Dear Unicorn Families!
Next
week will mark our third full week of school.
The mornings are even starting to cool off just a bit, of course, I
could just be hopeful that the end of another Tucson summer is near. The children are starting get some of our
routines. The unicorns love to talk, so
we are working on the appropriate times to talk. It is all a part of learning how to be a part
of a new classroom. As we continue to discuss
interpersonal skills as a part of our health unit, we will also move on to
healthy bodies. This will include foods
we eat, exercise, and teeth. In writing
we have started learning about writing small moment stories. An example of a small moment story is riding
one roller coaster on a trip to Disneyland.
Taking that one adventure and adding the details to make it a small
moment in time. In reading we will look
at books and how to make connections to what we have read. We will start with general ideas next week
and move into an author study soon after Labor Day. Finally, in math, we are examining the steps
we need to go through to solve word problems.
We are also exploring number comparison, accuracy when counting/writing
numbers, and manipulating numbers in multiple ways. I am seeing some number reversals right know,
please know that they are developmentally appropriate through the beginning of
second grade (also true for letters), but I will begin to work with the
children to look for them. If you see an
underline under a number, on a paper, it usually means there was a reversal
there. Give your child time to start
turning these around before you focus on it.
Your
child’s first homework is in the Friday folder this week. There are two parts. The first is a reading log. We hope your child will read (by him/herself,
to a family member, or by a family member) every day for 10 to 15 minutes. Everyone’s routines are different, so find a
time that works best for you. Some like
the night, while others have early risers and prefer to read in the
morning. The second page of the homework
is a worksheet that each child will keep in their writing folder. Please read it with your child, cut out the
phrases that fit and glue it in the jar.
It will give them ideas to write about when they are stuck and can’t
think of a small moment story. If you
have questions, please feel free to ask.
In
your child’s folder is their DIBELS score report. This
is a nationally standardized reading assessment and is one of multiple ways we
assess your child. The beginning of the
year assessment looks at letter naming, and the reading of nonsense words (both
individual sounds and whole words read).
This assessment is done 3 times a year.
If you have more questions that are not answered by the literature that
comes home with the scores, please let me know and we can find a time to
meet. This is not something that I can
quickly discuss at drop off or parent pick up.
Finally,
Tuesday is Curriculum Night for First Grade.
There is a presentation in the MPR for the fine arts program and all the
changes for this year starting at 5:30 (This presentation will happen all 3
nights). A group presentation for all 4
classrooms will start at 6:00 pm and go for 20 minutes. Then we will head to the classroom where I
will talk about specifics for the Unicorn class. The evening will end by 7:00 pm
I
hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. I
look forward to seeing you all next week.
Mrs. Berk
