Week 16

We hope all our first grade families had a restful thanksgiving weekend. We had a very exciting few days last week with our first field trip and Kids Day. Thank you to those parents that volunteered as chaperones and helped with Kids Day. You are helping to create memories for our first graders. 

We can't do it without you, so thank you.  

WHAT WE WILL BE LEARNING THIS WEEK:

Readers Workshop

In readers workshop this week are continuing with our unit, Readers meet the Characters
Essential Questions:

• How can I use what I know about the characters to help me read with expression.
• How can I read in a way that helps me know how the characters are feeling.

Our first grade readers will be exploring what characters do in books and what this teaches us about them. We will also be paying close attention to character feelings and if they change in the book.

Teaching Point 12 - Getting to know the character by paying close attention to what the character is doing.

Teaching Point 13 - Readers can become the characters by reading in a way to show the character's feelings.

    

Writers Workshop

In Writers workshop we will continue to write Realistic Fiction stories.

Essential Questions:

• What makes a good story?
• How can I use what I know about letters, sounds, and words to write words the best I can?

First graders will be doing lots of pretending, making up characters, thinking about settings and imagining realistic adventures these character can have.

Teaching Point 12: Using a checklist to review our narrative stories and making our first drafts even stronger.

Teaching Point 13: Making sure our writing is ready to read before we send it out into the world. Checking our presentation and using an editing checklist.

Math

This week in math we will finish topic B. Students will be counting on or taking from ten to Solve Result Unknown and Total Unknown Problems. In topic C students will practice strategies for solving change or addend unknown problems.

Lesson 20: Subtracting 7, 8 & 9 from teen numbers.
Lesson 21: Share and critique peer solution strategies for take from with result unknown and take apart with addend unknown word problems from the teens.
Lesson 22: Solve put together/take apart with addend unknown word problems, and relate counting on to the take from ten strategy.

Parent Tips - Topic B
Parent Tips - Topic C

Social Studies

In Social studies this week we will continue investigating our essential question, How are families similar and different?
This week we will be discussing culture and heritage in families. Students will be sharing about their own culture. We will also be investigating other cultures  and how they are different and similar to our own.

Today the next dinner plate will come home. This is a very important part of our social studies unit as it helps students make connections with their own family. Please take some time this week to discuss your own culture and heritage with your child. Please note down any discussion points on the back of the dinner plate for your child to share with their classmates.

Culture and Heritage in your family

If you have some spare time we are still looking for moms or dads to come and share about your culture. You could share things like music, food, clothes from your country.

Please let your child's class teacher know if you would be willing and they will arrange a date that suits you.

First Grade Homework:

• Daily reading helps children to become confident, successful students. Therefore, there is an expectation that students will be engaged in reading at home each day. This reading can include both independent and shared reading, in English or their mother tongue. For books read aloud to students, texts can be of any level to promote vocabulary and discussion. For reading done by students, texts should be at their independent level or lower. The emphasis should be based on enjoyable reading in order to build lifelong reading habits.
• Math practice of learnt concepts. Each Wednesday students receive a packet to practice at home. Students are encouraged to complete this by the following Tuesday and return to school. This is not something that needs to be completed in one day, but rather 10 minutes each day. This is an opportunity to practice what students have been learning that week at school.

Going Home Arrangements

If your child's going home arrangements change please let your child's classroom teacher know so that we can ensure your child heads in the right direction.

Something to think about

Over the Thanksgiving weekend we found a great article about How to raise grateful children.

Wouldn't it be great if our children appreciated everything they had in their lives and not just on Thanksgiving.

Important Dates to Remember

November 26 - Session 2 after school activities begin.
November 27 - Parent / Teacher conferences. No school for ES students.
November 30 - Prophets Birthday Holiday
December 4 - Early release day (All students released at 11:30)

If you have any questions or feedback for the first grade team please don't hesitate to contact us.

Your Partners in Learning

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)

Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)

Week 15

Thank you for taking the time to read our first grade news. Congratulations to all the first graders that were part of Madagascar. You did a great job! This week we have an exciting week with our first grade field trip and Kids Day.

WHAT WE WILL BE LEARNING THIS WEEK:

Readers Workshop

In readers workshop this week are continuing with our unit, Readers meet the Characters
Essential Questions:

• How can I use what I know about the characters to help me read with expression.
• How can I read in a way that helps me know how the characters are feeling.

Our first grade readers will be exploring what characters do in books and what this teaches us about them. We will also be paying close attention to character feelings and if they change in the book.

Teaching Point 10 - Strategies for solving tricky words

Teaching Point 11 - Reread so that we can read like story tellers with expression.

    

Writers Workshop

In Writers workshop we will continue to write Realistic Fiction stories.

Essential Questions:

• What makes a good story?
• How can I use what I know about letters, sounds, and words to write words the best I can?

First graders will be doing lots of pretending, making up characters, thinking about settings and imagining realistic adventures these character can have.

Teaching Point 10: Using checklists to set new goals.

Teaching Point 11: Adding detail to my writing by adding more sentences to each part of a realistic fiction story.

Math

This week in math we will continue with topic B. Students will be counting on or taking from ten to Solve Result Unknown and Total Unknown Problems

Lesson 18: Subtraction of 8 from teen numbers
Lesson 19: Compare the efficiency of two strategies; counting on and taking from ten.

Parent Tips - Topic B

Social Studies

In Social studies this week we will continue investigating our essential question, How are families similar and different?
This week we will be discussing traditions. Students will be sharing traditions in their own families and learning from their peers about other traditions.

Thank you to those families that are having their "dinner plate conversations". This is a very important part of our social studies unit as it helps students make connections with their own family. The dinner plates come home each Thursday for you to discuss over the weekend. Please note down any discussion points on the back of the dinner plate for your child to share with their classmates.

Culture and Heritage in your family

Next week we will be discussing culture in our families. If you have some spare time, we would love to have you come and share about your culture. You could share things like music, food, clothes from your country.

Please let your child's class teacher know if you would be willing and they will arrange a date that suits you.

Kids Day

Kid’s Day Parent Volunteers Needed

Kids' Day is on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 from 8:00am to 11:30am. Students will then be dismissed at 11:30am for a long Thanksgiving weekend. This is a half day for CAC and Pre K-5 will be participating at the same time. For new parents to the school Kids’ Day is a fun-filled day in which they can show off their house spirit, participate in a wide variety of physical activities, and enjoy each other!

Students Kids day T-shirts will be given to the students on the day.

Going Home Arrangements

If your child's going home arrangements change please let your child's classroom teacher know so that we can ensure your child heads in the right direction.

Important Dates to Remember

November 20 - Service Staff appreciation lunch
November 20 - Math Workshop for parents (2-3pm)
November 21 - Field Trip
November 22 - Kids Day
November 26 - Session 2 after school activities begin.
November 26 - Thursday Schedule
November 27 - Parent / Teacher conferences. No school for ES students.

If you have any questions or feedback for the first grade team please don't hesitate to contact us.

Your Partners in Learning

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)

Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)

Week 14

Thank you for taking the time to read this weeks first grade news. Last week we had a great week of learning and enjoyed a fabulous visit from Ken Nesbitt.

Listening to one of Ken Nesbitt's poems

Captivated first grade students

Great fun with Ken Nesbitt

Ken Nesbitt has a great website, Poetry4Kids where you can find over 100 funny poems to read together. While browsing the website I came across this article, 10 tips to engage reluctant readers. Enjoy!

WHAT WE WILL BE LEARNING THIS WEEK:

Readers Workshop

In readers workshop this week are continuing with our unit, Readers meet the Characters
Essential Questions:

• How can I use what I know about the characters to help me read with expression.
• How can I read in a way that helps me know how the characters are feeling.

Our first grade readers will be exploring what characters do in books and what this teaches us about them. We will also be paying close attention to character feelings and if they change in the book.

Teaching Point 5 - Reading partners can coach each other as we read and tell our thoughts about the character.

Teaching Point 6 - Thinking about how the character feels.

Teaching Point 7 - Looking for clues that show us how the character feels and finding evidence for our thoughts.

Teaching Point 8 - Action words help us understand how our character feels
Teaching Point 9 - Using all our strategies to read tricky words.

    

Writers Workshop

In Writers workshop we will continue to write Realistic Fiction stories.

Essential Questions:

• What makes a good story?
• How can I use what I know about letters, sounds, and words to write words the best I can?

First graders will be doing lots of pretending, making up characters, thinking about settings and imagining realistic adventures these character can have.

Teaching Point 5:Realistic fiction writers have their characters get into pretend trouble.

Teaching Point 6: Writers develop a "can do" attitude and take charge of their own writing.

Teaching Point 7: Realistic fiction stories can have different endings.

Teaching Point 8: Serious writers get serious about spelling, using all we know to spell tricky words.

Teaching Point 9: Writers fix up their writing as they go.

Math

This week in math we will continue with topic B. Students will be counting on or taking from ten to Solve Result Unknown and Total Unknown Problems

Lesson 13 : Solving word problems with subtraction of 9 from 10
Lesson 14-15 : Subtraction of 9 from teen numbers.
Lesson 16 : Relate counting on to making ten and taking from ten
Lesson 17 : Model subtraction of 8 from teen numbers.

Parent Tips - Topic B

Social Studies

In Social studies this week we will continue investigating our essential question, How are families similar and different?
We will be discussing how families care for each other.

Thank you to those families that are having their "dinner plate conversations". This is a very important part of our social studies unit as it helps students make connections with their own family. The dinner plates come home each Thursday for you to discuss over the weekend. Please note down any discussion points on the back of the dinner plate for your child to share with their classmates.

Culture and Heritage in your family

In a couple of weeks we will be discussing culture in our families. If you have some spare time, we would love to have you come and share about your culture. You could share things like music, food, clothes from your country.

Please let your child's class teacher know if you would be willing and they will arrange a date that suits you both.

Kids Day

Kid’s Day Parent Volunteers Needed

This year's Kids' Day will be held on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 from 8:00am to 11:30am. Students will then be dismissed at 11:30am for a long Thanksgiving weekend. This is a half day for CAC and Pre K-5 will be participating at the same time. For new parents to the school Kids’ Day is a fun-filled day in which they can show off their house spirit, participate in a wide variety of physical activities, and enjoy each other! The Elementary PE Department needs parent volunteers to help with the games and activities. You will be partnered up with an Elementary Teacher and teacher aide to help run an activity.  If you could volunteer on that day, please fill in the (google form) by Thursday November 16th at the latest.  Mr. Greene will contact you via e-mail with your assignment by Monday November 20th. Please mark your calendars with the date and time NOW!

Thank you, Phil Greene pgreene@cacegypt.org & Mark Mayfield mmayfield@cacegypt.org

Important Dates to Remember

November 12 - After school activities session 2 sign up begins.
November 16 - ES production performance (5:30pm)
November 17 - ES production performances (1pm and 3:30pm)
November 20 - Service Staff appreciation lunch
November 20 - Math Workshop for parents (2-3pm)
November 21 - Field Trip
November 22 - Kids Day

If you have any questions or feedback for the first grade team please don't hesitate to contact us.

Your Partners in Learning

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)

Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)

Week 13

Thank you for taking the time to read about all the important things going on in first grade. Last week we had a great week celebrating with our students as we ended our non fiction reading and writing units. The students shared their published teaching book with other first grade students. Classes have also been meeting with their big buddies to share their learning about non fiction texts.

We also had a great house event where students could demonstrate their creativity.

WHAT WE WILL BE LEARNING THIS WEEK:

Readers Workshop

In readers workshop this week we are starting a new unit called Readers meet the Characters
Essential Questions:

• How can I use what I know about the characters to help me read with expression.
• How can I read in a way that helps me know how the characters are feeling.

Our first grade readers will be exploring what characters do in books and what this teaches us about them. We will also be paying close attention to character feelings and if they change in the book.

Teaching Point 1 - Thinking about who the characters are and getting to know the characters by noticing what they are doing.

Teaching Point 2 - Retelling stories to our partners emphasizing what the character does.

Teaching Point 3 - Readers think about what the character is doing and using all the information they have readers make predictions about what the character might do next.

Teaching Point 4 - Readers use post it notes to help us remember interesting or funny parts we might want to share with our partner.

    

Writers Workshop

In Writers workshop we begin a new unit, Realistic Fiction.

Essential Questions:

• What makes a good story?
• How can I use what I know about letters, sounds, and words to write words the best I can?

First graders will be doing lots of pretending, making up characters, thinking about settings and imagining realistic adventures these character can have.

Teaching Point 1: Realistic Fiction writers imagine a pretend character and then make up things about that character like where they are and what they are doing.

Teaching Point 2: What makes Realistic Fiction realistic?

Teaching Point 3: Realistic fiction writers often tell lots of important details about their character so that their reader gets to know the character.

Teaching Point 4: Realistic fiction writers divide their story into parts, a beginning, middle and an end.

Teaching Point 5:Realistic fiction writers have their characters get into pretend trouble.

Math

This week in math we will begin the week by solving problems with addends 7, 8 & 9. We will share and critique different strategies. On Tuesday we will have our mid-module assessment and review this on Wednesday.

On Thursday we will begin Topic B, solving word problems with subtraction.

Parent Tips - Topic A

Parent Tips - Topic B

Social Studies

In Social studies this week we will continue investigating our essential question, How are families similar and different? We will continue comparing roles, rules and responsibilities in families and then we will be discussing languages in our families.

Thank you to those families that are having their "dinner plate conversations". This is a very important part of our social studies unit as it helps students make connections with their own family. The dinner plates come home each Thursday for you to discuss over the weekend. Please note down any discussion points on the back of the dinner plate for your child to share with their classmates.

Upcoming Events:

Special Visitor

Kenn Nesbitt is here in Egypt!!!

Poet Kenn Nesbitt, who will be presenting at CAC next week, is already here in Egypt! He wanted to arrive early so that he could rest up for his visit at CAC.

All ES grade levels and the MS language arts classes will be seeing Mr. Nesbitt from November 7 to 9. He will also present assemblies for the ES and MS, and he’ll be signing books at the front gate from 3:00 to 3:30 each afternoon.

To read his poems before his visit, you can access the library catalog for the ES. Enter his name “Kenn Nesbitt” and click on “Author.” You will get a list of his books. Any book that has an “e” icon next to it is an ebook, and can be read by clicking on the “Open” button next to the title. You will be prompted for your Follett account; that’s just your CAC single sign on, or our Quick Login. If you need help accessing, please come see me in the library.

Kids Day

Kid’s Day Parent Volunteers Needed

This year's Kids' Day will be held on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 from 8:00am to 11:30am. Students will then be dismissed at 11:30am for a long Thanksgiving weekend. This is a half day for CAC and Pre K-5 will be participating at the same time. For new parents to the school Kids’ Day is a fun-filled day in which they can show off their house spirit, participate in a wide variety of physical activities, and enjoy each other! The Elementary PE Department needs parent volunteers to help with the games and activities. You will be partnered up with an Elementary Teacher and teacher aide to help run an activity.  If you could volunteer on that day, please fill in the (google form) by Thursday November 16th at the latest.  Mr. Greene will contact you via e-mail with your assignment by Monday November 20th. Please mark your calendars with the date and time NOW!

Thank you, Phil Greene pgreene@cacegypt.org & Mark Mayfield mmayfield@cacegypt.org

Interesting Article

Positive Discipline
This is a great article for promoting independence in your child which is one of our first grade goals.

Important Dates to Remember

November 7 - ES Assembly
November 7 - Poet Ken Nesbitt visiting first grade
November 9 - ES Assembly with Ken Nesbitt (7:55-8:25). Parents are welcome!
November 9 - Last day of after school activities for session 1
November 12 - After school activities session 2 sign up begins.
November 16 - ES production performance (5:30pm)
November 17 - ES production performances (1pm and 3:30pm)
November 20 - Math Workshop for parents (2-3pm)
November 22 - Kids Day

If you have any questions or feedback for the first grade team please don't hesitate to contact us.

Your Partners in Learning

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)

Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)