Language Arts

What are we learning?

• Learning about Print through Nonfiction Texts
• Writing Nonfiction Books (with a focus on How-to Books)
• Vowel sounds (A, E, I, O, U)
• Phonics focus is syllables. Our focus this week has been on open syllables (words that have one vowel at the end of the word, where the vowel is able to “say its name”). The vowels in closed syllable words would be said with the long vowel sound. Examples of these words could be no, go, hi, be, he, we, she, etc.

Home/School Connection

• Questions while you read Nonfiction Books:
  • What are you learning about this topic so far? 
  • What are you learning about this topic from this (picture, photograph, chart, etc.)?
  • What are you thinking about______?
  • How has your thinking about this topic changed?
  • What questions do you still have about this topic?
  • What can you add to your thinking about this topic?
• When writing a nonfiction book:
  • What topics do you know a lot about? 
  • How or what will you teach your partner about this topic?
  • Which details did you decide to include? 

How to Play Word Ladders

Math

What are we learning?

• Geometry (focus on triangles, squares, rectangles and circles)

Home/School Connection

• Go on shape hunts and/or talk about where you might spot shapes in your home, in the neighborhood, etc.

Science

What are we learning?

• Plants and Animals
• Weather/Seasons

Home/School Connection

• Discuss what happens to plants and animals when the weather gets colder. What happens to the trees? What do you notice squirrels are doing?

Social Studies

What are we learning?

• Voting
• Leadership
• Economics (Wants/Needs, Goods/Services, Consumers/Producers)
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (We learned about the history behind the balloons - we listened to the story Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. We then watched clips and saw pictures of real balloons used in recent Macy’s Day Parades. We spent time creating our own ideas/balloons, and even having a parade through the halls of Terraset!

Home/School Connection

• Try to incorporate voting into something already happening at your house. Some examples would include voting on a movie, dinner, or a book to read before bed.
• Discuss leaders you know and leaders in your community. How might your student strive to be a leader at home/in school/in the community?
• Talk about how people make and get/buy goods and services to help satisfy wants and needs. 
  • Ask questions like: In what ways do people make choices?
  • How do people get the things they want? How do they get things they need?

Important Dates & Reminders

• Fall Book Fair this week: Wednesday, 12/1 is the last late night opportunity, until 6:30pm. Students will have opportunities during the school day throughout this week to browse and buy books as well.
• Winter Break: Monday, 12/20 through Friday 12/31 students will NOT have school. They will return from break on Monday 1/3.

Positivity Project

Week of:

• 11/29 - Kindness
• 12/6 - OPM - Knowing my words and actions affect others
• 12/13 - Self-control
• 1/3 - Optimism
  • P2 for Families (password: P2), click here

Kimochis: First Graders have learned about Lovey Dove and her friendly signals.

• Kimochis: Find the Feelings- Proud, kind, and friendly are this week’s feelings. Build your child’s emotional vocabulary and awareness by: 
  •  Noticing facial expressions and sounds that match these feelings. “Dad’s face is saying he is feeling proud of your generosity.” “That salesperson was friendly with her cheerful voice.” 
  •  Talk about when you have these feelings and how to express them. “I like to do kind things and not tell anyone. Today, I took in Mr. Tobin’s garbage can. I bet he will feel happy.”

Click here to see what students are learning in Specials!