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Welcome!

This blog's purpose is to keep you (the parents) up to date on the goings on of the Fantastic Factory Shoals First Grade Team! Here you will find important information relevant to your child's first grade experience. Class specific documents will be available to you in paper form by your child's classroom teacher.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

This week in 1st! (8/27-8/31)

Agenda and reminders for the week of August 27, 2012
 
In ELA/Reading we are reading Pig in a Wig. This story is about a pig in a wig who we will use to discuss the difference between realism and fantasy. This story's phonics lesson focuses on short i words. The secondary phonics concept deals with final -x in words like fix and mix. The grammar lesson for the week deals with action and naming parts of sentences.
*Review grammar concepts with your child by:
-having your child orally form sentences CORRECTLY at all times
-having your child write complete sentences with proper capitals and punctuation. Make sure they are able to differentiate between the naming part (who or what) and the action part (what did the who, do?)
-writing pre-made sentences for your child to highlight the different sentence parts.
-giving your child index cards with either the action OR naming part on it. Your child would identify the part and have to come up with their own missing part.

*Review phonics/spelling concepts with your child by:
-having spelling practice with short i and final -x words (ideas-writing on a white board, writing on a mirror(dry erase markers also work on mirrors!), spelling words in/with play-do, shaving cream, pasta, on your back, orally etc.)
-finding short i and final -x words in magazines, newspapers, billboards, etc.
-making flashcards to read and repeat(spelling words)
-make a chart of word chunks (word chunks/word families are words that have the same endings like fit, hit, bit or quick, sick, and stick) and practice reading real and nonsense words

Links for your Leisure
*Feel free to look up more on your own games/review geared toward this weeks concepts!
Other games and activities online:
-use Starfall (Starfall)
*Can your child read the story outside of the book? Try it! http://www.soundcityreading.com/rsstoriesunit1.pdf (This link contains all unit 1 stories, you can print each one or read them as we do, online)
**Repetition is key!!


In Math, we will continue working on number order and before, after and in between numbers.
*You can review these concepts with your child by:
-using a deck of cards where your child chooses a number and tells you what comes before or after (you can use 2 cards to make double digit numbers or more for higher numbers)
-simply calling out numbers for your child to tell you what comes before, after or in between
-giving random numbers to put in order
Odyssey which has teacher created assignments/games
-utilizing xtramath.org (for continued addition and subtraction help)
-utilizing Starfall (which now has a math component)
 
In Science, we are focusing magnets. We will discuss how magnets work, what they can and can not attract, and how the repel.
*Science Vocabulary:
attract, repel, poles, energy


 
 
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Important Dates
9/3 - No School, Labor Day
   9/5 - Progress Reports issued

Saturday, August 18, 2012

This week in first! (8/20-(8/24)

Agenda and reminders for the week of August 20, 2012

In ELA/Reading we are reading Sam, Come Back!. This story is about a mischevious (good word to look up in the dictionary!) cat named Sam who loves to play.  This story's phonics lesson focuses on short a words.  The secondary phonics concept deals with final -ck in words like pack and sack.  The grammar for this story deals with forming sentences.

*Review grammar concepts with your child by:
-having your child orally form sentences CORRECTLY at all times
-having your child write complete sentences with proper capitals and punctuation.  Make sure they understand a sentence needs a "who" and "what" to be complete.
-cutting pre-made sentences for your child to arrange correctly
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdUXxdmhIsw

*Review phonics concepts with your child by:
-having spelling practice with short a and final -ck words (ideas-writing on a white board, writing on a mirror(dry erase markers also work on mirrors!), spelling words in/with play-do, shaving cream, pasta, on your back, orally etc.)
-finding short a, final -ck words in magazines, newspapers, billboards, etc.
-making flashcards to read and repeat(spelling words)
-make a chart of word chunks and practice reading real and nonsense words (ie -an, man, can, Dan; "ack", pack, sack, shack)
Videos
~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tif2a8vXeAA (short a song)
~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIsF8JhZyVY (words to read and listen to)
~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbS7KfgZ30s (blending short a ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skTJ3bp6QY (ck sound)
~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McYB2UVejRY (ck)
*feel free to look up more on your own
games/review geared toward this weeks concepts: 
~ http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=379354&x=3f243 (spelling words)
~ http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=2954750 (amazing words)
~ http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=3168775 (high frequency sight words)

Other games and activities online:
- http://www.quia.com/jg/1086590.html (Sam, Come Back! games)
-use  Odyssey
-use Starfall (Starfall)
*Can your child read the story outside of the book? Try it! http://www.soundcityreading.com/rsstoriesunit1.pdf (This link contains all unit 1 stories, you can print each one or read them as we do, online)
**Repetition is key!!
In Math, we will be working on number order and before, after and in between numbers. 
*You can review these concepts with your child by:
-using a deck of cards where your child chooses a number and tells you what comes before or after (you can use 2 cards to make double digit numbers or more for hight numbers)

-simply calling out numbers for your child to tell you what comes before, after or in between
                                       -giving random numbers to put in order
Odyssey which has teacher created assignments/games
-utilizing xtramath.org (for continued addition and subtraction help)
-utilizing Starfall (which now has a math component)
-utilizing http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1
In Science, we are focusing magnets.  We will discuss how magnets work, what they can and can not attract, and how the repel. 
*Science Vocabulary:   
attract, repel, poles, energy




Important Dates
9/3 - No School, Labor Day
9/5 - Progress Reports

Sunday, August 12, 2012

This week in first! (Aug 13-17)

Happy second week of school!

This week we will continue assessing and practicing routines and procedures with our kiddos. 

In our classrooms, you will see us (the teachers) allowing the students to work more independently, and in some classrooms, even small group centers will be utilized.

In math, we will specifically be working with number words and ordinal numbers.  While this is not a first grade standard, it is important the students are able to recognize and use these words correctly.  Feel free to practice at home with your child.
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Websites/Games for home use
 Ordinal Number Practice
* http://www.factmonster.com/math/knowledgebox/player.html?movie=sfw44200
* http://www.primarygames.com/squigly/start.htm
* http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/ordinal.htm
* http://www.softschools.com/math/ordinal_numbers/games/

Number Word Practice
* http://www.quia.com/mc/65757.html
* http://www.primarygames.com/Number%20Game/start.htm
* http://www.storyit.com/wgames/matching/nowordsmatch.htm
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Sunday, August 5, 2012

This week in first! (Aug. 6 - 10)

Ready? Set! Go!

Welcome to first grade!

We are excited to get this year started and grow and learn with your child.

This week we will be getting to know each other, assessing, and becoming familiar with classroom and school rules and procedures.  On the first day, expect a packet of information to come home with your child.  Please read over what you are being sent and return any required paperwork as soon as possible.

Bare with us as we establish these routines with your child.  This will be a hectic week, but a little chaos is needed sometimes!