First Grade News

Curriculum Highlights

April 28, 2014

Exploring capacity, symmetry and heights, fractional parts of a whole, comparing fractions, many names for fractional parts Writing Checking progress Reading Checking progress Word study when adding a vowel suffix, if the base ends with a single silent e, drop the e, before adding the suffix. EG like + ed = liked

Reminders
Thursday May 1 No school Does your child ever ask what happened the day she was born, how Mom and Dad met, or about other family events from the past? Take the time to tell her all the details. Research shows that the more a child learns about her family -- and her place in it -- the greater her sense of self-confidence and competence. Kids who have close connections with family and friends generally struggle less with emotional issues. From http://www.RealAge.com/ParentingCenter/intro.aspx

Word Study

liked coming

using having

named giving

timing giver

used timer

News From Ms. Tindalls Class Fractions will be introduced in math shortly. Kids need lots of hands on experience to get the idea of fractions as being parts of a whole. In first grade our goal is exposure. Children are not expected to master this concept until they are a little older but it is important to start using the language and experience parts and wholes now. Well be looking at 1. Dividing one object into equal parts such as a pizza into halves or quarters and 2. Dividing groups of objects into equal parts such as sharing 12 candies equally among 3 friends. Using measuring cups and spoons, dividing things equally among family members, cutting sandwiches (pizzas etc) into halves and quarters are all very appropriate activities that will help your child begin to understand this challenging concept. Some notes about time: The concept of time does not only include the ability to tell time on a clock but also relates to being able to order events in sequence (such as first I was born, then I learned to crawl, then walk etc.) Using comparison of events to understand the passage of time is another concept children find tricky (eg. walking home takes as long as watching one television show). Vocabulary surrounding time is equally important such as yesterday, today, tomorrow, past, present, future, hour, minute, day, month, year. Our next social studies unit, I Was, I Am, I Will Be lends itself to many opportunities to expand childrens concept of time. In partnership, Ms. Tindall

Monday Reading: Whats the important idea? What message is the author trying to convey? Give evidence from the text. Word Study: Write each word as a word sum. EG come + ing Math: Cook something! Follow sequenced directions. Note what came first, second, third last. Pay attention to fractions. How do you know something is a whole or a part? Social Studies: Ask your parents to tell you your life story. This may take a few days! Begin with: Where did you live when you were born? Did you have your own room or share? Who took care of you? Did you already have some older siblings or were you the first? What are the traditions in your family for caring for a baby? What type of bed did you sleep in? Did you participate in any type of religious ceremonies? Look at some baby pictures and talk about what you can learn by looking at artifacts from the past. Does your family keep any mementos from when you were an infant? Baby clothes, books, toys Tuesday Reading: Whats the important idea? What message is the author trying to convey? Give evidence from the text. Word Study: Find words in books that follow the rule. Math: Share out groups of objects between 2, 3, 4 people. If I have 20 toys cars and I share them equally with a friend, how many will each of us have? Write a fraction to match. (EG ! half) Write a number model to match. (EG ! of 20 is 10). Social Studies: Complete the name homework. Bring it to school Wednesday ready to share. Wednesday Reading: Whats the important idea? What message is the author trying to convey? Give evidence from the text. Word Study: Complete these word sums: Attached Math: You have $2.00. What could you buy from the shop? How much change would you get? (What different combinations can you come up with?) Gum ball = 32 cents Candy cane = 54 cents Chocolate bar = 75 cents Sandwich = $1.20 Social Studies: Talk with your family about your milestones as you were growing up. Ask about the time when you: first sat up; learned to walk; said your first word; got your first tooth; learned to ride a bike; went to school; learned to swim; wrote your name Try to find some artifacts such as photos or mementos from the past. How can these things help you keep a record of history and see how things change over time? Thursday Reading Math: Bar graphs and tally charts worksheets sent home last Friday in zipper folders. Word Study: Write your own word sums with words you know that end in a single silent e. Try adding some vowel and consonant suffixes. Social Studies: Ask your parents about the most naughty thing you ever did. Why did you do it? What were the consequences? What is the most naughty thing your parents have done? Friday Social Studies: Talk with your parents about the different places you have lived. Have you always lived in the same place or moved around? Why? What languages do you speak? Why? What cultural/ religious beliefs do you have? Why? What types of food does/nt your family eat? Why?

When adding a vowel suffix, if a word ends with a single silent e, drop the e before adding the vowel suffix. Consonant suffixes have no power to change the base word.
EG

time + ing = timing

(drop the e)

vowel suffix

time + ly = timely
(no change to the base word)

consonant suffix

care + ful = _________

care + ing = ___________

care + ed = _________

love + ing = ___________

love + ly = _________

love + ed = ___________

use + ed = _________

use + ing = ___________

use + ful = _________

drive + ing = ___________

drive + er = _________

drive + en = ___________