​First Grade News​  

Issue 21 February 2, 2018 
Reading  Writing 
This week in reading, first graders began Unit 3 of Reader’s  This week in Writer’s Workshop, first graders 
Workshop and learned to be the boss of their reading!  worked on editing and revising their 
They discovered the importance at  nonfiction teaching books. They also worked 
STOPPING at the first sign of  on a variety of fun Winter Writing Projects! 
trouble and trying a strategy. First   
graders used everything they 
knew to solve a word, including  Winter Performance 
looking at all parts of the word,  On Friday, we shared special winter 
checking the picture, and trying  songs and poems with Mitchell School 
vowels two ways. On Friday, we  during our Community Meeting! First 
read a Scholastic News about  graders did an amazing job! We are 
making toothbrushes in honor of  so excited to share our performance 
February being dental health  with you on Monday, February 5th at 
month!  9am in the cafeteria. We suggest 
  arriving at 8:45am to allow time to park and find a seat. We 

Fundations  hope many of you can attend! 

 
We kicked off Unit 8 this week in Fundations. During this 
unit, students learn the difference between a blend and a 
Next Week...Post Office Field Trip and 
digraph. A digraph contains two consonants and only 
makes one sound (i.e. sh, /sh/). A blend, however, contains 
the 100th Day of School! 
two or more consonants but they each make their own  Next week, all first grade classes will be visiting the 
sound, such as /s/ and /l/ in the word slip. First graders  Needham Post Office as a part of our study of communities. 
practiced marking up blends by underlining each  First graders will get a “behind the scenes” tour of the Post 
consonant:  Office and will send a valentine to a 
loved one! It will be a fun trip! Mrs. 
s​ ​l​ i p  Teehan’s and Mrs. Hasenfuss’ 
 
classes will be visiting on 
We also practiced reading and spelling two r-controlled 
Wednesday, February 7th and Mrs. 
vowels (ar-car-/ar/ and or-horn-/or/) and learned three new 
Denby’s and Mr. Daitch’s classes will 
trick words: would, could, should. 
be visiting on Friday, February 9th. 
   

Math 
This week in Math, students 
continued working on 
​Save the Date   
February 5th​:​ First Grade Performance for Families at 
comparing two-digit numbers. 
8:45am 
We also learned how to use 
February 6th​: 100th Day of School Celebrations 
basic addition and subtraction 
February 7th​: Mrs. Teehan’s and Mrs. Hasenfuss’ classes 
facts to solve addition and 
visit the Post Office 
subtraction problems with larger 
February 9th​: Mrs. Denby’s and Mr. Daitch’s classes visit the 
numbers! For example, first 
Post Office 
graders discovered that if they 
February 13th​:​ Early Release 
know 3 - 1 = 2, then 3 tens - 1 ten 
February 19th-23rd​:​ February Recess 
= 2 tens, and 30 - 10 = 20.   
 
  

​First Grade News​  

Issue 21 February 2, 2018