Hello, First Grade Families,
Last week, we ended our second Math Block with some cooler days spent indoors. We listened to stories about Moria Minus and Duke Divide, and we reviewed all four processes: multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. The children enjoyed using their gems to find ways to solve equations. On Wednesday, we poured hundreds of the gems into a large pile, and the class was challenged to count them as quickly as they could. At first, the students counted by ones, but soon they were sorted into groups of fives and tens to help them count faster. Working together, the children were able to count to 200 by 10s.
This week, we are beginning our third Language Block, where we will study the vowels. This unit will be accompanied by a story about stars which give a boy and girl the sounds they need to read words. Each star will represent a different short vowel sound, and we will learn the sounds first and then the letter for each sound. This will allow us to begin building CVC words (such as sat, hat, can, top, and hug). We will also begin writing sentences as a group and review initial consonant sounds.
In these colder months, please remember to dress your child appropriately. While the main lesson will remain indoors when the weather is under 40 degrees, we will hold our morning circle outdoors when the weather permits. This allows the children a period of expansion, lightness, and play before we contract, focus, and sit during our Main Lesson time.
Announcements and Reminders:
Please remember winter coats and two water bottles are required daily.
The first Community Work Day of the Spring Semester is on Saturday, February 3rd, from 10:00 - 12:00. Please come if you are able, and add to your volunteer hours! Children are welcome, and there are typically both indoor and outdoor tasks available.
Please also plan to join us for the All School Meeting following the work day at 12:30. A soup lunch will be served at noon, and the meeting should be around an hour to an hour and a half long. The meeting is a grownups-only event.
Teacher Conferences are just around the corner! This Spring semester, they will be held on Thursday, February 8th (half day) and Friday, February 9th (no school). Please sign up for your child’s conference here
Upcoming Events:
First Grade Risers Informational Meeting - TBD
2/3 Community Work Day 10 am - 12 pm
2/3 All School Meeting 12:30 pm
2/8 Half Day - Parent Conferences
2/9 No School - Parent Conferences
Warm regards,
Meredith
