Week 26

Here are some highlights...

Out first week of "Walk to Word Study" was a success! The kiddos have blown me away with their smooth transitions and focus during that time. Check in with your first grader about the spelling patterns that they are studying!

In writing, we are beginning our opinion writing unit. First graders can be very opinionated :). This unit helps them develop their opinions and plan/write their reasons to support them!

For math we have been building on our place value by comparing and adding bigger numbers. Not only are we comparing numbers, but we are also "proving it." Check out some of our "prove it" windows in the pictures below. 

This week in reading we continued to practice being the boss of our reading! Our jobs are:
1. Stop at the first sign of trouble
2. TRY something
3. Try something ELSE
4. Check-it

To remember our jobs, we have a song to the tune of "If Your Happy and You Know It"
Feel free to include this song in your weekend soundtrack :)

If you think something’s wrong, you’ve got to STOP! (clap, clap!) 
If you think something’s wrong, you’ve got to STOP! (clap, clap!) 
If you think something’s wrong, and you say, “What’s going on?!”
If you think something’s wrong, you’ve got to STOP! (clap, clap!) 

Then you try something else, and don’t give up! 
Then you try something else, and don’t give up! 
Then you try and you try, and you say, “This job is mine!” 
Then you try something else, and don’t give up! 

When you think you’ve got it right, check it out! 
When you think you’ve got it right, check it out! 
When you think you’ve got it right, triple-check with all your might . . . 
Does it make sense? Does it sound right? Does it look right? 
When you think you’ve got it right, check it out!

Be the boss of your reading, be the boss! 
Be the boss of your reading, be the boss! 
When the job gets really tough, And you want to huff and puff (cross arms and sigh) 
Be the boss of your reading, be the boss!


Something to try at home...

Word family flip book: Here's a way to help your first grader with identifying and writing words with similar endings.

What You’ll Need

• 6-10 3×5 index cards
• Marker, pen or pencil
• Stapler

Here’s How to Do It

A word family is a group of words with a common feature or pattern, such as at, cat, bat, hat. Discuss word families with your child. Talk about how the ending letters are the same. Pick a word family (Some other examples are ab, ag, an, am, ap, ar, ed, en, et, id, ig, in, ip, it, ob, og, op, ot, ub, ug, un, ut, um). On one of the index cards write the word family ending on the right half side of a card. Cut the other index cards in half. Have your child write a letter on the halves of the index card that will make a word with the ending. Your child can also write blends such as bl, sh, ch and gr. Staple the half index cards on the left side of the index card with the word family on it. Now your child can flip through the letters and read the words.

Reminders:
March 11-15: Missoula Week Begins

Here are some photos from the week...