Week 25 February 18 - 22

Thank you so much for reading our weekly news. Last week we enjoyed our field trip to the Maadi Monastery. Thank you to all the chaperones and to the Egypt Culture team for making this possible for our students. First Grade also visited the middle school and enjoyed some drama performances from the middle school students.

As we look ahead we have an exciting week of celebrations. We will be finishing reading and writing units and celebrating our success as readers and writers. We also have an exciting opportunity at the Lego creativity celebration on Thursday.

Lighting candles

1S in the church

1M in the church

Three domes

1M

1C 

1C reflecting on our learning

From the Curriculum Corner

Readers Workshop

Essential Questions:

- What reading strategies can we use to make sure our reading looks right, sounds right and makes sense?
- What can readers do to make sure they understand what they have read?

Last week we focused on understanding our books. We do this by paying close attention to the action and the dialogue. This week, as we come to the end of our unit, Readers have big jobs to do we will investigate how we can make our reading sound great. We will also use our reading partners to help us make our reading sound smooth and fluent.
On Wednesday this week students will be sharing their learning journey with KG students. They will share how they have learnt to be the boss of their own reading and how to make their reading sound the best it can be.

Writers Workshop

Essential Question:

- How can I use writing to share my opinion?

This week our persuasive writers will be sharing their writing with the CAC community. After a week of making their writing the best it can be by editing, revising and publishing, each class will be making anthologies. On Thursday, February 22 there will be a display of first grade review writing in the ES library. Our writing will be on display for three days. Please stop by if you would like to find out:
Where are the best restaurants?
What are the best movies to watch?
What are some of the best places to visit?
And more.

Math

Essential Question:

- What are efficient ways to count?
- How does counting by tens and ones help you count larger numbers?
- What is place value?
- How does a digit's position affect it's place value?
- How can numbers be expressed and compared?
- In what way can numbers be composed and decomposed?

This week our first grade mathematicians will use their understanding of place value to add tens and ones to a two digit number. Students will use the counting on and making ten strategy when adding across a ten. Students will continue to practice their fluency through games and sprints and use their knowledge to solve real life word problems.

Parent Tips Topic D

 

 

Social Studies

Essential Question: 

-How do families grow and change over time?

In Social Studies this week first graders will continue to explore families from the past. They will be looking at differences and similarities in activities this week. Focussing on the games children played in the past compared to today.

                

CIRCLE SOLUTIONS:

1C  will continue to learn about emotional awareness during our circles. We will be discussing our feelings and how they change. We will learn what emotions are for and the ability to recognize and name our feelings.

1M We will continue our work on emotional awareness.  This week we will try to identify different feelings than last week, and we will identify the situations when we experience them. In our circles this month, we are also paying attention to other's feelings, especially when we cause them.

1S  This week we will be focusing on cooperation and fairness, students will learn about what 'ingredients' we need in 1S to make our classroom a place that is fair and enables all students to work with each other in a supportive and cooperative way. Students will have fun identifying situations that are 'fair' or 'unfair' and then in small groups create their own recipe for a fair and cooperative classroom.

Music

Students have prepared for their February Informances, which will take place in the Music Room, ES 18. Here is the schedule for this week; please note that it will begin 10 minutes earlier than previously stated:

Gr. 1M - Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m.

Gr. 1C - Feb. 19 at 11:30 a.m.

Gr. 1S - Feb. 21 at 11:30 a.m.

Core Value

This month’s Core Value is Creativity.  The elementary school defines creativity as, “being inspired to imagine and explore”.  A lot of the time we think of creativity as relating to the  arts, however, creativity is more complex and fascinating.  In elementary, we will be spending the month exploring the idea of creativity with students.  You can help support our efforts at home by investigating the concept with your child.  

How do you define creativity?  Are there things that hinder creative thinking?

Here are some interesting ideas from parents.com

Ten secrets to raising creative kids

To celebrate our month of Creativity, students will enjoy showing their teachers and friends how they can be creative with Lego on Thursday, February 22.

Going home arrangements

A reminder that if your child's going home arrangements change please do not rely on emailing the classroom teacher to send a message to your child. Teachers are teaching and cannot always check emails. Please always send an email to the ES office as well.

Important Dates to Remember:

February 18th: 1M Music Informance 11:30 - 12:10 in the music room (Parents are invited)
February 19th: 1C Music Informance 11:30 - 12:10 in the music room (Parents are invited)
February 20th: 1M assembly (Parents are always encouraged to come)
February 21st: 1S Music Informance 11:30 - 12:10 in the music room (Parents are invited)
February 22nd: Lego Creativity Celebration for students
February 22nd: ASA session 2 ends
March 4 - 10: ASA session 3 sign up
March 7: Early release day
March 8: CAC holiday
March 18: ASA session 3 begins


If you have any other questions or concerns about this week, please don't hesitate to contact your classroom teacher.

Your Partners in Learning,

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)
Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)

Wk 24 Feb 11th - 15th

Thank you so much for reading our weekly news. It was a great week where we had the opportunity to see many families at our Math Night and  at the ES picnic. We know that it is hard sometimes to step away from work to attend all of these events, so we truly appreciate when you can make it and so does your child.
In CAC we are promoting Growth Mindset, and in first grade it looks like: students making mistakes and learning from them, students having productive struggle to develop perseverance and flexible thinking. Please support us at home with encouraging your child by praising the effort and the journey, more so than the result.

From the Curriculum Corner

Readers Workshop

Essential Questions:

- What reading strategies ca we use to make sure our reading looks right, sounds right and makes sense?
- What can readers do to make sure they understand what they have read?

Last week's work was focused on tools to figure out tricky words. This week our first grade readers will tie that work with making sure that they are not just reading, but understanding the words that they read. They will review and put in practice visualization to really get into their books, and make a movie in their minds of what's happening. Students will also be practicing a strategy that is often times missed because we are in such a hurry of finishing a book - stopping and rereading for many reasons: to find meaning, to make sure that it makes sense, to understand confusing parts, and/or to think what's next? to understand more.

Readers trying everything they know to figure out tricky words, and helping their partners

Writers Workshop

Essential Question:

- How can I use writing to share my opinion?

Our persuasive writers will be practicing everything they have learned so far about review writing such as: planning reviews using strategies from narrative and information writing, taking their audience into account when writing, and making comparisons in book reviews. Students will also learn how to write sneak peek summaries instead of spilling the beans, and we will practice using conjunctions.

Writers discussing their writing checklist with partners and planning

Writers working in teams to put together review anthologies

Math

Essential Question:

- What are efficient ways to count?
- How does counting by tens and ones help you count larger numbers?
- What is place value?
- How does a digit's position affect it's place value?
- How can numbers be expressed and compared?
- In what way can numbers be composed and decomposed?

This week our first grade mathematicians will use their understanding of place value to compare numbers, and add or subtract tens from a multiple of 10. They will be using all the strategies that they're learned so far such as: drawing quick tens and ones, using number bonds to mentally add or subtracting 10, and using arrow notation to as a strategy for solving problems or to express their understanding. Students will end up the week by practicing using counting on and the make ten strategy when adding across a ten.
About mid week, students will be taking the Mid-module assessment for this unit and teachers will be providing feedback on their strengths and things they need to work on. The purpose of this is that they reflect on their learning and set goals for themselves for the days and weeks ahead.

Parent Tips Topic C

Parent Tips Topic D

Having fun with Math while we learn hands on!

Social Studies

Essential Question: 

-How do families grow and change over time?

In Social Studies, first graders will be talking about schools and how they have changed and developed over time. Students will be prompted to notice differences, expressing wonders, asking and answering questions about schools from the past and present. We will also share personal experiences about schools that we have attended in other countries. For students, Social Studies is a time to think, wonder, notice, discuss and make connections, and it would be very valuable if you can share your experience for your child. If you do, make sure to have conversations with them about the differences and similarities that you find.

CIRCLE SOLUTIONS:

1C Over the next few weeks 1C will be looking at emotional awareness during our circles. We will be discussing our feelings and how they change. We will learn what emotions are for and the ability to recognize and name our feelings.

1M  To continue our work on emotional awareness, this week we will practice to identify feelings that are tied to situations, and how to express them.

1S  This week we will be focusing on belonging, students will learn about what character traits they can display in class and at home to help themselves, and others, belong in their group of friends or family.

How To Raise Happy Kids – 10 Steps Backed By Science

Article link: How to Raise Happy Kids

Important Dates to Remember:

February 13th: First Grade field trip
February 18th: 1M Music Informance 11:30 - 12:10 in the music room (Parents are invited)
February 19th: 1C Music Informance 11:30 - 12:10 in the music room (Parents are invited)
February 20th: 1M assembly
February 21st: 1S Music Informance 11:30 - 12:10 in the music room (Parents are invited)
February 22nd: Lego Celebration for students
February 22nd: ASA session 2 ends


If you have any other questions or concerns about this week, please don't hesitate to contact your classroom teacher.

Your Partners in Learning,

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)
Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)

Wk 23 Feb 4th. - 8th

Dear parents thank you for taking the time to read our blog and staying informed of First Grade happening. This past week started full on with a new Math module and writing to persuade, we appreciate all the support continue to give us from the home end. This month's Core Value is CREATIVITY and we will start to send home the book "The Almost Terrible Play Date" by Richard Torrey. We appreciate you reading the book with your children at home, having a conversation about what they learned, and sending it back to school the next day.

  

From the Counselor's corner

Dear CAC Parents,

In guidance we are working on emotional management and discussing strong emotions, how they make our bodies feel and calming down strategies. It is important for kids to understand that everyone gets upset but that we are all still responsible for our behaviors.

We discussed the concept of “flipping our lids” and how to calm down when our emotions take over our thinking.  We are sharing calming down strategies and practicing different ways to calm ourselves down when upset.  Please share with your children strategies that you use when you have a strong emotion.

This month’s Core Value is Creativity.  The elementary school defines creativity as ‘being inspired to imagine and explore’.  A lot of the time when we think of creativity we think of the arts.  However, creativity is more complex and fascinating.  In elementary, will be spending the month exploring the idea of creativity and have shared this article with the teachers. You can help support our efforts at home by investigating the concept with your child.  

How do you define creativity?  Is there anything that might block creativity?  

Attached is a thought-provoking article in the New York Times about developing creativity.  

How to Raise a Creative Child. Step One: Back Off

Parent Math Night

Mark your calendars for Feb. 7, 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm. Come play math games with your child. Games develop fluency with math skills and problem solving. Experience the fun of learning through games!

Our Family Math Night games are intended to help build fluency in math in a fun and engaging way. 

You’ll find the rules and instructions for a wide range of math skills games using a variety of different resources, including playing cards and dice. We’ve assembled games for different skill levels ranging

from Grades Pre-K through 5, all with an educational math twist. 

Did you know? The games are available to be checked out from the library after Family Math Night, if you would like to play them again at home. Ask your child to talk with the librarians. 

Locations: Grades 1-5 are in the ES Hall, KG in the Drama room and Pre K in their own room.

Family Picnic

Pre K: 11:00 am - 11:30 am; KGGr. 5: 12:10 pm - 12:50 pm

Due to popular demand, we will be having another BBQ for picnic day next Thursday, February 8. 

Kindly sign up through the google form (below) if interested! There is a google sign-up form 

for each grade. For siblings, please sign up each child in their respective grade order form.

The DEADLINE for orders will be on Tuesday, February 6th by 5:00 p.m. 

We kindly ask that parents drop off the money in a labelled envelope to the ES office 

(name, class code and order). Note the following grade level lunch times:

• Pre-K will eat lunch at 11am,

• KG to Grade 2 at 12:10pm and  

• Grades 3-5 at 12:30pm

IMPORTANT: Unfortunately we will not be able to take orders on the day of the BBQ and 

we will have to cancel orders that have not been paid by Tuesday the 6th.

We look forward to seeing you all!!

Pre-K Family Picnic Order Form

KG Family Picnic Order Form

Grade 1 Family Picnic Order Form

Grade 2 Family Picnic Order Form

Grade 3 Family Picnic Order Form

Grade 4 Family Picnic Order Form

Grade 5 Family Picnic Order Form

A Field Trip to Stabl Antar Dreams School 

Saturday, February 10th, 2018

10:30 AM - 2:30 PM

The Service Learning office is planning a field trip to Stabl Antar Dreams School for Elementary School students to

deliver Pass the Parcel donates. If you interested to join the trip please email Mariam Hassan directly.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U28WOHJkWAkr2A1PfN33EeDl4C-1YA1DTOpu9XXPOow/edit?usp=sharing.

From the Curriculum Corner

Readers Workshop

Essential Questions:

- What reading strategies can we use to make sure our reading looks right, sounds right and makes sense?
- What can readers do to make sure they understand what they have read?

This week our first grade readers will apply some of the skills they have learned during word study. We will discuss how in English there are letters and letter teams that are sneaky, and that good readers are flexible and look patterns that we know, and try the different sounds that they can make. Students have been learning sight words since the start of the year, and this week they will realize how sight words can help them to read fluently. Since we are preparing to read longer  and more challenging books, we will end the week by making sure that as readers we make sure to stop to check for understanding, and rereading if we didn't get it.

Busy first graders working on big jobs to become the best readers they can be

Writers Workshop

Essential Question:

- How can I use writing to share my opinion?

This week our persuasive writers will learn how to write catchy introductions and conclusions to captivate their readers from the beginning to make them want to read more, and also to urge them to try new things. Students will continue to use the power of persuasion, but they will also work on keeping their audience in mind and making their writing easy to read. Partners will play a big role in this job as they will work together to check each other's work and provide feedback to make their partner's writing the best that it can be. Our students will close the week with the second mini celebration of this unit: they will get together in groups and write review anthologies based on common things they wrote about before.

Some of our favorite things we will be writing reviews about

We love writing about our favorite things!

Math

Essential Question:

- What are efficient ways to count?
- How does counting by tens and ones help you count larger numbers?
- What is place value?
- How does a digit's position affect it's place value?
- How can numbers be expressed and compared?
- In what way can numbers be composed and decomposed?

This week students will use the concepts and strategies learned last week, and they will apply them when they compare pairs of two- digit numbers and identify the greater or lesser than the two given numerals using the >, <, and = signs. Students will also compare quantities and numerals from left to right.

Parent Tips Topic B

 

Learning about tens and ones

Representing two digit numbers with different manipulatives

Social Studies

Essential Question:

- How do families grow and change over time?

This week we will be learning about homes from the past and present. We will research how homes have changed over time in different places around the world, and students will talk about their own homes and how they are different from each other's.

First graders drawing their families now and how they think they will look in 20 years

CIRCLE SOLUTIONS:

1C Over the next few weeks 1C will be looking at emotional awareness during our circles. We will be discussing our feelings and how they change. We will learn what emotions are for and the ability to recognize and name our feelings.

1M Since we have been talking about, and identifying our strengths; this month the theme will be our emotional awareness to foster intrinsic motivation and be a positive member of our class, school and community.

1S  This week we will be reviewing 'friendship' and what it means to be a good friend both inside and outside the classroom. Students will work together to come up with a 'recipe' for friendship that they can use when they are making new friends and when they are trying to make current friendships stronger.

1. Empathize with your child and model empathy for others.

2. Make caring for others a priority and set high ethical expectations.

3. Provide opportunities for children to practice empathy.

4. Expand your child's circle of concern.

5. Help children develop self-control and manage feelings effectively.

Article link: How Parents Can Cultivate Empathy in Children

Important Dates to Remember:

Wednesday February 7th: ES Math Night in the ES hall  4:15 - 5:15pm
Thursday February 8th: Family Picnic (sign up required)
Saturday February 10th: Field trip to Stabl Antar Dreams School (sign up required)
Tuesday February 13th: First Grade field trip
Tuesday February 20th: 1M assembly
ASA activities session 2 will end the week of February 18th


If you have any other questions or concerns about this week, please don't hesitate to contact your classroom teacher.

Your Partners in Learning,

Taryn Carr (tcarr@cacegypt.org)
Gaby Morales (gmorales@cacegypt.org)

Charlie Saunders (csaunders@cacegypt.org)