This week in First! (9/4-9/7)

Agenda and reminders for the week of September 4, 2012

In ELA/Reading we are reading The Big Blue Ox. This story is about a helpful Blue Ox who we will use to continue our discussion on the difference between realism and fantasy. This story's phonics lesson focuses on short o words. The secondary phonics concept deals with -s plurals in words like dogs and cats. 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 o and -s plurals (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 o and -s plural 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 "ot" - hot, not, tot; "og" - dog, fog, jog) and practice reading real and nonsense words

Links for your Leisure

Link	Type	Description
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EgEt0aru90	Video	Short o song (sound)
http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=107989	Games/Website	The Big Blue Ox spelling practice List 1 words
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GayEiWqQNFo	Video	Short o (reading practice)
http://www.starfall.com/n/short-o/so/load.htm?f	Video/Story	Short o reading practice
http://www.starfall.com/n/make-a-word/ot/load.htm?f http://www.starfall.com/n/make-a-word/og/load.htm?f	Game	Short o game/short o word families
http://www.quia.com/jg/1086600.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZPqqqwuRRc	Games Video	Th Big Blue Ox practice games -s plural practice

*Feel free to look up more on your own games/review geared toward this weeks concepts!

Other games and activities online:

-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 continue working on number order and before, after and in between numbers, but will begin our section of unit one dealing with tallys and tally tables.  Thos concept deals with reading and creating tally tables.

*You can review these concepts with your child by:

-having your child create a tally table of: fruits, clothes, toys, shoes, etc.
-having your child translate numbers/number words into tally marks
-creating tally tables and discussing or asking questions concerning the table (ie, how many more ___ than__; how many items all together; how many __ and blank; etc.)

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 wrapping up our unit on magnets. We will discuss how magnets work, what they can and can not attract, and what they repel.

*Science Vocabulary:

attract, repel, poles, energy

 In Social Studies, we will begin our folk tale unit.  This unit includes discussions about Paul Bunyan, Harriet Tubman, Davey Crockett, John Henry and Annie Oakley. We will discuss their character traits and why their story is important to our American history.  We will start with Paul Bunyan to tie into our reading story The Big Blue Ox.
*Social StudiesVocabulary:

Paul Bunyan, Harriet Tubman, Davey Crockett, John Henry, Annie Oakley, courageous, bravery, determination

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Important Dates

9/5 - Progress Reports issued
9/18 - Half Day Conferences