Weekly Wrap Up

What a busy, busy week we had here in first grade. We thankfully did not have too many assessments like last week. We also were drill and assembly free, which meant we were able to get to a lot. Let’s see what we were up to….on to the highlights!!!


Math:

It was a big week in math. We spent some time exploring doubles facts on Monday. This was the first time we brought doubles facts up, but we will focus on them a lot this year. Tuesday and Wednesday had us tackle our open response problem. This two-day lesson offered us a terrific opportunity to talk about how to best use pictures to help solve story problems. Thursday saw us tackle the number line and how we can use it as a tool to help solve addition and subtraction problems. Friday was catch-up and game day, which always goes over well.


Phonics:

In phonics this week we focused a lot on word families and the patterns they represent. We touched on over eight different word families during the week. We also talked a lot about consonant clusters and digraphs. The kids enjoyed these concepts quite a bit, which means we will do more with them next week!


Science:

We tackled two big lessons in science this week. On Tuesday we learned about cirrus, cumulus and stratus clouds. We even had an opportunity to make models of all these clouds using cotton balls. These fabulous models can be seen hanging in the classroom. On Thursday we talked about how water can change form. Partners got to select one item in the classroom to go into a cup of water that will be placed in the freezer. We discussed the results of this experiment this afternoon. I cannot wait.


Writing:

I have focused on writing these past weeks. I want the class’ writing to improve so we are adding several new facets to our pieces. I spoke about how we are trying to focus more on the setting of the story these past weeks. This week I introduced the 5 W’s and how we should incorporate them into our first page of writing. For those of you unfamiliar with the 5 W’s, they are who, what, where, why and when. I have told the class that I want to see these 5 W’s in the first page of their writing. They have really enjoyed this.



Although this was not all that occurred throughout the week, these were the highlights. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please let me know and until next week…all told.

Weekly Wrap-Up

It was a jam-packed week here in first grade. The N.E.D. assembly on Monday morning pushed the spelling test to the afternoon, which was unfortunate since we also had a math unit assessment.  I was really proud of how the kids handled and performed on this difficult afternoon.  You should be very proud as well.  Tuesday saw us at DeBucks corn maze and pumpkin patch.  This was a wonderful experience for the class and the chaperones.  A big shout out to Dana, Ryan and Ruth for volunteering because we could not have done it without you!  I hope you all enjoyed the pumpkins at home. Also please take advantage of our fabulous new healthy snack sign up sheet Kelly created for us.  

Let’s see what we were up to this week, onto the highlights…

Math:

We began the week assessing what was retained from unit two.  I looked over the results and the class is on a very good path with their math instruction.  After we finished up with the assessment on Monday, we dove into unit three on Tuesday.  If you looked over your unit three family letter (which I highly recommend since it is a fabulous resource) that I sent home on Tuesday, you saw that we have started work with number stories.  We also worked more with solving addition and subtraction stories that have an unknown number.  On Friday we played a little catch-up on some work we missed over the week. 

Writing:

We had a writing assessment on Monday that was sandwiched between our spelling test and math unit assessment.  I do not like to overload students with so many assessments, but we were up against a deadline.  We also spent time focusing on the setting of a story and how we can incorporate that into the beginning portion of our writing.  I used a graphic organizer to help the kids organize their thoughts from our trip to DeBucks.  I will be looking to utilize graphic organizers more in the classroom as they are a wonderful tool and are emphasized heavily with the Common Core State Standards. 

Phonics:

We focused a lot on vowels and consonants in phonics this week.  This involved several different center activities that the kids completed independently to practice the concepts.

These were the major highlights, but by no means all that we did.   It was a jam-packed week and the class performed brilliantly.  Until next week….all told.  

Healthy Snack Sign Up

Parents,

Thank you so much for sending in snack to the classroom.  Kelly Vautour, one of our fabulous room parents has generously created a healthy snack sign up sheet.  Please use the link below to sign up for a date to bring in a healthy snack.  Please make sure the healthy snack is washed, cut and ready to go.  Unfortunately our schedule does not allow me much time to prep snack in the classroom, so the more prepared it is the smoother it goes.


Thank you so much Kelly!




https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wLCyKX2OXmbuJieV_Jzs7JB1feyfyOcd4GblUfmsQTY/edit#gid=0

A.L.I.C.E Protocol Meeting

Parents please take note of this information session that is being held on Tuesday.  This was taken from our Thursday notes...

Learn about the A.L.I.C.E. protocol for AAPS staff, for keeping students as safe as possible should an armed intruder enter any of our school buildings. Tuesday, October 28 at 6:30pm at Pioneer High School in the Schreiber Auditorium.

DeBucks Corn Maze

We will be heading to DeBucks tomorrow morning.  Our bus will leave at 10:00am sharp and we should return by 1:15pm.  Please make sure to send in proper jackets and footwear with your child, as it is expected to be wet.  An extra pair of socks may be a good idea also.

In the event it is too wet for the field trip DeBucks will contact us in the morning to reschedule.  I am not expecting that to happen though.

I know we will have a great time.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

Weekly Wrap Up

I have said it before and I will say it again, it was a fantastic week here in the marvelous world of first grade. We had a fire drill on Thursday and I was thrilled with how well the class performed. In addition to that, we also had our fall wild walk on Wednesday, which was a bit wet, but still a whole lot of educational fun. A reminder that tonight is movie night and we will be screening Frozen (hold for applause). Please come on out and help support the Bryant/Pattengill PTO. I was at this event last year and it was a real blast. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend this year due to a prior commitment, but please come on out! I am sure most of you have probably NOT seen Frozen yet… We are also still collecting coins for the Pasta for Pennies drive. You have all been incredibly generous with this important fundraiser. The class collection box is as heavy as Thor’s hammer! We will be collecting coins through October 24th, so please keep sending them in if you are able.

Thank you and on to the highlights!!!



Math:


We covered quite a few subjects in math this week. If you are looking at the homelinks I send home throughout the week you know we are dealing with the change-to-more diagram. We also learned about the change-to-less diagram. Both of these diagrams are important scaffolding steps to introducing number models and number sentences. Fittingly enough, we also learned about number sentences this week. We will be taking our end of unit assessment next week, so I am looking forward to how well this information was internalized.


Science:


In science this week we theorized about living and nonliving things. We went on our fall wild walk and collected leaf and soil samples from our environment. We also observed birds, squirrels, muskrats and a host of insects that seemed particularly interested in us. The kids had some wet feet afterwards, but I am pleased we were able to get to this lesson.


Writing:


In writing this week we continued reinforcing beginning, middle and ending. However, I began to focus more on the beginning aspect of the story towards the end of the week. We also took a look at our past writing to see which pieces were completed and which pieces needed to be finished. We also talked more about sentence structure and capitalizations.




As always please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns; until next week…all told.

Flu Season

As I am sure you are all aware there are a few infections floating around the classroom right now.  I quickly wanted to let you know about the cleaning procedures I have as part of our daily routine.  At the end of each day the children wipe down their tables and chairs.  We also wipe down all the tables and surfaces that we interact with on a daily basis.  In addition to that cleaning I routinely throughout the day will take a clorox/lysol wipe and disinfect the door knobs, light switches, water fountain and bathroom handle.  I try to stay on top of this as much as possible, but it is a constant battle.

That being said I am in desperate need of disinfectant wipes for the classroom.  We had some generous parents send some in early in the year, but we are running very low.  Considering these infections in the room I would like to step up our procedures a bit, but will need additional supplies.  Thank you so much for your help.

Spelling Words for the Week

Our spelling words for the week:

many
use
do
then
other
about
will
up

Fall Wild Walk

We will be going on a fall wild walk tomorrow.  Please make sure to send your child in with boots, if they have them.  Hopefully it will not be too bad out.


Thanks,

Michael Hagen

Weekly Wrap-Up

What a quick week here in first grade! It went by in a flash, which means we were able to get a lot done! A quick reminder that we have an upcoming field trip on October 21st. I have one chaperone set up, but I am definitely looking for a few more. Corn maze, pumpkins, first graders and a bus – I mean you cannot beat that! I hope to hear from you. Also, we have movie night coming up on October 17th. We will be screening a relatively unknown Disney title by the name of Frozen... Well, enough of the housekeeping issues, onto the highlights!!!



Math:

We had a good time in math this week. Our curriculum is really ramping up which means more partner work, more journal work and more critical thinking. This week saw us revisit our open response problem involving all the ways to make 10 that we started last Thursday. These two-day open response lessons offer an opportunity for us to really go in-depth into a problem and go over strategies to solve it. We also learned a new game called High Roller, which has the kids practicing the counting on strategy. We also touched on calculators and unit labels. Thursday saw us examine the change to more diagram. Keep an eye out for homework dealing with this concept. Like I said, it was a very good time. I look forward to what next week will bring.


Phonics:

Plurals, plurals, plurals was the steady focus in phonics. We practiced them exclusively at the star center throughout the week. As I tell the kids the way to get to Carnegie Hall is to practice, practice, practice. They do love that line.


Social Studies:

We talked a lot about what makes us special and what makes us different. The kids were able to illustrate this on worksheets and also in their social studies journals. In addition, we also reinforced our class motto of You'll Never Walk Alone. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this class and how they are embodying that motto.


Science:

We spent time in science this week recording the weather in our science journals. We also took time during centers to practice sentence structure using class created sentences featuring science vocabulary.


All in all it was a great week. I look forward to what next week will bring on this fabulous, fun-filled adventure we like to call...FIRST GRADE.







Until next week.....All told.

Pasta for Pennies

Bryant will be taking part in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Pasta for Pennies drive.  Each child will be bringing home a small cardboard box to collect change at home.  Please send the box with change in with your child everyday to add to the class total.  The class that raises the most money will be receiving a pasta lunch provided by Olive Garden.

I will be sending home the box today along with a flyer explaining the program.  Please send in change if you are able.

Thanks,

Michael

Belated Weekly Wrap Up

I am terribly sorry I was unable to post this sooner.  I was out on Friday and this wedding has officially put me in catch-up mode.  Again, my deepest apologies.



Onto the highlights...

Math:

It was a big week in math that saw us decomposing numbers within ten.  We focused exclusively on this topic throughout the week.  I also introduced the "turn-around rule" for addition problems, which the kids really enjoyed.  A big focus with our new math curriculum is for kids to show how they arrived at an answer.  This has been tricky for some students early on because they say they do the math in their heads, but we need to show how we arrived at answers.  This is setting the groundwork for how they will complete problems as they go through the upper grades.  I know the kids will do great.


Phonics:

Plurals was the name of the game.  We practiced adding s to the end of words and on Friday the kids learned which words require an -es to denote a plural.  The kids found this a bit confusing and I agreed with them, but we got to learn it!  We will practice more with it next week.

Science:

In science the kids took a look at the weather data we collected throughout the month of September.  We used this data to answer several questions in our weather journals.  Towards the end of the week we started touching on our new science unit: collecting and examining life.  This included a discussion about living vs. nonliving things.  The kids had some very surprising answers.

Until Friday...all told!

DeBucks Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

I sent home a permission slip yesterday for the DeBucks corn maze and pumpkin patch.  The trip is on October 21st from 10:00-1:15.  Please send the permission slip back in immediately along with the $6 for each child.  If you are interested in chaperoning this trip please let me know ASAP.  You will need to go through a background check through the office in order to go on the trip.  This is a new policy last year, so the sooner the better.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Michael

Spelling Words for the Week

Here are the spelling words for the week.  I have been composing these spelling words based on the Fry First 100 list.  If children know these 100 words they are able to read roughly 50% of words in any book.  Therefore they are very important to be able to read, write and spell correctly.  

were
when
your
said
each
how
which
there