For your First Grader's Home Thinking this week, they will begin getting High Frequency Word Work as part of it. They will have the opportunity to choose how they want to practice these words through a monthly spelling menu that will come home. You DO NOT need to do all of these choices. We hope that you and your First Grader enjoy these fun, non-traditional ways to grow as First Grade writers.
A few notes about the Word List: You will see "Spelling Words" and "Thinking Words." Here is the explanation of both:
-Spelling Words: These are a selection of 5 words from our First Grade High Frequency List. First Graders should know how to read AND write all of these words by the end of First Grade. These will be the words we practice throughout the week though not in isolation. We will continue to practice ALL as the weeks go on. Keep this in mind as you practice at home.
-Thinking Words: These are words that follow a spelling pattern we practice throughout the week. There will not be a "list" of these words to practice, as we want to students to use the spelling pattern to "THINK" about how the word should be spelled versus memorization. This week for example, we will be practice words that have -at in them. Some of these words could be cat, hat, etc. Have you or your First Grader brainstorm words that fit this pattern to practice with.
In the coming weeks, we will be having “Word Work Checks” where they will be tested on the words we have practice so far. I will let you know more about this when it begins. Let me know if you have any questions!
Zoo $ and Permission Due WEDNESDAY
If you have not yet, please send in your First Grader's permission/money for our Field Trip to the Zoo. The cost is $7 per person ($5 for zoo, $2 for bus). If you are a Zoo Member, please note this on the permission slip but please remember to pay $2 per person for the bus cost. We are going to the Zoo on Wednesday, October 19 from 9:15 til 2pm. Let me know if you need another form sent home.
Fancy Writing Pens
In Writer's Workshop we have begun to use pens for our writing pieces. We use these for two reasons: they can't erase what they wrote so I can see ALL their thinking AND this teaches them the importance of slowing down to think while we write. I gave each of them school supplied blue pens, BUT I am inviting students to bring in their own fancy writing pens if they would like :) The ink color does not matter and this is not required, but ask your child (if they haven't asked you already!) if they would like to bring in a Fancy Writing Pen :)
Math Fact Fluency Tests
Students will receive their +1 fact test back on Monday. If your child did not pass with Mastery (90% or 18/20) they will have an opportunity to retake the test on Wednesday. This week we will test on the -1 facts :) Some helpful ways to practice these at home are using flashcards or online links. Here are some of my favorites which can all be found on our classroom website:
- http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/mathmagician/mathsadd.html
- http://www.tutpup.com/plays/new/1-maths-game
- http://www.arcademics.com/games/alien/alien.html