Week of October 5th-9th

 First Grade Happenings

Fall break is upon us! Time flies when you are having fun, and we are having a lot of FUN in first grade! This week we finished up our fairy tale study. The week we return, your child will  enter the world of tall tales as we read about the life of Johnny Appleseed. The students will reflect on the difference between a fact and an exaggeration as we ponder the meaning of stretching the truth. We will also have our Fairy Tale/Tall Tale Ball on the evening of Thursday, October 8th, at the gazebo in Cauble Park. Please read Important Notes for the Week below for specific details about our ball. There is also an invitation to the ball inside of your child’s Friday folder. Because of Covid restrictions, only one parent is permitted to attend the ball with their child.

We hope you have a wonderful fall break.  Your sweet children are working so hard and learning a lot. We pray that over the break our students will have opportunities to play outside, ride bikes, and explore the beautiful world God created.  Rest, relax, and refresh!

Important Notes For The Week

Social Studies

There is a study guide inside of the Friday folder to review for our upcoming map test on the location of the seven continents and four oceans on a map. We will have this test on Tuesday, October 13th.

Your child will be asked to identify and locate:

The major oceans on a map: 

Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Southern and Indian Ocean.

All of the continents on a map: 

North America, South America, Africa, Europe, 

Asia, Antarctica, and Australia.

Math Unit Two Review Packet 

There is an optional review packet inside of the Friday folder. We will have our Unit Two Math test on Wednesday, October 7th. 

What are we learning ?  

Bible: 

Colossians 3:23 ESV; The Life of Abraham- God had a special plan for Abraham. Abraham trusted God. We can trust God and know that he has a special plan for our

 lives, too. 

Math:

Addition and Subtraction

Unit Two Test is Wednesday, October 7th

Reading

The Elements of Tall Tales; Story Elements (characters, setting, problem, solution) This week we will be reading Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan

Fairy Tale Ball-  Thursday, October 8th 

Reading Accuracy Strategies:

Skippy Scott- Skip the word and come back

In this strategy, students skip over the word they do not know as they finish reading the sentence. Then, they go back and reread the sentence to figure out what the unknown word says. 

Trade a Word- The strategy, trade a word/ guess a word that makes sense, provides readers with the option to continue reading by using a similar word for an unknown word. When reading a story with your child, cover a word or two in the text, leaving only the first letter showing. Model how you use context clues and look at the first letter of the word to guess a word that would make sense in the story. Continue reading the selection to see if your guess holds the meaning of the passage. 

Phonics:  

L blends (words beginning with -sl, -pl, -fl, -gl, -cl)

We will have a spelling test on Thursday, October 8th

Writing: 

Opinion Writing

Social Studies:

Identifying and locating the seven continents and five oceans on a map

                        

September 21st - September 25th

 First Grade Happenings

We enjoyed meeting with you via Zoom for parent -teacher conferences this past week. Thank you for partnering with us in the education of your child. Our year is off to a wonderful start!

Important Notes For The Week

Help Class - Your child’s teacher will notify you by email if your child would benefit from attending. However, please feel free to let us know if you would like for your child to attend a help class.  Help class begins at 2:40 and ends at 3:10.  

Picture Day- Wednesday , 9/23

What are we learning this week?  

Bible: 

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV; The students will learn how Noah trusted God to keep His promises.

Math: 

Addition, Number Stories, Change to More, Change to Less

Click on the link to enjoy this video on Subitizing!

Subitizing with Jack Hartman

Reading: 

Fairy Tale Wrap-Up, The Elements found in  Tall Tales; Story Elements (characters, setting, problem, solution), Reading Accuracy Strategy- Chunking; In this strategy, students break words down and identify the parts of the word that they already know. 

Phonics: 

Dividing words into syllables: VC CV

Phonics Sounds and Spelling Rules - Click on the link!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mnQxC7ydRg1oqOOyihGiSm7jJ46SF9rJ0eQ7goROo8c/edit#slide=id.g90b6f0bef8_0_51

Social Studies: 

We will have a Map Test on Friday. 

Your child will be tested over:

Locating North America on a map

Locating the USA on a map

Locating Georgia on a map of the USA

Locating the states that border Georgia on a map of the USA

Locating your county on a map

Know the name of the city in which you live

Locating the country that is north and the country that

Is south of North America

                        

September 14th- September 18th

 First Grade Happenings

Hans Christian Anderson is famous for saying “ Every man’s life is a fairy tale written by God’s fingers.” Through life’s hilltops and valleys, we can rejoice in knowing that God has a perfect plan for every situation we walk through. All we need to do is trust in Him! This week, we pondered the meaning of Romans 3:23 as we discussed the concept of sin and forgiveness. Even though we all mess up at times,  we have hope in knowing that we are forgiven by God and have the opportunity to grow wiser through our mistakes. 

Important Notes For The Week

Zoom Parent-Teacher Conferences - September 17th and 18th

We look forward to meeting with you via Zoom. You will be sent a link to your conference the day before. 

Help Class 

Your child’s teacher will notify you by email if your child would benefit 

from attending. However, please feel free to let us know if you would like for your child to attend a help class.  Help class begins at 2:40 and ends at 3:10.  Help Class days are as follows: Mrs. Attard - Monday, Mrs. Van Horn- Wednesday, and Mrs. Nelson- Thursday.

International Dot Day- Tuesday, September 15th 

Your child may wear polka dot clothing to school! We will engage in STEAM activities and celebrate our creativity! 

What are we learning this week?  

Bible: 

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

The students will learn that God gives us rules to follow and when we obey God’s rules, we live together happily. 

Math: 

Addition, Number Stories, Change to More, Change to Less

Click on the link to enjoy this video on Subitizing!

Subitizing with Jack Hartman

Reading: 

The Elements found in Fairy Tales; Story Elements (characters, setting, problem, solution), Reading Accuracy Strategy- Chunking; In this strategy, students break words down and 

identify the parts of the word that they already know. 

Phonics: 

Closed Syllables

Click on the link to find fun ways to study your spelling words during the week!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xvSb1uEH68ezgVsQ3ZNWLySoJsA34-nR/view

Phonics Sounds and Spelling Rules - Click on the link!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mnQxC7ydRg1oqOOyihGiSm7jJ46SF9rJ0eQ7goROo8c/edit?usp=sharing

Social Studies: 

We will have a Map Test next Friday, September 25th.  A study guide to prepare for next Friday’s test is inside of your child’s Friday folder. 

Your child will be tested over:

Locating North America on a map

Locating the USA on a map

Locating Georgia on a map of the USA

Locating the states that border Georgia on a map of the USA

Locating your county on a map

Know the name of the city in which you live

Locating the country that is north and the country that

is south of North America

September 8th-11th

First Grade Happenings

Wow! Time flies when you are having fun! It is hard to believe that

we have been in school for a month. Your children are growing

emotionally, spiritually,  and academically with the passing of

each day. Their curiosity for learning and passion for life is quite contagious.This week we entered the world of fairy tales as we read Cinderella. Your children are actively engaged in reading and enjoy reflecting on the plot of each fairy tale while analyzing character actions through the grid of biblical truth. We have a first grade crew of critical thinkers and blooming readers! We love teaching your precious children!

Important Notes For The Week

Help class begins this week!

Your child’s teacher will notify you by email if your child would benefit from attending. However, please feel free to let us know if you would like for your child to attend a help class.  Help class begins at 2:40 and ends at 3:10.  Help Class days are as follows: Mrs. Attard- Monday Mrs. Van Horn- Wednesday, Mrs. Nelson-Thursday.

No Spelling Test This Week

We will not have a spelling assessment this week due to the

four day week. 

Bible Verse Test

We will have a Bible verse test over Romans 3:23 ESV on Friday. 

Parent Teacher Zoom Conferences

You should have received a Sign Up Genius invitation for our upcoming

parent teacher conferences on September 17th and 18th. Your child

will be dismissed at 11:15 (half day). Flipside is available.

What are we learning ?  

Bible:  

Students will learn how God has given us work to do and how we

can work hard with a Christ-like attitude. 

Math:  

This week, the students are learning how to add combinations of

ten automatically. Home Links are attached to this week’s homework

sheet. 

Click on the links below to watch fun making ten videos!

http://viewpure.com/73av5oijolU?start=0&end=0

http://viewpure.com/ch7KzI3n2Zk?start=0&end=0

Reading: 

We will continue reading fairy tales and reflecting on the elements 

found in a fairy tale. 

Your child will also learn two reading strategies:

1. Use the Pictures- When you come across a word you do not know while reading, use the picture clues to help you figure out what the word says.

2. Beginning and Ending Sounds- When you come across a word you do not know while reading, pay attention to the beginning and ending sounds as you sound out the word.

How can you help your child with this strategy at home? 

1. When listening to your child read, encourage him/her to slow down  enough to pay attention to the end of the word. Have your child point to the end of the word and tell you the sound it makes. This reinforces that there is an end to the word.

 2. Have your child cross check the word he/she just read. Remind your  child to ask, “Does it look right, does it sound right, does it make sense?” to help them identify the word. 

3. If necessary, revisit letter sounds and the concept words of beginning and end. Then, when stumbling on a word, have your child stretch out the word, saying the beginning, middle, and end sounds. After having him/her focus on the beginning and ending sounds, help your child read the word correctly and ask, “Did that make sense?” 

4. If your child is still struggling with this strategy, have your child write the word out. Slowing down to write the word can help focus his/her attention on the end sound.

Phonics: 

This week, your child will be learning about syllables. 

Click on the link below for a fun syllable song to enjoy.

http://viewpure.com/vlBc703kYMg?start=0&end=0

Social Studies: 

We will begin our map study. At home, ask your child if they know

the city, county, state, nation, and continent in which they live.

Have your child commit their street address to memory. 

Your child will learn how to locate where they live on a simple map and globe.