November 21-23

Hello Families!
What a wonderful job your kiddos did at our all-school concert! They really brought Frozen to life on the stage! 

Today your artist is coming home with his/her art smock for washing. Please be sure to return it to school next week. Art class is on Friday. 

A reminder that our first grade service project began this past week. We'd love to see your boughs filled with mittens galore!

Here's a link to this month's Literacy Spotlight with our Literacy Coach Laura Witkov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Bxoi_eZAo

I'm keeping our blog post very short today, but wanted to share a little something I came across that really spoke to me: Giving Thanks for 21 Blessings in Disguise.

https://shar.es/1IMV0S

This year I'm grateful for all of your children and for all of you. Your partnership in this journey we're on is so appreciated. I hope you find time over the holiday weekend to reflect on all that you are thankful for and to spend time with those you hold dear.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Michelle Mullen 


Star of the Week Schedule

David - November 28- December 2^nd  

Madelyn – December 5^th-9^th

Cameron - December 12^th-16^th

Giselle - January 9^th-13^th

Oscar – January 23^rd - 27^th

Alex P. – January 30^th- February 3^rd

Evy – February 6^th -10^th

Josh – February 13^th-17^th

Eleonore – February 27^th- March 3^rd   

Darius – March 6^th-10^th

Alex M. – March 13^th-17^th

Brayden – March 20th-24th

Mark Your Calendars!

November 21st-December 16th: FIRST GRADE SERVICE PROJECT: Mitten Tree to benefit COA Youth & Family Centers

Friday, December 9: Report Cards Come Home

Wednesday, December 14: Early Release Day

Friday, December 23-Monday, January 2: Winter Break

Wednesday, January 11: Early Release Day

Monday, January 16: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, February 8: Early Release Day

Monday, February 20: NO SCHOOL/Teacher In-Service Day

Wednesday, March 8: Early Release Day

Wednesday, March 22: Early Release Day

Thursday, March 23: Musical (2pm & 6:30pm)

Monday, March 27-Friday, March 31: Spring Break

Wednesday, April 12: Early Release Day

Friday, April 14: NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 17: NO SCHOOL/Teacher In-Service

Wednesday, April 26: Early Release Day

Wednesday, May 10: Early Release Day

Wednesday, May 24: Early release Day

Monday, May 29: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, June 8: Last day of First Grade! 

See you later, Second Grader!

November 14-18

Hello families!
Here's a sneak peek at our week:

In Writers' Workshop, we continued to work on our All About books. We focused on anticipating readers' questions about our topic and making sure we answered those questions. In addition to answering the questions, we learned how to add more details when answering those questions by writing in "twin sentences." We also looked closely at how Ann Schreiber used pictures in her book Sharks to teach her reader then tried out her craft moves in our own nonfiction books.

During Readers' Workshop we focused on snap words as we continued with our Word Detectives Unit of Study. We also worked a bit on fluency by learning how word detectives "scoop up" words, and we learned that, just like in writing, we can break words into parts to help us solve them. 

We were excited to receive another letter from the Super Secret Detective Agency!

In Math Workshop this past week, we got to show what we know on our unit 2 assessment. Expect to see this come home with a note attached asking that it be returned to school after you review it. On Wednesday, we focused on Fact Families with a fun turkey project!

During Word Work this week, we focused on our new word wall words, then different kiddos had different activities to work on during our word work rotations. 

Next week's Word Wall words: 

be

as

ball

by

day

Our science investigation this week focused on how compressed air can be used to make a balloon rocket. Here we are testing it out:

Here's one of our balloon rockets being launched down the fishing line! Sorry it's sideways!

We had an all-school assembly on Friday afternoon to recognize everyone for their part in our Food Drive. It was a great success! Thanks so much for your generous donations.

Our class collected 68 items for our food drive - thank you!

Our Star of the Week shared about her special talent: dance! We saw her jazz, tap and ballet shoes, admired her beautiful performance dresses, and she showed us the different ballet positions. 

 

 

 

Due to the short week next week, we don't have a star of the week until the week of November 28th. Our star will be David!

Until then...
Michelle Mullen 


Star of the Week Schedule

David - November 28- December 2^nd  

Madelyn – December 5^th-9^th

Cameron - December 12^th-16^th

Giselle - January 9^th-13^th

Oscar – January 23^rd - 27^th

Alex P. – January 30^th- February 3^rd

Evy – February 6^th -10^th

Josh – February 13^th-17^th

Eleonore – February 27^th- March 3^rd   

Darius – March 6^th-10^th

Alex M. – March 13^th-17^th

Brayden – March 20th-24th

Mark Your Calendars!

November 21st-December 16th: FIRST GRADE SERVICE PROJECT: Mitten Tree to benefit COA Youth & Family Centers

Tuesday, November 22: Music Concert (Last Names A-M at 10am/Last Names N-Z at 2pm)

Wednesday, November 23: Early Release Day

First Grade Thanksgiving Gathering

Friday, December 9: Report Cards Come Home

Wednesday, December 14: Early Release Day

Friday, December 23-Monday, January 2: Winter Break

Wednesday, January 11: Early Release Day

Monday, January 16: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, February 8: Early Release Day

Monday, February 20: NO SCHOOL/Teacher In-Service Day

Wednesday, March 8: Early Release Day

Wednesday, March 22: Early Release Day

Thursday, March 23: Musical (2pm & 6:30pm)

Monday, March 27-Friday, March 31: Spring Break

Wednesday, April 12: Early Release Day

Friday, April 14: NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 17: NO SCHOOL/Teacher In-Service

Wednesday, April 26: Early Release Day

Wednesday, May 10: Early Release Day

Wednesday, May 24: Early release Day

Monday, May 29: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, June 8: Last day of First Grade! 

See you later, Second Grader!

November 7-11

Hello Families!

Here's a sneak peek at another interesting week:

During Writers' Workshop we finished up our How To writing mini-study by fixing and fancying up one of our favorite How To pieces. Our Gallery Walk was another opportunity to recognize and celebrate our learning across our unit of study. 

We began our new writing unit of study on Thursday: Nonfiction Chapter Books. We've begun with a focus on All About books. Some topics your experts have been writing All About...
soccer, basketball, bunnies, t-ball, drums, football, babies, cats, bears, electric guitars, ballet, and teeth! Can you guess which one your writer wrote about? Please check in with your writer about other topics that s/he is an expert in and could teach others all about!

The Super Secret Detective Agency continued to challenge us with word study missions this week during Readers' Workshop, and our Word Detectives were really up to the challenge! 

We talked about how that last sentence uses a word that isn't proper English - ain't - but that the Super Secret Detective Agency wanted the song to be as close to the original Ghostbusters song as possible. 

During Math Workshop this week we wrote equations for subtraction problems and made proof drawings. "We like to prove it, prove it! We like to... PROVE IT!" Have your first grader sing this new song to you! We began to look at how addition can be used to solve subtraction problems. This can be very tricky for our young mathematicians, so I encourage you to complete the homework pages for this week's lessons especially (2.13-2.15). An example of this thinking is...
I know 5 and 3 are partners of 8, so if I take one of the partners away from 8, the other partner will be left. With subtraction, it really helps to encourage them to tell you which numbers are the partners and which is the total. It is also helpful to always remind them that they need to subtract from the larger number. This has been a tricky concept for everyone. In other words, 3-8=5 is NOT a true equation.

Our new "snap" or Word Wall words were got, get, come, was and play.

Next week's words will be:
had
they
will
too
all

We also began our vowel study with a focus on long and short /a/. It would be very helpful for you to point out different ways long /a/ is spelled in words that show up in their books that they bring home to read to you. Speaking of those books... we have had many friends not returning their Book Briefcases on a daily basis. Please be sure that your developing reader is reading at least one just right book to you every day. This should be a book that they know well and can read fluently. After they've read, please sign their reading log. Thanks so much for your help with this very important daily homework.

Election Day, of course, was on Tuesday. Discussions surrounding our presidential election were focused on having respectful conversations with others even when we disagree with them. Our Scholastic News issue was very useful in helping our young friends to understand this through learning about it from another child. During the week we read three books: My Teacher for President, Duck for President and Grace for President. We then talked together about what kind of person would make a good leader. 

After that we each filled out our ballots, voting for our three candidates: Mrs. Robbins from My Teacher for President, Duck and Grace.

Our results:

1 missing ballot

3 invalid votes because more than one candidate was chosen.

3 votes for Grace.

4 votes for Duck.

6 votes for Mrs. Robbins - Our winner!

Our Star of the week showed off some amazing artwork as well as an incredible magic trick!

 

Next week's star will be Lexi! 
Until then...
Michelle Mullen 


Star of the Week Schedule

Lexi – November 14^th- 18^th

David - November 28- December 2^nd  

Madelyn – December 5^th-9^th

Cameron - December 12^th-16^th

Giselle - January 9^th-13^th

Oscar – January 23^rd - 27^th

Alex P. – January 30^th- February 3^rd

Evy – February 6^th -10^th

Josh – February 13^th-17^th

Eleonore – February 27^th- March 3^rd   

Darius – March 6^th-10^th

Alex M. – March 13^th-17^th

Brayden – March 20th-24th

Mark Your Calendars!

Food Drive: November 7-18th A reminder that you can donate a food item(s) OR every dollar you donate is equal to TWO food items. Let's be the winning class while fighting hunger! Thanks much!

November 21st-December 16th: FIRST GRADE SERVICE PROJECT: Mitten Tree to benefit COA Youth & Family Centers

Tuesday, November 22: Music Concert (Last Names A-M at 10am/Last Names N-Z at 2pm)

Wednesday, November 23: Early Release Day

First Grade Thanksgiving Gathering

Monday, December 5: Report Cards Come Home

Wednesday, December 14: Early Release Day

Friday, December 23-Monday, January 2: Winter Break

Wednesday, January 11: Early Release Day

Monday, January 16: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, February 8: Early Release Day

Monday, February 20: NO SCHOOL/Teacher In-Service Day

Wednesday, March 8: Early Release Day

Wednesday, March 22: Early Release Day

Thursday, March 23: Musical (2pm & 6:30pm)

Monday, March 27-Friday, March 31: Spring Break

Wednesday, April 12: Early Release Day

Friday, April 14: NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 17: NO SCHOOL/Teacher In-Service

Wednesday, April 26: Early Release Day

Wednesday, May 10: Early Release Day

Wednesday, May 24: Early release Day

Monday, May 29: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, June 8: Last day of First Grade! 

See you later, Second Grader!