Writing:
During writing we dedicate class time to practice and learn spelling skills. 

As previously stated, we have been working on “glued” or “welded” sounds

and bonus letters f,l,s, and z.

Additionally we work on new “snap words.” 

These are words students need to memorize.

The words we just worked on are:

shall, full, pull, walk, talk, both

Our next focus will be on what are referred to as closed syllable exceptions. 

These are considered exceptions because the vowel does not make the

short sound but instead the long sound.

Our new snap words will be:

done, goes, pretty

With each new focus, we practice in class for 1-3 weeks depending on

several factors-the difficulty of the skill, the amount of class time we have

to work on it and how the students seem to be mastering the skills. 

We constantly practice all learned skills through white board practice

that includes sentence dictation.

Before moving on to a new skill or unit, we have a spelling test. 

One is coming home this week. Children first record the letter or

letters that create 5 isolated sounds.  Then they write 5 words that

have the targeted skills in them. This is followed by writing 2 of our

new snap words.  The test concludes on the back with sentence dictation.

I say two sentences that the children need to write.

Rules of capitalization and punctuation apply!  

Our writing unit on personal narratives continues to be going along very smoothly! 
The students will be wrapping up and getting ready to publish by the end of the month.

Mentor texts:

First Grade Math:

In our first grade math classes we started collecting and graphing pattern blocks shapes.

We are learning to read the graph using math words such as "more" and "least".

“Which shape has more?” “How many more?”

We will also be using inequalities <,> to compare amounts.

We also started using math menus. These include activities that students

go to when they are finished their work. Menu includes extra practice,

games, and technology opportunities. Each student works at their own pace.

We are continuing to use dominos to practice addition strategies such as

doubles and counting on. We learned how to play “Make 10 Go FIsh”.

Soon we will begin learning about fact families.

  

  

Second Grade with Ms. H-click here for her blog

Reading:

How to tackle harder words!

We learned about vowel teams and will introduce the magic e for all readers this upcoming week.

Enjoying some outside time on our amazing CCS Playground!