Highlights for the week included two opportunities with the arts! On Monday students learned about mixing colors and the color wheel before creating their own painted paper thanks to Art Infusion! They will be using these papers to create a picture in the style of Eric Carle.
The second highlight was working with Andy from Red Yarn to create sock puppets to accompany our song, Turkey in the Straw. We will finish the puppets this week and practice our song to get ready for our little performance next week. We hope you will join us! All three first grades will be in the cafeteria. Doors open at 1:40 and the performance is set for 1:45. We will have a guest teacher Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. I have to go out of town to attend a funeral. I know everyone will carry on and I look forward to hearing all about their time with the substitute. Upcoming Dates Tuesday, January 30 Red Yarn 9:30 -10:25 Wednesday, January 31 Art Infusion 1:00 - 2:00 Tuesday, February 6 Red Yarn Performance 1:45 - 2:10 Wednesday, February 7 Wednesday Morning Meeting 8:20 Wednesday, February 14 Valentine's Day Thursday, February 15 Fieldtrip to Pete the Cat
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The big news this week is that we've started our work with an Artist in Residence, Red Yarn. For the new few weeks we will be working with Andy to learn a folksong, create sock puppets for acting the song out and then performing for families and friends. This week students were introduced to our song, Turkey in the Straw. Students were given a character and created a plan for their puppet. We will be working on the puppets over the next two weeks. I've posted a few pictures of our first session on the Photos page.
Then end of the second grading period is this Friday. I am spending time assessing students in reading, math and spelling. While I meet with each student in a reading conference the class is working on practicing the strategies they have been learning while reading the books they have selected from our class library. In math students have been completing some written assessments and I am meeting individually with students to assess counting, place value and addition and subtraction strategies. It is a busy time but I enjoy the opportunity to talk about the strategies students are using in both reading and math. Reminder - Don't forget to return the permission slip for our field trip to Pete the Cat. If you need another copy please let me know. We had an amazing response to the request for chaperones. We had 10 people volunteer and unfortunately can only take 5. I used an online generator to select names and will contact parents on Monday. We will have another field trip in May so if you were not selected for this trip there will be a second opportunity. Dates to Remember We have begun our newest unit of study in ready titled, Readers Have Big Jobs To Do: Fluency, Phonics and Comprehension. I am looking forward to all this includes. We started this week with reminding students to do a "triple-check" when they are figuring out tricky words. We sorted our strategies into three groups, matching them with the questions readers ask themselves when they self-monitor: Does it Look Right? Does it Sound Right? and Does it Make Sense?. Each student identified one strategy that they use independently and one that they will work on. Setting goals is such a valuable skill! Ask your child what their current reading goal is.
In math we continue to use the number line as a tool to solve addition and subtraction problems. This week we worked with numbers 0-100 counting by tens. One thing you can practice at home is counting forward and backward by tens starting from any number i.e., 16, 26, 36 ... This is helps build a stronger understanding of place value. We met with our 3rd grade buddies to create a special project based on the book, Martin's Big Words. Students made word splashes of powerful, positive words. Our big words are on display in the classroom. We have an Artist in Residence starting this week thanks to funding from Run for the Arts. We will be working with Red Yarn. Each first grade class will choose a folk song, create sock puppets to act out the song and perform the songs. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 6th at 1:45 for the performance! We are in need of volunteers to help on the puppet making days. If you are available to help you can sign up online at Signup.com or send me an email. Work sessions are on Tuesday, January 23 & 30 from 9:30-10:30. Reminder: We have our first fieldtrip next month to see the play, Pete the Cat at the Newmark Theater downtown. A permission slip came home so if it didn't make it please let me know and I will send another copy. Upcoming Dates Tuesday, January 16 Red Yarn Art Residency 9:30-10:30 Wednesday, January 17 Late Opening Monday, January 22 Art Infusion Part 1 1:00 Tuesday, January 23 Red Yarn Art Residency 9:30 - 10:30 (Parent Help Needed) Friday, January 26 Spirit Day - The Spirit of Oregon Monday, January 29 Planning Day - No School Tuesday, January 30 Red Yarn Art Residency 9:30 - 10:30 (Parent Help Needed) Wednesday, January 31 Art Infusion Part 2 1:00 Happy New Year!
It's great to be back. We are settled back in and back to the business of first grade. We spent the week reviewing routines in reading, reminding ourselves of how to be an effective reading partner. A new unit starts this week and I am excited to see where it takes us. The grading period ends later this month so a portion of our readers workshop will include individual assessments in phonics, fluency and comprehension. In math we have started a new unit that uses the number line as a tool for solving addition and subtraction problems. Be on the lookout for a unit overview in your child's take home folder that shares more details about what is to come in math. The volunteer sign up has been updated through spring break. It includes dates not only for reading with students but also for art help. We have an artist in residence beginning soon and would love help with the puppet making portion of the residency. I've set aside 4 slots for each session but if they fill up and you would still like to help just let me know. It's a really fun project. A second art residency begins in March and students will be working with clay so help will be very much appreciated! We have our first fieldtrip next month to see the play, Pete the Cat at the Newmark Theater downtown. A permission slip came home on Friday so if it didn't make it please let me know and I will send another copy. Upcoming Dates Tuesday, January 9 Dough for Dollars PTA fundraiser - Mt. Tabor Pizzicato Monday, January 15 No School Tuesday, January 16 Red Yarn Art Residency 9:30-10:30 Wednesday, January 17 Late Opening Monday, January 22 Art Infusion Part 1 1:00 Tuesday, January 23 Red Yarn Art Residency 9:30 - 10:30 (Parent Help Needed) Friday, January 26 Spirit Day - The Spirit of Oregon Monday, January 29 Planning Day - No School Tuesday, January 30 Red Yarn Art Residency 9:30 - 10:30 (Parent Help Needed) Wednesday, January 31 Art Infusion Part 2 1:00 |
MS. SCHIADAI teach first grade in southeast Portland where every day brings a new adventure!
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