Ms. Barraza ~ Ms. Galicia ~ Ms. Jean-Pierre ~ Ms.

McKone
Date: 9/19/14
What were hooting about in 1
st
grade!

Word Wall Words
1. and
2. the
3. is
4. like
5. play
The word wall routine will be explained at
curriculum night.

Readers Workshop
The year begins with building our
independent reading stamina and learning
routines to create a classroom
environment that supports working
independently and in small groups
simultaneously. We are busy completing
all of the baseline assessments. In a
week or so, we should have Readers
Workshop fully up and running.

Writers Workshop
We launch our Writers Workshop with
Pattern Books. We have spent time
reading a variety of pattern books and
have discovered that they are organized
in many ways (i.e. lists; same
words/phrases; opposites; math-
counting; etc). We also noticed that
authors choose a topic and stay on that
topic. The pattern is clear to the reader
and the pictures match the words as well
as add meaning. Students have begun to
use what they have learned about
pattern books in their own writing. Our
grammar/mechanics focus at the time is
spacing.



Math
We finished Unit 1 in math this week.
In Unit 1, we:
! learned our daily math routines
and explored tools we will be using
! reviewed how to use the number
line to help us add and subtract
! practiced recording tallies
! investigated equally likely
outcomes using dice
! talked about how we will work in
small groups and at math centers
respectfully and responsibly
! began solving and telling number
stories

Ms. Barraza ~ Ms. Galicia ~ Ms. Jean-Pierre ~ Ms. McKone
Date: 9/19/14
What were hooting about in 1
st
grade!
Homelinks for the year will be sent home
during curriculum night. We will keep
you updated as to which lessons have
been completed via the newsletter so
you can complete the links with your
children.

Science
This week we launched our Science
Study for the year. We will learn the
routines of a Science Workshop model.
The workshop model looks much like our
literacy time - independent and small
group work goes on simultaneously. I am
excited to explore a famous scientist or
two during each three week cycle.
" We discussed what scientists do.
" We did some observational writing
about AIR using our senses.
" We learned a bit about Jacques
Cousteau. We wondered what it
would be like to explore an
undiscovered world like Cousteaus
undersea discoveries.




Social Studies
We finished our first three week cycle
of Social Studies last week. We began
the year learning about The Willard Way
(school rules), and Friendships.
Throughout the year, the first grade
team will be using the Second Step
Curriculum: The Second Step Curriculum
is fun, easy-to-teach lessons and
engaging songs and games. The kids
learn the empathy, emotion-management,
and problem-solving skills they need,
which will prepare your students to learn
whatever they need to-from social
emotional skills to math and science. We
will alternate between doing a lesson in
our classroom and gathering as an entire
grade to deliver a lesson all together.
Look for Second Step homework
periodically. (Lesson 2 sent on 9/19)

Important Dates:
Curriculum Night Monday, September 22
Rosh Hashanah September 25 (No School)