Matter Science Big Ideas taught to date:
Workboard is in full swing!
Reading Big Ideas:
Mentor texts
First Grade Writing:
Mentor texts help us learn the craft of writing well. They noticed not only what authors say, but also how they write. After noticing the craft moves of other authors, first grade writers began to say, “I could try that in my writing!”
We are working to fix up and fancy up their best work! We are working to revise, or add on, to our work to make sure our stories come to life. We are also working on editing our work. Editing is when we go back and fix our writing to make it easier to read. We are using our narrative writing and editing checklists as guides.
In word study, first graders focused on spelling with the -ck digraph. CK is used at the end of words right after the short vowel sound. In word study, we are learning about when to use bonus letters. We use bonus letters at the end of a one-syllable word, if the word has one short vowel and ends with f, l, or s (and sometimes z), then we double the consonant. The extra f, l, s (z) is considered a bonus letter because it does not make a sound, it is extra. We mark the bonus letter with a star. Our current snap words are: they, said, one, you, your, I, was. Please check your child's home school folder for their unit 4 skills & snap words post assessments.
Second Grade Writing:
In second grade we have been working hard to revise, edit and publish our first stories of the year. Children spent several days with one or two favorite stories. They used checklists and each other to make their stories as good as they could be. They fancied up their pictures and their writing-adding changes right up to the very last possible minute! We have been practicing reading them to make our reading fluent and our voices sound like storytellers. Next week we will have a writing celebration with the first graders.
In word study we are learning to add the suffixes -ed, -s, -es, -er and -est to a base word. Making sure that your base word is spelled correctly before adding the suffix is crucial. Many of these suffixes make different sounds. For example, the suffix -ed can make the sound /d/, /t/, or /id/. Snap words that the second graders are practicing are:
shall, pull, full, both, talk, walk, done, goes, pretty, again, please, animal, use, used, sure
First Grade Math:
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.
Students were playing Spin and Add and Spin and Subtract. They also dropped two-colored
beans and wrote equations to match their colors. We learned a new game called Make the
Sum. Students take turns turning over cards and matching cards to make the target sum (number).
They are practicing addition strategies including memorizing doubles and counting on from
the larger number. We are also learning about odd and even numbers and writing addition
and subtraction facts from a fact family.
Sum. Students take turns turning over cards and matching cards to make the target sum (number).
They are practicing addition strategies including memorizing doubles and counting on from
the larger number. We are also learning about odd and even numbers and writing addition
and subtraction facts from a fact family.
Second Grade with Ms. H-click here for her blog
Second Step: Skills for Learning
A surprise visit from a special friend on Friday afternoon!
