First Grade News October 5, 2015

Curriculum Highlights
Math Solving number problems using a hundreds chart
Word Study base words and suffixes
Writing Workshop Writing Cycle
Reading Workshop Decoding strategies Putting them all together
Reminders

Parent/ teacher conferences October 5th & 6th - no classes for students.
If you havent yet done so, please reply to Ms. Tindalls email regarding
conference preparation.

News From Ms. Tindalls Class

In our Writers Workshop we have been talking about different types of writing and
purposes for writing. It would be very helpful if you could continue this discussion at
home. Notice different types of writing in your environment and what purposes they
serve. For example, the newspaper is generally non-fiction and its purpose is to let
people know whats going on in the world. A street signs purpose might be to let people
know where they are. A poster may be trying to get you to buy something or let you
know when a special event is on. A letter may be to share information with someone or
to persuade them to do something. A history book may be used as a record of past
events. Next we will be working on a form of writing called a narrative, which is just
another name for a story. What is the purpose of stories? Why do we record them?
Why do you read stories? What are your favourites?
In our Weather unit we will be learning how to measure different aspects of the
weather cloud cover, wind speed, temperature and precipitation. See if your child can
tell you which tool and unit we use for measuring each part. EG for cloud cover we use
our eyes and we record the cloud cover with fractions saying how much of the sky is
covered with cloud 0 (blue no cloud), (a little bit of cloud, lots of blue), (about half
blue, half cloud), (mostly cloud, a little blue), or 1 (all cloud, no blue). We also look at
the type of clouds and make predictions based on what we see such as, low dark clouds
will most likely bring rain. Air temperature we can feel with our sense of touch, but we
measure it with a thermometer in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. In Malaysia we use
degrees Celsius. Both direction and speed of wind is measured by scientists using a wind
sock, weather vane or anemometer. We use our senses to see, hear and feel the wind.
In partnership,
Ms. Tindall

Monday
Reading: What strategies are you using to figure out words you dont know?
How does using more than one strategy help you become a better reader?
Math:
Take turns grabbing handfuls of 5 cent and 1 cent coins with a
partner. Count the money. Remember to put all of the fives together first
and then the ones to make it easier for counting. EG 5, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18 = 18
cents. Compare who has the most/ least amount of money? * Challenge: How
much more/ less?
Tuesday
Reading: What strategies are you using to figure out words you dont know?
How does using more than one strategy help you become a better reader?
Math: Continue skip counting practice with coins. Start with 5s and 1s. Add
larger denominations to suit your childs readiness.

Wednesday
Reading: Teach an adult how you can use more than one strategy to figure out
a word.
Math: Play Rolling for 50. Take out the number chart sent home this week in
your childs folder. Place counters off the chart (0). Take turns rolling a die.
Move ahead that amount each time. Be careful when you get to the end of a
line make sure youre going to the very next number EG from 10 move to 11,
not 20! The first one to 50 is the winner. You must roll the exact number to
land on 50.
Thursday
Reading: Teach an adult how you can use more than one strategy to figure out
a word.
Math: Put objects in pairs to see if the total number is odd or even. EG line up
all of the blue Lego in pairs Is the total odd or even? How do you know?

Friday
Reading
Poem collection: Sing/ recite to your family and please return it to school on
Monday.