1st Grade Newsletter
February 7, 2022
Language Arts
What are we learning?
Talking About Books (5 weeks)
• Understand that contributing, listening, and responding are equally important roles in a conversation.
• Understand that engaging in an exchange of ideas about books deepens your understanding of the text and broadens perspectives.
• Understand that connecting with people over books can change the way you feel about reading.
Home/School Connection
- Read a book with your child and have them engage in a meaningful conversation with you.
- Use talking points to help them carry on their conversation.
- Practice wait time - allowing time for you to share your ideas.
- Ask you to share your opinion - “What do you think about…?”
- Ask you to repeat something if they do not understand.
- Revoice what you said, “So you’re saying…is that right?”
- Say something meaningful, ex.: ”This book is teaching us… or I think the author wants us to understand…”
- Practice reasoning skills, “I agree/disagree with that idea because…”
- Add on to the conversation, “I’d like to add…”
- Revise their thinking as they encounter new information or ideas, “I thought…but now I think…because…”
Math
What are we learning?
Addition and Subtraction Part 2 (5 weeks)
- Create and solve single-step story and picture problems using addition and subtraction within 10.
- Recognize and describe with fluency part whole relationships for numbers up to 10.
- Demonstrate fluency with addition and subtraction within 10.
- Demonstrate an understanding of equality through the use of the equal symbol.
Home/School Connection
- Make a song that teaches you how to add or subtract numbers.
- Be a teacher! Using legos or a drawing, record yourself teaching others how to add or subtract.
Science
What are we learning?
Living Things (4 weeks):
- Animals need adequate air, food, water, shelter, and space (habitat)
- Animals, including humans, have many different physical characteristics
- Plants and animals can be classified according to a variety of characteristics
- Plants need nutrients, air, water, light, and a place to grow
- Plants have parts with specific functions
- Changes in temperature, light, and precipitation affect plants and animals, including humans
Home/School Connection
- Think of an animal. Create or draw a picture of their shelter (where they live).
- Share your All About Animal Book with someone that lives with you or over the phone.
Social Studies
What are we learning?
Being an American: Virginians Building a New Nation (2 weeks)
- Describe and make connections to the impacts of influential Virginians who helped form a new nation, with a focus on, but not limited to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
- Make connections to people and events associated with:
- George Washington Day (Presidents’ Day)
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
Home/School Connection
- Talk about different people and events that helped shape Virginia’s history.
- Resources to help build knowledge can include: MyON, PebbleGo, National Geographic Kids, and/or Kids InfoBits - All resources are available on Student Links.
Important Dates & Reminders
- February 21st - Presidents Day (no school)
Information Regarding COVID 19:
New Guidance for Returning to School After Quarantine, Pause, or Isolation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance for isolation and quarantine in late December, with multiple updates in January. This guidance reduces isolation and quarantine to five days. The VDH states that school districts may choose to continue more stringent isolation and quarantine requirements or may implement the new CDC guidance.
FCPS will adopt the new guidance with one exception:
- FCPS will adopt CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of quarantine for students and staff.
- FCPS will adopt CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of isolation for staff.
- FCPS will NOT adopt CDC’s recommendation for isolation for students as we are unable to implement the required physical distancing protocols during meals. FCPS students with COVID- 19 will need to continue to complete a ten day isolation period.
Return Guidance for Students with COVID-19
Students who are COVID-19 positive are able to return to school when ALL of the following criteria are met:
- Student completes at least 10 days of isolation from symptom onset for symptomatic students or 10 days since testing positive (day test administered) for COVID-19 for asymptomatic students; AND
- Student is fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND
- Student’s symptoms have improved; AND
- Student submits the FCPS Isolation Letter with the return date to their attending school
Positivity Project
Week of:
- Humility: February 7-11
- Love: February 13-19
Family Resources: https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/
Password: P2