First Grade News for Miss Thies's class
February 2008

Please note that you may send in valentines for the class but please do not attach candy or give out goodie bags. Thank you!
Reader's Workshop
Reminders
Upcoming Events
Things to do at home

This month we are working on reading Non-fiction books. Some of the features we will identify and learn to use are:

  • Table of Contents
  • Glossary
  • Index
  • Captions under pictures
  • Maps, graphs, and tables
  • Bold and italics print

We will be comparing how we read non-fiction books as opposed to fiction stories. This will also be a beginning to doing our own research.
  • Check your child's folder every night for notes and homework.
  • Remember to read with your child each night and fill in the star paper!
  • Dress your child appropriately as the weather gets colder!
  • Label all of your child's clothing
  • Send in a healthy snack everyday!
  • Feb. 4th - Theatreworks show
  • Feb. 6th - France presentation
  • Feb. 12th- 100th day of school
  • Feb. 14th - 8:30 am Love is the Word Show / Valentine's Day Party
  • Feb. 18 - 22nd School is closed for Winter Break
  • Feb. 27th - Sweden presentation
  • tell time on an analog clock - use "quarter to ___, and quarter after ___ o'clock"
  • practice addition flash cards
  • practice counting forward and backward from any number
  • tell and solve number stories
  • think of some good story ideas for writer's workshop
Phonics Fun
Math
Science and Social Studies
Writing
  • long a, long i, long o, -dge, gi, ge, ce, ci, s, v
  • homophones
  • rhyming words
  • opposites
  • antonyms/synonyms
  • SPELLING: Short a, short i, short o, short e
  • fact power (addition facts) : doubles, turn-around facts, +1, +0
  • Place Value ( base-10 blocks, calculators)
  • Relations: using <,>,=
  • Adding two digit numbers using a number grid or base ten blocks
  • Number stories
  • finding the difference
  • function machine "What's my Rule?"
  • Passport to Learning : Philippines, France, and Sweden
  • Groundhog's Day
  • Presidents
  • Valentine's Day
  • Chinese NewYear
  • identify properties of solid objects

Open Circle:
students will learn various ways to solve problems.
  • Author Study: Angela Johnson, Donald Crews, and Mo Willems.
  • look at author's craft
  • identify common traits of various authors
  • try to write using a favorite author's style of writing
Some great books for this month:
Jake Baked a Cake
Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather
A Picture Book of George Washington
The General's Dog
A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln
Abe Lincoln's Hat
Roses are Pink Your Feet Really Stink
Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch		 Author Study Books:
Angela Johnson : Joshua's Night Whispers
Do Like Kyla
Joshua By the Sea

Donald Crews: Shortcut
Night at the Fair
School Bus
Freight Train

Mo Willems: Knuffle Bunny
Today I Will Fly
I am Invited to a Party
My Friend is Sad

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