First Grade News

September 21, 2015

Curriculum Highlights

Math strategies for counting large numbers grouping, organizing, skip

counting
Science What is a scientist? What do scientists do? Patterns in nature
Short Vowel review, phonological matrices
Writing Workshop Writing Cycle Plan, draft
Reading Workshop decoding strategies and genre boxes

Reminders

October 6th and 7th - Parent/ teacher conferences - no classes for students.
Please keep these days free to meet with your childs teachers.

Word Study
Review short vowel sounds a e i o u
a cat map
e pen get
i
tin lid
o got rod
u cut fun
Whats the difference between a short and long vowel?

News From Ms. Tindalls Class

Application of concepts taught in class is a real test of how well your child is learning. If
you are looking for extensions, the best activities involve your child in your real life daily
activities. When you start thinking about it, the possibilities are endless. For example, ask
your child if theyd like to go to the movies on the weekend. Together check the calendar to
see which day you are free (math, planning). Get on the Internet to find the cinema page
and read the reviews (tech, reading). Choose a movie based on the review and rating
(critical thinking, comprehension). Choose the date. Find the show times. Figure out what
time the movie will finish based on its length. Plan what time you will have to leave your
house to arrive on time. Will you need to purchase tickets beforehand on-line or will you
arrive early enough to buy them at the cinema? What is the cost for an adult/ child? How
much money will you need to pay? With what notes can you make that amount or if you
pay with a 50RM/100RM note how much change will you get? How much does popcorn
and a drink cost? Parking? How much will the whole outing cost altogether? How many
chores at home will I have to do to earn the price of my ticket? How long will the whole
outing take? (math) What did you think of the movie afterward? Would you recommend it
to others? Write your own review. Send an email to a friend or relative telling them about
it. (critical thinking, writing)
Imagine the possibilities of going to the supermarket, the park, the airport, preparing dinner,
inviting a friend to play!
In partnership, Ms. Tindall

Monday
Reading; What strategies do you use when you come across a word you dont know?
Math: Coins are a great tool for practicing skip counting and counting on. Use the
currencies that you have at home. Gather coin collections and organize the coins into
different groups. Try putting all the 10s together, all the 5s together etc. Can you
organize them a different way? EG Match one 10 cent coin with two 5 cent coins.
Tuesday
Reading: Look at the cover of your book. Teach an adult how to use, I See, I Think, I
Wonder.
Math: Revisit those piles of coins. How can you count them? Can you count by 1s, 5s,
10s?
Wednesday
Reading: How can looking at the pictures help you to decode words and to understand
the story? (*** Parents! Dont be fooled by thinking this a beginner reader strategy!
This is a vital part of activating background knowledge for all readers. A key strategy
that strong adult readers do (even if subconsciously) is think about what they already
know about a topic and start making connections and asking questions before they
begin reading. Of course for early readers, looking at the pictures aids both with
comprehension and also decoding.)
Math: Return to those coins. With a partner take turns grabbing handfuls of money
and counting it. Compare piles. Does the number of coins necessarily mean more or less
money? Why?
Thursday
Reading: Based on the title and book cover make a prediction about what the text will
be about. What do you already know about this topic?
Math: Practice counting by twos. Take something you have many of and count them by
twos (EG, legos, blocks, coins, counters etc). Why would you count by twos?
Friday
Reading: How does looking at the cover of a book and thinking about what the book
might be about help you get ready to read/ improve your comprehension/ help you
figure out words?
Poem collection: Recite and sing poems and songs from your poem collection to family
members, friends and neighbours. Put your finger on each word as you read it. Return
poem collection to school on Monday.
Science: Look up the daily weather forecast for KL and/or another place youre
interested in: www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0153