1. First Grade Newsletter
October 1, 2018
Homework:
Important Events:
Ch/Sh comprehension ENY 8-10
Sight words: boy, girl, her, how, now
Last week for Character Books
October 5th- Parent Volunteer Meeting
October 5th-Enrichment begins/Reflection entries due
October 19-Jog-a-thon
October Parent Conferences
What we are learning this week:
Working with Words
This week we will learn the word endings: ing, s, y, and er. Students will sound out the base word first and then add the word endings. We will talk about how these endings change the meaning of words. We will continue to review diagraphs and blends as well. We will read and spell 5 new high frequency words; boy, girl, her, how, and now. You can help at home by practicing these five words as spelling words for five minutes each day.
Art in the Classroom:
This week La Mariposa first graders continue to learn about Impressionists and Modern artists, their lives and their art. This week, Room A5 children will be learning about Vincent Van Gogh. We will use oil pastels to recreate his sunflowers. Room A6 children will be learning about Claude Monet. We will use chalk pastels to recreate The Japanese Bridge. Room B6 children will be learning about Henri Matisse. We will draw with scissors and do a paper cutting art picture. Room B3 children will be learning about Pablo Picasso. We will use water color to create our own picture using cubism.
It is amazing how much information the children are remembering about each of these artists. First grade will host an Evening of Art in the La Mariposa Art Gallery on the evening of October 25th, so please put this date on your calendar and plan to join us then.
Homework Reminders:
This will be the last week for the Character Books. Next week we will be starting our home reading program.
Reading comprehension- This week the reading comprehension will review sh diagraph that we learned last week. Diagraphs have their own sound and cannot be sounded out separately. As they sound out words, remind them to sound out the “sh” as the “sh” sound and not “s”, “h”. Have your child read the passage a few times to build fluency. There is also a blend and diagraph phonics page to complete.
ENY-Lesson 10 refer to 5 group cards. For lesson 10, students need to draw the dots to add on to the number given to get the total.

2. First Grade Newsletter
What we are learning in Math:
Pumpkins
This week we will learn all about pumpkins. We will be focusing a lot on adjectives and will write a pumpkin book using adjectives. We will be reading pumpkin books in guided reading and listening about pumpkins on pebble go. We will be learning about the pumpkin life cycle. The students will be creating a stop motion movie on the pumpkin life cycle this week in our Innovation Center. .
With Engaged New York we will continue to work on number bonds to solve word problems. We are learning algebra and finding the missing addend when solving the word problem. It is amazing how quickly students are understanding this because they know their number bonds! We are continuing to practice the strategy of counting on. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns. We are also using touchpoints to add.
Volunteer Meeting
Friday, October 5, at 2:05, A5 parent volunteers are invited to a meeting to in the classroom. We will talk about the different ways you can help and to work out a schedule that works best for all. We will introduce you to our home reading program and centers. If you can find a friend to watch your children, that would be great. If not, come anyway.  We want you! You may want to bring a small snack for the kids. All parents are welcome, so please come and find out how you can help
Guided Reading:
This week we will continue Guided Reading during Daily 5 time. Students will read with us daily and work on different strategies to strengthen their reading. We are using beanie babies to help teach some of these strategies. This week students are learning about :
Eagle Eye- The eagle helps them remember to look for picture clues to help them with unknown words.
Lips the Fish- Get your lips ready to make the first sound.
Stretchy Snake- Stretch out the letter sounds, then put them together.
Some students will be focusing on comprehension in groups.
Bits and pieces:
Wear spirit wear on Fridays
We are collecting Box Tops. Please send them in with your child.
Unleash your child’s creative talents. Encourage them to participate in the Reflection Art Contest. Please look on our website for more details. Entries due by October 5th.
Our Jog-a-thon pays for our PE, Music, and Computer Lab teachers, as well as, fieldtrips, and many other things for our school. The collection envelopes will go home this week. We appreciate your support. Let’s reach our goal! Our Jog-a-thon is October 13th.