Weekly News
3/30-4/2
We continued our animals unit in Choice Time! We did a special project this week where students chose an animal, did research to learn where it lives and how it survives, and then created 3D habitats using the information they found. If you’d like to volunteer to help with choice time, please sign up here.
We also have an upcoming field trip to Bennett College on April 16. Arrival and dismissal times will be the same. Students will need to bring a packed lunch and a water bottle. We do not need chaperones, but if you would like to join us, please reach out to your student’s contact teacher.
In Literacy, first graders finished up Unit 5 and started on Unit 6. We started with a little more review on when c makes the /s/ or /k/ sound and our nouns and verbs. In Knowledge, we continued our unit on Geology, learning the three kinds of rocks and what fossils tell us about the history of the Earth and development of life. We also had a guest speaker on volcanoes who shared more about the types of volcanoes and how they affect the environment and life around them.
Second graders continued reviewing how complete sentences must include a subject and a predicate, some are even compound! We also talked more about apostrophes and what they indicate. Possession! We also practiced more adjectives and how they describe nouns. Our newest lesson has started the discussion of the ‘schwa’ sound. The schwa sound is represented with an upside down e, /ə/. It is commonly referred to as a ‘lazy’ sound and is spelled with any vowel letter. For example, the ‘a’ sound in the word ‘about’ or the ‘e’ in ‘camel’ are both considered schwa sounds. We ended the short week with our spelling assessment of the long i sound(/ie/) spelled with ‘igh’ ad ‘y.’
In math, first graders finished Topic B! We practiced more with pennies and dimes on making the next ten, how to make two sides of an equals sign equal, and how each digit changes based on the place it is in in the number. We’ll start Topic C next week and will be working on adding 1-digit numbers to 2-digit numbers, using our practice this week to help us find the next ten. Practice your “partners to 10” at home (e.g. 6 + 4 = 10) if you have time.
Second grade math class wrapped up telling time last week. Please keep working with your student on how to tell time on an analog clock. It takes a lot of practice! Use this link —> Topic D to help you learn how we taught these concepts in class.⏱️This week we also began a new Module in Eureak Math 2. We began learning mental place value strategies for numbers up to 1,000 with unknown numbers in various positions. We also learned what we needed on either side of the = mark to make each equation equal. Topic A is teaching us a better understanding of place value so we can add and subtract mentally with ease. We also learned how to solve multi-step word problems. We use strategies using number bonds and tape diagrams to solve word problems. Use this link —-> Topic A to guide you through these mental place value strategies.
…Critter Corner… Shadow and Mr Fuzzy Cheeks are doing great and excited about spring! HUGE THANK YOU to Bianca and her family for providing extra bedding, food and treats to our furry friends. It is a BIG help and our teachers thank you very much!
We also have a new critter corner that we are watching closely in our classroom. We received our shipment of caterpillars this week. We are keeping an eye out for what is happening as they begin their transformation to beautiful butterflies! Watch out for updates!